Chapter 629: Eternal Second Place
Facing the Magma Team, the entire Starlight and Frost Team was holding their breath!
After the regular singles and doubles matches, they had successfully gained a two-point lead.
Then the Captain's Match began!
The captain of the Magma Team was named Arnold. He had once played for the Grand Master Team. Four years ago, when the Grand Master Team won their first Champions Cup, Arnold was a starting main player and lifted the trophy with Steven!
However, unwilling to always be the second-in-command, he left to strike out on his own the year after winning the championship, becoming the captain of the Magma Team.
In three years, the Magma Team had risen to the second position in the Hoenn League, just behind the Grand Master Team.
For two consecutive years, they had been the runner-up of the Hoenn Professional League.
Eternal second place, the position was rock solid.
This made Arnold very unwilling.
He had left the Grand Master Team because he didn't want to be the eternal second, but unexpectedly, after leaving, he still couldn't escape the fate of being repeatedly suppressed by Steven.
Their relationship was clear-cut top and bottom. Even when shipping fans drew fan art, he was always below Steven, which made Arnold feel incredibly frustrated...
His biggest dream was to defeat Steven and become the number one in Hoenn in his lifetime!
He longed to challenge Steven, but at the same time, he admired Steven greatly. His tactical thinking and training style were deeply influenced by Steven, bearing many traces left by him.
Perhaps this was why countless fans in the Hoenn Alliance loved shipping this pair so much.
At the start of this match, Arnold once again couldn't go three sentences without mentioning Steven.
"Heh, sending out Charizard again? Steven has already shown how to counter you. You're seeking your own death!"
In this round, he sent out Whimsicott.
Using the Prankster ability, it quickly set up Misty Terrain, then switched out!
Then Flareon entered the field.
This process was extremely similar to Steven's opening against Arthur!
First, use Misty Terrain to weaken the power of Dragon-type moves—Misty Terrain is a Fairy-type terrain move, but it doesn't boost Fairy-type moves, only weakens Dragon-type moves. It's unique among all terrain moves.
It could only be said that Fairies have a deep love for Dragons...
Then, the Flareon Arnold sent out undoubtedly had the Flash Fire ability.
This ability grants immunity to Fire damage and absorbs fire energy to boost itself!
Similar to Water Absorb against Water-type moves.
Terrain restricting Dragon-type, ability immune to Fire—a two-pronged approach, sealing Lina's two most commonly used types.
At the same time, being a Fire-type itself, it could also take advantage of Lina's sunny weather.
Since you can't eliminate the weather, join it!
This idea utilized countering, weakening, and exploitation to the extreme. Two days ago, Steven had used this idea to withstand Lina's unreasonable firepower, preventing her from finding good opportunities throughout the match.
Except at that time, the Flash Fire Pokémon Steven used was Chandelure.
And today, Arnold replaced it with the False Prophet, Flareon.
The Pokémon changed, but the idea remained the same.
Even the local commentator couldn't help but tease, "Arnold still hasn't walked out of the circle Steven drew for him."
But jokes aside, many people were sweating for Arthur.
Kubfu's commentator worriedly said, "This time, the Magma Team captain brought out a tactic almost identical to the Grand Master Team's. Can Arthur break through himself and overcome this tactic today?"
Then the referee blew the whistle. After switching Pokémon, the match restarted!
Starting from the knockout stage, there were no Random Fields. All duels returned to the simplest standard field, without strange terrains like water pools, ice surfaces, or wetlands.
At the start, Flareon ran on the standard hard ground, actively closing the distance with Lina.
Then Arnold ordered, "Use Smog!"
Even the first move used at the start was exactly the same as Steven's the day before yesterday.
The day before yesterday, Chandelure used Smog; today, his Flareon also used Smog.
This scene made countless shipping fans praise: Maybe this is love.
But seeing this routine again, Arthur wasn't as embarrassed or helpless as Arnold imagined. Instead, Arthur was very calm, even appearing confident.
Do you think I couldn't come up with a solution in just two days?
This idea has some merit.
But unfortunately, you are not Steven after all!
With a firm heart, Arthur ordered calmly and quickly: "Use Rock Tomb!"
Lina, having completed Mega Evolution, threw a large number of rocks inscribed with runes into the smog below, blocking Flareon's movement space.
Only after the rocks blocked Flareon's path did Lina dive down, decisively rushing into the murky toxic fog!
The murky Smog contained Poison-type energy, carrying the risk of poisoning the Pokémon. This was also an extension of Steven's strategy against Lina—
Even Steven feared Lina's unreasonable output ability. Even after using layers of restrictions, he still felt unsafe, so he chose to use poisoning and curses to wear her down, avoiding a head-on confrontation with Arthur as much as possible!
Arnold had learned this too.
"Flareon, Substitute!"
Seeing Lina dive into the smog, he immediately had Flareon use Substitute.
High EQ: Very steady playstyle. Low EQ: cowardly as hell.
But Arthur maintained a faint smile.
So you really aren't Steven after all!
"Use Scary Face! Then catch up and attack!"
Lina locked onto Flareon's position after using Substitute and roared loudly, her eyes emitting a soul-shaking red light, creating terrifying illusions in Flareon's vision!
"Eek!"
Flareon was so scared its tail puffed up, the fur on its back stood on end, and its steps slowed uncontrollably.
"Damn it!"
Arnold gritted his teeth secretly.
The existence of Rock Tomb on the field restricted the landing spots for Flareon after teleporting. If Flareon didn't want to be slowed down by the cursed rocks, there were only a few landing spots left, allowing the opponent to easily predict the direction of Flareon's teleportation.
Charizard turned her head and roared the moment Flareon used Substitute, leaving Flareon no time to turn away and dodge this visual illusion.
In the end, it was still slowed down.
Dodged the curse slow from the rocks, but couldn't dodge the slowness caused by illusion fear.
Then Lina glided low, caught up with the opponent, and punched!
Arnold wanted to try letting Flareon clash with Charizard.
Known as the False Prophet, Flareon's strength talent was quite impressive, a renowned beast in the wild.
Now that both sides had no moves, Arnold thought maybe he could give it a try.
The longer he dragged the opponent in the smog, the more beneficial it would be for him, right?
But—
He soon tried and died...
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