Chapter 3: Second Kill, Second Kill Again!
"Xiaohua, find him and use Fire Spin!"
Li Mengxue's clear, confident voice rang out across the field. Her eyes sharpened, listening intently to the subtle buzzing sound produced by Beedrill's wings as it hovered somewhere within the dense Smokescreen. The girl's strategy was clever—she aimed to use Beedrill's own movements to pinpoint its location, then strike decisively.
Charmeleon, responding instantly to its trainer's command, let out a low growl as it turned toward the source of the sound. A swirling vortex of flames erupted from its mouth, roaring through the smoke in a spiral of searing heat. The fiery tornado swept across the arena, its glow visible even through the thick black haze.
"Wow, did you see that? She's using the sound of Beedrill's flight to track it down!" one spectator exclaimed.
"That's genius! Fire is super effective against Bug Types. That Beedrill—no matter how tough—probably can't take a direct hit!" added another, eyes wide with admiration for Li Mengxue's quick thinking.
Even Li Mengxue herself believed that victory was within her grasp. After all, this was textbook strategy. She had a higher-level Pokémon, a favorable attribute matchup, and now, a smart counter to the Smokescreen that had clouded the field.
Yet, what she didn't know was that this exact situation was what Renjiro had anticipated. A slight smirk formed on Renjiro's face as he observed the flickering outline of Charmeleon's flames from the edge of the battlefield.
"So you can use Beedrill's sound to find it... then I can do the same with your Charmeleon's flames."
Renjiro's voice was low but confident as he gave his next command. "Beedrill, locate Charmeleon's position from the fire's heat! Close in—and use Twineedle!"
The spectators gasped. Li Mengxue froze for a heartbeat, realizing too late the flaw in her plan.
"What?!"
Her surprise was palpable. While she had been so focused on Beedrill's location, she had forgotten that the visibility issue worked both ways. The fiery swirl that Charmeleon unleashed acted like a beacon within the smoke, guiding Beedrill straight to its source.
"Xiaohua, dodge! Be careful!" Li Mengxue called out, her voice tinged with urgency.
But the swift insect was already upon its target. Guided by the residual heat, Beedrill weaved through the fading Smokescreen with precision. Its twin stingers gleamed under the glow of the flames like cold, sharp stars streaking through the night.
Bang!
A sharp sound echoed as Beedrill's Twineedle connected. The Smokescreen shuddered as if from the impact, and for a moment, the crowd fell completely silent.
Then, in Renjiro's mind, the familiar voice of the system rang out:
> Ding! Your Beedrill has defeated Level 22 Charmeleon and gained 215 experience points.
You earned 33 combat points. Current combat value: 133 points.
Another instant knockout.
Another victory that defied expectations.
The people watching erupted in a chorus of disbelief and amazement.
"Did... did Beedrill win again? Another one-shot?" someone stammered.
"No way! Charmeleon should've had that fight in the bag. What kind of Beedrill is this? Are we sure it's Level 19?"
"I don't believe it. I saw it with my own eyes... that was a clean hit."
As the Smokescreen slowly cleared, Charmeleon's form became visible. The Fire-Type Pokémon stood swaying on unsteady legs for a brief second before its eyes turned into spirals. With a soft thud, it collapsed to the ground, completely out of commission.
Li Mengxue stared in disbelief at her fallen partner. Though she had suspected this outcome the moment Beedrill struck, the reality of the loss hit hard. Her Charmeleon—strong, evolved, and trusted—had been felled by what should have been an underdog opponent.
"I... I lost..." she whispered, her voice tight as she bit her lower lip, her pride stung by the sudden defeat.
Renjiro approached, his expression calm and composed. "You're a very capable trainer," he said sincerely. "If it weren't for my Beedrill's unique strength, I'm sure this battle would have gone differently."
He spoke the truth. Unlike ordinary Beedrill, whose species strength and speed typically lagged behind other Pokémon, Renjiro's Beedrill was special—enhanced by the system and his training. A normal Beedrill wouldn't have been able to sense Charmeleon's position so quickly, nor dodge that Fire Spin with such agility.
Li Mengxue took a deep breath, collecting herself. "A loss is a loss," she said firmly, her gaze steady despite the sting of defeat. "Next time, I'll win it back. I'll train harder, and next time, I won't lose."
Her determination shone through, earning her respect even from those who had doubted her a moment ago.
"That's the spirit!" one bystander whispered.
"She really is something. No wonder she's so admired," said another.
Renjiro watched her retreating figure thoughtfully. Despite wielding a Fire-Type Pokémon, Li Mengxue carried herself with a cool and dignified composure, far from the fiery temperament one might expect.
Once she had gone, Renjiro turned to the remaining spectators and called out, "Is there anyone else who'd like to challenge me? My Beedrill can go for many more rounds."
But the crowd, once eager and loud, had lost its earlier enthusiasm.
"Forget it! I'm not going up against that monster Beedrill," muttered one young trainer, shaking his head.
"Yeah, I just came to see the school belle. Now that she's gone, no point in staying," said another with a shrug.
In the blink of an eye, the crowd dispersed. Renjiro was left standing alone on the battlefield, his Beedrill hovering beside him, still sharp and ready.
"Eh? They're all gone already?" Renjiro muttered, a little surprised by how quickly the onlookers had fled.
He glanced at Beedrill and chuckled softly. "Looks like we scared them off, buddy. No matter. We'll try another park tomorrow. There'll be new challengers, I'm sure."
Beedrill buzzed in agreement, its wings glinting faintly in the evening light.
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And so, Renjiro's journey continued. With every battle, his name began to spread—an up-and-coming trainer whose strength defied common sense, whose Beedrill tore through opponents thought unbeatable. But for Renjiro, this was just the beginning. There were stronger trainers out there, fiercer rivals, and Pokémon that would test his limits like never before...
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