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After standing on the battlefield, Kato's gaze quickly became resolute, his right hand tightly gripping a Poké Ball.
Last week's gym challenge ended in an embarrassing failure; even Teacher Azure remembered his name because of it, let alone the live stream chat and the students of Naranja Academy.
If today's battle also ended in a crushing defeat to Teacher Azure, he would surely become everyone's laughingstock in the future!
He didn't want that at all...
So!
To redeem himself, victory was the only path left for him today!
Fortunately, after a week of preparation, he had changed significantly. He had long since figured out the tactic Teacher Azure was going to use this week and quickly devised a counter-strategy that even Teacher Azure acknowledged!
A mere Tailwind team, meet my Trick Room!
Kato was full of confidence in his strategy.
Meanwhile, Aiden standing opposite him wore a faint smile as he quietly observed his opponent's expression.
[Even though Teacher Azure is smiling, why do I feel a chill down my spine...]
[The streamer must be thinking of something dirty again. It feels like this "lucky" challenger's mindset is about to explode under Teacher Azure's play.]
[How can there be such an evil Trainer as Teacher Azure in this world!]
"So, before the battle begins, I will briefly explain the rules of this week's gym challenge?"
Aiden narrowed his eyes and quickly spoke. Kato across from him immediately nodded heavily.
"The battle rules are 2v2, with the challenger attacking first. The Gym Leader cannot actively switch Pokémon, but switching moves are not restricted. The challenger has no restrictions."
"When all of one side's Pokémon lose their ability to fight, the other side is declared the winner."
"No objections?"
"I have no objections!"
After Kato gave a firm answer, he quickly took a deep breath and prepared to throw the Poké Ball.
"Wait, there's one more thing."
Aiden raised his hand, interrupting Kato's action.
"Kato, I can feel how much you've improved this past week."
"Knowing shame and then striving forward is truly impressive."
"But precisely because of that, please don't worry too much about others' opinions. Just focus on improving yourself, and that's enough."
"If you carry emotional baggage into the battle, you won't be able to perform at your best."
"So—"
"Enjoy the battle fully and don't worry too much about winning or losing."
After listening, Kato, the Naranja Academy student named Kato, froze on the spot, his expression somewhat strange.
Don't worry too much about winning or losing...
Are you saying I shouldn't think so much and just focus on the battle at hand?
As long as my strength is recognized by the Gym Leader, even if I lose the battle, I can still get the badge.
There were examples of this last week.
However...
If there's a chance to beat Teacher Azure, how many students could resist giving it their all?
While Kato was stunned, Aiden had already taken a red-and-white ball from his pocket and lightly clicked the center trigger.
A flash of red light later, the audience saw a very familiar Cotton Pokémon appear on the battlefield. Its cute little eyes stared directly at Kato across from him.
[Why is it Whimsicott? Teacher Azure really brought out the Black-Hearted Cotton to continue Prankster shenanigans, right...]
[Didn't we break through Prankster last week? Using a Dark-type Pokémon can directly nullify its status moves?]
[You're right, but is it possible that Teacher Azure is playing the Tailwind system today...]
Although Tailwind is also a status move, its target is not the opponent but the half of the field where the user stands.
Therefore, even if a Dark-type Pokémon senses the energy change in advance, it's hard to stop Whimsicott from using Tailwind.
This simple truth wasn't difficult for the ever-improving new Trainers to understand these days.
Kato, who couldn't see the bullet comments on the battlefield, quickly realized Aiden's thoughts.
"If it's preemptive Tailwind..."
"Then let's use Trick Room!"
Kato quickly formulated his strategy in his mind and immediately threw a Poké Ball.
"It's decided! You're up, Armarouge!"
A humanoid Pokémon with a body covered in golden armor, radiating red flames, and a burning flame atop its head appeared before Aiden.
"Oh? It's actually an Armarouge?"
Aiden immediately raised an eyebrow.
He was very familiar with this Pokémon; he'd seen and used it countless times in his previous life...
Armarouge, a Pokémon that appears only in Paldea and, like Ceruledge, evolves from Charcadet, but belongs to a different evolutionary branch.
Charcadet, resembling a tiny knight, is a common Pokémon found almost everywhere in Paldea.
Its evolution method is quite interesting—it requires the use of two special armors, both of which are crafted by humans.
By collecting fragments naturally or unnaturally shed from Bronzor and Sinistea, special armors imbued with Psychic and Ghost attributes can be made.
When the aspiring knight Charcadet dons the armor, it quickly fuses with them, finally evolving into two different forms.
Thus, it's theoretically almost impossible to encounter wild Armarouges/Ceruledges.
This is also a testament to the mutual influence between humans and Pokémon living together.
And the Armarouge before Aiden, having absorbed the power of the Celebration Armor, evolved from Charcadet into a Fire + Psychic type.
Because of its Psychic abilities, it excels in energy attacks and can cast Trick Room with its own power.
Is this Kato's answer?
Aiden silently nodded, acknowledging his idea.
Unlike in games where you need to find specific NPCs to exchange for evolution items, real-life Paldea allows you to buy mass-produced, reasonably priced armor directly. As long as Charcadet is strong enough, it can evolve easily.
Therefore, Armarouges and Ceruledges aren't rare in Paldea. Many newcomers catch a Charcadet on the road and buy a set of armor when passing through Zapapico just in case.
Seeing that Teacher Azure had already seen through his strategy and seemed to approve of him, Kato's lips soon curled into a smile.
Quickly, a command came from his mouth.
"Armarouge, Trick Room!"
Using the gym rules, his Trick Room could even be activated faster than Teacher Azure's Tailwind!
[??? Why is this guy pulling tricks again? Teacher Azure hasn't activated Tailwind yet, and you're already using Trick Room?]
[That confident? If Teacher Azure doesn't use Tailwind, wouldn't you just explode...]
[Kato, you have a kind of pure 'innocence', still not beaten enough by Teacher Azure!]
Seeing how proactive his opponent was, Aiden himself couldn't help but laugh. Suppressing his laughter, he quickly issued a command:
"Whimsicott, Taunt."
Though this week's gym theme was indeed the Tailwind team...
It seems he never said his first move would definitely be Tailwind, right?
Preemptive Trick Room, nice one!
Confident pre-reading isn't done this way. Today, let Teacher Azure give you a proper lesson!
Since using Trick Room requires accumulating Psychic energy, even with the initiative, Armarouge still couldn't activate Trick Room immediately.
Just as it was halfway through accumulating energy, the fluffy creature covered mostly in cotton suddenly smirked.
Then, it beckoned with a finger.
What a nasty grin!
Suddenly, a wave of anger swept over Armarouge, making it uncontrollably want to launch an at the opponent, wiping that sneer off its face.
Unconsciously affected by Taunt, the accumulated Psychic energy in Armarouge's hands instantly dissipated.
???
Kato was dumbfounded, sweat quickly dripping down his cheeks and back.
Teacher Azure, you're not sticking to the script!
Shouldn't you have used Tailwind now and praised my foresight?
Why do I feel like I've become a negative example again...
It's still winter at the end of January, but why am I suddenly feeling dry-mouthed and sweaty?
"Hmm... Having predictive awareness is good, but always remember your opponent isn't a game boss that follows fixed patterns. Every predictive command carries risks~"
Prediction itself is just part of the game. Unless you have some absurd ability to foresee the future, every prediction is also a gamble.
And once the prediction fails...
No matter how many ideas you have in your heart, it just makes you look a bit silly.
Just like Kato now, Aiden didn't know what to say. He wanted to laugh but held back, fearing it would hurt Kato's confidence.
All he could say was that Kato contributed another iconic moment to his live stream.
Thank you, Kato!
After Aiden casually spoke a sentence, both sides quickly issued commands again:
"Armarouge, Mystical Fire!"
"Whimsicott, Substitute!"
Both sides almost simultaneously commanded. Due to Whimsicott's Ability, its Substitute formed first, blocking the burst of fire energy from Armarouge.
In terms of type matchups, Whimsicott was at a significant disadvantage against Armarouge.
But this could also be compensated for through commands and various moves.
"Now, Leech Seed!"
"Throw it out and immediately use Protect!"
Seizing the moment Armarouge unleashed Mystical Fire and was waiting for energy recovery, Aiden immediately issued continuous commands.
"Watch closely, this is called proper pre-reading."
Due to Whimsicott's Prankster Ability, it acted extremely fast. By the time Kato realized, the Leech Seed it conjured had already been tossed into the air, precisely hitting Armarouge.
The specially effective seed contacted Armarouge's surface, instantly rooting and sprouting, slowly sapping its life energy.
Even though Armarouge promptly burned part of the seeds with flames, it still didn't have much effect.
At this point, Kato knew commanding a counterattack would be meaningless, so he could only choose to recall the parasitized Armarouge.
[Damn, Leech Seed with Prankster, who can defend against that?]
[Teacher Azure always pulls out some inexplicable moves, but they turn out surprisingly useful. Isn't this similar to Toxic Stall...]
[It's not a dirty trick, but it kinda is. We haven't even seen a shadow of the Tailwind team, just seeing Whimsicott trolling the opponent!]
[No wonder it's personally certified by Teacher Azure as "Black-Hearted Cotton." Looks can be deceiving. How can a Pokémon be this bad, it's making me grit my teeth through the screen!]
[Teacher Azure, your Black-Hearted Cotton is way too heartless!]
[Turn around, I don't want to see your face!!!]
Even the bullet chats were shocked by Aiden's unreasonable pre-reading.
Teacher Azure, weren't you supposed to show us the Tailwind team...
And I've only made one move, how have you already used four moves? Aren't Pokémon battles supposed to be one move each?!
Kato felt like crying but had no tears. While pondering which Pokémon to send out next, Aiden quickly spoke again—
"Whimsicott, Tailwind!"
Taking advantage of the opponent's empty field, Aiden quickly commanded Whimsicott to blow Tailwind on their half of the field.
Tailwind might be late, but it's unlikely to be absent.
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