Chapter 174: The Devil's Whisper
The entire arena fell into silence.
Sure, Squirtle had the type advantage, but this was ridiculous! And now… with their weather setter down, was Imperial University really going to manually restart the sandstorm?
"Coach, let me go next." Feng Shuangcheng nodded at Coach Shao Guanghai.
Coach Shao folded his arms, his face grim. "Be careful!"
Feng Shuangcheng was this year's Tianjin Rookie Champion, a rising star expected to inherit Zuo Yu's role. And his ace Pokémon? Another Sand Stream user.
"ROOOOAR!"
A massive Gigalith stomped onto the battlefield, its red crystal core glowing ominously. As Gigalith let out a mighty roar, the sandstorm surged back to life. Though it barely held back the rain, Lu Ye seized the moment, his voice calm but firm.
"Water Pulse."
A cascading torrent crashed down like a thundering waterfall, rocking the entire stadium. The attack dazed Gigalith, its head reeling from the impact. Seizing the opening, Squirtle rushed forward, its tail glowing blue—a brutal Aqua Tail sent chunks of shattered rock flying!
"Damn, is Squirtle trying to smash Gigalith into pieces?!"
"But isn't Squirtle running out of stamina?"
"Don't forget—Teacher Lu still has another Pokémon that hasn't even battled yet!"
Imperial's fourth Pokémon took the stage—a Skarmory, its razor-sharp steel wings glinting under the arena lights. With blinding speed, it unleashed Air Slash—a powerful, slicing gust cut through the rain, striking Squirtle and leaving behind a faint white scar.
"Squirtle!!" For the first time, Squirtle looked panicked.
"It looks like Air Slash dealt significant damage to Squirtle!" the commentator yelled.
Lu Ye's expression turned strange. "Significant damage? This was clearly a critical hit!"
Squirtle's gaze sharpened. Torrent activated once again. A high-pressure Water Gun blasted Skarmory into the stadium wall, followed by a devastating Water Pulse. As the water settled, the entire audience stared in disbelief.
A non-evolved Squirtle just wiped two of Imperial's team members… This wasn't just a victory. This was a complete mental breakdown for Imperial.
In the VIP section, Sun Huai'an's expression grew serious. This Squirtle reminded him of a certain Clawitzer… a battle he had no fond memories of.
Meanwhile, Lu Ye studied Squirtle closely, deep in thought. Keeping Torrent activated this long was putting a serious strain on Squirtle. It was time to let Sylveon stretch its legs.
Imperial's third contestant stepped forward—a young girl with a high bun, Qiao Yingying. Taking a deep breath, she bowed slightly. "Teacher Lu, please go easy on me!"
Lu Ye nodded, recalling Squirtle and tossing out another Poké Ball. On the battlefield, a snow-white Pokémon landed gracefully. Sylveon.
The arena erupted into chaos.
"Holy crap, that Sylveon is adorable!"
"Wait, since when did Teacher Lu have a Sylveon?!"
Under the waves of admiration, Sylveon lifted its chin proudly, exuding an air of pure elegance.
Qiao Yingying's eyes flashed with envy. "Go, Scizor!"
The steel-clad Scizor landed on the battlefield, its scarlet armor gleaming dully, its pincer claws intimidating. But before Qiao Yingying could even issue a command—Sylveon vanished. A white blur streaked across the field. By the time anyone noticed, a vicious gash had already appeared across Scizor's stomach.
Coach Shao Guanghai's eyes widened in shock. "What kind of speed is this?!"
Even Qiao Yingying, with her Bug-type Gym Leader lineage, hadn't had time to react. She opened her mouth, flustered. "S-Scizor, use Bullet Punch!"
Bullet Punch—a move so fast, dodging was impossible. But then—Sylveon flashed its teeth in a grin, its body glowing white as it charged forward.
"Is this… a frontline-combat Sylveon?" Master Trainer Tu Yong frowned.
Ji Shiyin narrowed her eyes. "That power… it's Pixilate."
Sylveon's white fur shimmered, reflecting the arena lights beautifully. A Pokémon renowned for its cuteness—yet it stormed forward like a war chariot.
"Sylveon, Double-Edge."
"Sylveon! (`皿´)"
BOOM!!
The impact sent Scizor flying backward.
"What the hell?!"
"Are we sure that's not a Flareon?!"
Qiao Yingying winced. For a split second, she thought she saw a Rhyperior charging at her. Was this really… a Sylveon?!
Scizor crashed into the stadium wall, slumping over unconscious. The entire audience fell silent. Just moments ago, it seemed like Imperial's strategy was flawless. But now—the entire battle had flipped on its head. And Lu Ye—he didn't just turn the tide. He looked like he was about to wipe the entire team.
As Qiao Yingying's final Pokémon fell instantly, Lu Ye smiled faintly and said—
"Next."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. "HOLY SH*T!!"
No matter which side they supported, the entire stadium erupted in shock. "HOLY SH*T!"
Teacher Lu… was flexing way too hard!
In the VIP section, Du Yuanshan glanced at Sun Huai'an, smirking. "You were saying something about sweeping the Singles match?"
Sun Huai'an's face flushed red. With a harsh snort, he refused to comment.
Meanwhile, Modu University's supporters were going wild. "LU BAO, CRUSH THEM!!"
On the giant LCD scoreboard, the score now stood at 3-1. In the Imperial University player section, the remaining two contestants exchanged glances. Chen Tingyue had already experienced Teacher Lu's terrifying strength during the public challenge matches. And now—this unstoppable Sylveon had draped a shadow over the entire Imperial team.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Tingyue tied her ponytail tighter and stepped onto the battlefield. "Teacher Lu, please go easy on me."
Lu Ye nodded, thinking to himself, "So this is the second viewer match within Imperial University, huh? Turning the finals into a viewer battle… Classic me!"
Chen Tingyue pulled out an Ultra Ball, cleared her throat, then suddenly—her face turned bright red. "One more thing, Teacher Lu…"
Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
"If I win this match… will you go on a date with me?"
"???"
"Sylveon! (〝▼皿▼)"
Sylveon bared its fangs, its feelers raised, a faint blaze flickering in its eyes.
"Teacher Lu is using trash talk now?!"
"Look at the girl—she's turning completely red!"
"So dirty! This is definitely part of Teacher Lu's tactics!"
Lu Ye coughed lightly. "Alright," he said. "But I won't lose."
Hearing his response, Chen Tingyue's fighting spirit ignited. Her eyes sharpened, and she raised her Ultra Ball. "Go, Gliscor!"
Lu Ye scanned his Pokédex and clicked his tongue. "Classic viewer move." Poison Heal strategy—down to the exact recommended moveset from my videos.
Before Lu Ye could even issue a command, Sylveon had already lunged forward like a lightning bolt.
"Gliscor, Protect!"
In a shocking twist, Sylveon's attack sliced through the green barrier like butter! The commentator's voice trembled. "Only an overwhelming power difference can forcefully break through Protect!"
BOOM!!
In midair, Sylveon's entire body radiated with white light—a fierce impact, the ultimate bond between Trainer and Pokémon. This was—Return.
At max Friendship, boosted by Pixilate, its power reached terrifying levels.
BOOM!!
Gliscor was blasted headfirst into the stands, knocked out instantly. For a full second, the entire arena fell into absolute silence.
"Is… is this really going to be a one-vs-four sweep?"
"Teacher Lu… doesn't see the opponent as a real challenge at all!"
Lu Ye looked at Chen Tingyue, who wore a heartbroken expression, and nodded slightly. Then—he raised his head toward the cameras. A brilliant smile spread across his face.
Imperial University's supporters collectively gulped.
"That… that smile…"
"That's the smile of the devil."
And then, in a chillingly calm voice, Lu Ye's words resonated through the silent stadium like a whisper from hell.
"Next."
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