[Buddy, can Heracross really crush Scyther like that?]
[Streamer, are you deliberately holding back its evolution for some gimmick to grab attention?]
[This Heracross is well-trained, but it still needs a spark to evolve, yo.]
[If the kid's got ideas, he should swing by the Isle of Armor sometime to chat with the old man, yo. (Sends 99 Popularity Tickets)]
In the live stream chat, two dazzling golden comments stood out.
ID: Master Mustard of the Isle of Armor
Having just defeated one of Kaoruko's Pokémon, Li Xuan glanced at the chat during a brief pause. His eyes were immediately drawn to the glowing golden comments:
"Thanks to 'Master Mustard of the Isle of Armor' for sending 99 Popularity Tickets! Whoa, the Isle of Armor is in the Galar region, right?"
"I'm a bit tied up right now, but thanks for the invite, Master Mustard. Once things calm down, I'll definitely visit the Isle of Armor."
Talking about the Isle of Armor got Li Xuan fired up.
Master Mustard—that's the Mustard!
Mustard has Kubfu, a Pokémon that's no joke.
Its evolved form, Urshifu, is a powerhouse.
With a signature move that always lands critical hits and an ability that ignores Protect, it's an absolute beast.
If he could get a Kubfu from Mustard and train it into an Urshifu, the possibilities were mind-blowing.
The Gym Challenge Tournament was just a month away.
If he could catch a Kubfu and evolve it into Urshifu in time, his chances of winning would skyrocket.
Even if Kubfu wasn't the perfect fit, the Isle of Armor was crawling with Fighting-type Pokémon—plenty of chances to bolster his Gym's roster.
With that in mind, Li Xuan resolved to pick an auspicious day this month to visit the Isle of Armor and have a heart-to-heart with Mustard.
For now, the Gym Battle continued.
"Miss Kaoruko, don't give up! Don't you still have your ace up your sleeve?"
"Come on, Miss Kaoruko, turn the tables with your ace!"
"It ain't over till it's over—you're both dark horses!"
The cheerleaders' enthusiasm shone through.
No matter the odds, they hyped her up relentlessly.
At the very least, they were boosting her morale.
"Hmm…"
Kaoruko snapped out of her daze, bolstered by the cheerleaders' shouts. Her spirits lifted visibly. "Gym Leader Li Xuan, I lost my composure earlier. But now, I'll send out my team's ace!"
Li Xuan nodded in acknowledgment. "Bring it on."
Bang!
A slender Pokémon with a head resembling a peashooter appeared!
"Ssss-ba, ssss-ba!"
It was none other than—Bellsprout!
[Bellsprout? Seriously? Just here to fill a slot, right?]
[Is this a paid actor? Gotta be a setup to boost ratings with a cute opponent.]
[Nah, if you're gonna rig it, pick a cutie with a Milcery vibe. That's my type.]
The chat was mocking Kaoruko, but Li Xuan didn't let his guard down.
He knew this Bellsprout was no ordinary Pokémon—it couldn't be judged by appearances alone.
"Gym Leader Li Xuan, I'll be upfront," Kaoruko said calmly. "This one has incredible potential in martial arts. If I make any mistakes in this battle, I'd appreciate your guidance. Thank you in advance."
"Of course," Li Xuan replied with a nod. "It's a Gym Leader's duty to guide challengers."
He gestured for Kaoruko to make the first move.
"Bellsprout, use Vine Whip!"
Kaoruko's eyes sparkled as she launched a firm yet flexible attack.
"Ssss-ba!"
Bellsprout swayed, extending two vine-like tendrils from its leaf-like arms.
With a flick, the vines sliced through the air, lashing out!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sound alone hinted at their power.
Though the vines looked soft, they carried the force to shatter stone. If they hit Heracross, they'd leave deep marks.
As the saying goes: In martial arts, speed is king.
Li Xuan opted to counter with agility. "Heracross, use Rapid Spin!"
Zzzzt-zzzzt-zzzzt!
A drill-like whir echoed through the arena. Heracross spun so fast it was a blur, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, looking deceptively still.
"Ssss-ba!"
Bellsprout swung its vines with force, aiming to topple Heracross.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The vines struck Heracross, but nothing happened—it was like whipping a spinning top.
The scene Kaoruko had pictured didn't unfold. Instead, her hair fluttered in a sudden breeze.
"What?!"
Feeling a tickle by her ear, Kaoruko realized something and froze, stunned by Li Xuan's tactic.
She'd thought Bellsprout's Vine Whip would pose a threat if it landed accurately.
But now, it looked like she'd just accelerated Heracross!
And she was right.
In its high-speed state, Heracross used the vines' momentum to boost its spin, essentially gaining a free "Rapid Spin" effect.
Kaoruko shouted, "Bellsprout, retract the vines!"
Li Xuan countered smoothly, "Heracross, ride that momentum—Rapid Spin again!"
Da-da-da!
Heracross's speed hit its peak, the silent wind around it tugging at the vines, making it seem like they were binding it.
But that was an illusion.
Only Bellsprout knew the monster it had provoked.
It tried to release the vines, but it was too late.
Heracross's "Shadowless Kick" struck like a storm. Bellsprout felt like it had been hit by a speeding car.
Countless kicks landed on Bellsprout's face, the gusts stinging its body. Overwhelmed, it collapsed on the spot.
[So, where's this kid's martial arts talent? All I see is a poor Bellsprout getting face-rushed and one-shotted by Heracross.]
[Is this really her ace? Feels weaker than her Scyther from earlier.]
[The tables have turned—this is a total wash.]
Silence.
A dead, still silence.
Kaoruko stared at her fainted Bellsprout, speechless, utterly shut down by Li Xuan.
It felt like playing a 10v10 MOBA, where her Marksman wandered into a bush, got ambushed by a "Thunder Slash," and then obliterated by the "Bush Sisters."
A slick combo later, Bellsprout was down, probably owing a few health bars.
[...]
[Yo, what's with the ellipses spam?]
[He's saying: Great battle. I'd love to visit sometime, but I'm not in Kanto right now. Bit of a shame.]
Li Xuan noticed the string of "..." and, after seeing the wild translator's comment, checked the user's ID.
ID: Red the Crimson!
Holy crap!
One friendly match, and he'd crossed paths with three Champion-tier Trainers?!