The club's doors swung open, and a man with a mohawk strutted in.
Hands in his pockets, he glanced at the Ralts in Li Xuan's arms, letting out a scornful laugh.
Li Xuan frowned, recognizing the man.
His name was Yuzuki.
Like Li Xuan, he was a special guest at the Battle Club, but they'd never gotten along.
To put it simply, their feud began when Li Xuan beat Yuzuki up for harassing Nelly.
That's how their bad blood started.
Still, Yuzuki confronting him head-on today caught Li Xuan off guard.
He must have some kind of trump card, right?
"Ralts…"
Ralts trembled, avoiding Yuzuki's gaze, curling deeper into Li Xuan's arms to hide.
"Trash is trash. Can't even use psychic powers—what's the point of living? Just die already!"
Yuzuki mocked.
His taunting gaze reached Ralts, who sensed it and curled tighter into a ball.
Seeing this, Yuzuki's grin widened.
"Oh, you think hiding in that guy's arms will help?"
"A trash Pokémon with a trash-picking Gym Leader—quite the match. If I recall, your Infernape was a stray too, wasn't it?"
Yuzuki stepped closer, hands still in his pockets, and spat on the ground.
Li Xuan's brow furrowed. "A few days without a beating, and you think your wings are tough?"
"Tch, just a garbage collector stuck in the past. Unlike me—I'm way out of your league now!"
Compared to before, Yuzuki was brimming with confidence, his arrogance unchecked. "A Ralts—and one that can't even use psychic powers! Lose it, who cares? It's not worth keeping alive!"
"Blaming your Pokémon for your own weakness? Let's see if you can back up that talk."
Li Xuan sighed, ready to teach this guy a "small" lesson.
Infernape knocking out a Pokémon and "accidentally" fracturing its trainer's bones?
Yeah, that excuse sounded reasonable.
Yuzuki sneered, pulling out an Ultra Ball. "Fine! Let's settle this now!"
"Li Xuan."
Nelly left the reception desk, tiptoeing to whisper in his ear: "Yuzuki's been cozying up to some big shot lately. He's gone all out to take you down, even gathering Psychic-type Pokémon from other regions. Be careful!"
"Is that so? Well, it's quality over quantity."
Li Xuan glanced at Yuzuki, shaking his head. "No matter how many he catches, if they're not trained, they'll fall in three punches."
Their exchange drew the attention of nearby club members.
"Hey, isn't that Li Xuan? He's a sparring partner here? Never seen him before."
"Normal. Li Xuan's a special guest, not a regular sparring partner. His contract's different."
"Then why's that other guy always around?"
"That one's a nepotism hire. Of course you see him every day."
Li Xuan had a strong reputation in the club, thanks to Infernape's battles.
This was exactly what Yuzuki envied.
Both special guests, both battling with Pokémon—why was Li Xuan the popular one?!
So what if he was a nepotism hire?
Nepotism hires could still have skill!
This time, he'd prepared thoroughly to win!
"Li Xuan, you think I'm still the old me?"
Yuzuki tilted his nose skyward, as if he were unstoppable. "At your level, I'll crush you in three moves! One question: you in or not?"
"All that talk, but no stakes? Who'd fight you without a prize?"
Li Xuan played along, knowing Yuzuki wouldn't fight without something to lose.
"What stakes do you want?"
Yuzuki took the bait, bringing up the wager himself.
"Here's the deal. Your appearance fee's only 10,000 bucks a match. Let's keep it modest—say, 40,000, full price. How's that?"
Li Xuan grinned cheekily.
Yuzuki didn't catch on, thinking it was a steal. "Deal!"
Li Xuan held back a laugh, turning to Nelly. "Nelly, be our witness."
"Sure!"
Nelly nodded, leading them to the club's public battle arena.
Word of Li Xuan and Yuzuki's fight spread fast.
One person told ten, ten told a hundred.
Soon, the arena was packed with spectators, all there for the post-dinner drama.
The news reached the club's higher-ups.
A bandaged, shifty-eyed man with purple hair stared at the surveillance screen, deep in thought.
"To take you down, I caught a Pokémon from the Johto region!"
On the battlefield, Yuzuki stood tall and proud, tossing out a Poké Ball.
A bird Pokémon with white wings and a bipedal stance appeared. Its body resembled an ancient totem, with chest patterns like crimson eyes, sending chills down spines.
[Pokémon: Xatu]
[Type: Psychic/Flying]
[Level: 30]
Li Xuan: …
This was his big play?
Level 30?
This guy really had no self-awareness!
"Hmph! Li Xuan, Xatu's Psychic and Flying types completely counter Fighting-types! This battle's mine!"
Yuzuki analyzed the matchup, sounding like victory was assured.
"Enough chatter. I'm waiting for that 40,000 bucks."
Li Xuan sent out Infernape, its primal aura spreading, making the ground tremble.
"Xatu, Tailwind!"
"Infernape, Swagger!"
Both issued commands simultaneously.
Xatu spread its wings, Flying-type energy flowing as a cool breeze swept through—only to halt abruptly.
Infernape danced provocatively, its taunting moves sparking fury on Xatu's usually blank face.
A red glow of stat boosts rose, accompanied by confusion.
"Damn it!"
With Tailwind interrupted, Yuzuki cursed, seeing Infernape closing in. "Xatu, use Air Slash quick!"
"Xa…"
Xatu, dazed and confused, flapped its wings aimlessly, its Flying-type energy gathering sluggishly, unable to launch Air Slash.
"Infernape, charge in! Use Ice Punch!"
Li Xuan commanded directly.
"Prime!"
Infernape strode forward, its massive fist cloaked in frost, chilling the surrounding air.
As the icy aura hit, Xatu snapped out of its daze.
But Infernape was too close—there was no time for Air Slash.
"What?!"
Realizing his intel was off, Yuzuki shouted, "Use Drill Peck, you idiot!"
Xatu tucked its wings close, levitating with psychic power.
With only a few steps between them, danger loomed.
Xatu began to spin, its yellow beak whirling like a drill!
Boosted massively by Swagger, it seemed to pose a real threat to Infernape!
Yuzuki smirked.
Bang!
Infernape swung its heavy fist, a blue arc of frost slowing everything around it.
Drill Peck met the fist, spinning furiously, kicking up gusts that ruffled their clothes.
Crack, crack—
But Drill Peck froze solid against Ice Punch, encased in ice!
"???"
Yuzuki's smirk vanished, replaced by a grin on Li Xuan's face.
"Infernape, knock it out."