The arena was filled with enthusiastic cheers and the roar of a virtual crowd, waves of people created by the System's high-tech projection.
Seeing Xiangling and Hu Tao standing silent after they came on stage, Hiroshi thought they were worried about the safety of their Pokémon.
"Pokémon are very durable and difficult to kill."
"Haven't you seen that treatment device before?"
"Even if half of the Pokémon's life is knocked out and it is on the verge of fainting, it can be saved and restored to full health by putting it on the treatment table."
Xiangling had some experience on stage, having won the Liyue Cooking Competition in front of large crowds.
But at this moment, Xiangling still felt her throat go dry, and she struggled to respond to Hiroshi.
However, she soon seemed to be affected by the enthusiasm of the scene. The atmosphere was infectious.
The Larvesta and Gible, who had been resting in their Poké Balls, burst out one after another in flashes of light.
"Gib~!!"
After taking a nap, the Gible was full of energy and fighting spirit.
It looked up at its master, Hu Tao, asking for a fight.
Its short and thick forelimbs made chest-slapping movements, which, coupled with its fierce roar and body language, were obviously saying to Hu Tao:
This baby wants to fight!
I want to fight!!
Facing the blazing fighting spirit in the eyes of the baby Gible, Hu Tao was startled.
"Gible, you..."
Seeing this, Hiroshi's voice came over the loudspeaker, calm and encouraging.
"It's obvious that the Gible is willing to fight for you."
"This is not only to prove its excellence but also for you as a Trainer. It wants to win for you, win honor for you, and help you become a Pokémon Master!"
Hu Tao squatted down in a daze and stroked the Gible's smooth head.
One person and one creature looked at each other for a long moment.
Suddenly, there was a dawn of understanding in Hu Tao's smile.
"So this is what it means to be a 'Trainer'?"
On the other side.
A similar scene was unfolding between Xiangling and her Larvesta.
"Woo woo——"
Xiangling was so moved that tears flashed in the corners of her eyes, and she hugged the Larvesta tightly.
"Chongchong! You are still so young, and yet you want to fight for me?!"
"Larv! (Honor!)"
"Larv!! (Battle!)"
At this time, the emotions of humans and Pokémon were brewing.
They didn't even need Hiroshi to guide them further. They each walked towards their Trainer's podiums.
The two Pokémon stayed on the field.
The exchange of glances between the tiny dragon and the bug seemed to spark electricity in the air.
Hiroshi stood at the referee's elevated position and looked around, then at the players and Pokémon on the field.
Very good. It is indeed the SR-level upgrade module that was drawn in the lottery. It has the authentic flavor of the Championship League!
But the level of the players... well, it can't get any lower!
"Do you guys have any trash talk? According to the rules, Trainers' trash talk is not restricted," Hiroshi said to the two of them with a smile.
Hu Tao and Xiangling were naturally cheerful girls.
In addition, the Pokémon on the field were already tense, clenching their little fists (and tentacles).
"Xiangling, this victory in the first Pokémon Competition in Teyvat belongs to me, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
"The main purpose of this Director is to leave a name in history!"
Hu Tao pointed at her friend on the opposite platform and raised her fist unceremoniously.
Xiangling smiled proudly and glanced at the Larvesta on the field.
"Chongchong!"
"Today we are going to educate Director Hu so that she knows why the flowers are so red!"
The atmosphere was in place and had already heated up.
Hiroshi announced:
"The rules of the battle are 1vs1. Both players only use one Pokémon. When either Pokémon loses combat effectiveness or loses consciousness, the other side wins!"
"The battle begins!"
Hu Tao, who had brought the Gible home yesterday, obviously had a much deeper understanding of her Gible than Xiangling, who had just received the Larvesta.
"Hum!"
"Gible, use your ultimate move directly! Take Down!"
"Drive like a dump truck for me and crush that insect with its crazy delusions!"
Hu Tao gave the order arrogantly. After the trouble that morning, she was very confident in the destructive power of "Take Down."
"Gib!!"
After Gible gathered momentum, it launched a charge, glowing with white energy.
Eh?
Eh!
Xiangling didn't expect that her friend would come up with a powerful move that could collapse a house right off the bat. She took a sharp breath.
"Chongchong... hide! Dodge it!"
The Larvesta had almost no combat experience, but it also understood what its master meant.
Dodge?
Okay.
The black limbs under its body began to move. The starting speed was not slow, and it was getting faster.
But the Gible was obviously attacking quickly, seizing the opportunity.
Xiangling's command and reaction were also a beat too slow.
As a result, the Gible slammed into the Larvesta's side.
Bang!
"Larv!"
It hurts so much!
The Larvesta screamed sharply and flew backward, tumbling across the arena floor.
"Chongchong!"
Xiangling whined.
This...
Hiroshi was dumbfounded in the referee's seat.
Chef Xiangling, the stove is very big, but what about your reaction speed?
Could your reaction be any slower?
The Teyvat Trainer's Home Version of the Pokédex could not see the specific six-dimensional attributes (stats) of the Pokémon.
But Hiroshi's System Version could.
Just like the original game, the base stat total of a Larvesta at birth is a full 360, which is actually significantly higher than the 300 of a baby Gible.
In terms of level alone, there was no real difference between Lv. 1 and Lv. 3. They were both babies.
How could it be defeated by the Gible with just one skill?
Uh...
He saw the Larvesta staggering, but standing up again.
Oh, it wasn't knocked down instantly... Hiroshi sighed, rubbed his eyebrows, and looked at Xiangling, who was practically wiping away tears and whining.
"Your Pokémon only has a little health left!"
"Check your Pokédex quickly!"
"Use your skills and start a counterattack!"
Xiangling then remembered that she had a Pokédex and hurriedly opened it.
[Skills: Ember, String Shot]
Hey, there are two skills!
Xiangling, who was essentially cramming for a test during the battle, felt her eyes light up.
"Chongchong, use String Shot!"
On the other side.
The Gible's Take Down was so effective that it almost sent the Larvesta flying in one blow.
Hu Tao couldn't help but put her hands on her hips and let out a barbell-like laugh.
"Gible, Tackle!"
"Come on, my little tank——"
"We are a fearless dump truck!"
Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
The words had just fallen out of her mouth.
A sheet of sticky white silk covered the head of the Gible, blinding it instantly.
"Gib~?"
The Gible's stubby lower legs and forelimbs began to struggle, but the silk was strong and sticky. Its speed dropped drastically.
Xiangling issued the second order in one breath, finding her rhythm.
"Great job, Chongchong!"
"Use Ember on me!"
The red tentacles on the Larvesta's head suddenly condensed the element of fire, and hot air surged around it.
Hu Tao was shocked.
"Gible, get out of the way!"
Boom.
The sparks exploded on the blinded Gible accurately.
The Gible shook, and there were burn marks on its body. It cried out in pain.
This time, Xiangling laughed endlessly.
"Last hit! One more shot!"
"Crush that little shark!"
When the second ball of sparks hit the Gible, which was still entangled in silk threads, the baby dragon couldn't take it anymore.
The baby suddenly fell to the ground, its big eyes swirling with dizziness.
[Gible is unable to battle!]
Hiroshi immediately judged:
"Xiangling and Larvesta win!"
After the verdict, Hiroshi breathed a sigh of relief.
Damn, I'm exhausted just watching.
The battle had lasted only one or two minutes, but it felt like an eternity of cringe-worthy mistakes.
You shouldn't expect anything from a baby-level Trainer who has just adopted an initial Pokémon. It's too scary!
What a pair of "Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Chicks" (idiots)!
Hiroshi was really full. He felt like he had eaten a full meal of awkwardness.
"The bug wins," Zekrom noted, sounding surprisingly satisfied. "The dragon was arrogant and blind. The bug was patient and sticky. A lesson for us all."