There was no anger in those eyes, no disdain, only pure indifference. This complete disregard was more infuriating than any mockery.
"You..."
The blond youth was choked up for a moment, then let out a cold sneer.
"It's nothing. I just wanted to remind you not to think you're all that just because you have some money. On the battlefield, it's strength that matters! I hope you don't get knocked out in the first round; that would be too embarrassing."
With that, he smugly patted the back of the Manectric beside him.
The Manectric bared its teeth understandingly, a string of electric sparks bursting from its body as it let out a low, intimidating roar.
The surrounding Trainers turned their gazes toward them, many wearing expressions of people watching a good show.
Jiang Han didn't even lift an eyelid, turning to walk away and leaving only his back to the other party.
"Damn it!" The blond youth's face flushed red with anger.
Soon, the tournament bracket was announced on the large screen.
Jiang Han's gaze swept across the screen. His first-round opponent was a quiet-looking young girl.
Meanwhile, the blond youth was in the other half of the bracket.
"If you're lucky, we'll meet in the finals."
The blond youth approached again at some point, lowering his voice.
"When that time comes, I'll show you what a real Electric-type Trainer is!"
Jiang Han finally looked him in the eye and coolly uttered two words: "Noisy."
The first round of the tournament began shortly.
"Next up is the first match! Electric-type Trainer Lily versus contestant Jiang Han!"
As the announcement rang out, Jiang Han stepped onto the left command platform.
Opposite him, the quiet girl named Lily took a deep, nervous breath and sent out her pokémon.
"Go, Plusle!"
In a flash of white light, a small and cute Plusle appeared on the field. The red positive-pole patterns on its cheeks shimmered as it gave a high-spirited cry.
Cries of "So cute!" erupted from the spectator stands.
A confident smile also appeared on Lily's face.
Although her Plusle looked cute, it had been meticulously raised, and its speed and Electric-type skill power were quite impressive.
"And what will contestant Jiang Han's pokémon be?" The referee looked toward Jiang Han.
Expressionless, Jiang Han took a Poké Ball from his waist.
"Sandile, I'm counting on you."
With a flash of red light, a Sandile several times larger than the Plusle appeared on the field. It opened its mouth full of sharp teeth and let out an intimidating roar at its opponent, its eyes flashing with a fierce light.
That fierce aura, honed in the desert, instantly wiped away the cute atmosphere.
Plusle was so startled it took a step back, the cute smile on its face freezing.
The chatter in the stands also changed.
"Ground-type and Dark-type... This is a complete type disadvantage."
"The size difference is too huge. How is she supposed to fight?"
Lily's face paled slightly, but she still forced herself to stay calm and cheer herself up.
It's just a type disadvantage. As long as she utilized her speed advantage, she might still have a fighting chance!
"Battle begin!" The referee's arm swung down sharply.
"Plusle, use Quick Attack!" Lily was the first to give an order.
Plusle turned into a streak of white light, rushing toward Sandile at extreme speed, attempting to use its speed advantage to harass the opponent.
However, there wasn't the slightest ripple of emotion on Jiang Han's face.
"Dig."
Two simple words escaped his lips.
Sandile didn't even look at the incoming white light. Its thick limbs dug down fiercely, and it instantly disappeared into the ground, leaving only a deep hole.
Plusle's Quick Attack hit nothing but air. It stopped in place, bewildered, looking around warily.
"It's underground! Lily, make it move!" someone in the stands shouted anxiously.
Lily also realized the danger and hurriedly shouted, "Plusle, get out of there!"
But it was too late.
At the very moment Plusle was about to move, the ground beneath its feet exploded!
"Boom!"
Sandile's massive form burst from the earth, its gaping maw accurately biting toward its target in mid-air.
It was the Bite skill!
Before Plusle could even let out a scream, it was clamped in Sandile's jaws.
"Finish it," Jiang Han's voice was as cold as ice.
Sandile whipped its head around, violently slamming the Plusle in its mouth onto the field!
"Thud!"
A dull thud echoed, making the ground tremble.
Plusle bounced once on the ground and completely lost its ability to battle, its eyes turning into swirls.
An instant knockout!
The entire venue fell into a dead silence.
From the start of the match to the end, barely a dozen seconds had passed.
One side was frantic and panicked.
The other side was calm in command, delivering a fatal blow in one strike.
This wasn't even a battle on the same level.
The referee froze for a moment before reacting, raising his flag: "Plusle is unable to battle! Therefore, the winner is contestant Jiang Han!"
Only then did Lily burst into tears with a "Wah!" She ran onto the field, picked up her Plusle, and rushed toward the Pokémon Center.
Jiang Han recalled Sandile and walked off the battlefield without any expression.
Throughout the entire process, his heart rate hadn't even quickened.
Too weak.
He returned to the contestant area. The way the surrounding Trainers looked at him had completely changed. Their previous disdain and curiosity had now turned into solemnity and wariness.
The blond youth's face was even more ashen. He hadn't expected Jiang Han's pokémon to be so fierce.
Although his Manectric was powerful, facing this Ground-type Sandile that countered him... he didn't dare think further.
Jiang Han ignored the gazes around him. He found a corner to sit down, closed his eyes, and began to review the battle.
Although it was an instant knockout, it wasn't perfect. Sandile's timing for Dig could have been 0.5 seconds faster, and the angle of emergence could have been more tricky.
That's how he was; regardless of the opponent's strength, he would always seek areas for improvement after a battle.
While he was lost in thought, a figure stopped in front of him.
Jiang Han opened his eyes and saw a familiar face.
It was Nurse Joy.
She was holding a glass of water, her face tinged with a blush of admiration and excitement: "Mr. Jiang Han, your Sandile is so amazing! Please have some water."
"Thank you." Jiang Han took the water and took a sip.
"The next match will be in a while; you can rest for a bit." Nurse Joy's tone was even more enthusiastic than before.
Strong Trainers are respected wherever they go.
Jiang Han nodded, but his gaze went past her toward a certain direction in the spectator stands.
There, a man wearing a yellow lab coat, with a full white beard, looking somewhat aged and a bit stout, was quietly watching him.
The man seemed to notice Jiang Han's gaze. He gave him a friendly smile and turned his attention back to another field where an intense battle was taking place.
Jiang Han's pupils constricted slightly.
Iron Xuan!
The Electric-type Gym Leader of Mauville City.
Why was he here? Was it a coincidence?
Or was it... that he had developed an interest in him, or rather, in his Sandile?
In Jiang Han's heart, his alertness instantly reached its peak.
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