Tang Hui wore a perplexed expression. It was quite apparent that he didn't have any Badge, and yet he challenged with such a formidable Haunter. Was he really this shameless?
Tang Hui cast a glance at the three Poké Balls on his belt—Kadabra, Meowstic, and Swoobat. Since he was facing college students, there was a slight difference in strength compared to Haunter. However, being a Trainer wasn't solely about Levels. Strategy played a significant role.
With a quick pat on his waist, Tang Hui's Poké Ball bounced up, and he skillfully grasped it. In a cold tone, he commanded, "Go, Meowstic!"
A burst of red light emerged from the Poké Ball, and a fluffy indigo blue feline Pokémon appeared on the battlefield. This male Meowstic had striking jade-green eyes, standing on its short legs with a fluffy white tail.
Meowstic had a stern expression despite its cute appearance, and those who underestimated its stature were in for a rude awakening.
"It's cute," Luke mused, stroking his chin, "but not as cute as Eevee."
In response, the Poké Ball on Luke's waist shook.
"Eevee~?!"
Inside the Poké Ball, Eevee blushed, pulled its ears down, and hid its face in embarrassment.
"Good thing I didn't summon it!"
Luke opened his Pokédex and glanced at the information.
[Meowstic, Psychic Type
Ability: Prankster
Holding items: Light Clay
Moves: Fake Out, Light Screen, Reflect, Psybeam, Yawn...]
Luke nodded as he read Meowstic's Ability and moves. If he wanted to be more annoying than anyone else, he would need to induce poison, paralysis, and burns all at once.
As the sun began to set, everyone watched the field with bated breath, and the referee's whistle signaled the start of the battle.
"Meowstic!" Tang Hui commanded, "Yawn!"
Luke's response came swiftly: "Substitute!"
Before Yawn could take effect, Haunter split into two. By dodging Yawn, Haunter, who had split himself, avoided falling asleep.
In the Magic University player's area, Captain Johnny was slightly bewildered. "Coach Lu's reaction speed is remarkable."
"If he hesitated for just half a second, Haunter would've fallen asleep even with the Substitute," he remarked.
"No, Luke must have read Tang Hui's strategy," Coach Zhai Wenyao added. "After observing so many battles, Luke has probably figured out Tang Hui's tactics by now."
Haunter's fingertips sparkled with icy Will-O-Wisp.
Tang Hui thought for a moment before commanding, "Light Screen!"
A dazzling Light Screen materialized, held in Meowstic's hand as if to reflect the Will-O-Wisp back.
"Stop, Haunter!" Luke instructed. "Shadow Punch!"
"Jie jie~!"
With a grin, Haunter extinguished the Will-O-Wisp at his fingertips. He then threw a punch, smashing directly into the Light Screen.
"Dong!"
Meowstic was struck by the flying fist and was visibly distorted before being flung more than two meters away.
"What is this operation?!"
"I didn't expect Haunter to be a physical attacker!"
"Amazing! Haunter used a physical attack!"
In the guest area, Song Pengcheng was taken aback. "Is Haunter's physical attack... so powerful?"
Du Yuanshan chuckled heartily, "Not powerful, but Luke disrupted Tang Hui's rhythm!"
Tang Hui appeared somewhat flustered as well. Haunter hadn't seen using Shadow Punch earlier, so why was it using it now?
In the midst of Tang Hui's confusion, Luke called out in a cold voice, "Shadow Ball!"
Tang Hui was now thoroughly bewildered. Luke had chosen not to use Shadow Ball earlier, so why use it now? Did he not pay attention during his class sessions?
"Psybeam!" Tang Hui countered, regaining his focus.
With Light Screen still in effect, Meowstic twitched its ears and released a blue Mental Force that surged towards Haunter. In an instant, Substitute, guarding Haunter, was torn apart by Psybeam.
Haunter, on the other hand, grinned mischievously and focused his Shadow Ball into a single point, colliding with the Light Screen.
"Ka-cha!"
Amid the gasps of the onlookers, the previously unbreakable Light Screen cracked.
Tommy Lu swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Can the Light Screen, fortified by Light Clay, really be shattered?"
He wondered why the Light Screen had felt as solid as a wall of steel when he had challenged earlier.
Du Yuanshan, stroking his white beard, nodded approvingly. "By gathering Ghost Type energy, Haunter continuously purified the Shadow Ball and focused it on a single point of the Light Screen. This training technique is even better than some Gym Leaders'."
"He must be from a Ghost Type aristocratic family," Du Yuanshan speculated.
Song Pengcheng looked puzzled. "But we still don't know much about him... Have we ever investigated his background?"
Du Yuanshan laughed and replied, "I don't dare to investigate too deeply."
With Meowstic's support quality weakening, Tang Hui tried to recall it using a Poké Ball, but the red light was unable to retrieve Meowstic.
Tang Hui widened his eyes as Haunter's shadow extended towards the ground, tightly restraining Meowstic.
"Mean Look? When did he...," Tang Hui's complexion shifted slightly. "Oops, I was careless!"
He had been too obvious with his intention to switch Pokémon, making it easy for Gym Leader Tang to guess.
"Haunter's Shadow Ball is quite formidable," Luke thought as he stroked his chin, feeling a bit conflicted. Cynthia's training methods weren't just for show; he had exchanged them for a house, after all.
"Haunter, use Shadow Ball!" Luke commanded with a hint of pain.
The Shadow Ball surged out, bursting with a deafening boom. Meowstic was instantly blown away, its chest scorched.
The audience was left in awe.
"Is it over already?!"
"Despite activating the Light Screen, it's all over... Teacher Luke capitalized on Gym Leader Tang's mistake!"
Tang Hui adjusted his gold-wire glasses and sighed.
After continuous battles, he had become somewhat distracted. It seemed that he had either revealed his intentions too easily or relied on instinct. Perhaps he hadn't considered things thoroughly.
After the intense battle, Haunter was left almost exhausted, particularly from its Substitute.
Tang Hui calmed himself, regrouped, and threw a Poké Ball.
"Come on, Swoobat!"
While Swoobat's attributes weren't particularly impressive, it possessed the Ability of "Simple." Under this trait, any changes to its abilities would be doubled, whether increased or decreased.
Tang Hui commanded, "Calm Mind!"
With two layers of special defense boosts, not even Haunter's Shadow Ball could break through Swoobat's defenses.
Swoobat ascended into the air, forcibly carrying Haunter's Will-O-Wisp. Its aura continued to rise.
The entire audience held its breath.
Magic City Gym's signature tactic was at play: a simple Swoobat using "Stored Power."
Under the effects of four-layer boosts and the special attack increase, the rays of Stored Power shone as brilliantly as the sun, illuminating the entire arena.
An exclamation of awe rippled through the crowd.
"Is he trying to break the record with this Stored Power?"
"Teacher Luke is truly on fire today!"
"This Stored Power could take on a hundred thousand lives!"
Magic City Gym's mastery of "Stored Power" and "Calm Mind" Secret Records was being vividly and thoroughly demonstrated.
Dazzling rays of light filled the stadium.
Luke glanced at the move list and calmly commanded, "Haunter, use Haze!"
Tang Hui suddenly widened his eyes.
Haunter grinned wickedly, releasing a thick Haze that filled the entire arena.
All bonuses and status changes were completely wiped out!