The stadium fell into silence. Despite the attribute restraint, this Squirtle proved to be remarkably strong. Furthermore, without a weather ability user, it seemed unlikely that Capital would be able to manually initiate a Sandstorm.
"Coach, let me go," Feng Shuangcheng said with a nod to the coach.
Coach Tommy Shao adopted a serious demeanor as he crossed his arms. "Be careful!"
Feng Shuangcheng, the Jinmen Rookie Champion of the year, was once seen as Joey's protege. His trump card Pokémon also possessed the Sand Stream Ability.
"Roar!"
Gigalith, formed from rock, sported a bright red crystal stone on its forehead. It let out a deafening roar, and the rolling yellow sand rose again.
While the Sand Stream could barely contend with the rain, Luke seized the opportunity and shouted, "Water Pulse!"
A deluge of water resembling a waterfall cascaded from the sky, creating a deafening noise and causing Gigalith to become disoriented.
Seizing the moment, Squirtle followed with an Aqua Tail attack, sending countless rocks flying.
"Squirtle is going all out! But is its energy running low?"
"Don't forget, Teacher Luke has another Pokémon that hasn't made an appearance yet!"
Feng Shuangcheng's other Pokémon was a Skarmory with razor-sharp wings and a helmet that gleamed coldly.
Skarmory unleashed an Air Slash, creating a faint white mark on Squirtle's body. "Squirtle, are you alright?" Luke said with concern.
The commentator remarked, "It seems that Air Slash has dealt a considerable amount of damage to Squirtle."
Luke's expression turned odd. Squirtle was not just slightly injured; it was seriously hurt!
Squirtle, being cautious, activated Torrent once more. Water Gun struck Skarmory's defense, and Water Pulses continued to barrage it.
In the audience, people were in shock. Having an undeveloped Squirtle face two of Capital's formidable team members was akin to a death sentence.
At the guest table, Sun Huaian appeared a bit tense. Squirtle reminded him of an unpleasant memory when he faced Du Yuanshan's powerful Crawdaunt.
After contemplating for a moment, Luke decided it was time to let Sylveon have a turn.
Capital's third player, Qiao Yingying, approached the field with determination. She greeted Luke with a nod. "Teacher Luke, please guide me."
Luke nodded slightly and then recalled Squirtle. He threw a Poké Ball that bounced back into his palm, and a graceful Sylveon appeared in the arena.
The audience marveled, "This Sylveon is adorable!"
"Wow, Teacher Luke has a Sylveon!"
Sylveon raised its head elegantly, basking in the attention.
Qiao Yingying couldn't hide her envy. "Let's go, Scizor!"
Scizor, a metallic Pokémon with a matte red exoskeleton and menacing pincers, was her choice.
However, Sylveon's speed outmatched Scizor's. A quick attack left a gruesome gash on Scizor's abdomen.
Capital's coach, Tommy Shao, was taken aback by this incredible speed. Qiao Yingying, hailing from the Bug Type Gym, displayed excellent innate talent and quick reactions. However, she didn't even get a chance to give a command during the recent exchange.
Nervously, Qiao Yingying ordered, "Scizor, use Bullet Punch!"
As the name suggested, Bullet Punch was incredibly swift, making it impossible to evade. Yet Sylveon showed her determination. Her body emitted a bright white light as she charged at Scizor.
"Is that... Sylveon with a sharp gaze?" Tu Yong, from the guest seat, was taken aback.
"The power behind this... It's Pixilate's Ability!" Ji Shiyin squinted, his eyes analyzing the situation.
Sylveon, known for her cuteness, charged like a war chariot. Her fluffy white fur, radiating a crystal white light, was unexpectedly stunning. The tackle was fierce and emitted the sound of rushing wind.
"Sylveon, use Double Edge!"
"Vui!" Sylveon responded.
Boom! Sylveon was the first to strike, and her powerful tackle sent Scizor flying.
"Unbelievable!"
"Surely that's not Flareon?!" Qiao Yingying exclaimed with widened eyes.
In that instant, she caught sight of Scizor charging toward her.
Could this cute Pokémon like Sylveon truly perform so brilliantly?
Scizor was knocked out and crashed into the protective barrier with a resounding "Ka-cha."
The expressions of all those present grew more complex. They had assumed that this was Capital's tactical surprise. But why had the situation suddenly reversed, and why did it seem that Teacher Luke intended to sweep through five Pokémon?
The other Pokémon from Qiao Yingying were eliminated in quick succession.
Luke smiled and calmly stated, "Next."
"What on earth!"
Regardless of their affiliations, everyone was astounded. Teacher Luke...he was acting quite arrogantly!
On the guest table, Du Yuanshan cast a sly glance at Sun Huaian and remarked, "What were you saying earlier? Just going for individual matches?"
Sun Huaian's face turned crimson, and he merely snorted, opting not to respond.
Magic City University's supporters waved their flags enthusiastically.
"Teacher Luke, you've got this!"
The scoreboard on the LCD screen read 3:1.
The remaining two players on Capital's side exchanged puzzled glances.
Chen Tingyu had previously witnessed Teacher Luke's incredible prowess during the Open Challenge. Now, the imposing Sylveon was casting a shadow over everyone.
Chen Tingyu took a deep breath, adjusted his ponytail, and stepped onto the battlefield with confidence.
"Please guide me, Teacher Luke," Chen Tingyu nervously requested.
Luke nodded and couldn't help but think to himself. It seemed that Capital had a penchant for Water-type Pokémon. Turning the finals into a Water-type competition was rather fitting!
Chen Tingyu presented a Great Ball and cleared his throat, his face turning bright red.
"One more thing, Teacher Luke..."
"Yes?"
"If I win this match, can we go on a date?"
"???"
"vui~! (〝▼皿▼)" Sylveon snorted with a flourish of her ribbons, and a glint of fire flickered in her eyes.
"Is Teacher Luke trash-talking?"
"Look at the girl on the other side—she's blushing!"
"That's a bit cheeky! It's certainly a Teacher Luke tactic!"
"No problem," Luke coughed lightly, "but I won't lose."
With this approval, Chen Tingyu's morale skyrocketed.
His cautionary expression returned, and he released Gliscor with a confident gesture.
Luke glanced at his Pokédex, feeling slightly bemused. Capital was living up to its reputation as a veteran Water-type user. The Poison Heal tactic and even the matching moves were exactly as recommended in the video.
Before Luke could give an order, Sylveon pounced on Gliscor like a flash of lightning.
"Gliscor, Protect!"
To Luke's amazement, Sylveon's ribbons forcibly cut through Gliscor's light green barrier.
The commentator was astonished, "Only when the strength difference is too significant can one forcefully break through the defense!"
Bang!
In mid-air, Sylveon radiated a white light, akin to a blazing fireball.
It was the move "Return."
With maximum affection and Pixilate, the power was raised to an astounding level.
Bang!
Gliscor was launched into the stands and fell into unconsciousness.
The audience fell into absolute silence.
"Does Sylveon have the ability to sweep four Pokémon?"
"Teacher Luke...does he even see his opponent as a challenge?"
With a frustrated expression, Teacher Luke stared at Chen Tingyu and nodded slightly. Then, he raised his head and gazed into the camera with a sinister smile.
Capital's supporters involuntarily swallowed hard.
It was a devilish smile!
His tone was as chilling as the devil's whisper, echoing throughout the arena.
"Next."