April 23rd.
The official competition day of the Su province high school Pokemon battle league.
Before the match began, the audience discussed the new trainer rankings published yesterday by the Jinling Trainer Association.
What the viewers discussed was whether the rankings were reasonable or not.
The discussion at the venue was relatively harmonious, but online, it was a series of intense debates.
The main force behind these debates were naturally the students from various schools, all defending their own contestants, and it got so heated that even through a screen, faces would turn red and ears would steam…
Must be because they have too little homework.
...
"Boss, you're in the last match."
Inside the arena.
When Liu Le saw the group listings on the big screen, he chuckled, "So, how does it feel to go last? Feeling the pressure?"
"There's always a bit of pressure, but it's fine if I have it, as long as Eevee doesn't," Fang Yuan thought to himself.
"Uh..." The teachers and fellow students beside Fang Yuan were all shaking their heads with bemused expressions.
"Let's be serious..." Teacher Bai Ning instructed.
"Just making a joke to lighten the mood… By the way, these groupings should be based on last night's rankings, right? Jiang Ran is in the first match, and I'm in the last. If the list is reasonable, theoretically, both of us will continue to advance and then meet in the finals," Fang Yuan said. "Truthfully… I'm kinda looking forward to it."
During the official competition, Zhuang Xin, as the representative of the Pingcheng Trainer Association, took a seat in the VIP area.
Now, it was Director Wu Pingqiu of Pingcheng No.1 Middle School in charge of tactical guidance, dealing with contestant matters along with Teacher Bai Ning and others.
"It's good as long as you're confident," Director Wu said.
For Fang Yuan, there wasn't much for Director Wu and Teacher Bai Ning to say; after all, Fang Yuan had already brought glory to Pingcheng No.1 Middle School.
Second place among the rookies, he had a reason to be a bit confident.
...
"Zhuang Xin, your Pingcheng has done well this time, bringing out a grassroots talent. I think Pingcheng will have another professional trainer in the future," said a female professional trainer from the Yanhe Trainer Association to Zhuang Xin.
"I'll take your kind words. The captain of your Yanhe No.1 Middle School isn't bad either," Zhuang Xin replied with a smile beaming on her face.
The two immediately started to sing each other's praises.
"Speaking of this Fang Yuan, he really is something extraordinary," Zhao Yan of the Wuzhou City Trainer Association remarked as he watched the two women discuss with great interest, sighing with helplessness. "For a grassroots to reach this level, it's already comparable to a national treasure; such a talent rarely comes along."
"Everyone has their own opportunities… Even the earliest trainers started from zero, exploring on their own," someone chuckled heartily. The owner of the voice had just arrived and then sat down next to Zhao Yan.
"Master Xu Zhi."
Seeing the new arrival, the professional trainers from various cities greeted him.
Xu Zhi was a representative of several high schools in Jinling city and a member of the provincial government, a One-Star Professional Trainer with the honorific title of master.
Yang Han from the Pingcheng Trainer Association, who once wanted to take the promotion assessment to become a One-Star Professional Trainer, failed, unfortunately.
A professional trainer with a certain level of accomplishment in a particular attribute could earn Merit Value by exploring secret locations, or by achieving outstanding performance in some domains, and then apply for promotion by using these values if they meet both the strength and honor criteria, they could be awarded one star.
Yang Han finally managed to gather enough Merit Value for an assessment this year with the help of the Sand Scale Fruit Tree, but failed in the test of strength and did not get promoted.
"It's Jiang Ran's turn to enter the stage," Master Xu Zhi commented.
All the professional trainers nodded and turned their attention to the field, waiting for this new trainer, who could possibly have ties to the "Spirit World," to make his appearance.
In the main venue.
Some leaders who needed to make a public appearance had given their speeches. They mostly summarized the performances of the previous rounds, fortunately not taking too much time.
Then, Wang Lin, the commentator and the host, took over the conversation and began introducing the individual battles that would take place today.
The first match.
Jiang Ran from Nanjiang University Affiliated Middle School vs Feng Kun from Guangling Middle School.
Feng Kun was ranked eleventh on the list published by the Jinling Trainer Association, and his beginner elf was Oddish.
This Oddish's venom is quite unusual, possessing a strong paralytic effect, likely cultivated through special secret methods.
However, Jiang Ran's opponent, Gengar, also has poison attributes, so whether the venom that has always been feared when coming from Oddish will be effective against it remains to be seen.
"Go for it, Gengar!"
On the field, Jiang Ran, dressed in a black and red uniform, released his Pokemon Gengar.
Fang Yuan sat among the contestants, observing this Jiang Ran, who was, to put it mildly... very ordinary.
He had neither the arrogance of a genius nor any other notable allure.
He resembled a stranger that one might pass by without taking any notice, leaving no impression whatsoever.
As both Jiang Ran and Feng Kun released their Pokemon, the referee gave the order once again:
"Begin!"
No sooner had the words been spoken than Oddish spit out countless Poison Pins.
The exact number was unclear, but it must have been dozens, easily conjuring the term "Pear Flower Needles in a Storm."
But...
"Ambush," ordered Jiang Ran.
Gengar displayed a speed that was nearly impossible to follow with the naked eye, as if it had phased through another dimensional space, bypassing the moves and suddenly appearing right in front of Oddish.
Oddish snapped its jaws in a panic, but Gengar simply swept past it.
"Heeheeheeheeheehee~"
Moving like a specter, Gengar's quick presence beside Oddish left it disoriented.
In Oddish's ears, the sound of Gengar's laughter echoed, growing fainter and fainter...
As the sounds reached its ears, Oddish felt as though it was sinking into a dark, chaotic space, filled with endless drowsiness.
"Dream Eater."
As Oddish closed its eyes, Gengar's figure once again passed through it.
Bang...
Oddish hit the ground, and Gengar, still wanting more, licked its tongue.
It was an extremely succinct battle that suddenly brought the spotlight onto Jiang Ran and Gengar.
...
"It's a complete crush, an absolute crush!"
"Boss, it's just like what's been spread online, this Gengar's hypnotism ability is terrifying," Liu Le exclaimed.
"And that Dream Eater's power is strong too... That move is definitely Crabby's nemesis."
"Huh? Why do I feel the need to raise a Pokemon that can use Dream Eater..."
"Hmm, I should raise one later... Indeed, this Gengar is adept in Hypnosis and Weird Light; it's tough to deal with. These two moves, and Eevee's Pretentiousness, seem to share the same clever tricks; this means that Gengar's spiritual power is also very strong," Fang Yuan stated.
He then scratched his head, pondering that this was a Ghost-type Pokemon skilled in Illusion Techniques. Cultivating in the direction of illusions is most challenging; likewise, it's difficult to counter. However, given Eevee's spiritual power, it should be able to withstand it, right?
After all, Eevee had been able to mingle and buddy up with the Ghost-type Pokemon in the Magic University Haunted House. If it were to be defeated instantly, it would be a huge disservice to those brothers and sisters in the Ghost House.
"The opponent has illusions, Eevee has Pretentiousness, the opponent moves unpredictably, but Eevee can rely on its reaction and awareness to cope with it. It's an equal match, but I can't be sure this is the opponent's limit; they're a tricky adversary," Fang Yuan mused.
The competition continued.
In the second match, Guo Xuan from Jinghai Middle School faced off against the team captain from Green Sea High School.
After a bout of exchanging counter-moves, Guo Xuan's Infernape emerged a notch above, using its strength to hammer the opponent out of the arena.
The third match... the fourth... the fifth... the sixth... the seventh matches.
The contestants' battles were all standard fare, with no more one-sided affairs occurring.
Among them, the team captains from Fengcheng Middle School and Wu Jin No.1 Middle School stood out with particularly commendable performances.
Then came the eighth match.
Fang Yuan from Pingcheng No.1 Middle School vs the team captain from Nan's teacher attached.
The audience was once again in for a shock.
At the start, Eevee dodged all of the opponent's attacks with Quick Attack!
Then, it infuriated the opponent instantly with Pretentiousness.
Seizing the moment of confusion, Eevee landed a headshot with Shadow Ball and followed up with an Iron Tail to the head...
The opposing Breloom went down with virtually no resistance.
It was another crush.
This was the second decisive crushing battle after Jiang Ran's, drawing all eyes once more.
As Fang Yuan gave a thumbs-up in the direction of the Pingcheng No.1 Middle School's spectator seats, he instantly became the second center of attention.