The World Tournament was in full swing, and China's Second Team was set to compete in the second match. The previous national team match would take no more than an hour to conclude, so Fang Yuan and his team were also getting ready to leave.
In Fang Yuan's camp, they were extremely cautious. Even though the match was drawing near, they were still diligently preparing for battle.
The opening of the fourth gate of the Eight Gates of Lightning Flame was of critical importance and required ample preparation. Facing the Mi Country First Team at the outset was something Fang Yuan had not anticipated; he had thought there would be more time to prepare, but now all plans had to be expedited.
"How's it going?"
Fang Yuan awaited the final data analysis from Rotom, which was projecting a virtual image of Monferno and Ditto in the form of Inferno Shock Turbo Guards. The data parameters of the two Pokémon kept overlapping, and their strength quickly surpassed the second and third stages of top-level combat power, continuing to soar wildly.
"Flawless, Rotom. With the strength and quality of Monferno and Ditto, even without the aid of the Power of the Heart, the Lightning Flame Energy can be compressed four times. The duration should be about a minute; the exact time will depend on the willpower of Monferno and Ditto."
Rotom nodded in agreement.
Fang Yuan said, "Alright, let's initiate the fourth Lightning Flame gate first and see if we need to use the Power of the Heart to extend the duration."
"Monferno, what do you think?"
"Woah!!"
"Bwoo~~"
At that moment, Monferno was holding a smartphone it had snatched from Eevee, anxiously watching the live broadcast of the match.
Why is the fight so slow? The individual battles aren't over yet!!!
It would be the year of the monkey and the month of the horse before it and Ditto would get their turn to appear.
"Bwoo!!" "Bwoo~~"
Eevee, on the other hand, had a twitching corner of its mouth, urging Monferno to be more composed, fearing that in its forcefulness, Monferno might crush Eevee's smartphone—and that would really anger it.
It might even suggest to Fang Yuan to use the Z-Move on Monferno.
Glutton was also looking forward to the match because, in the end, Fang Yuan had decided to make Glutton the supporter for Monferno.
There were only two options for supporting Monferno and Ditto: either Eevee or Glutton.
The reason was simple; once Monferno and Ditto forced open the fourth gate together, they would be as powerful as a single Pokémon. The responsibility of the other Pokémon would be significant. If Gura sent out even two of the simplest top-level combat powers besides Volcarona, neither Self-detonating Magnetic Monster, Milotic, nor Dragonite could face them at the same time.
But Eevee could crush them, and Glutton could use its type to maneuver and disrupt, and if push came to shove, it could undergo Mega Evolution.
"Woah!!" Just as Monferno was anxiously watching, the smartphone it was holding was suddenly snatched away by Fang Yuan and tucked into his pocket.
This guy... didn't even bother with him.
Monferno looked up to see Fang Yuan smiling down at it, extending his arm in a fist-bump gesture.
After a moment of bewilderment, Monferno's fighting spirit flared. It nodded and extended its arm, gently tapping Fang Yuan's fist with its own.
We must win.
.........
Inside the Silver Arena.
The first battle, between Indonesia and Canada, was about to conclude.
In terms of the Trainers' strength, Canada clearly had the upper hand over Indonesia.
However, the Canadian team showed no signs of euphoria at the impending victory, because their next opponent would be America's First Team.
This industrial powerhouse, situated in North America close to America, also had not expected to face the American Team in the second match.
When Fang Yuan arrived at the China Trainers' seating area in the Silver Arena, Muye Liuji, perched atop a Pidgeot, had already announced the result of the battle.
"Victory for the Canadian Team!"
"Wow, that's a huge Pidgeot," Fang Yuan remarked as he arrived, instantly captivated by the main referee's Pidgeot below. Goodness, it was even bigger than his Venusaur; how was it raised?
It definitely can't grow that big on a diet of Caterpie, unless it was fed Rayquazas.
Such a massive Pidgeot was way too cool and flashy.
Shang Ren, Mu Fan, Tang Xinlan, Zheng Hongyi: ?
"No, seriously, our match is up next. Fang Team, can't you feel a bit more anxious?" Tang Xinlan couldn't help but say.
"Confidence is a great trait to have, but I think I need the 'Overconfidence' ability right now," Fang Yuan said with a chuckle.
Jiang Li and the others were speechless; what a time for Fang Yuan to crack Pokémon puns. He really had nerves of steel.
China's Second Team had already decided on their battle order. Zheng Hongyi would lead, followed by Mu Fan, with the third individual match spot going to Tang Xinlan.
As for the team battle, Fang Yuan would lead off, and Shang Ren would go last.
If China had any hope of victory aside from Fang Yuan, it lay with Shang Ren alone.
In team battles, where each side could only send out three Pokémon, Shang Ren was perfectly capable of putting forth a Sandstorm team comprised of one top-level combat power and two pseudo-top-level Pokémon.
Even though the odds of victory were still not high, it wasn't without a chance for a fight.
Time was drawing closer to the official competition, and during the rest period between the two matches, the five members of China's Second Team were all sitting quietly with their eyes closed, cultivating their spirits. The five members of the first team did not disturb them.
As the countdown ended, the huge screen in the Silver Arena immediately displayed the Stars and Stripes representing America and the Five-star Red Flag representing China on both sides.
In the middle of the flickering flag patterns, the vigorous and powerful white letters "VS" appeared, as if dancing dragons and snakes!
Following that, under the flags, the upper body photos of the respective players were shown.
"The second match, Mi Country First Team VS China's Second Team!"
"On both sides, the players, Katie vs Zheng Hongyi!"
Katie, the Flying-type king from America, despite being a woman, had a very fierce fighting style. Everyone from the China's Second Team was well aware that the entire Mi Country First Team was made of top-level combat power and that each person definitely had more than one Pokemon, so this would be an extremely tough battle.
On the presidential stand, Master Ma Chenzong from China and Master Brian from America had already taken their seats. At this moment, Ma Chenzong took a deep breath; he had already anticipated the outcome of this battle. The worst-case scenario would be 8:0. Stay calm, don't panic!
"Master Ma, your country's players all seem to be in good spirits," Brian of America's Zodiac, Aries, said with a smile.
"You're not bad yourselves," Ma Chenzong replied indifferently, not expecting the other side to be eager to engage in a war of words so soon. The China Association and most Western countries' Trainer Associations didn't have a good relationship, so Brian naturally wouldn't miss such an opportunity.
However, it was now China's Second Team versus Mi Country First Team, which allowed America to be arrogant, but next was China First Team versus Mi Country Second Team. Had Brian jumped the gun on his trash-talking? What goes around comes around!
"Heh," Antonio and Lumisia were already used to such behavior. Every representative from the countries that came up always had to engage in some verbal sparring or sarcasm before they were content, and they took listening in as a form of entertainment.
"Melo...?" It was Meloetta who sighed helplessly after sensing the emotion between Ma Chenzong and Brian that they wished they could kill each other. These people, really, they are not endearing.
......
On the field, the wavy-haired and sexy Katie had already arrived, looking at Zheng Hongyi with a smile.
In comparison, Zheng Hongyi's expression was much more serious. Coming from a police background, he instinctively focused 200% of his spirit in such a situation.
"Don't be so nervous," Katie said with a smile.
"Save the nonsense," Zheng Hongyi was completely focused on waiting for the referee's command and paid no attention to his opponent.
In the sky, Muye Liuji glanced at both players and, seeing that they were ready, she immediately gave the order.
The instant the command was issued, a flash of white light appeared as Katie's Talonflame emerged in mid-air, flapping its red and black feathers, enveloped in a fiery glow as it flew.
On Zheng Hongyi's side, he sent out Hudidi, a Psychic Type, as his first choice.
After the match began, under the enhancement of Gale Wings Ability, Talonflame's speed reached an extreme.
This Talonflame, a top dual attribute dominator of Fire and Flying type, showed terrifying flying capabilities in the previous Flying Type Event, won a silver medal for America, and possessed immense strength, clearly not something Hudidi could contend with.
So, with Hudidi unable to keep up with the speed of the incoming flash, he could only cover the area with Confusion to block and slow down the attack.
However, facing Hudidi's psychic Barrier, Talonflame simply tore through it with a claw, causing the barrier to collapse. Then, the red flash, blazing with Flame, instantly arrived in front of Hudidi, igniting itself with fire, or rather, using the Flare Blitz Move.
With a "boom", a huge Smoke cloud rose from the arena, and amidst the smoke, the shrill cry of Talonflame could be heard. On the Trainers' side, Katie licked her lips, while Zheng Hongyi's expression darkened. He called out to Hudidi, but there was no response.
"Is that so?"
Seeing this, the Referee Muye Liuji above in the sky cast a fleeting glance at Katie but made no indication, waiting with the audience for the smoke to disperse.
A moment later...
The smoke finally dissipated.
At this point, Hudidi was not only scorched all over but also bore numerous gashes from Talonflame's claws on the charred flesh. Clearly, after knocking down Hudidi with one strike, Talonflame did not stop attacking while the smoke lingered and before the Referee declared the outcome, inflicting maximum damage on Hudidi. Now, his injuries, visible to the naked eye, were clearly displayed on the big screen to every viewer.
Such injuries could not heal without several days of medical care.
Chinas bench, with Jiang Li, Fang Yuan, Shang Ren, and the others, though they took a deep breath and clenched their fists, said nothing.
In battles between any two countries, whether they be individual or team battles, having a significant advantage usually leads to ruthless tactics. This way, the opponent's Pokemon is essentially rendered useless and definitely won't be able to compete in the ring again.
These are necessary tactics.
However, compared to previous matches, the American team's methods were even more ruthless, seemingly having undergone specific training to perfectly achieve a state where Hudidi would be critically injured for a long time without dying.
"That's too much..."
In the grand Silver Arena, the American crowd erupted in celebration, while with Katie using only Talonflame to continuously annihilate Zheng Hongyi's Pokemon, the Chinese audience fell silent.
Actually, for China's Second Team, the best option now would be to forfeit, to reserve strength for becoming reserves for the first team. But whether led by Jiang Li's first team or Fang Yuan's second team, no one could easily utter the word "surrender" without fighting in the World Championship.
"It can't be helped, the American first team is simply not a team that a second team can beat, the power disparity is too vast." Canada's champion said, shaking his head in front of his entire team after just winning a battle.
The Japanese bench, the Russian bench, the French bench, the English bench... Players from dozens of countries kept their eyes glued to the battlefield, obviously not optimistic about this battle.
China was destined to lose, and the loss would be devastating.
In the first battle, American first team's Flying-type master Katie vs. China's Second Team's international police Zheng Hongyi, the result was as expected. Zheng Hongyi suffered a devastating defeat with a one-versus-six record, all Main Elves seriously injured, with the battle being almost entirely one-sided.
"That's the way it is," Gura, from the American bench, said with a smile. With this, maybe the next opponents will surrender without fighting.
The American first team all wore amused smiles, whereas the captain and members of the American second team looked bitter. Sure, your first team might be having a blast, but our second team is going to face China's First Team next. Haven't you heard, leave a line when doing things, so we can meet in a pleasant way in the future!