"Julian, you're sixth to go."
After Julian's one-against-eight performance yesterday, Coach Wade didn't dare put him in the first slot. If Julian went first, most of the remaining participants would barely get a chance to battle, effectively becoming bystanders.
But this way, everyone else could gain some much-needed experience instead of Julian hogging all the opportunities.
Julian nodded. Without a specific task, he preferred to avoid standing out so much anyway.
Because of yesterday's battle, his Metagross's combat power had been reassessed by the outside world, which would likely make him a target for more future assassinations.
Previously, potential attackers might not have known how strong Metagross really was, sending a few pseudo-Elite or pseudo-Elite peak-level Trainers to ambush him.
But now that its strength was clear, any attacker would surely start at the Elite level.
The more trump cards he revealed, the greater the danger he would face in the future.
Of course, Julian's greatest trump card was always his system. With it, no one could truly uncover his full capabilities.
At 8:00 AM sharp, the match officially began.
Representing Imperial University, the first to take the field was Simon, a third-year student specializing in Ghost-types.
His Pokémon? A Gengar.
It was a Gengar with a cyan potential, already at Level 70, the peak of pseudo-Elite level.
Having such a strong Pokémon as a third-year made Simon worthy of being the top student of his class.
For Shu University, their first representative was also a third-year student, whose Pokémon was an Alakazam at the peak of pseudo-Elite level.
Gengar and Alakazam were classic examples of powerful Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokémon. Not only were they exceptionally strong, but both had access to Mega Evolution forms.
Ghost- and Psychic-types were notorious for their tricky movesets. While their moves might not always be the most powerful, they often excelled at being downright annoying.
As the battle began, Gengar and Alakazam engaged in a spectacular display of offense and defense.
Gengar, often referred to as the "Universal Ghost King" was known for its ability to learn an incredibly diverse range of moves.
Of course, knowing many moves didn't guarantee mastery, but versatility never hurt—after all, knowledge is power.
"Gengar, use Venoshock!"
Gengar feinted an attack, catching Alakazam off guard. The purple venom hit Alakazam directly, not only poisoning it but also corroding its body.
As the venom's corrosive effects took hold, white smoke rose from Alakazam's body.
"Alakazam, Psychic!"
Before Gengar could revel in its success, its plump body was struck and flung back by the powerful blast.
Unlike its pre-evolutions, Gastly and Haunter—both gas-based Pokémon with negligible weight—Gengar was significantly heavier.
Once it evolved, Gengar's weight skyrocketed from a mere 0.1 kg to 40.5 kg, likely due to its ability to store objects in its body.
A few minutes later, both Gengar and Alakazam collapsed to the ground.
The first match ended in a draw.
"Unlucky. Of all opponents, it had to be a Psychic-type"
Simon muttered as he walked off the stage, clearly dissatisfied with the result.
He hadn't expected to perform like Julian, but at the very least, he wanted to take down two opponents. Yet, the first round ended in a tie.
Thea, who specialized in Psychic-types herself, gave Simon a sharp look.
However, she didn't confront him about it—not because she didn't want to, but because she was up next as Imperial University's second representative.
"Go, Gardevoir!"
Thea's Pokémon was a Gardevoir, affectionately referred to by many Trainers as the "waifu Pokémon." This one was even a rare shiny Gardevoir, with its normally white gown replaced by an elegant black dress.
The black dress gave Gardevoir an air of mystery, though some spectators had less-than-wholesome thoughts about the look.
Shu University's representative was a Fire-type Trainer, who sent out a Houndoom.
Houndoom, a Dark and Fire dual-type Pokémon, was known for its aggressive attack patterns and unwavering loyalty to its Trainer.
"Houndoom, Dark Pulse!"
Houndoom unleashed a wave of sinister energy, but Gardevoir evaded it with Teleport, instantly reappearing to Houndoom's left. It seized the opportunity to counter with a Dazzling Gleam.
"Crunch!"
Houndoom didn't dodge. Energy converged into a large, sharp-toothed mouth, which clamped down hard on Gardevoir's arm.
The sheer biting force made Gardevoir cry out in pain, forcing it to interrupt its Dazzling Gleam.
"Gardevoir, Triple Axel!"
Despite being caught in Houndoom's jaws, Gardevoir imbued its kicks with icy energy, landing three rapid strikes to Houndoom's abdomen.
The abdomen, a weak point for many Pokémon, proved critical. The icy strikes forced Houndoom to release its grip in pain.
But at the same time as it opened its mouth, a Flamethrower burst out.
Houndoom: I will burn you to death.
But a transparent barrier materialized in front of Gardevoir, blocking the flames.
"That's a well-timed Light Screen"
Commented Jose, who was observing the match.
"Timely, yes, but it looks like it's about to shatter," Lisa pointed out.
Though now pursuing a career in acting, Lisa had spent nearly a decade as a professional Trainer, and her insights were still sharp.
Sure enough, just as her words landed, the Light Screen broke apart. The intense Flamethrower struck Gardevoir directly, blasting it backward.
"Gardevoir, Heal Pulse!"
"Not a chance! Houndoom, Flame Charge!"
Encased in searing flames, Houndoom charged at full speed, its body radiating heat and energy. A scorching wave accompanied its fiery assault as it barreled into Gardevoir.
"Boom!"
Gardevoir struggled weakly on the ground a few times before finally collapsing.
The second match ended in a victory for Shu University.
"Yay! Shu wins!"
Lisa cheered excitedly, throwing a triumphant glance at Jose.
Jose, unfazed, replied calmly, "No rush. Julian is going out sixth."
Lisa froze mid-celebration.
'Darn this old man. Can he talk about anything 'other' than Julian? Does he not know how to hold a proper conversation?'
Meanwhile, Thea sat quietly, clearly upset over her loss. Faye, was right by her side, trying to cheer her up.
"If he dares to stay on the field, I'll take him down for you"
Faye declared, patting her chest in a show of loyalty. She was the third to compete and was determined to avenge her friend.
The opposing Trainer, also, showed no intention of stepping off the battlefield.
"Go, Togekiss!"
Faye, a Fairy-type Trainer, sent out a Togekiss.
Its pristine white feathers shimmered as it glided through the air, exuding elegance and beauty.
Watching the graceful Pokémon, Julian suddenly recalled Togepi. Trainers who owned Togekiss were often considered unusually lucky due to the Serene Grace ability, which enhanced the likelihood of beneficial effects during battles.
'Hmm, maybe I should try catching one myself,' Julian mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Nine minutes later, under Faye's stunned gaze, her Togekiss fell to the devastating Shadow Ball of the opponent's Mega Houndoom.
Faye walked back to Thea, head held high and chest puffed out, as if she'd emerged victorious.
"Sister, I shared in your misfortune and lost too. That's true friendship, isn't it?"
Her demeanor showed no trace of defeat, leaving anyone unaware of the results thinking she'd actually won.
Thea: (σ-`д´-) Stop boasting.
Julian, watching from the sidelines, regarded Faye as if seeing her true nature for the first time. He subtly stepped away, wary of catching her seemingly contagious air of foolishness.
*****
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