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"Looks like I'll need to speed up and flank from behind after all."
After deliberating for two seconds, Li Xiang decided to exploit the physiological limitations of four-legged, turtle-like Pokémon.
The massive shell gave Torkoal incredible defensive strength, but it also severely restricted its mobility. Performing complex movements like turning around quickly was nearly impossible.
At the same time...
No matter how wide Torkoal's attack range might be, it would never attack the area where its trainer stood. That spot was always a safe zone!
If the opponent didn't reposition, or couldn't reposition in time, there would inevitably be an opening!
As soon as Riolu found that opening, half of the formula for victory would already be written.
With this in mind, Li Xiang, along with the slightly winded Riolu, began observing Torkoal's movements and quietly discussing their plan.
Naturally, the opponent wasn't going to sit idly by while they strategized. The second Overheat, now at its peak power due to full health, came blasting forward.
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the mushroom cloud on Torkoal's back swelled exponentially, and brilliant flames erupted like a massive pillar of fire shooting skyward!
In an instant, the entire battlefield was plunged into darkness as thick black smoke billowed upward, spreading like ominous storm clouds and blocking out the sunlight.
Amid the blazing firelight, fist-sized, blackened-red fireballs rained down like a torrential storm—an intimidating sight!
Li Xiang took two steps back to dodge. With large-scale, indiscriminate moves like this, it wasn't uncommon for trainers to get accidentally hit. However, battle outcomes were independent of whether trainers got injured.
At most, the match would be paused.
In this world, dodging attacks was a fundamental skill every trainer had to master. A trainer who couldn't even dodge attacks wouldn't be of much use in a battle.
Riolu took action, knowing exactly how to handle the situation. The next step was to put the plan into motion.
Its Prankster ability activated, boosting its speed twice in quick succession. Riolu's movement speed surged forward again, becoming almost too fast for the eye to follow.
Not a single fireball raining down from above managed to hit it. Every one of them struck the ground with a loud thud before disappearing.
However, it was undeniable that Pokémon needed to expend energy to move, and the more intense the activity, the more stamina it drained.
Bursting forward with evasive maneuvers like this couldn't be sustained for long.
Thus, if the opportunity wasn't seized, it would be easy for Torkoal to launch a counterattack.
"He's coming from the front! Use Smokescreen!"
Torkoal's trainer shouted suddenly.
It actually knew Smokescreen!
Li Xiang's expression darkened. He immediately halted Riolu's approach and noticed the opposing trainer retreating as well.
Then, Torkoal released thick, red smoke from every pore on its body, flooding in all directions with intense heat that even Li Xiang, standing at a distance, could feel.
A 360-degree attack with no dead angles—this even included the trainer's area, leaving no safe zone at all!
"Seriously?!"
Riolu, moving too fast to dodge, clenched its teeth and steeled its resolve. It charged straight through the smoke!
"Riolu!"
The small canine let out a low cry as the searing pain from the flames burned its body. The sensation was sharp and intense, something an average person couldn't endure. Yet it refused to stop.
Pushing through the pain, it followed their prearranged plan and reached Torkoal's rear.
Focusing intently, it raised its petite yet powerful fist. With brownish-red Fighting-type energy enveloping it, Riolu punched Torkoal's underside!
Sky Uppercut!
Boom!
The immense force caused the land turtle to lose its footing, flipping it onto its back with its legs splayed out in the air!
"Toooooor!"
Torkoal let out a startled cry. Although Riolu's Sky Uppercut had hit its shell, minimizing the damage, its current position left it wide open as a target!
Its trainer noticed this as well and clicked their tongue in frustration. Using Smokescreen was meant to keep Riolu at bay, but they hadn't anticipated such a decisive counterattack.
However, Torkoal wasn't out of options.
"Use Rapid Spin!"
Under its trainer's command, Torkoal began spinning its body, aiming to ram into the battlefield's iron fencing to flip itself back over.
But Riolu wasn't a bystander.
Even before Torkoal started spinning, it had locked its sharp eyes onto its target and assumed a Bullet Punch stance.
When Torkoal's retracted head spun around to face it, Riolu, fully charged and ready, struck with a decisive punch!
Bullet Punch: Impact!
With a sound that tore through the air, two bursts of energy, one large and one small, exploded from Riolu's arm. The bright, brownish-red energy shockwave slammed into Torkoal's head with incredible force!
Boom!
Torkoal's body was sent flying horizontally, slamming into the iron fencing with a loud clang before bouncing high into the air!
"What?! Impossible!"
The opposing student stared wide-eyed in disbelief. How could Riolu possess such power? This was absurd!
"Follow up with consecutive impacts."
Li Xiang snapped his fingers with a smile.
In the distance, Riolu took a deep breath, lowered its stance, and began throwing punches into the air.
Energy shockwaves repeatedly struck Torkoal mid-air, each blow eliciting muffled thuds as the force pressed its body into the fencing.
After three consecutive strikes, Riolu's energy and stamina were completely drained. Exhausted, it dropped to one knee, panting heavily.
The repeated impacts had taken a toll, not just on its energy reserves but also on its physical endurance.
If Riolu wanted every punch to be its fastest and strongest, three hits were its current limit.
With a dull thud, Torkoal's body crashed to the ground, its head limply emerging from its shell.
"Beeeeep!"
The referee's whistle blew.
...
The semester finals were officially over.
Once the exams were finished, students could go home to their families. Report cards would be printed and mailed to each student's house.
Schools understood students' anxieties well.
Li Xiang, with four consecutive wins and decent grades in academic subjects, had no worries about falling behind. However, Lin Feng was another story.
That guy's final battle involved Porygon, and he had the misfortune of facing Zhu Huihui. Despite displaying godly driving moves akin to the "Akina Speed Star," he was ultimately caught by Chesnaught and defeated with a Drain Punch.
The super-effective move drained all of Porygon's stamina in an instant.
With two wins, one draw, and one loss, Lin Feng's previously secure spot in the top 60 was now precarious.
This was especially concerning since his math and English scores were atrocious. His focus had always been on battles, and rumor had it that many students had similar records...
Students blatantly making small moves in front of teachers, acting like no one could see them—it was the same everywhere, regardless of the world or school.
Still, it wasn't hard to understand. After all, Li Xiang had been one of those students everyone told to study hard, only to turn out as a slacker.
"Ah... poor Lin Feng."
Yawning, Li Xiang boarded the bus to the dojo.
He'd heard that his gentle and kind third senior sister had returned today. He needed to hurry and make an impression.
The first semester.
Was over.