Chapter 361

In the end, Qiao Ran did indeed win the battle. After Ampharos exited its Mega Evolution state, Latias's attack was unstoppable, crushing its last resistance. Ampharos's body fell heavily to the ground, and the audience finally witnessed the final outcome of this exciting, thrilling, and long battle.

However, Cynthia's expectations are clearly higher than those of the average viewer.

To her, victory was simply a matter of course. Although Latias was slightly weaker than Ampharos, as a legendary Pokémon, Latias limits were naturally much greater than that. Even the difference in base stats was enough to make up for it.

"... As expected... I've only had this stone for a short time, so getting used to its power is still a bit of a stretch..."

After catching his breath, Chen Leizhong Gym Leader standing opposite Qiao Ran, slowly stood up. His expression looked somewhat helpless. He had hoped to continue this Competition. Having such an opportunity and such an opponent was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for him.

However, his body had indeed reached its limit. In previous battles, the Trainer only needed to stand on the safe side of the field to command and coordinate. But now, he felt like he was really fighting alongside his Pokémon. After entering Mega Evolution, the two would be unified to some extent. Only when the two were familiar enough and had enough tacit understanding could they achieve perfect teamwork.

This is why the deeper the bond, the more the power of Mega can be unleashed. Otherwise, if one wants to go east and the other wants to go west, they would probably have to exit Mega state on the spot before the opponent even attacks.

"First battle over! The Ampharos is incapacitated!!"

Chen Leizhong silently recalled his Ampharos, and the Referee announced the result of the Competition at that moment. The cheers of the surrounding audience continued. They came here hoping to see a thrilling Competition, but they didn't expect to be hit with a bombshell right from the start—an official Gym Battle between two Mega Pokémon.

This is not only unprecedented in the Huaxia Alliance, but probably in the entire world!

Everyone present was a witness to history.

Cameras around the Battle Court are constantly transmitting images to the entire tower, while spectators inside are continuously sharing images and videos of the battle online. Although these videos are certainly not as clear as the official replays that will be released later by the Pokémon League, they have already generated quite a buzz online.

Of course, as one of the participants in generating buzz, Qiao Ran also had Rotom start taking battlefield photos right from the start of the Competition. After so much training, she had already become a...

He's a very skilled war photographer.

"Latias... well done. You can get some rest now. Let another Pokémon take over next."

Seeing Latias return to its original state and fly to him, Qiao Ran couldn't help but reach out and rub its head. Latias had given its all in this Competition, and as its Trainer, Competition performance wasn't very good. Although objectively, it was probably because of the interference of the "Paralysis" state that he didn't often give commands in such "abnormal" situations, Qiao Ran didn't want to shirk these responsibilities.

Normally, he would probably use medicine to help the Pokémon get rid of the status condition, but it was precisely because the condition was resolved so easily that he couldn't adapt to or get used to the feeling.

What if one day he, like today, is unable to use other medications due to certain restrictions?

It's like...

Yes, that's right.

A chill suddenly ran through Qiao Ran's heart, just like when he was in that strange space with Ninetales. He had nothing around him; his Pokémon had vanished, and his inventory items had disappeared as well. If it were under those circumstances, what abnormal status had been triggered?

Fortunately, the last one I encountered was only Tapu Bulu. If it had been Electric-type Tapu Koko, this situation might have actually occurred.

Qiao Ran felt that she really should do some targeted training to address these issues.

It's not the Pokémon, but himself. Even with the "psychic connection with Pokémon" advantage, he still has to face the drawbacks that come with it.

By consistently turning a blind eye, you ultimately harm yourself, as well as those who trust you and the Pokémon believe in you.

After retrieving Latias, Qiao Ran began preparing for the second Competition. As before, Chen Leizhong sent out an Electric-type Pokémon Luxray the Unova Region.

This Pokémon has the appearance of Lion, yet its name contains the word "cat," creating an unexpected and endearing contrast. However, its combat power is not to be underestimated. Among all Electric-type Pokémon, its Attack and Special Attack are outstanding. However, compared to its offensive capabilities, its Speed is somewhat lacking.

As for its level, this Luxray has also been trained to level 50 or higher, but it's level 51, which is very close to level 50. It seems that it has only recently broken through to the Elite Four stage and hasn't mastered much yet.

On Qiao Ran's side, he sent out Nihilego to fight. As the first Ultra Beast that Qiao Ran caught, Nihilego didn't have many opportunities to stand on the field. This battle against an Electric-type Pokémon gave her room to perform. Moreover, her level was not low among all of Qiao Ran's Pokémon. Her starting point was already high enough, and now she had reached level 54.

Or perhaps it should be said that these were the first Ultra Beast to be recruited, and their levels were generally quite high. As the leader among them, Nihilego's level was naturally outstanding as well.

In the second Competition, Qiao Ran was also affected by the opponent's Paralysis. However, with the efforts of Nihilego, he still managed to Defeat his opponent. This time, Chen Leizhong on the other side also suffered a small disadvantage due to Nihilego's attributes. Moreover, after the last Mage battle, his spirit was also greatly depleted. It was obvious that his command style had become much more cautious and he no longer had the sharp feeling he had before.

It was only natural that Qiao Ran won this Competition.

Qiao Ran won the second match without much trouble, but in the third match, he faced Raichu he had already met once before.

Raichu had already exhausted some of its stamina during its previous battle with Latias, and the time between its return to the arena and its departure from the previous one was not enough for it to fully recover. In other words, when the Competition reached this point, the outcome was already decided.

"As expected, after losing the most crucial battle, their entire army collapsed?"

The more certain the ending seemed, the more Chen Leizhong laughed.

"As expected of Trainer who Defeat the Gym Leader Nian, and as expected of the person who thwarted that guy at the Rongcheng Gym."

Looking at the spirited young man opposite him, Chen Leizhong couldn't help but find him much more agreeable.

"The last genius that the Huaxia Alliance placed high hopes on, expecting her to become Champion, was Yi Ruoyun, and you... seem to be even more exaggerated than that guy."

Speaking of Yi Ruoyun, Chen Leizhong also had a deep impression of her. Not long after he became the Gym Leader, Yi Ruoyun embarked on her Pokémon Journeys. During her first challenge, Yi Ruoyun showed strength far superior to other Trainer. Most importantly, all the Pokémon she used to challenge the Electric-type Gym were Flying type.

Without a doubt, Yi Ruoyun's first challenge failed.

Chen Leizhong criticized her for being inflexible, but the girl didn't listen at all. She just kept trying despite repeated failures. In the end, she actually managed to defeat the Gym in Yangcheng with Flying type Pokémon and knocked Chen Leizhong's Pokémon to the ground.

Although Chen Leizhong wasn't using his main Pokémon at the time, Yi Ruoyun's progress still amazed him. Type advantages, which most Trainer considered fundamental, were practically negligible for her—indeed, her talent was enough to overcome that.

There are some differences, if they were on the same level.

Now, as Chen Leizhong and Qiao Ran fought, he couldn't help but think of the girl who had challenged him back then. However, the boy in front of him... was clearly even more terrifying.

I probably still need to learn from them when it comes to Mega Evolution.

"Come on, this is the last Competition. Let me see if you deserve the Yangcheng Gym Badge."

Chen Leizhong waved to Qiao Ran, and Qiao Ran released her last Pokémon.

It was a Pokémon with a huge body that walked on all fours. Her body was made up of various biological features, and on her head was a crown of shining feathers.

--Silver Silvally.

Qiao Ran's final choice was this Pokémon, the greatest contributor to the Snipe Shot of Ultra Beast in Alola. However, thanks to the large amount of experience brought by Ultra Beast, Silvally had also reached level 54, the same as Nihilego. Even among all of Qiao Ran's Pokémon, it could be considered to be in the top tier.

This is all thanks to those selfless Ultra Beast who tirelessly worked day and night for Silvally's growth, often launching bizarre sneak attacks. Fortunately, Silvally acted as her Silvally Ultra Beast, turning all the malicious Ultra Beast into her experience points. As time went by, her own level had risen to an unprecedented level, and it would be difficult for other Pokémon to catch up with her anytime soon.

"This Pokémon is... Oh right, you did use this Pokémon in your previous battles."

Chen Leizhong carefully examined his final opponent; he was determined to remember the person who would Defeat him today.

"The Competition is about to begin, Trainer —take your positions!"

After both sides sent out their Pokémon, the Referee promptly announced the start of the Competition. Qiao Ran and Silvally immediately launched their attack, while Chen Leizhong and Raichu followed the same strategy as before, focusing on the Electric Terrain.

Outside the Battle Court, the cheers from the audience were equally enthusiastic.

Who won or lost is no longer important. What matters is that they witnessed such a high-level Pokémon battle. Anyone would want the battle to continue indefinitely, to enjoy this electrifying and wonderful night.

--About ten minutes later.

"The final victor—congratulations! It's the Trainer from Longjiang City!!! Qiao Ran!!!"

As the Referee announced his decision and the audience cheered, Qiao Ran looked at the Silvally running towards him and reached out to hug its head.

In this final Competition, she lived up to expectations and won. Although her opponent was already exhausted, Silvally's victory was the most decisive and efficient of the three Pokémon.

With its superior stamina, level, and base stats, Raichu was indeed no match for Silvally, and Qiao Ran finally obtained his sixth Badge.

"Congratulations, you are indeed qualified to possess this Badge."

After the battle, Chen Leizhong still came to Qiao Ran and warmly extended his hand to give Qiao Ran a hug.

He had given it his all. Without giving any other reason, at least he didn't feel any regret. A good challenger can not only learn from the Gym, but also educate Gym Trainer who can't leave the gym freely. He might have learned more from Qiao Ran than Qiao Ran learned from him.

"With this Badge, you'll have six Badge. If you get two more, you should be able to participate in this year's Pokémon League Tournament."

"This kind of Pokémon League tournament is only open to Trainer have participated in the trip within the last five years. Other Trainer usually train for a longer period of time before trying to figure out how to get a ranking in this kind of Competition, so those who participate are generally Trainer who have been participating for four or five years. However, if it's you, going now shouldn't be a problem."

"Thank you, I will participate in the Competition."

The Pokémon League Tournament has always been one of Qiao Ran's wishes. He embarked on this journey for the title of Pokémon Master. Although the Champion of this Pokémon League is far inferior to the official "Pokémon League Champion" like Cynthia, Qiao Ran still really wants this title.

Otherwise, once Mei Mei become Champion, he can't just be seen as a kept man, right?

Qiao Ran's Gym Battle ended amidst lights and cheers, and Competition result was simultaneously broadcast across the internet. Although the online viewers had some expectation of the outcome, they still couldn't help but feel a little excited when the video clips and images were released.

A large number of people have flocked to the Pokémon League and Trainer Diary accounts, requesting video updates.

The Pokémon League usually updates replays of every public Gym Challenge, while the Trainer Diary is something long-time followers of this account know about.

Among the accounts that update everything, a large portion of the videos are replays of these battles, including those by Qiao Ran and other Trainer.

"You guys should go and rest for a bit too; I need to recuperate a bit as well."

Watching the audience members who were already leaving, Chen Leizhong turned to look at Qiao Ran, and then at the group of people walking towards Qiao Ran.

"... The other match might be a bit late, so you guys can go grab some dinner first. Consider it my overtime today, hahaha."

As he spoke, he took the towel handed to him by his Assistant and wiped the sweat from his body. The battle with Qiao Ran was great in every way, except that it was a bit physically demanding.

He used to be in very good health, and he would go for a night run after work every day. But now, after all that, he feels completely drained. Normally, he could play a few more Competition without any problems, but now it's better for him to rest.

He had seen videos of that girl named Mei before, and she was clearly not an easy Trainer to deal with.

The one that he was most concerned about was the Decidueye. That Decidueye had probably already broken through to the Elite Four level, but even if it Elite Four, it had only just reached that level and had not yet fully consolidated its experience and skills. As for the other Pokémon, it was still a bit behind.

Chen Leizhong's judgment was quite sharp, and his assessment of Mei was almost entirely accurate. Unfortunately, he completely overlooked one crucial point: in the Mei's last video was leaked, what kind of hell had she endured?

Now that she has crawled back from hell, her strength is vastly different from before.

"Well, then we'll leave for a bit and come back tonight... I'll leave it to you, Gym Leader Chen."

Qiao Ran knew that Chen Leizhong needed to rest, so he nodded. Mei certainly didn't want to fight an opponent in this condition, and as Trainer, he could understand that.

"It's alright, it's alright."

Chen Leizhong smiled and waved his hand.

Although he didn't understand why Qiao Ran and the others were in such a hurry to challenge, he felt embarrassed to refuse the requests from the other Gym Leader. Besides, he was willing to do Qiao Ran and the others a favor—it would be even better if he could ask Qiao Ran for advice on Mega Evolution techniques later.

For dinner, Qiao Ran and the others simply ate at the Restaurant inside the tower.

However, to avoid being recognized, Qiao Ran and the others still put on some simple disguises and disguises. Although they looked suspicious at first glance, as long as others could not recognize their identities, that would be their victory.

Being recognized and surrounded, being treated like a weirdo, isn't such a bad thing.

Finally arriving at a place to eat and finding a private room, Qiao Ran breathed a sigh of relief. Looking out the window of the room, she could see an unobstructed view of the surrounding scenery. It was evening, and the red and Golden light bathed the entire city, illuminating the skyscrapers and winding rivers.

Moreover, besides that—finally, I can take off this shabby pretense.

However, before Qiao Ran relax, Cynthia beside her had already spoken, completely setting the tone for the meal.

"Qiao Ran, there's still a lot of room for improvement in your performance just now."

Qiao Ran's expression froze, and her hand holding the water bottle trembled slightly. "..."

"First, Raichu. We should have used our type advantage to suppress them with firepower right then and there, not giving them any chance to make a move."

Qiao Ran: "..."

"Also, when you see the opponent send out Ampharos, you should be prepared for status conditions. Ampharos has the 'Static' Ability. Even though Latias doesn't usually engage in close combat, if the opponent is Pokémon of Elite Four level or higher, you still need to be on guard..."

Qiao Ran: "..."

"Besides these..."

Faced with Cynthia's scolding, Qiao Ran dared not move or refute, and most importantly, what she said was indeed quite right.

However, once Cynthia began her long and detailed Analytic, the meal essentially turned into a critique session by Qiao Ran. In addition to the shortcomings Cynthia pointed out, Mei and Mei even started to summarize some of Qiao Ran's bad habits in commanding.

As experienced Trainer, although they may not be as skilled as Cynthia, their judgment is equally sharp, and they speak with great expertise.

Qiao Ran was completely suppressed and unable to raise his head.

"Anyway, I'll need to make time for intensive training from now on."

"Training on resistance to abnormal states."

Actually, it wasn't just the things they brought up; what Qiao Ran was most concerned about was this: while resistance to certain attributes couldn't be trained for special conditions, he could train his Bide.

At least, the next time he's Paralysis, he won't be so numb that he can't do anything.

Besides Paralysis, he'll probably have to experience all sorts of abnormal conditions, including Burn, frostbite, sleep, and poisoning.

Of course, if he wanted to do this kind of training, he probably wouldn't be the only one suffering.

He also needs a Pokémon that works with him.

I'll go check out the Wild Area later... see if there are any Pokémon willing to help him.

If all else fails, then we'll have to use real people. I just don't know if humans affected by a special condition will produce the same effect as Pokémon.