Poké Ball Tier

Even on a weekday, Rising Sun Gym was still packed with people and buzzing with activity.

Gyms in this world did more than just accept challenges and hand out Badges like in the anime.

The eighteen type-based gyms scattered across the country accepted challenges while also serving as the Pokémon League's only designated venues for Ranked Matches.

The Rising Sun Gym, where Su Hao's father served, was no exception. Training grounds, battlefields, and all sorts of facilities could be found within it.

It could be said that a gym itself was practically a large living district.

After entering the gym, Su Hao directly contacted the manager who worked under his father and explained why he had come.

The manager's surname was Qian. He was a kind-looking, amiable, slightly overweight middle-aged man.

Since Su Hao's father had become Gym Leader, many trivial matters had been handled by him. This included the times when Su Hao's father was away on missions and Su Hao's mother was in Shelter at the research institute, leaving no one else to contact. Uncle Qian had always handled such matters.

Because of that connection, Su Hao had always been close to Uncle Qian.

After waiting for a while, Uncle Qian led Su Hao and the others through the long line and into the inner area to handle the procedures.

Having someone on the inside really did make things efficient. Before long, all three of them had registered for Ranked Matches.

After Uncle Qian's explanation, the three of them quickly understood the process.

After registering for Ranked Matches, they could match for battles through the official Trainer app on their phones.

A match would only be confirmed once both sides confirmed that they could reach the designated Battle Arena within the scheduled time.

After a match was confirmed, anyone who failed to arrive at the designated venue within the allotted time would be considered to have forfeited and automatically lose.

In short, Poké Ball Tier matches could be made through a phone.

The early stages of the Ranked Matches process were very similar to the World Championship from Pokémon Journeys that Su Hao had watched before crossing over.

Su Hao did not dwell on it. He opened the official Trainer app on his phone, and his profile now clearly displayed the marker showing that he had joined Ranked Matches.

Name: [Su Hao]

Age: [17]

Piplup ID: [114514]

Tier: [Poké Ball Tier]

Occupation: [Student]

Not only had a tier certification appeared on the official app, but a small Poké Ball icon had also appeared beside his avatar in the Piplup Chat Software.

Was this the legendary shiny dog tag?

Su Hao opened the ranking screen and selected matchmaking.

The instant he tapped it, the match was made.

After tapping confirm to proceed with the battle, the match was quickly finalized.

Su Hao tapped on his opponent's avatar. Judging from the profile, he was clearly a student around Su Hao's age.

The app told Su Hao to arrive at Battle Arena No. 13 before eleven o'clock.

He checked the time. There was still plenty of time.

Su Hao looked toward Li Hua and Jiang Chengcheng beside him. They had also completed their matches one after another. One had been assigned Battle Arena No. 14, while the other had been assigned Battle Arena No. 15.

After greeting Uncle Qian, Su Hao quickly made his way to Battle Arena No. 13.

As a Battle Arena specifically for Ranked Matches, it was equipped with not only a standard battlefield, but also a Rotom referee and spectator stands.

A few parents who had brought their children to watch battles sat scattered among the seats.

Ranked Matches were events held by the Pokémon League, as well as one of the paths leading directly to the Elite Four.

Even the lowest-level Poké Ball Tier matches drew plenty of viewers.

Su Hao's opponent had arrived before him. He was a boy about the same age, but Su Hao felt as though he had seen him somewhere before.

The other boy had also been staring at Su Hao, his gaze burning hot.

"I never thought my first Ranked Match opponent would be you!" Ye Fan stared at Su Hao with utter seriousness.

After confirming it several times, Su Hao finally remembered.

The boy across from him was the person he and Carbink had defeated in their first battle!

Su Hao remembered that this boy's Pokémon was a Stufful.

After both sides completed identity verification with the Rotom referee, Su Hao's first Ranked Match officially began!

[This match has been recognized as an official Poké Ball Tier Pokémon Ranked Match of the Divine Land Alliance.]

[Battle participants: Su Hao Vs. Ye Fan.]

[Poké Ball Tier battles may use one Pokémon.]

[Battle, begin!]

"Revenge Match, Stufful!"

"Go, Incineroar!"

The instant the Rotom referee announced the start of the match, both sides threw out their Poké Balls at the same time.

The Stufful they had encountered a month ago looked noticeably taller now.

Ye Fan was slightly stunned when he saw that Su Hao had sent out Incineroar instead of Carbink.

My fists are clenched! Even if you beat me before, you can't use a newly caught Pokémon to mock me!

However, Carbink's absurdly high defenses really would have been difficult for Stufful to deal with at its current strength.

Although it was a little regrettable that he could not get revenge, Incineroar was even better. He would make Su Hao pay for underestimating him!

Ye Fan was absolutely certain that even if Su Hao's newly caught Pokémon had already evolved once, Stufful still had the upper hand in raw strength!

Looking at Stufful's data, Su Hao roughly understood why Ye Fan dared to call this a Revenge Match.

Pokémon: [Stufful]

Type: [Normal]

Gender: [Male]

Ability: [Run Away]

Level: [21]

Moves: [Scratch, Lick, Baby-Doll Eyes, Fury Swipes, Fury Swipes, Payback, Slash, Thunder Punch, Facade]

Most Pokémon leveled up quickly before reaching Elite Level, but once they broke through to Elite Level, progress became a slow grind.

For slower Pokémon, it could take several months just to gain one level.

After memorizing Stufful's data, Su Hao ordered Incineroar to attack.

"Incineroar, rush in and use Fire Fang!"

Incineroar's limbs had become sturdier after evolving, and its Explosive Power had naturally grown stronger as well.

The flames spilling from its mouth formed massive fiery fangs, and they carried an overwhelming Intimidate as Incineroar charged forward.

"Stufful, use Thunder Punch and knock it back!"

Ye Fan was not about to be outdone. Although Incineroar knowing Fire Fang had caught him by surprise, he and Stufful were no pushovers either.

Lightning gradually filled Stufful's paw as it viciously slammed down at the fiery fangs Incineroar had formed while charging toward it.

Lightning and fire refused to yield, constantly struggling against each other.

But in the end, Incineroar's strength surpassed Stufful's.

Thunder Punch was gradually suppressed by Fire Fang.

After a brief stalemate, Fire Fang broke through Thunder Punch's defense. Its fiery fangs bit down on Stufful's weakening right paw and hurled it into the air.

Incineroar's powerful limbs exploded into motion as it leaped before the Stufful that was still in free fall.

Fire Fang struck Stufful head-on, dealing enormous damage.

"Stufful!"

To make matters worse, the heavily struck Stufful had actually fallen into a burn state!

Su Hao had never expected Fire Fang's ten-percent burn chance to trigger.

Su Hao became slightly more cautious, because the unplanned burn might instead become an advantage for his opponent.

The Stufful before him knew Facade. When used while poisoned, paralyzed, or burned, Facade's power doubled.

Although Su Hao was confident that even if Stufful used Facade while burned and competed with Incineroar in strength, Incineroar would not lose.

Still, if there was a safer option, there was no need to take risks.

Su Hao immediately changed his strategy and went for firepower suppression!

"Incineroar, use Flamethrower!"

The Flame Bag beneath Incineroar's neck glowed faintly as it directly spewed out a scorching beam of fire!

Seeing Stufful enter the burn state, Ye Fan had originally wanted to lure Incineroar closer and catch it off guard with Facade. But Incineroar actually knew such a powerful long-range attack.

Left with no choice, Ye Fan could only reveal Stufful's Facade.

"Stufful, use Facade and hold on!"

Stufful used Facade, and an inexhaustible surge of strength suddenly welled up within its body.

Using both fists, it actually managed to withstand Incineroar's Flamethrower.

However, even though it held on, Stufful's smooth yellow fur had been scorched black in several places by the flames.

Ye Fan realized that he and Stufful no longer had any means of dealing with Incineroar.

Looking at Stufful's blackened fur, he felt a pang of reluctance. Stufful usually loved grooming its fur the most.

Continuing the fight would only worsen Stufful's injuries. Ye Fan did not hesitate for long before directly choosing to surrender.