Gym Challenge

A heads-up: over the next few chapters, you'll see Meowth explode with power and Carbink dominate the battlefield. There's a reason Carbink can be so strong, which will be revealed when it undergoes Mutation into Diancie.

Shuizhou City's largest forum was set ablaze by a single piece of news.

1L: Did you see the announcement? The Gym Challenge, which hasn't been held in ages, starts tomorrow night!

2L: I saw it! The last Gym Challenge was held a month ago, right?

3L: Even if this is only a Beginner Gym Challenge, isn't it far rarer than the advanced and intermediate ones?

4L: That's right! Every Beginner Gym Challenge marks the rise of a young genius!

5L: Why are you all assuming the challenger will win? Jie Wei fans are furious!

6L: Insider news! Apparently, that challenger is actually the Rising Sun Gym Leader's son!?

7L: Honestly, I still find it hard to believe. Even in a Beginner Gym Challenge, the Gym Leader will use two Elite Level Pokémon and one Professional Level Pokémon!

8L: Replying to the above, Beginner Gym Challenges usually only start being held during the latter half of a senior student's final year. What kind of monster would challenge a Professional Level Pokémon barely two months after receiving their Starter Pokémon!?!?

9L: The person above is right. Raising two Elite Level Pokémon and one Professional Level Pokémon in just two months is far too fantastical. Honestly, I still think Gym Leader Jie Wei will win.

10L: No matter what, tomorrow happens to be Saturday. All my friends and family nearby have decided to go watch at Water Boat Arena! I heard quite a few tourists want to watch too!

11L: Let me speak from experience. I'm a tourist from neighboring Magic City. I thought the geniuses in Magic City were already crazy enough, but now a senior high school student has appeared and directly charged into a Gym Challenge!

501L: Say, you're all chatting so happily, but did you buy tickets?

502L: Damn it!

503L: I forgot!

504L: They're sold out!

As the weather gradually warmed, Su Hao thought that he could finally take out the outfit he had custom-made long ago.

After putting on his battle attire, Su Hao left the hotel.

The streets were packed with pedestrians, most of them heading in the same direction—Water Boat Arena!

Inside the arena's lounge, Su Hao sat on the sofa with his eyes closed, resting.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in." Su Hao opened his eyes and said.

Tap, tap.

Jie Wei, dressed even more extravagantly than yesterday, walked up to Su Hao.

"Nervous?" Jie Wei asked with some concern.

"Not really. Why would Gym Leader Jie Wei come to check on a challenger like me?" Su Hao asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I don't think I've told you before, but your father and I attended the same university. I was his senior, and he was my junior."

"Do I need a reason to look after a junior? If you don't mind, you can call me Auntie Xie."

Jie Wei still spoke gently and unhurriedly.

"Auntie Xie, please guide me in this battle!" Su Hao stood and gave Jie Wei the bow of a junior.

Since Jie Wei had treated him so warmly, Su Hao felt that he ought to observe the proper etiquette as a junior.

"Hehe, didn't I tell you yesterday to dress more formally? Why did you wear this outfit?" After helping Su Hao up, Jie Wei asked in confusion.

Su Hao wore a black short-sleeved shirt beneath a blue jacket with white cuffs, light blue jeans, and a red belt around his waist.

He wore fingerless gloves in patchwork light and dark green, white-and-blue sneakers, and a Red and White Cap bearing an ∠ symbol.

That was right—this was the exact outfit worn by Ash from the original Pokémon anime before Su Hao's transmigration!

"It's kind of a belief, I guess. I actually have a red set too!" Su Hao scratched his head and grinned foolishly.

"Fine. Young people always think differently from us. Wear whatever you like, but I won't go easy on you in battle!" Jie Wei shook her head with a smile.

"Hehe~"

Deafening cheers erupted from the packed stands.

At that moment, the Pokémon League referee rode into the arena on Aegislash.

[Ladies and gentlemen!]

[Welcome, everyone, to today's Gym Challenge at Water Boat Arena!]

[I am the commentator for this match—Song Jian!]

[Today's Gym Challenge is a Junior Challenge!]

[First, allow me to introduce both sides of this challenge!]

[Entering the battlefield from the left is the host of this Gym Challenge—Water Boat Gym Leader, Ms. Jie Wei!]

[As the Gym Leader of a Water-type Gym in the Divine Land Alliance, Ms. Jie Wei's Water-type Pokémon can fight as calmly as a lake one moment and as violently as the sea the next!]

"Woohoo—!"

"Clap clap clap—!"

The audience cheered wildly, and thunderous applause rang out.

[Entering the battlefield from the right is the challenger for today's match! A senior high school student from Yang City—Su Hao!]

Wearing his Red and White Cap, Su Hao slowly walked onto the battle stage.

"Wow! What a handsome little brother!"

"That outfit is so youthful! And the person wearing it is so handsome too!"

Only a handful of cheers rose from the stands, sparse enough to feel like just two or three kittens.

Su Hao had already prepared himself for that. After all, he was an unknown ordinary student fighting on someone else's home turf. Having anyone cheer for him at all was already pretty good!

[Both sides are now in position! Let us turn the camera to the referee, who will announce the rules!]

"First, the Divine Land Alliance recognizes the official status of this match! I will now announce the battle rules!"

"This will be a 3v3 Pokémon Battle. The Gym Leader may not switch Pokémon during the match!"

"The challenger may switch without restriction! The first side to render all three opposing Pokémon Out of Battle will be the winner!"

"Now, both contestants, prepare to release your first Pokémon!"

"3, 2, 1... Begin!"

"Go! Incineroar!"

"Make an elegant entrance, Azumarill!"

Both sides sent out their Pokémon at the same time.

Su Hao still led with Incineroar, while Jie Wei sent out Azumarill, known as the Dragon Slayer!

Pokémon: [Azumarill]

Type: [Water-type + Fairy]

Female: [♀]

Ability: [Huge Power] (Physical Attack doubled)

Level: [Early Elite Level]

Item: [Mystic Water]

Moves: [Aqua Tail, Play Rough, Aqua Ring, Bubble Beam, Aqua Jet, Aqua Cutter...]

Azumarill had two tall pink ears. Her nearly round body was blue, marked with six white circular spots of varying sizes, while her belly bore a white wave-like pattern. The base of her tail curved in black, ending in a blue ball.

Though Azumarill looked incredibly cute, her Huge Power ability allowed her to knock out dragons with a single punch in the games, earning her the title of Dragon Slayer!

[Trainer Su Hao is actually using a Fire-type Incineroar!?]

[Both are Elite Level, but how will Trainer Su Hao fight at a type disadvantage?]

Hearing the Commentator make such a fuss, Su Hao's mouth twitched.

There was another reason he had worn this outfit today—it was for fighting at a type disadvantage.

Although Ash from the anime was often mocked by viewers as the Reverse Type Master because he frequently fought at a type disadvantage.

Statistics actually showed that Ash's win rate with a type advantage was higher than his win rate at a type disadvantage.

In short, life needed a sense of ceremony!

Besides, after eating plenty of candies, the exceptionally gifted Incineroar's true Combat Power was not something his apparent level could reflect.

"Incineroar, Fake Out!"

"Azumarill, Aqua Jet!"

Both sides gave their Trainer's command almost simultaneously. Jie Wei chose to seize the initiative with a priority move!

Azumarill was wrapped in a powerful Torrent and was about to charge at Incineroar when a roar and a wave of black energy arrived almost at the same time!

"Meowraaar!"

Azumarill, who had been preparing to attack first, was affected by Fake Out and Intimidate. Not only did her Physical Attack drop by one stage, but her move was interrupted, leaving the entire mouse frozen in place!

Having seized the initiative at the start, Su Hao naturally pressed his advantage. "Bulk Up, then charge with Flame Charge!"

Incineroar's thick forelimbs slammed against the ground. A flash of yellow light passed over him, strengthening his physical abilities!

After using Bulk Up, Incineroar charged straight at the recovering Azumarill, his entire body wreathed in blazing flames.

"I see. A dual effect developed from the ability and the move? Interesting." Jie Wei rested her chin on her hand, thought for a moment, and guessed the nature of the move.

"Even if we're one step behind, we won't lose! Azumarill, Aqua Tail!"

"Azuma!!"

Water emerged from the ball at the end of Azumarill's tail and quickly coiled around it.

Azumarill leaped high into the air, spun several times, and viciously smashed her tail toward the charging Incineroar.

The charging Incineroar ignored inertia entirely. His powerful body forcibly changed direction, narrowly dodging the Aqua Tail crashing down from above!

Boom!

Aqua Tail smashed into the field, blasting a deep crater into the ground.

"Hydro Pump!" After her first strike missed, Jie Wei immediately ordered Azumarill to follow up.

"Flamethrower!"

Incineroar, racing around the field with flames wrapped around his body, immediately stopped upon hearing Su Hao's command and opened his mouth to spit out a thick pillar of fire.

The surging Hydro Pump collided head-on with Flamethrower!

Steam erupted from the collision point and rapidly spread across the entire battlefield, obscuring everyone's view.

"Azumarill, be careful!"

Jie Wei was somewhat confused as to why Su Hao had not given another command, but with the field covered in Mist, she could not see what was happening inside.

By the time the Mist dispersed, Incineroar had already closed in on Azumarill with Shadow Claw, forcing her into close combat!

Without a Trainer's command, Azumarill immediately reacted after taking a Shadow Claw from Incineroar and countered with Aqua Cutter.

After several exchanges, the two were actually Evenly Matched!

The audience outside the field was stunned. Incineroar was at a lower level than Azumarill, yet despite the type disadvantage, he had fought Azumarill, with her Huge Power ability, to a standstill in close combat!

Unable to defeat Incineroar for some time, Jie Wei ordered Azumarill to widen the distance between them before commanding.

"Surf!"

Azumarill slammed both hands against the ground. In an instant, a Giant Wave rose and surged across the field toward Incineroar.

Facing a Giant Wave several times taller than Incineroar, Su Hao immediately gave his command.

"Incineroar, use the Flame Bag to unleash a full-power Fire Blast and evaporate Surf!"

"Meowraaar!"

An enormous sphere of fire, larger than any before, formed from the flames pouring out of the Flame Bag beneath Incineroar's neck.

He hurled the sphere into the air, his entire body wreathed in flames. Like an incarnation of fire, he struck the fireball toward the Giant Wave!

As it flew, the fireball rapidly formed the character Big, becoming just as massive as the oncoming Giant Wave.

The Giant Wave and the flames clashed and devoured one another as thick steam once again swept across the entire field.

This time, Jie Wei did not leave Azumarill to fight alone in the Mist. She decisively ordered, "Be ready at all times. The moment the opponent attacks, use Hyper Beam against them!"

"Azuma!"

Su Hao would not let this opportunity pass while his opponent's vision was obscured. He had decided that this strike would end the battle!

"Incineroar, give it everything you've got—Flare Blitz!"

"Meowraa... Meowraah!!"

Wild orange-red flames transformed into a fierce tiger that enveloped Incineroar. The blinding light was clearly visible even through the Mist.

Azumarill noticed Incineroar rushing toward her. A white-and-purple energy drill formed around her body as she charged straight at him.

BOOM—BANG—!

A violent explosion rang out from the center of the Mist. Before long, the commotion gradually faded.

Every eye in the arena was fixed on the center of the explosion.

Soon, the Mist dispersed. Azumarill lay unconscious on the field with spirals in her eyes, while Incineroar panted heavily.

"Azumarill is Out of Battle. Incineroar wins!"

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