"Go, Power Gem!"
Power Gem: Attack the opponent with a dazzling, gem-like light!
A Rock-type move. Light shone straight from the gem on Ampharos's forehead, slamming into Scolipede once more.
Scolipede finally broke free of Paralysis and could move again.
It fired off a Poison Impact, hitting Ampharos directly!
"Zap Cannon!"
Poison Impact struck Ampharos, splattering purple venom across its pink-and-white body.
Ampharos endured the Toxic, clasped its hands before its chest, and formed a golden Zap Cannon before firing!
After taking three consecutive hits from moves, Scolipede finally let out a groan and collapsed, unable to get back up.
"Scolipede is unable to battle! Ampharos wins!"
With another victory under its belt, Ampharos was quickly given an Antidote Potion by Su Yi, curing the Toxic status it had just received from Poison Impact.
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host! Ampharos has defeated Scolipede and gained Battle Experience! ]
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host! The Battle Drop feature has been unlocked. You received 200,000 Gold Coins and a Water Stone! ]
One Battle Drop after three matches—not bad.
At the same time, 22,500 points were deducted from Su Dingfang's Spirit Watch, and he handed over 200,000 Gold Coins.
With those points added, Su Yi shot straight from fourth place to first!
The Trial Ranking had a new champion!
The Spirit Watch issued an announcement!
"Congratulations to contestant Su Yi for becoming the new number one on the Trial Ranking!"
"Congratulations to contestant Su Yi for becoming the new number one on the Trial Ranking!"
"Congratulations to contestant Su Yi for becoming the new number one on the Trial Ranking!"
Important things had to be said three times!
Everyone received the Spirit Watch announcement!
Su Dingfang took a deep breath. Damn, the first-place spot had finally changed hands. He'd been sick of seeing Zhang Kuang at the top for ages. Even if he hadn't claimed first place himself, he'd still "done his part"!
Thinking this, Su Dingfang looked at Su Yi with deep curiosity.
First on the Knowledge Ranking, and now first on the Trial Ranking too. A double champion—Su Yi was terrifying.
At that very moment, in another outer region of the Spirit Primal Forest,
Zhang Kuang was on his home turf.
With only half an hour left in the points challenge, Zhang Kuang had managed to earn over ten thousand more points. After that, he stopped paying attention to the Trial Ranking.
He'd already calculated the timing.
Besides, Shangguan Ling'er probably couldn't overtake him in half an hour.
When he'd just gained those ten thousand-plus points, Shangguan Ling'er had gained some too.
But she still hadn't passed him, which meant that was the limit of what she could do.
So when only a few minutes remained in the trial, the Spirit Watch announcement left Zhang Kuang stunned as he headed out with his Pokémon to look for Wild Pokémon.
Then his face darkened.
His first thought was that someone had played him.
Someone had taken advantage of his absence to defeat other contestants and rack up points, overtaking him in the final few minutes!
There was no way to counter it!
There wasn't enough time!
"The Pokémon trial has ended. Everyone, please leave the Spirit Primal Forest as soon as possible!"
The Spirit Watch issued another announcement. This time, the nationwide senior-year graduation trial was over!
Next, the Pokémon League would verify the authenticity of everyone's points. Once everything checked out, the rankings would be posted on the official website!
Damn it!
Zhang Kuang's face went black!
In another Spirit Primal Forest, Shangguan Ling'er was on her home turf.
Her long hair was tied into a simple ponytail that fell all the way to her thighs.
Her practical outfit gave her a spirited, dashing look.
There were four Spirit Primal Forests, one in each direction, and she was the undisputed star of one of them.
Naturally, she'd seen the Spirit Watch announcement.
Unlike Zhang Kuang,
Shangguan Ling'er burst into laughter when she saw it.
"Hahaha, this is hilarious. Zhang Kuang and I were fighting over first place, and someone swooped in and stole the prize at the last minute?"
[Steal the prize: to achieve a goal by taking advantage of an opportunity]
Shangguan Ling'er didn't think much of it and didn't dwell on the matter.
All the contestants began emerging from the Spirit Primal Forest.
Outside, the principals and teachers from countless high school Spirit Academies waited eagerly!
Su Xiyan was especially excited!
She'd never imagined her younger brother would claim another first place. He was amazing! She hadn't seen him in so long. Mm, I really want to hug him!
Shangjing City, Zhang Family.
The Zhang Family was one of the most powerful clans in all of Shangjing City.
Zhang Kuang was the most outstanding young member of his generation.
His father was Zhang Mu, the current head of the Zhang Family.
Ever since Zhang Kuang had taken first place on the Trial Ranking, the smile hadn't left Zhang Mu's face.
Not long ago, Zhang Mu had been discussing with several other clan heads what their children should do once they entered Spirit University.
They were all envious of Zhang Mu. His son, Zhang Kuang, had managed to claim first place on the Trial Ranking, and that was no small achievement.
But no one had expected that, in the final ten-odd minutes, a contestant named Su Yi would suddenly start racking up points at an insane pace!
His score had shot up by more than ten thousand in just a few minutes.
Then it rose by another ten thousand—nearly twenty thousand.
And in the end, it surged by another twenty-two thousand!
Zhang Mu and the other clan heads in Shangjing City weren't the only ones who saw it. Anyone following the nationwide Spirit College Entrance Exam Trial Ranking on the Pokémon League's official website could see it!
Countless people immediately cried foul!
It had to be rigged! Otherwise, who could be that amazing? Gaining over ten thousand points at a time—there had to be something shady going on!
As a result, a crowd of netizens—some Trainers, some Pokémon Breeders—flocked to the Pokémon League's official website to accuse them of rigging the results.
Zhang Mu himself had naturally pulled a few strings as well.
If Su Yi's points were legitimate, then so be it; his son had simply been outmatched. But if they weren't, Zhang Mu would find a way to restore Zhang Kuang to first place on the Trial Ranking.
Meanwhile, all the graduating senior students, Su Yi among them, gradually emerged from the Spirit Primal Forest.
Next, they had to check in at their schools and hand over their Spirit Watches. The schools would then submit them to Pokémon League headquarters, which would verify the points of the top one hundred thousand contestants.
Contestants ranked in the top one hundred thousand on both the Knowledge Ranking and the Trial Ranking would be picked up by a chartered plane sent by Pokémon League headquarters and taken to the location where Spirit University was recruiting.
The top three would get their own special planes. Being in the top three nationwide on the college entrance exam was no ordinary achievement; the Pokémon League would pay special attention to them.
As soon as Su Yi came out, Su Xiyan rushed over and gave him a huge hug, making sure he felt it.
"Look who it is! Not bad, kid. I never thought you'd take first on the Trial Ranking after getting first on the Knowledge Ranking! I'll personally cook a feast to reward you when we get home!"
Su Xiyan couldn't hold back any longer. She threw her arms around him in a fierce hug, completely forgetting her image as a homeroom teacher.
Su Yi: →_→
Ahem. Feeling Su Xiyan's embrace, Su Yi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"Su Yi, I was so worried before. Your points weren't moving, and I thought something had happened to you. Anyway, you and Elite Four Su must have a lot to talk about, so I won't interrupt. Take your time chatting. I'll go organize the other students."
Principal Gao Xiang gave Su Yi a hearty slap on the shoulder.
This time, South Lake Province First Spirit Academy had certainly stolen the spotlight.
As the principal, he had every reason to be proud!
Both of this year's top scorers were from his school!
Su Xiyan waited there until all the students from her class had come out. After sorting out the students who'd passed and those who hadn't, she led Su Yi to the shelter South Lake Province First Spirit Academy had set up there.
She was very curious about what Su Yi had done inside and which Pokémon he had caught.
Once all the senior students had come out, those who hadn't done well returned to their respective Spirit Academies first.
Those who ranked in the top one hundred thousand on both the Knowledge and Trial Rankings—that is, those who'd been accepted into Spirit University—stayed temporarily in the shelters set up by their schools.
They waited for the Pokémon League's chartered planes.
While they waited, the points of all one hundred thousand contestants were reviewed.
The review was quick, since it was all handled by automated electronic equipment.
Countless people looked once again at the name at the top of the Trial Ranking.
It was still the same person, Su Yi—the double champion!
Zhang Kuang's father had already led a group of prominent clan heads from Shangjing City to the venue where high school graduates would receive their graduation certificates.
That's right. High school Spirit Academies didn't hand out graduation certificates on their own campuses. The League had prepared a special venue for all the graduating seniors.
Those who hadn't gotten into a Spirit Academy had two options.
First, pay the hefty tuition and repeat the year.
Second, apply to their Academy for a Completion Certificate. In this world, a Completion Certificate carried considerable weight. With one, and if their skills were good enough, they could still find a well-paying job.
Spirit Academies had to assess applicants before issuing Completion Certificates. Those who failed the assessment could only receive a Dropout Certificate.
With a Dropout Certificate, they could only hope to find Pokémon-related work somewhat better than what an ordinary person could get.
Still, whether it was a Completion Certificate or a Dropout Certificate from a high school Spirit Academy, having one put them in a better position than ordinary people.
Only those who got into Spirit University would receive a Graduation Certificate.
After telling Su Xiyan about his experiences, Su Yi took out the Shining Stone.
"Whoa, what's this...?"
Su Xiyan stared at the stone in Su Yi's hand.
It was one kind of Evolution Stone, called a Shining Stone.
Unlike other Evolution Stones, Shining Stones were quite rare even within the Pokémon League.
The only way to get one was to apply directly to the Pokémon League's national headquarters. Otherwise, the provincial Pokémon League headquarters might go a very long time without any in stock.
Before you continue