Suddenly, as if he'd thought of something, he gave Su Yi a playful look.
Then Luo Jing suddenly took something out of his pocket. It looked like a badge, and he solemnly pinned it to his chest.
It gleamed brightly. That was...
"Whoa! Luo Jing passed the certification exam and got an Intermediate Trainer Badge?"
"That silver color—it's definitely an Intermediate Trainer Badge!"
"The Intermediate Trainer exam is really strict. There's absolutely no way to pull strings, not even with a Champion or Elite Four background!"
"Interesting. Is Luo Jing trying to intimidate Su Yi?"
"Maybe Su Yi passed the exam too?"
"..."
An Intermediate Trainer Badge!
Every Trainer Badge was a Trainer's honor!
It proved the sweat they'd shed and the strength they'd gained!
"Teacher, sorry, I forgot just now. Trainers are supposed to wear their badges during battles, right? I passed the certification exam half a month ago."
Luo Jing smiled at Su Yi.
Half a month ago, his Little Lion was only lv.33. Even so, with his other two Pokémon at lv.29, he'd had to work hard to pass the Intermediate Trainer certification exam.
He'd been unlucky, since the opponent he'd drawn was the strongest among the Intermediate Trainer exam candidates. Every one of his Pokémon was lv.29.
The teacher glanced at Luo Jing. She was a woman!
In truth, she didn't much care for Luo Jing's behavior, either.
He had a badge, yet had waited until after his battle with Su Yi had begun to show it. He was trying to mess with Su Yi's head.
She looked at Luo Jing as though he were an idiot. He probably had no idea that the big shot Su Yi had earned his Advanced Trainer certification and badge a month ago, right?
The Shangjing City Pokémon League hadn't made the news public, and at Jingtian Academy, only Su Yi's teachers and a few people like Gu Yuanfang knew.
They were all smart enough to keep quiet until Su Yi chose to reveal it himself.
"Finished showing off?"
If this idiot hadn't still had 500,000 Gold Coins for Su Yi to squeeze out of him, Su Yi would've left already.
How many years old was this tired old trick? And he was still trying it?
But if you stuck your face out for me to slap, wouldn't it be rude not to?
Su Yi: →_→
With everyone watching, eager for a show, Su Yi casually took out his Advanced Trainer Badge and waved it.
Then, amid a chorus of shocked, stunned "What the hells," he ordered Combusken to attack!
"Combusken, Quick Attack!"
Su Yi had no interest in waiting any longer.
Luo Jing had gotten a good look at the badge Su Yi had just waved. Damn it, it was an Advanced Trainer Badge!
Luo Jing had been among those who'd just blurted out, "What the hell!"
Seeing Su Yi order Combusken to use Quick Attack, Luo Jing forced down his shock and shouted, "Fire Lion, Quick Attack!"
Both sides used Quick Attack!
Fire Lion couldn't match Combusken's raw strength!
Combusken was a Fighting-type, so it was strong, and it had always been given the best food.
"Thud! Thud!"
The two Quick Attacks collided. Fire Lion was knocked back two steps, its paws striking the battlefield with two heavy thuds.
"Roar!!"
Fire Lion roared furiously, refusing to accept defeat, but Su Yi's Combusken didn't press the attack. After gaining the upper hand, it quickly retreated some distance.
It was, of course, going to make the most of its Ability!
Speed Boost!
Combusken's speed increased!
"Fire Lion, use Bulk Up!"
Luo Jing wasn't some idiot who only knew how to attack. Fire Lion knew a move called Bulk Up, which focused its inner strength to raise both its Attack and Special Attack!
While Fire Lion boosted both its attacks, Su Yi's Combusken charged straight in!
A fist slammed into Fire Lion's forehead with Rock Smash.
"Drain Punch!"
Rock Smash had connected, and Su Yi's command came without a moment's pause.
He acted as if he didn't care at all that Luo Jing's Fire Lion had boosted both its attacks.
"Combusken!"
Combusken's speed increased once again!
Luo Jing stared at Su Yi's Combusken in alarm. Damn it, he'd run into a top-tier Combusken. He had to end this quickly!
A Combusken with Speed Boost was top-tier!
"Fire Lion, use Crunch! Grab Combusken's fist!"
Luo Jing had passed the Intermediate Trainer certification exam, after all. He knew how to use tactics.
His idea was simple: no matter how fast Combusken got, if Fire Lion could pin down its body, that would solve the problem.
Even if Fire Lion got hurt in the process, it didn't matter—as long as it won!
Crunch was a Dark Type move, and it was very powerful!
But Drain Punch was just as powerful, and it was a Fighting-type move. Fighting-type moves were super effective against Dark Type!
Fire Lion took the Drain Punch head-on and let out a pained roar!
The sound was deafening, but it still opened its enormous jaws, about to bite down on Combusken's arm.
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. Combusken performed exceptionally well and triggered a hidden reward: Skill Awakening Card — Metal Claw! ]
"Learn it. Assign it to Combusken!"
Su Yi had just been preparing to counter Fire Lion's Crunch when the system's notification suddenly rang in his mind. He immediately had Combusken learn the move, changing his battle plan at once!
With Metal Claw, a Steel-type move, Fire Lion's Crunch had just become Luo Jing's biggest mistake!
"Ah! Dodge!"
Someone rooting for Su Yi saw what was happening and cried out in alarm.
If Fire Lion's huge jaws clamped down on Combusken's arm, Combusken wouldn't be able to use its speed to evade!
"Bite it! Bite down!"
Those who were jealous of Su Yi hoped Luo Jing's Fire Lion would beat Combusken.
"Combusken, Metal Claw!"
"Shhk!"
Combusken had just used Drain Punch with that hand. It pulled back slightly as it used Metal Claw, and Fire Lion's jaws snapped shut.
"Crack! Crack!"
Fire Lion felt as if it were biting down on steel. No matter how hard it tried, it couldn't bite through.
Combusken hadn't had time to pull its hand free, and Fire Lion had clamped its jaws around the Metal Claw!
"Use Whirlwind Blade right there!"
"Combusken!"
Shh-shh-shh!!!
"Spit out its claw and defend yourself!"
Luo Jing's expression changed drastically!
Whirlwind Blade burst forth!
It was already too late!
Fire Lion had just managed to spit out Combusken's claw. There was no time to defend itself!
Shh-shh-shh!
The storm of Whirlwind Blades poured down on Fire Lion!
It was Whirlwind Blade unleashed at point-blank range!
Whirlwind Blade was another reward the system had granted Combusken for its outstanding performance earlier.
"Rr... roar!!!"
Fire Lion howled in pain.
"Again! Drain Punch!"
"Bang!!!"
"Rr..."
After two Drain Punches and one point-blank Whirlwind Blade, the newly evolved Fire Lion collapsed and couldn't get back up.
"Fire Lion is unable to battle. Combusken wins!"
The teacher announced the result as Fire Lion fell.
At the same time, the system notification rang in Su Yi's mind.
Combusken's body also began to glow with the light of evolution!
Evolve, Blaziken!
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. Combusken defeated Fire Lion and gained Battle Experience. Its level has increased to lv.36! ]
Great, it had finally evolved—Blaziken!
In the games, Blaziken was often called Speed Boost Chicken, no doubt because of its Speed Boost Ability.
"Combusken!"
Combusken's body grew taller before their eyes, surrounded by the light of evolution.
In no time, it had evolved!
A V-shaped crest appeared on its forehead, and the claws on both hands were razor-sharp. Blaziken let out an excited cry, and a fierce ring of flames burst from its wrists!
So cool!
With both Speed Boost and Blaze, Blaziken was incredibly strong. Its jumping ability also meant it had no fear of Flying-type aerial moves.
Blaziken had enough leg strength to leap over a thirty-story building!
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. You defeated Luo Jing and won ten Spirit Battles. Side Quest 2 complete. Rewards issued: Hidden Ability Activation Card ×1! ]
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. Combusken evolved into Blaziken, giving you three Pokémon that had reached their second stage of evolution. Side Quest 1 complete. Rewards issued: Advanced Healing Pokeball ×3! ]
Su Yi was still basking in the joy of Combusken's evolution when the system notification rang again.
It informed him that both new Side Quests 1 and 2 were complete, and that he'd received the rewards.
Think that's all?
Before you continue
Like what you read?
Upgrade to the full novel to keep reading beyond the preview chapters.