Mythical Pokémon Era: Global Ascension — Chapter 14

"Upstairs, NMSL, WSND!"

A recommended student with the ID "Arrogant Lord" stepped up and threw out a mass taunt, instantly sparking a wave of insults.

True to his name, he was arrogant and unruly. He directly posted a screenshot showing himself leading the group rankings, then continued rubbing it in everyone's faces.

His actions made the other recommended students frown.

Just then, a heavyweight guest entered the chat.

Number One in Superpowers: "Who's the recommended student in Group F?"

The arrival of the Child of the Heavenly Kings once again drew everyone's attention to Group F.

Someone immediately replied.

"The disciple of the local Grass-type Gym Leader, Lin Shixian."

"So it's him." The Child of the Heavenly Kings, Xiao Bin, sounded like he knew Lin Shixian. "If he can beat Lin Shixian, then he really would be at the level of a recommended student..."

Beat a recommended student, and that meant he was at the level of a recommended student?

Many freshmen were completely baffled. That sentence was like saying, "After hearing your words, I've heard your words..."

The last time I heard that sentence was the last time...

Some people grumbled in confusion.

Wasn't that just nonsense?

But someone soon stepped forward to explain.

"Recommended students are admitted to the school unconditionally and free of charge, with the endorsement of a Professional-level Trainer associated with the school. They also receive the highest level of resource support—but Professional Trainers are human too. They can make mistakes and misjudge people."

"Some recommended students were merely piled up with resources. They're actually a little lacking."

"Recommended students who perform poorly in the entrance exam, midterm exam, or final exam will be eliminated. Their recommended student status will be replaced by newcomers, following a bottom-elimination system."

"So, the so-called recommended student level within the school refers to those who can hold onto their recommended student status for the long term."

This explainer went into such detail that even a monkey could understand it.

Simply put, Lin Shixian's recommended student status had no padding whatsoever. It was the real deal. If Roy could defeat Lin Shixian, it would basically prove that he could hold onto recommended student status for a long time afterward.

"Wait." A fairly well-known fourth-year senior stepped forward. "Since the school was founded, has anyone ever transferred recommended student status during the entrance test?"

Those in the know fell silent at once.

There was no shortage of talented people among ordinary folk. Every year, dark horses emerged during the entrance tests. Some pulled off unexpected tricks in the preliminaries, while others caught recommended students off guard and achieved an upset.

However, Sheng Hai University had never seen a case of "recommended student status being transferred" during its entrance tests.

During the main tournament, recommended students had never lost to ordinary students.

The top eight had always been occupied by recommended students.

The reason was simple.

Resources were the most important thing on a Trainer's path. Especially for newbie Trainers, resources determined almost 99 percent of everything.

You came from a common background, without money or resources, without knowledge or connections, without famous teachers to guide you...

What could you use to compete against second-generation Trainers?

Pulling off one upset in the preliminaries was already heaven-defying. Once the main tournament began, no one would hold back their trump cards.

The school was already the best ladder for advancement. It provided all kinds of channels to obtain resources and gave many people the chance to leap over the dragon gate. Mr. Lin was a prime example.

Yet even Mr. Lin had stood there like a nobody when he first enrolled at eighteen.

...Impossible. Roy definitely can't do it.

...Could a miracle really happen?

...Could they truly witness history being made?

All kinds of thoughts made nearly everyone in the school focus on Group F's final battle.

The world is focused on you~~~

A familiar, addictive phrase echoed in Roy's mind.

But he was confused.

"What's going on? Why do my Popularity Points keep rising?" Roy stroked his chin, secretly puzzled. "I didn't even hire any bots. Could it be that because of my looks, I've finally gained the legendary... organic fans?"

He still had no idea what was happening online.

Because just as the Child of the Heavenly Kings made his declaration, the match system had notified him that his battle was about to begin. He had left his phone in the locker, and by the time he stepped onto the battlefield, he found that his Popularity Points had skyrocketed.

In just a few minutes, they had risen to nearly one hundred thousand...

That was more than he had gained from hiring bots a week ago.

"Both contestants, take your positions!"

At the referee's call, Lin Shixian and Roy stepped onto their Trainers' command platforms at the same time, each gripping a Poké Ball.

Lin Shixian looked at Roy with fighting spirit and absolute confidence. Though he said nothing, his expression conveyed it clearly.

I'll win!

"Terrain: Rock."

"Weather: Clear."

"The rules are a 1v1 battle, ending when one side loses the ability to fight!"

"Three..."

"Two..."

"One!"

The instant the countdown ended, both of them threw their Poké Balls.

Bulbasaur and Riolu appeared on the battlefield.

Enemies meeting again were especially hostile. When Riolu saw the opponent it had defeated before, it gave a disdainful sneer. Bulbasaur, seeing this, instantly turned into a true Bulbasaur. Its face went green, and fire blazed in its eyes.

"Bulbasaur, Sleep Powder! Vine Whip!"

Lin Shixian calmly carried out the strategy he had prepared in advance.

Not letting Riolu get close was still the core of the battle.

To that end, he used Sleep Powder, a move he had never used last time.

It was not newly learned. Bulbasaur had known it for a long time.

But Sleep Powder in reality was nowhere near as useful as it was in games... Anyone who understood knew how painfully slow drifting pollen was.

There was no way it could hit an agile Riolu.

So, he had simulated a tactic of using vines to create wind!

Bulbasaur produced four vines that spun wildly like electric fans, whipping up a gust that blew all the pollen outward.

The pollen dispersed and spread throughout the battlefield.

The diluted Sleep Powder was not enough to put Riolu to sleep, but it could make it drowsy.

At the same time, Bulbasaur kept making foolish cries.

The move, Growl!

A basic move that reduced an opponent's concentration.

The physical interference of Vine Whip plus Razor Leaf had failed last time. This time, Lin Shixian had intensified things by adding the mental interference of Sleep Powder plus Growl.

A two-pronged attack!

Compared to yesterday, you haven't grown at all. Fall right here!!!

Lin Shixian shouted passionately in his heart!

Roy understood the opponent's tactical goal. With his limited vocabulary, he could only think, Holy shit.

Then...

"Fancy tricks."

Roy grinned.

"Riolu, use Quick Attack!"

At a completely unexpected speed, Riolu transformed into a black shadow and instantly vanished from Lin Shixian's field of vision.

"Gah----!!"

Bulbasaur's cry of pain rang out, finally allowing Lin Shixian's eyes to catch up to that blue-black figure.

So... so fast!

"Metal Claw!"

Steel-type energy flashed as Riolu viciously swung a claw into Bulbasaur's head, smashing it hard into the ground.

A moment later, the rebound from the ground launched Bulbasaur into the air. Riolu instinctively raised its foot and swept out with a whipping kick.

At that moment, Proficient Reaction Speed allowed Roy to keep up with Riolu's explosively increased speed.

The next instant, the move and Roy's command were unleashed as though their hearts were linked.

"Rock Smash!"

Bulbasaur flew high like a thrown stone ball, crashing outside the battlefield and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Riolu unleashed its Lightning Triple Combo all at once, without a shred of sportsmanship.

Turn-based combat?

Didn't exist.

Once it found an opening, it finished the opponent in one combo.