Mythical Pokémon Era: Global Ascension

Unfortunately, there were too many people. He couldn't find them.

In a corner, the mahjong quartet had gathered together. The other three stared in shock at the smug "male mom," Huo Qing.

After being tormented by "Protect or Not Protect," Huo Qing's skin had grown thicker than city walls. The stares of three people couldn't faze him in the slightest.

He patted Lin Shixian on the shoulder and said solemnly:

"I've already crushed them in terms of momentum! The rest is up to you!"

Yang Dong, who had lost her recommended admission spot, immediately voiced her approval. "Grass-type hard-counters Water-type, and you've got the advantage in training time. If you still lose, then forget about being a Trainer. You might as well go home and raise pigs!"

Meng Duoduo said, "Go for it!"

Bearing the hopes of the Avengers Alliance, Lin Shixian stepped onto the battlefield.

At the referee's command, the two threw out their Poké Balls at the same time.

When Squirtle and Bulbasaur appeared on the field together, the audience erupted into cheers.

A battle between Starter Pokémon was a classic matchup!

Sharp-eyed spectators quickly noticed the difference in the aura surrounding the two Pokémon.

Bulbasaur was brimming with fighting spirit and confidence, eager to reclaim its pride after being utterly crushed by Riolu twice.

Squirtle, on the other hand, looked a little dopey, with none of the air of a powerhouse. It even seemed somewhat uneasy.

Seeing this, Lin Shixian grew even more confident and made the first move.

"Magic Leaf!"

Bulbasaur unleashed the move it had recently learned. Several leaves imbued with Psychic Power shot forward with razor-sharp force!

The move was like an upgraded version of Razor Leaf, except it was infused with psychic tracking and guaranteed accuracy!

Almost the instant his opponent gave the order, Roy issued his own command.

"Icy Wind!"

Squirtle seemed a little nervous in its first battle and reacted a beat too slowly, barely managing to use its move.

Lin Shixian caught that detail. He had thought he could use the opportunity to deal a devastating, super-effective blow to Squirtle, but to his astonishment, even though Squirtle had acted a beat later, its Icy Wind was released first.

It struck after yet arrived before.

A bone-chilling gale howled across the field.

The Magic Leaves turned into ice sculptures, fell to the ground, and shattered into powder.

—When an expert made a move, you knew whether they had the goods!

Squirtle's Skill Release speed and move power instantly put Lin Shixian on high alert.

And this Squirtle seemed to be skilled with Ice-type moves.

Ice-type moves could also deal double damage to Bulbasaur.

He didn't want to lose again. This wasn't just about pride. Losing to Riolu was one thing, but if Bulbasaur couldn't even beat Roy's second Pokémon, it might lose its confidence completely.

Lin Shixian gritted his teeth and decided to reveal his trump card.

"—Grassy Terrain!"

A vibrant jade-green glow rapidly spread from Bulbasaur and covered the entire battlefield.

The whole field immediately filled with a faint green radiance overflowing with vitality.

Many people in the audience were visibly moved.

"He's finally brought out his signature move!"

"Maosen Gym's classic tactic!"

"So this is Master Lin's secret technique..."

Within the domain of Grassy Terrain, regardless of friend or foe, all Pokémon standing on the ground slowly recovered their vitality. In addition, the power of all Grass-type moves on the field was increased.

This move was neither particularly powerful nor rare. Many Grass-type Pokémon could learn it.

It healed both sides and buffed Grass-type moves for both sides?

Wasn't that screwing yourself over?

It could only bully Flying-type and Levitate-type Pokémon.

The public's fixed impression of Grassy Terrain had been shattered ten years ago by a Grass-type Pokémon Master.

That Grass-type Pokémon Master had painstakingly studied Grass-type energy and successfully modified Grassy Terrain, creating a secret technique based on a self-created move.

The secret technique was still called Grassy Terrain, but only Grass-type Pokémon within the field would continuously recover vitality!

That person was Master Lin Zhengqing, the Gym Leader of Shenghai's local Grass-type Gym, Maosen Gym.

It was said that all of Master Lin Zhengqing's main Pokémon could use Grassy Terrain: Modified, and that they had mastered it to an extraordinary degree. Outsiders could not easily alter the field's attributes. When fighting him, one faced an endless flood of verdant light and the vitality of the earth...

Compared with resources and connections...

A secret technique was a Gym's greatest foundation.

Many Trainers spent huge sums and pulled every string they could to send their children to study at Gyms, all in the hope of learning the Gym Leader's secret technique.

"Ever since I got Bulbasaur, I've been teaching it this move."

Lin Shixian finally held his head high and couldn't help explaining it to Roy.

"Unfortunately, this move is too difficult. It didn't manage to learn it in time for the entrance test. Bulbasaur only barely mastered it yesterday."

Grass energy continuously surged from the ground and flowed into Bulbasaur's body.

"Magic Leaf!"

The same move, boosted by Grassy Terrain, was far more powerful than before. Squirtle gradually got used to the rhythm of battle and independently used Icy Wind to meet the attack.

This time, Magic Leaf tore through the freezing gale and made it all the way to Squirtle before finally losing its power and falling.

"What a pity."

Lin Shixian was both regretful and surprised.

He regretted that they had not yet studied the secret technique Grassy Terrain: Modified deeply enough. They were only at the Beginner Level, and the Grass-type energy boost was merely 30%.

His teacher, Lin Zhengqing, could grant a 70% Grass-type boost with the Grassy Terrain: Modified used by any of his main Pokémon. When multiple Pokémon fought in team battles, through coordination and combination, he had once raised the Grass-type energy boost to a terrifying 110%.

What surprised him was...

Even with a 30% energy boost, it was still being suppressed?

Although Ice-type energy did indeed have an advantage over Grass-type energy.

Bulbasaur was using an enhanced move of its own type, while this Squirtle was using an off-type Ice-type move...

For an off-type move, being able to bring out half of its original effect was already considered good!

What kind of monsters was Roy raising!?

After silently cursing a few times, Lin Shixian still didn't believe he would lose and continued.

"Ingrain."

Bulbasaur extended two vines and rooted them into the ground, drawing in vitality.

It seemed Squirtle was also a long-range artillery attacker, the same type as Bulbasaur.

Battles between Pokémon of this type usually developed into exchanges of overwhelming firepower!

Since their move power was evenly matched, it would come down to endurance and recovery!

With Ingrain plus Grassy Terrain: Modified, the double recovery effect meant Lin Shixian had nothing to fear.

Magic Leaf, Vine Whip, Bullet Seed...

Bulbasaur unleashed one Grass-type move after another without pause, carrying out a relentless long-range bombardment.

Squirtle had reached the part it was familiar with—throwing out moves—and immediately found its rhythm. It used Icy Wind throughout, freezing every lethal attack that came its way.

Boom—!

The exchange of firepower between the two Pokémon sent thunderous booms echoing throughout the arena.

Frost, smoke, shattered stones—the battlefield had been completely transformed beyond recognition. It made people wonder whether two tanks were blasting away at each other there.

"...This Squirtle actually has this level of firepower?"

Huo Qing was stunned in the audience.

He imagined what would happen if his Sandshrew entered the field and regretfully realized that, whether it faced Bulbasaur or Squirtle, Sandshrew wouldn't even be able to get close under this level of firepower. It had no chance of winning at all!

He could understand how much Lin Shixian had improved thanks to the secret technique Grassy Terrain: Modified.

But what was this Squirtle relying on?

"Not just that." Yang Dong's expression was grave. "This Squirtle's endurance... is unbelievably high."

"It's already been three minutes..."

"Squirtle's energy still hasn't run dry?"

On the field, Lin Shixian and Bulbasaur also realized something was wrong.

With the double recovery of Ingrain plus Grassy Terrain: Modified, after three minutes of exchanging fire, Bulbasaur's energy had already fallen to the point where it affected its move power.

The power of its Grass-type moves was gradually weakening.

Yet Squirtle still maintained high-output attacks. Its Icy Wind had begun suppressing Bulbasaur instead.

Just then, Roy suddenly snapped his fingers, prompting Squirtle to make a different move.

A signal?!

Lin Shixian was instantly on guard.

Squirtle brought its hands together in front of itself, and a pale blue energy sphere began to gather.

—Water Pulse!

A move that the Squirtle line would inevitably learn.