Tropius's Hidden Ability

Ekans Trainer was a somewhat scrawny-looking youth, his dark skin seemingly weathered by relentless ultraviolet rays.

Lu Li also noticed the calluses on the youth's hands. The other boy's eyes were bright, filled with confidence.

"I've long heard of First High School's genius. Please go easy on me," Ekans Trainer said with a hearty laugh.

Lu Li smiled and praised him. "You dared to choose Ekans as your starter Pokémon, and you can command it so flawlessly. You're the real genius."

The smile on Lian Sheyi's face froze. He somehow felt like this guy was mocking him.

In truth, Lu Li really was praising Lian Sheyi.

He knew Lian Sheyi's background. After all, when they had collected their Poverty Subsidies, Lian Sheyi had been right beside him, and his grandfather had come with him then.

Lian Sheyi had lost both parents at a young age and had been raised single-handedly by his grandfather.

Lian Sheyi's family could be called poor even among commoners. As for the Ekans in his hands, that had been Lian Sheyi's stroke of luck. Without that opportunity, he would not even have been qualified to become a Trainer.

That was why Lu Li genuinely admired him. It was truly not easy for a commoner to make it this far.

Only one's own family knew its own affairs. Lu Li had never dared to call himself a Commoner Genius in public, for one simple reason: he had cheats.

Those with cheats shouldn't try to pass themselves off as geniuses.

Lian Sheyi released his Ekans, and Lu Li narrowed his eyes as he carefully studied it on the field.

Lian Sheyi had raised Ekans very well. Its nearly black-purple skin showed that its Poison-type talent had been developed to an outrageous degree.

Qingyun City's First High School already produced a Jin Huang, and now I've actually run into this kind of Poison-type genius too, Lu Li silently praised.

Lu Li released Tropius as well.

"Tropius, this opponent isn't simple. Be careful!" Lu Li reminded it.

As the Referee Teacher announced the start of the match, Ekans moved first.

Like an arrow leaving the bowstring, Ekans shot toward Tropius in an instant, targeting Tropius's neck.

Going straight for a lethal attack. This Ekans must have gone through plenty of Wild Battles, Lu Li thought.

"Tropius, dodge!"

Lu Li used the Divine Skill: Dodge.

Ekans opened its mouth, its long fangs gleaming with a faint violet light. That alone showed its attack was anything but simple, and Lu Li had no intention of letting Tropius take it head-on.

Ekans's Poison-type talent had already been developed far beyond others of its kind. Combined with the same-type Poison Fang, if Tropius took a Poison Fang head-on, it would be poisoned for certain even if it avoided serious injury.

Upon hearing the command, Tropius hurriedly flapped its wings and took flight.

Before the missed Ekans even landed, Lian Sheyi excitedly shouted, "Ekans! Take this chance—Poison Tail!"

Ekans's tail glowed purple before slamming heavily into Tropius's wing.

With its wing injured, Tropius lost its balance in the air and nearly fell from the sky.

Given Tropius's size, falling from the air to the ground would definitely inflict secondary damage.

The wing struck by Poison Tail immediately took on a purple hue.

Lu Li's heart sank at the sight. Tropius had been poisoned.

Is Poison Tail's poisoning chance really this high?

Even as he complained inwardly, Lu Li hurriedly shouted, "Tropius, let's take this opportunity to use Leech Seed too!"

Ekans had only just landed and had no time to react before Tropius's Leech Seed landed on its body.

Leech Seed was Tropius's primary focus in training. While it could not be said to hit every time, against an Ekans that had yet to enter the Growth stage, Tropius's Leech Seed would definitely land.

"Phew~"

Seeing Leech Seed hit successfully, Lu Li let out a heavy sigh of relief.

The disadvantage had been reversed in an instant, and he had even gained a slight edge.

Compared to poisoning, being hit by Leech Seed was undoubtedly far more painful.

After all, Leech Seed not only continuously drained life energy, but also restored the opponent's life energy, whereas poison merely continuously drained life energy.

Seeing this, Lian Sheyi said gloomily, "Leech Seed? You really hid that well."

Lu Li was equally gloomy. "I was originally saving this move for Jin Huang."

Lian Sheyi grumbled speechlessly, "So by your logic, I should feel honored?"

Lu Li: "..."

Lian Sheyi helplessly said to the teacher beside him, "Teacher, I concede!"

The Referee Teacher beside them looked equally bewildered, then could not help asking, "Student, aren't you going to try a little harder?"

"There's no need." Lian Sheyi shook his head.

If Ekans had been hit by some other move, he might still have considered dragging the battle out. But Leech Seed was different.

Ekans currently had no recovery moves, much less any move that could remove negative conditions. On top of that, Tropius could fly. Lian Sheyi truly had no idea how he was supposed to win.

Unlike the other students still sheltered in their ivory tower, Lian Sheyi was a Trainer who had truly experienced Wild Battles, so he was better at judging the situation.

After Ekans was hit by Leech Seed, Lian Sheyi knew the match was already over.

"Alright."

The Referee Teacher helplessly announced the result of the match.

Seeing Lian Sheyi concede so decisively, Lu Li smiled and called out, "Tropius, eat the Pecha Berry."

Upon hearing the command, Tropius plucked a Pecha Berry from its neck and stuffed it into its mouth.

A Pecha Berry could cure a Pokémon's poisoned status. Pecha Berries of different grades could counter poisons of different levels.

The Pecha Berries around Tropius's neck were of exceptionally high quality; they could even cure poison from Elite-level Pokémon.

Seeing the wide variety of Berries hanging around Tropius's neck, Lian Sheyi's mouth twitched slightly.

It's a Tropius with the Harvest Ability too. Good thing I surrendered early, Lian Sheyi thought gloomily.

In the Pokémon world, Tropius's Harvest Ability allowed the Berries around its neck to become more varied rather than being limited to just one kind.

Tropius had four types of Berries around its neck, with two of each kind. That meant it could negate at least four negative statuses twice during battle.

After Tropius was cured of its poisoned status, Lu Li took it back to the stands.

Looking at Lu Li as he returned, Jin Huang said enviously, "Pokémon with Hidden Abilities really are something to envy."

Lu Li asked curiously, "By the way, what Ability does your Aron have?"

Jin Huang immediately became wary upon hearing that, then replied, "I'll tell you after the match is over."

Lu Li: "..."

After only a few battles, Lu Li truly hadn't been able to tell what Ability Jin Huang's Aron had.

But one thing was certain: Ekans's Ability definitely wasn't a Hidden Ability.

"Next up, it's your match against Lian Sheyi. Are you confident?" Lu Li asked curiously.

"What do you think?" Jin Huang rolled his eyes at Lu Li speechlessly.

Aron was immune to Ekans's Poison-type attacks, and every fighting method Ekans had displayed involved Poison-type moves. Jin Huang genuinely had no idea how he could lose.

Lu Li also realized he had asked a pretty stupid question.

Ekans was countered far too badly by Aron. There was absolutely no suspense in the next match.

"What a shame."

Lu Li sighed regretfully. He had thought he would get to watch an intense battle.