Forced Sale / The Academic Trainer

Just as he was racking his brains for a support method, he heard the other side say, "Little Blue, use Flamethrower."

"What!"

Kid was astonished to see the Azure River Dragonmaid, whom he had identified as a dual-elemental water and dragon, unleash a blazing pillar of fire at the Machina Motor. Thanks to the Sunny Day, the power of the flames was even amplified.

The already dangerously low-health Machina Motor was further damaged by a skill that countered its abilities, and could no longer withstand the damage. Its various parts exploded, and it finally disintegrated in a huge explosion.

"Isn't your Pokémon Water-type?" Kid couldn't help but ask.

"Who says Water-type can't spew fire?" You Zhi retorted dismissively.

In Pokémon, Slowpoke, Gyarados, Remoraid, and Palkia are all Water-type- type Pokémon that can learn Flamethrower.

Kid remained silent. Judging from Blue Dragon's previous performance, he thought it was a novice elf with little combat experience. He never expected it to master a skill of the opposing species.

" With the Machina Motor destroyed and no new derivatives available, your 'Rule of the Clan' can no longer be maintained," You Zhi kindly reminded him. "You could also summon a spirit with the same characteristics, or exchange it for a restriction Spell Card."

Kid chuckled but didn't reply.

He did have other restrictive Spell Card and powerful spirits that were no weaker than Machina Motor, but there was no point in continuing the fight. His opponent had already taken control of the tempo, and he had no confidence in turning the tide.

He's not the kind of hot-blooded trainer who can shout "Never give up until the very last moment" even when in dire straits. On the contrary, his years of experience in the underground dueling world have made him extremely perceptive of changes in the battle situation, and he can usually tell who wins and who loses at a glance.

If underground duels weren't always rigged, and winning too many matches made it easy for bookmakers to cheat, Kid could have become a billionaire thanks to this keen sense of smell.

Therefore, he knew very well that if the duel continued, he would undoubtedly lose.

"Sigh, I was hoping for a fair and square fight, what a pity... Luckily I was cautious and didn't put all my hopes on it."

Kid smiled and then summoned a ritual spirit named "Jera" (DARK, Level 8, Fiend, ATK 2800/DEF 2300). This spirit was powerful, but it had no fighting spirit and was only stalling for time to focus on crafting Spell Card.

Subsequently, the "Rule of the Clan" collapsed on their own due to the lack of sacrifices. The Cannon Dragon, having lost its greatest advantage, was burned to death by the Azure River Dragonmaid with flames, following in the footsteps of the Machina Motor. Meanwhile, Jera was annihilated by the Amazoness Empress, who had been suppressing her emotions for a long time.

Even the most novice could see that Kid's chances were slim, and the outcome of this duel was already clear.

Trainers skilled in combat could even tell that Kid had long lost his confidence in fighting and was just giving up on the field.

Immediately, boos erupted from the audience, with some even cursing Kid as a useless piece of trash, saying he hadn't even managed to force out a Xyz Spirit, making his trip a complete waste and a real disappointment.

Kid ignored him, glanced at the two Spell Card he had just crafted, and smiled knowingly.

"You still have one spot left. Aren't you going to summon a new Pokémon?" You Zhi reminded him.

"No need. This duel was very interesting, and you are very strong. As expected of a Pokémon Master who can discover entirely new evolutionary forms, your Pokémon are all incredibly powerful. I have done my best, and there is no point in continuing the fight."

Kid said listlessly, as if he had already resigned himself to his fate.

Hearing the praise, the Azure River Dragonmaid proudly raised her head, thinking that the other party's judgment was not bad, and that she could go easy on them later and let them hold out a little longer.

You Zhi said, "Are you going to admit defeat?"

"Yes, but before that, I hope to end this duel in a dignified manner."

Kid plays a Spell Card: "I activate 'Friendship YU-JYO' to invite my opponent to shake hands. If my opponent agrees, the life force of the elves on the field is split evenly."

Chapter 296 Forced Purchase and Sale

The "Friendship YU-JYO" effect of splitting life force is extremely powerful if used properly. For example, you can split life force between your 1-star Pokémon and your opponent's 8-star Pokémon, or between a dying Pokémon and your opponent's fully-equipped Pokémon. Both of these can turn the tide of battle.

However, now that only You Zhi's Pokémon is on the field, no matter what he does, they'll all end up in the same pot, so splitting their life force is meaningless. It seems that Kid's move is really just to make a graceful exit, and even You Zhi believes it... believe it for a second!

Putting aside other aspects, he is always very perceptive of the schemes of villains; he can tell what kind of shit someone is going to spew just by looking at their ass.

"There are actually cards like this in the world? You even have to shake hands to play cards? Yu-Gi-Oh! -Oh!, you really know how to pull off some fancy tricks."

You Zhi looked puzzled, then shook his head and said, "Your card needs my permission to be effective, so I refuse to shake hands."

"Refusal is useless!"

Kid flipped over another card in his hand, beaming with pride, and said, "'Friendship YU-JYO' has an additional effect: if you show 'Unity' from your hand, your opponent must shake hands!"

"This is practically forcing a sale!" You Zhi said helplessly. "Why bother? Wouldn't it be better for everyone to just have a normal Spirit Duel and see who wins?"

I just want to be a conscientious trainer.

Kid sneered inwardly. What are you pretending for? Do you think I don't know you studied martial arts at the Azure Gym?

But it didn't matter. He didn't intend to use force to intimidate his opponent. His real reliance was a biological needle tucked between his palms. As long as he gently pricked it when shaking hands, his opponent would go crazy and give random commands in the following match, as if he were high on drugs.

As long as the Pokémon League doesn't immediately suspect him, he can dispose of the tools used in the crime and ensure that no evidence can be found.

Even if he finds it, it doesn't matter. He never expected to become the Pokémon League champion, nor was he interested in the position of one of the Elite Four. His real target is the casino. After all, no one is optimistic about him in this duel, believing that the gap in strength between the two sides is too large. Therefore, the odds for him to win are very exaggerated.

In addition, some people do not want to see You Zhi continue to win, and have offered a substantial bounty for this.

Once the duel is over, he'll just pack his bags and leave, not caring what happens next.

Under the influence of the Duel Barrier, You Zhi felt a coercive force. Although he could resist, it was pointless. If he refused to comply, the referee would immediately declare him the loser.

Under the referee's watchful eye, both sides moved to the center of the playing field.

"I'm a very soft-hearted person, it's not too late for you to give up now," You Zhi said in his last attempt to persuade him.

"Haha, what you're saying is too complicated, big star. I'm just a nobody, I don't understand what you're talking about."

Kid feigned madness to brush it off, then proactively extended his hand.

Sigh, you have a path to heaven but you won't take it...

Helpless, You Zhi could only reach out and shake hands.

Kid maintained his smile, and with a slight exertion of force, the flesh-colored bio-needle pierced out. This needle was as thin as a hair, so even if the opponent felt a slight sting, they wouldn't be able to find a wound.

Feeling the biological needle pierce something, Kid thought the plan had succeeded and tried to pull his hand back, but the other party held his hand firmly, preventing him from withdrawing.

"What do you want to do... Ah!"

You Zhi exerted a little force, pinching the other's four fingers so hard they made a rattling sound. Kid's face contorted in pain, and he was about to scream when a large amount of air rushed into his throat, rendering him speechless.

"Huh, you're so enthusiastic? You want to keep shaking hands?" You Zhi asked himself, then realized, "What, you want to see more of this stage and leave without regrets?"

"I... your mother..."

Just as Kid was about to curse, You Zhi used a clever twist, and Kidd began to spin uncontrollably in place, as if he really wanted to stay there and etch the scene into his mind before leaving.

At the same time, You Zhi continued to exert force, cracking the opponent's finger bones, and the biological needle pierced through them.

Kid was in excruciating pain, tears and snot streaming down his face, so he couldn't feel this little bit of pain. But when the audience who didn't know him saw this, they just thought he was unwilling and saddened by his impending departure, and couldn't help but admire him as a trainer with dignity.

After a while, the referee finally felt that the two had been holding hands for too long and that it was time for a resolution, no matter how reluctant they were to part. So he stepped forward to urge them on and noticed that Kid's expression was not quite right.

"What happened to him? He seems..." the referee struggled to find an adjective, "... it's a deeply unforgettable experience."

"Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit abnormal; your emotions are far too heightened."

You Zhi, looking as if he had just realized something was wrong, quickly let go of his hand.

"Hahaha, I am the Sinnoh Champion! What kind of bullshit Evil God can scare me at all! Tobias, you're just a second-rate trainer who only relies on legendary Pokémon, what gives you the right to look down on me! Hahaha, kneel down and apologize to me, I am the Pokémon Master, the King of the World!"

Once free, Kid forgot the pain in his hand. He Yuyu, flailing his arms wildly, shouting and yelling as if drunk, his eyes glazed over.

"What's wrong with him?"

The referee was startled and quickly hid behind You Zhi, as he didn't have a powerful Pokémon to protect him.

You Zhi looked thoughtful and speculated, "Could it be that he ate something unclean and it's acting up now?"

"It does look quite similar."

The referee quickly called for backup; Kid needed to be subdued before the situation could be investigated.

"You won't get my bounty! I'm the ultimate winner, so get out of my way!"

Even while hallucinating Kid still possessed spiritual power, drawing Pokémon Card from the void and summoning "Desperado Barrel Dragon".

This Pokémon is an enhanced version of the Cannon Dragon, with strong abilities and characteristics. It is Kid's true trump card, but without the trainer's cooperation, it cannot unleash its full potential. The Azure River Dragonmaid and the Amazoness Empress joined forces, using Flamethrower and Sacred Sword in quick succession, and defeated it in less than twenty seconds.

Then, the Amazoness Empress stomped Kid to the ground, and no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't break free. Two medical personnel came forward to examine him, quickly came to a conclusion, and informed the referee.

The referee had already suspected something, and now, with the expert's assessment, he had no further doubts and no suspicion of You Zhi. After all, the only contact between the two was that one handshake, and it was Kid who initiated the handshake. He immediately declared:

"Kid has been disqualified for using banned substances. Further investigation by the Pokémon League will determine the specific punishment. The winner of this duel is You Zhi."

Upon hearing the result, You Zhi showed little joy. Instead, he sighed, "Sigh, what a mess this duel has been. Can't these people have any sportsmanship?"

Chapter 297 Academic Trainer

"... Following testing by the Pokémon League's inspection agency, it has been confirmed that Kid Howard used banned substances during the Quartz Tournament. Given his prior record, the punishment will be severe. The following decision is made: Kid Howard's gym badge is revoked, and he is banned for life from participating in any Pokémon League- organized or affiliated events."

The day after the game ended, the Pokémon League issued a formal punishment for Kid. After all, the drug Kid carefully selected was designed to be fast-acting and easy to test, so that he could frame the victim immediately and leave the victim with no way to defend himself. By the time the victim found evidence to prove his innocence, the game might already be over.

After hearing the report, Alisa asked with slight doubt, "I understand athletes taking drugs to stimulate their bodies to perform at their best, but what use are drugs for trainers? Are they the kind of drugs that replenish spiritual energy? But seeing his reaction in the duel, it seems more like a mental drug."

You Zhi replied dismissively, "Perhaps it's a side effect of replenishing spiritual energy, perhaps he took a concentration drug, or perhaps he was simply tricked into buying counterfeit goods. In any case, just understand one thing: this guy has only himself to blame and deserves it. Everything else is just irrelevant details."

Phile nodded in agreement, "That's right. As a trainer, one should determine the winner fairly through Spirit Duel. Taking shortcuts is wrong. He can't even manage his own body; he's not a qualified trainer at all. A lifetime ban is for his own good."

Alisa cautioned, "This kind of person won't take responsibility for being punished; he'll definitely hold a grudge against you. Especially since this guy has a history in underground dueling, be careful he doesn't go to extremes and resort to sneak attacks and assassinations."

"Sigh, I hope he can have some martial ethics, otherwise he might never have the chance to practice them again."

In serious Pokémon Spirit Duel, You Zhi is very mild-mannered and believes in showing leniency when possible. However, in private battles, he is much less polite.

As a trainer, he strictly requires himself to abide by the rules, but if it's a fight without rules, a life-or-death struggle, then he, as the trainer, will personally get involved.

"Never mind him, let's focus on your next opponent."

Phile had complete confidence in You Zhi's abilities and wasn't worried about his safety at all.

"My next opponent... Kao Ping, that name sounds familiar," You Zhi thought for a moment, "Could he be the bespectacled guy who rejected me in the qualifiers?"

"You guessed right, I watched the game, it was him."

"He said back then that he looked forward to meeting me in the main tournament, and I never thought it would actually come true. What a coincidence! I hope he won't cause any more trouble. The tournament has gone through three rounds, and I've only had one proper duel yet," You Zhi prayed sincerely.

Alisa opened the files on her phone and said, "It shouldn't be. According to the background check provided by the agency, he is just an ordinary trainer with a clean resume, no bad records, and no particularly famous achievements. He is the kind of pure scholar-type trainer who is just more talented than his peers and works hard without ever slacking off, which is why he has achieved what he has today."

Phile asked curiously, "What is a scholar-type trainer?"

Alisa said, "He's the kind of trainer who excels in tactical teamwork, is well-versed in various Pokémon data, and graduated from an academy. Most of these trainers have the common problem of being all talk and no action, strong in theory but weak in practice. But Kao Ping doesn't have that problem. Or rather, he has corrected these flaws through a lot of dueling experience, thus perfectly combining his knowledge with practical combat. His entry into the top 16 is the best proof of that."

"So, this person's ability is greater than their reputation?"

"Yes, if you underestimate him because you think he's unknown, you'll definitely suffer a great loss. He's good at gathering information on his opponents and devising tactics to counter them. The trainers who lost to him in the first three rounds were either not strong enough or didn't have any particularly strong seeded players, or their own tactics were countered, preventing them from performing at their best."

"Skilled at intelligence gathering, isn't that just like you, Alisa?"

"No, he went to investigate and gather intelligence himself, while I paid others to do so. There is still a difference. After all, hearing something from someone else and seeing it with your own eyes are completely different experiences."

As Alisa spoke, she sent the information to You Zhi: "These are the spirit and Spell Card that Kao Ping used before."

Thanks.

You Zhi did not refuse; he was not the kind of trainer who enjoyed fighting unknown opponents and getting the thrill from it.

He hadn't done that before simply because he found it troublesome; he wouldn't mind knowing about his opponent beforehand if someone else did it for him.

"You also need to be careful of your opponent. This guy named Will is no less strong than Lihua. He also possesses the strength of a Heavenly King. At most, he just lacks a little in practical experience."

With Lihua as a starting point, You Zhi recalled the identities of the remaining Johto Elite Four. Two of them were elders from the previous generation: the former Fighting-type Elite Four champion, Bruno, and the former Poison-type Gym Leader, Koga. The last one was Will, who was skilled in Psychic Pokémon.

In fact, Will left a stronger impression on You Zhi than Lihua, after all, this guy always wore a tuxedo and a mask similar to that worn at a masquerade ball, making him hard not to remember.

However, in terms of strength, he is the weakest of the Elite Four, and also the most honest—his five Pokémon are actually all Psychic- type.

"Don't worry, I absolutely won't lose before I meet that guy!"

Alisa stared at Yuan Ying's name on the list and said decisively.

Soon the day of the Round of 16 began, and You Zhi was scheduled for the first day, according to the order.

Despite not being able to see Xyz Spirit as hoped in the last match, the stands were still packed today.

"I was just saying it casually, I never expected to actually meet you in the main tournament," Kao Ping said excitedly as they shook hands. "I'm really looking forward to today's battle. Although you haven't had many serious duels, which has prevented me from gathering much information, please don't hold back and show me your true strength."

"Ha, I'll try my best."

Both teams returned to their respective halves of the field, held their breath, and waited for the referee's whistle.

"Duel!" x2