Pokémon Battle Tournament (4)

First Match of the Top Ten to Five

Sui Yan from Class 1 versus Lin Zixin from Class 5

"Damn, I got him? Come on, I'll get rid of this tough opponent for you two."

After seeing his opponent, Sui Yan excitedly said this to Lu Ze and Tang Yunqin.

His opponent was Togedemaru, the chubby electric mouse that could cause trouble for Lu Ze and Tang Yunqin.

Sui Yan stepped onto the stage, and both sides released their Pokémon at the same time.

Pokémon: Togedemaru

Gender: Female

Type: Electric, Steel

Ability: Lightning Rod (Draws Electric-type moves to itself. It takes no damage and instead raises its Special Attack.)

Aptitude: Blue Aptitude

Basic Moves: Tackle, Nuzzle, Charge, Thunder Shock, Defense Curl

Egg Moves: Wish, Flail

"Good, it doesn't have Fake Out or Disarming Voice. Otherwise, this would've been troublesome."

After seeing Togedemaru's information, Lu Ze smiled faintly. He was no longer worried about Sui Yan's chances. As long as he performed normally, he wouldn't lose.

"Togedemaru, Nuzzle!"

"Torkoal—Fissure!"

Both Pokémon attacked simultaneously. Togedemaru's Nuzzle successfully inflicted Paralysis on Torkoal, but Torkoal's Fissure was avoided.

"Torkoal—Smokescreen!"

Sui Yan wasn't surprised. Using Fissure first was merely a gamble, betting that the opponent would greedily boost themselves or use a status move. If that happened, Fissure could decide the battle in a single strike.

Unfortunately, Togedemaru wasn't slow. After using Nuzzle, it promptly dodged away.

"Togedemaru—Charge!"

Torkoal released Smokescreen, shrouding Togedemaru in thick black smoke. However, flashes of electricity could still be seen flickering within it. Togedemaru was using Charge.

"Togedemaru, move out of the Smokescreen, then use Discharge!"

"Torkoal—Ember!"

Togedemaru rushed out of the smoke, only to be met head-on by Torkoal's Ember. The point-blank attack caught Togedemaru completely off guard.

"Keep going, Ember!"

"Togedemaru—Thunder Shock!"

The two Pokémon launched their moves at the same time and were both hit.

"Togedemaru—Wish!"

Sui Yan on the stage and Lu Ze below it both lit up at the same time.

"The chance is here."

"Torkoal—Finish it with Eruption!"

Sui Yan had hidden Eruption throughout the entire tournament, and he finally used it. Just after Togedemaru cast Wish, a point-blank Eruption blasted it flying. It crashed hard against the ground twice before its eyes began spinning in circles. Only then did Wish's healing arrive.

A milky-white beam descended from the sky onto Togedemaru, but it was already useless.

"Togedemaru is unable to battle. Torkoal wins."

Sui Yan dramatically swung his school uniform around in his hand, draped it over his shoulders like a cape, recalled Torkoal with his back to the arena, and left the stage with an icy expression.

Seeing Sui Yan like that, Lu Ze's eye twitched uncontrollably. He said to the still stone-faced Sui Yan as he came down from the stage,

"Too bad it's just a school uniform. Otherwise, you would've pulled off that act a lot more smoothly."

"Haha, right? I definitely need to get myself a cape someday."

Sui Yan laughed with his hands on his hips.

Second Match: Lin Musen from Class 3 versus Su Tingxi from Class 2

There wasn't much to say. Dratini performed steadily and took down its opponent.

Third Match: Lu Ze from Class 1 versus Lu Jun from Class 5

"Both sides, release your Pokémon."

Lu Ze released Zubat, while his opponent released a Rolycoly.

Pokémon: Rolycoly

Gender: Male

Type: Rock type

Ability: Steam Engine (When hit by a Water-type or Fire-type attack, its Speed greatly increases.)

Aptitude: Green Aptitude

Basic Moves: Tackle, Smokescreen, Rapid Spin, Smack Down

Egg Move: Stone Edge

Sui Yan had mentioned Lu Jun's Rolycoly while they were chatting over a meal. In the finals of their tournament, it had faced a Darumaka. The opponent's Darumaka took advantage of its slow speed and had already locked in victory with Focus Punch, but Rolycoly used Rapid Spin and flung Darumaka away.

Then the opponent thought two long-range attacks would be enough to finish it off, so they commanded Darumaka to use Ember. Steam Engine activated, instantly boosting Rolycoly's speed. Then two Stone Edges turned the tables and took down Darumaka, allowing Lu Jun to advance. He had really been lucky.

Lu Ze carefully observed Rolycoly. There was indeed nothing particularly outstanding about it. As long as he didn't use Water-type or Fire-type moves to trigger its Ability, Zubat could toy with it to death with its speed.

The flag dropped, and the battle began.

"Zubat—Air Slash!"

"Rolycoly—Smokescreen!"

Rolycoly spewed thick black smoke, trying to envelop Zubat. Zubat flew upward, and the moment its vision cleared, it decisively used Air Slash.

"Rolycoly—Stone Edge!"

Seeing Zubat fly out of the smoke so quickly and land Air Slash on Rolycoly, Lu Jun immediately commanded Rolycoly to counterattack.

"Zubat, dodge it and keep using Air Slash!"

All dozen or so stones from Stone Edge were dodged. The younger students in the audience burst into cries of surprise. They hadn't expected Zubat to evade every single one.

After avoiding the attack, Zubat landed another Air Slash on Rolycoly.

One reliable move was enough to carry a battle. Zubat's Air Slash had undergone an enormous amount of practice. Let alone a very slow Rolycoly, even Dratini would have found it difficult to dodge.

After taking two Air Slashes, Rolycoly was already running low on stamina. One more hit would probably end the battle.

"I surrender."

Lu Jun suddenly raised his hand to signal the referee.

"Are you sure?"

The referee asked Lu Jun seriously.

"I'm sure. The outcome has already been decided. Besides, I only made it to the finals because I got lucky. I never expected to go any further."

Lu Jun smiled, recalled Rolycoly, and walked away.

"The opponent has surrendered. Zubat wins."

As the referee announced the result, Lu Ze looked at Lu Jun's retreating back and smiled. Though he hadn't heard him, he could guess why Lu Jun had surrendered.

Fourth Match: Tang Yunqin from Class 1 versus Zhang Jiaxin from Class 1

The drawing results had produced an internal Class 1 match. Tang Yunqin's Feebas faced Zhang Jiaxin's Pidove. As a special-attack artillery platform, Feebas quickly defeated its opponent with the double damage dealt by Ice Beam.

Although their homeroom teacher found it somewhat regrettable, he was still extremely excited. Forget the prize money—if any of his students won the Champion title, he might even get promoted. Not to mention that three students had already made the top five. One top-three spot was already guaranteed. Now it only depended on whether anyone could defeat Dratini.

After coming down from the stage, Tang Yunqin happily high-fived the two of them, then sat beside Lu Ze to watch the next match.

Fifth Match: Li Chao from Class 9 versus Yu Dekang from Class 10

It was an internal Water-type battle. Li Chao's Buizel narrowly defeated Yu Dekang's Panpour.

The top ten to five matches had ended. After the principal stood up and said a few words, the drawing was held again for the top five to three matches.

First Match: Sui Yan from Class 1 versus Su Tingxi from Class 2

Second Match: Lu Ze from Class 1 versus Li Chao from Class 9

Bye: Tang Yunqin from Class 1

When the drawing results came out, no one focused on Tang Yunqin, who had received a bye. Instead, everyone looked at Class 1's homeroom teacher.

They hadn't noticed earlier, but now that the results were out, it was unbelievable. Both top five to three matches and even the bye involved someone from Class 1. Out of five people, Class 1 occupied more than half.

Lu Ze's homeroom teacher proudly accepted everyone's gazes, his gleaming bald head shining beneath the sunlight.

As soon as the drawing results were announced, Tang Yunqin jumped up.

"Haha, I got another bye!"

Sui Yan said with a miserable expression,

"You're so lucky, getting another bye. I have to fight that Dratini. This is going to be hard."

"It's fine. Maybe you'll find an opening and take it down with one Fissure. I'll wait for you in the finals."

Lu Ze patted his shoulder to comfort him.

"I hope so."

Sui Yan still wore a miserable expression as he walked onto the stage. Before long, he came back down again.

As expected, Sui Yan's Torkoal couldn't touch Dratini at all. It started with Thunder Wave, then attacked from range, never giving Sui Yan the chance to get close and use Fissure. Su Tingxi wasn't stupid; he had been guarding against that very move.

Lu Ze patted Sui Yan's shoulder.

"It's fine. You still have me."

Lu Ze stood and walked toward the arena.

"Both sides, release your Pokémon."

"Go, Zubat!"

"Go, Buizel!"

Pokémon: Buizel

Gender: Male

Type: Water type

Ability: Swift Swim (Raises Speed in Rain.)

Aptitude: Blue Aptitude

Basic Moves: Tackle, Growl, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Water Gun, Bite

Egg Moves: Mud-Slap, Ice Beam

Lu Ze's pupils shrank after seeing Buizel's data.

"I didn't expect him to hide Ice Beam even in such a dangerous match last round. He must've been saving it for me or Su Tingxi. Whether it's my Zubat or his Dratini, a sudden Ice Beam could have an incredible effect. It might even turn the entire battle around in one stroke."

"Since I know about it, I won't let you have your way so easily. Zubat—Supersonic!"

"Buizel—Use Quick Attack to get close, then use Water Gun!"

Buizel was extremely fast. With Quick Attack's boost, it accelerated in an instant, dodged Zubat's Supersonic, and arrived near Zubat before firing a Water Gun at it.

The speed was too fast for Lu Ze to command in time, but Zubat instinctively twisted aside and dodged the Water Gun.

Zubat's attacking Supersonic was a straight-line move and could be avoided. Zubat's sensory Supersonic, however, covered all directions, though it had no offensive power.

"Pretty fast. Zubat, focus on dodging and use Swift!"

Buizel was incredibly fast, but aside from Water Gun and Ice Beam, it had no long-range moves. As long as Zubat avoided its attacks, it would remain undefeated. Meanwhile, Swift always hit, and it could slowly wear Buizel down.

And so, Buizel's Water Gun couldn't hit Zubat, while Zubat's Swift kept chipping away at its health. Finally, Li Chao couldn't take it anymore and found an opening for Buizel to use Ice Beam.

"Ha, you finally used it. I was waiting for that. Zubat, dodge it and keep using Swift!"

Delighted, Lu Ze gave the command. After Zubat dodged Ice Beam, it continued using Swift to wear Buizel down.

At last, in that dull battle, Lu Ze slowly defeated Buizel with Swift.

"Buizel is unable to battle. Zubat wins."

With the referee's announcement, the top five to three matches also came to an end. Sui Yan and Li Chao earned the title of top five, while Tang Yunqin, Lu Ze, and Su Tingxi secured the top three.

After a short break, the battles among the top three would begin.