This Is Going to Be Humiliating, Isn't It? (Please Keep Reading!)

To be fair, Teacher Wang's proposal not only showed no favoritism toward his own Fighting type class, but even gave the Normal type class special consideration.

In an arena match, the side with more Pokémon would naturally have some advantage.

And with the difference in numbers being nearly double, that advantage was no small thing.

Although every one of their opponents countered them, and a simple calculation of combat power might make it seem evenly matched, Pokémon Battles obviously couldn't be calculated like that.

All in all, Teacher Wang's proposal carried more than a hint of charity.

Teacher Tang hesitated for a long time. He wanted to reject it, but he couldn't come up with a better format, so he ultimately agreed.

Thus, both sides entered a strategy session to discuss their respective battle orders.

The atmosphere in the Normal type class was rather gloomy. They all knew their side had gained quite an advantage from the rules.

That alone would have been fine, but more importantly, even so, they had no confidence in winning.

Young people were thin-skinned. If they really failed to win, no one present would be able to hold their heads high.

Especially since quite a few of their own classmates were on the other side.

For a moment, no one dared volunteer to take the lead.

Xia Chen did not think it was such a big deal. With skin as thick as Aegislash's Shield Forme, he would not care even if he got completely crushed.

Their training time had been far shorter than the other side's to begin with. If they were less skilled, what was there to say?

The path of a Trainer had only just begun. Xia Chen had an extremely clear plan for his future, and getting beaten up a few times in the beginner's village would not affect his mentality at all.

When no one stepped forward after waiting for a while, he raised his hand. "Teacher Tang, how about I go first?"

But Teacher Tang firmly refused. "No. You need to stay for later."

Realizing his tone had been a little too harsh, he added, "Your Eevee's strength lies in agility rather than power or stamina. Let the others go first."

That reason was honestly rather forced. There were nearly twenty Pokémon on the other side—how much energy would Eevee have to conserve?

In truth, Teacher Tang simply wanted to keep this "trump card" in reserve. If things truly fell apart early on, perhaps Xia Chen could salvage some of their dignity.

"Gao Muyang, how about you and Doduo go first?"

Gao Muyang's Doduo was considered the second strongest in the Normal type class. He answered casually, "Sure."

With the first battler decided, arranging the rest became much easier. Before long, the battle order for all thirty-odd students had been finalized.

"Come out, Doduo!"

"Machop, prepare for battle!"

With more than fifty people from the two classes gathered for battles, there was no time for nonsense. The first match began as soon as both sides took their positions.

"Doduo, Quick Attack!"

Gao Muyang opened with his ever-reliable Quick Attack as usual. Doduo was extremely familiar with this tactic as well. Its two long legs kicked off the ground, and its body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Watching from below, Xia Chen could only shake his head. Though one trick well mastered could carry you far, you could not use the same routine against every opponent.

A Pokémon like Machop was nothing but muscle. It was practically waiting for you to get close. Gao Muyang's command...

Allow me to question that first.

Sure enough, the opponent smiled faintly. I hadn't even gone looking for a close-quarters fight, and you've delivered yourself right to me.

Could there be a better deal than this?

Without hesitation, he ordered, "Machop, use Low Kick once it gets close!"

Xia Chen became even more worried. His opponent had not squandered the opportunity and had chosen the optimal strategy.

Although in the games, Low Kick's power depended solely on the opponent's weight, in this real world governed by classical mechanics, its power would clearly also be affected by speed.

More importantly, Doduo's long legs were simply too easy to kick.

The gap in commanding skill and training quality between the two sides was not even on the same level.

In a battle at this level, one wrong step made it difficult to find any chance for a comeback.

The instant Doduo was struck by Machop's Low Kick, the first battle was already over.

Doduo crashed to the ground, both of its heads dazed and disoriented. It had almost no ability to resist Machop's following close-range attacks.

After a merciless barrage of punches, Machop finished the fight with a Karate Chop.

Doduo collapsed and could not rise, while Machop was completely unharmed.

This outcome left the Normal type class's side of the field silent.

Their greatest fear had come true. In the very first battle, the difference in strength between the two sides had been laid bare.

But quite a few still clung to a sliver of hope. Only one match had been fought, after all. It did not seem enough to prove anything.

Doduo's long legs did seem particularly vulnerable to a move like Low Kick.

If they sent out another Pokémon, perhaps it could defeat this Machop?

The second contestant, on whom they had placed great hopes, was another strong member of the Normal type class: Munchlax.

With Munchlax's thick hide and sturdy body, Machop would not have such an easy time, right?

Two minutes later, everyone in the Normal type class fell silent as they looked at Munchlax lying on the ground, unable to battle.

The high-attack, high-speed Doduo had practically been taken out in seconds, while the tough and durable Munchlax had been beaten like a punching bag.

Were they really doomed to lose face today?

The atmosphere on the two sides of the field could not have been more different—one half blazing fire, the other a frigid sea.

The Normal type class was undoubtedly the cold, silent side.

It was supposed to be a friendly exchange match within the school, without that much competitive hostility.

But they were classmates who saw each other every day. Being beaten so thoroughly without any ability to fight back would, even if no one said anything, sink into their hearts like a thorn and stab at their pride.

The short-haired girl who was to go third felt even more intimidated. Her Happiny had been utterly outclassed by Doduo and Munchlax, while Doduo and Munchlax had both been brutally beaten by Machop.

There seemed to be no hope of victory at all.

She hesitated, too afraid to step forward, already thinking of backing out.

"What moves does your Happiny know?" Just as she was struggling with herself, a voice sounded by the short-haired girl's ear.

The voice was clear and calm, a sharp contrast to the oppressive atmosphere around them. For some reason, it gave her a sense of reassurance.

When she turned around, she found that Xia Chen was the one asking.

He was frowning at Machop in the arena. His profile was handsome, and the graceful lines of his lips and nose were so striking that she wanted to capture that beautiful instant with a camera.

The girl's urge to retreat instantly turned into a fluttering heart. She replied softly, "Pound, Charm, Sweet Kiss, and it inherited Mud Bomb."

"Mud Bomb?" Xia Chen's eyes lit up. He quickly asked, "Does your Happiny have Serene Grace?"

"Probably...?"

Xia Chen was speechless. What did she mean, probably? She did not even know what Ability her own Pokémon had?

But time was pressing, and he had no chance to confirm it further. He pulled the short-haired girl closer and quietly gave her a few instructions.

"Do you understand?" Xia Chen asked, looking at the girl whose face had turned red.

"Mm-hm!" The short-haired girl nodded excitedly. She waved at Xia Chen, then turned and walked onto the battlefield.

Watching her back, Xia Chen let out a small sigh of relief.

He truly did not care much about winning or losing, but they would be classmates for a year. If he could help, he might as well lend a hand.

(As usual, please keep reading on Tuesday~)