Torchic in the Crosshairs

Xinhai grabbed lunch outside. Thinking that Yingnan and the others probably had not eaten either, he messaged to confirm before packing two portions of cold noodles to bring back. When he returned to the department store, it was still buzzing with voices.

Weaving through the crowded throng and following the rising cheers, Xinhai found Yingnan and Shali near the third arena, both completely absorbed in the match.

He hurried over and raised the cold noodles in his hand. "Yingnan, Shali, eat first!"

Yingnan's eyes lit up. He took the noodles and began wolfing them down. "I'm starving! Xinhai, you're a lifesaver!"

Shali pursed her lips a little awkwardly and said softly, "Xinhai, thanks!" The notebook in her hands was already filled with densely written notes on the contestants.

Xinhai stopped beside them and turned his attention to the arena.

At that moment, a Cacnea was nimbly firing Bullet Seed. The dense barrage of seeds poured down like a sudden storm, disrupting its Zangoose opponent's movements.

Meanwhile, Zangoose moved with agility, dodging swiftly while looking for an opportunity to close in.

"You eat first. I'll do the recording," Xinhai offered when he saw that Shali had no intention of stopping her note-taking.

Shali hesitated for a moment before handing him the notebook filled with writing. "Sorry for the trouble!"

"It's fine. I might run into these opponents myself later, so helping you is helping me." Xinhai smiled as he took the notebook.

When he opened it, he could not help praising her inwardly. It not only recorded the contestants' Pokémon moves in detail, but also provided in-depth analyses of their battle tactics.

It also contained some of Shali's own unique insights into every battle, making it a remarkably thorough battle guide.

Xinhai quickly immersed himself in watching and taking notes.

By then, Zangoose had already closed in on Cacnea, and the Presence was becoming increasingly tense. Cacnea's trainer decisively ordered, "Cacnea, use Needle Arm!"

Cacnea raised its thorn-covered arm and smashed it toward Zangoose. Needle Arm was a highly uncommon move.

In the games, only the Cacturne line and the Chesnaught line could learn it. Even in reality, only a very small number of Pokémon could master it.

Zangoose's trainer refused to back down and shouted, "Zangoose, use Metal Claw!"

In an instant, Metal Claw and Needle Arm collided with a thunderous crash. Sparks flew everywhere like tiny fireworks blooming in the night sky.

With its superior strength-based Presence, Zangoose forced Cacnea back again and again.

Having gained Presence, Zangoose's trainer pressed on. "Zangoose, Pursuit!"

In the games, this move dealt double damage when the opponent switched Pokémon, and it also had extremely high priority.

In real battles, it could likewise trigger a special effect when the opponent was knocked back, greatly increasing pursuit speed and doubling its damage. It was an extremely useful move.

Zangoose shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, instantly catching up to the retreating Cacnea. Dark-type energy wrapped around its palm as it slammed into its opponent.

"Cacnea!"

Cacnea let out a pained cry, its body crashing heavily against the edge of the arena like a sandbag. Many of the spikes on its body had snapped, leaving it in a miserable state.

A smug curve appeared on Zangoose's trainer's lips. He raised an arm high and gave the order with a Presence that soared like a rainbow. "Finish it! Use Night Slash!"

Zangoose's pupils abruptly narrowed into slits. Its body flashed like a ghost to above Cacnea's head, its claws gleaming with a cold purple light as they struck straight for the vital point.

At the last moment, Cacnea forced itself to use Feint Attack. With a burst of speed, it evaded the fatal strike and slammed its right arm, wrapped in Dark-type energy, into Zangoose's chest.

The blow hit a vital point directly. The immense impact sent Zangoose flying, its body hurtling backward like a kite with its string cut.

Zangoose rolled several times across the arena before barely steadying itself, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of its mouth.

Zangoose's trainer's face darkened at once, but he quickly regained his composure and commanded, "Don't panic! Counter with Swift! Charge in with Quick Attack!"

Golden starlight appeared around Zangoose and tore through the air with a howl, only to be successfully blocked by Cacnea's Pin Missile.

Amid the dust kicked up by the collision between the stars and Pin Missile, Zangoose used Quick Attack to instantly close the distance. Bursting out of the smoke, its claws gleamed with the cold light of metal as they stabbed toward Cacnea's abdomen.

Though Cacnea managed to block in time with Needle Arm, it still could not escape being blasted away. It crashed heavily into the field and lost its ability to battle.

After the referee finished the count, he announced loudly, "Cacnea has lost its ability to battle. Zangoose wins! Trainer Morita wins!"

There were more than sixty battles in the third round. As the competition progressed, the contestants grew increasingly formidable, and every match was spectacular.

The matches continued until past four in the afternoon before finally coming to an end.

"The third round has concluded. Advertisements are next, so please do not leave. We will begin the fourth-round draw shortly," the host's enthusiastic voice announced over the speakers.

"This competition is strongly supported by Moomoo Farm... All right, sorry for the wait! We will now begin the draw. Please look at the big screen!"

Listening to the host's polished spiel, Xinhai sighed inwardly. Advertisements existed no matter what world one was in.

When the draw began, the three of them stared intently at the holographic screen hanging in the air. It neatly displayed the contestants' names and their corresponding matches. A total of thirty-four battles were about to take place.

Just then, all three of their Pokédexes sounded a simultaneous "beep-beep" notification.

In perfect unspoken coordination, they muted the sound and eagerly checked their battle information.

Yingnan spoke first. "Mine's the thirteenth match in the first arena! What match are you two in?" As he spoke, he looked at Xinhai expectantly.

Xinhai stared at the information on his Pokédex. "I'm in the twenty-seventh match in the third arena! It'll probably be tomorrow before my turn comes."

Shali swiped across her Pokédex screen and told the two looking at her, "Mine's the ninth match in the third arena! It should be my turn soon."

Xinhai looked at Shali and asked, "Who's your opponent? Haven't you recorded information on most of the contestants? We can discuss some countermeasures together."

Yingnan immediately echoed him. "Xinhai's right. The three of us can come up with a plan faster together."

Shali said to them, "My opponent is called Yuta Matsumoto. I remember having information on him in my notes." As she spoke, she took out the notebook in her pocket and began flipping through it.

Shali nodded and pulled out her notebook from her pocket, searching through it.

Her fingers quickly slid over the pages before stopping at a marked section. "Found him! Yuta Matsumoto. His Pokémon is a Torchic, and its Ability is most likely [Blaze]." She turned the notebook toward them. Below was a detailed list of Torchic's moves and battle characteristics.

Looking at the information in the notebook, Xinhai quickly formed the outline of a strategy in his mind. "I have an idea, Shali. See what you think. I'll explain it to you both, and we can figure out whether it works. If it does, we can refine the details."

Yingnan urged impatiently, "Say it, say it! Your Pokémon is a Torchic too, Xinhai. You must have plenty of experience dealing with Torchic!"

Shali and Eevee also looked at Xinhai with expectant expressions, waiting for him to continue.

Xinhai did not keep them in suspense. "First of all, Torchic's battle Presence is speed. Most Torchic have Flame Charge as an Egg Move, and it's an extremely useful move. Use it twice, and they can establish a speed Presence."

"So Torchic trainers usually start by using Growl to lower their opponent's Attack, buying time for Torchic to build up speed."

Yingnan looked a little confused. "Is that so? Other than our very first battle, I've never seen you use that kind of strategy."

Xinhai smiled as he explained, "Precisely because it can be countered, I don't use the same strategy."

Yingnan thought about it briefly. "That does seem right!"

Xinhai ignored him, pulled up Eevee's information on his Pokédex, and continued, "My suggestion is to take the initiative and disrupt their rhythm with quick attacks. First, use Quick Attack to close in fast, then use Double Team to evade attacks. Once you get close, use Sand Attack to interfere with their vision, then follow with Swift. As for whether to use Bite or another move at the end, that depends on your judgment in the moment. In short, stick to them and finish the battle quickly!"

After listening to Xinhai, Yingnan and Shali both looked at him strangely. Seeing their expressions, Xinhai said, "There's nothing wrong with what I said! Why are you looking at me like that?"

Yingnan smiled. "Nothing. I just feel sorry for Yuta Matsumoto."

This time, Shali could not hold it in either and burst out laughing.

Watching the two of them laugh nonstop, Xinhai shook his head and hurriedly interrupted, "If you think it's fine, let's discuss the details."

Only then did Shali and Yingnan stop laughing. They answered in unison, "Okay!"

Afterward, the three sat together in a corner of the spectator stands. Using Shali's notebook as reference, they carefully worked through every detail of the coming battle, their lively discussion filled with anticipation and confidence.