The principal stood at the podium, coughed twice, and said, "Everyone did well today. In particular, congratulations to the contestants who made the top sixteen. Tomorrow, we'll continue with the round of sixteen, using one-on-one battles to decide the top eight. Those who make it through will not only receive generous rewards, but also qualify for the Spring City Rookie Tournament. Give it your all!"
The contestants who had reached the top sixteen were thrilled to hear that making the top eight would qualify them for the Spring City Rookie Tournament. Their eyes burned with fighting spirit as they looked at their competitors, but whenever they spotted Hu Bin and Vulpix, their gazes drifted elsewhere!
I can't fight him. He's a demon! Please don't let me draw him as my opponent. I'll cry!
Soon, the principal walked over to the screen and addressed everyone below the stage. "Now, let's begin the draw!"
With that, the principal pressed a button, and the photos of the top sixteen began cycling across the screen. Wu Jin and the other contestants who had advanced felt their hearts spin along with them. Everyone held their breath, bracing themselves for fate's judgment!
Soon, the first matchup appeared: Wu Jin VS Li Zhigang!
Wu Jin looked at his opponent, a very brawny boy whose Pokémon was a Geodude!
Wu Jin and Li Zhigang exchanged a glance, their eyes brimming with fighting spirit!
The second matchup: Liu Yi VS Liu Cong!
Liu Yi also looked over at his opponent, a boy with a quiet, scholarly air and a Snorunt by his side. Noticing Liu Yi looking at him, Liu Cong gave him a gentle smile!
Munchlax looked at Snorunt and relaxed. We've got this. What Ice-type could possibly be stronger than our boss lady?
Neither the third nor the fourth matchup included Hu Bin, making the Trainers in those battles breathe sighs of relief! But the Trainers who, like Hu Bin, had yet to be drawn felt very differently. Their hearts remained in their throats, and they grew even more nervous!
The photos for the fifth matchup stopped cycling, revealing Hu Bin's face. Many contestants' hearts sank before the other photo finally stopped!
The fifth matchup: Hu Bin VS Wang Jiajia!
Wang Jiajia immediately fell apart. Why did I have to draw Hu Bin? How can I be this unlucky? Many contestants gave her sympathetic looks!
The cute girl and her Clefairy both trembled, looking small and helpless.
Seeing this, Hu Bin lowered his head and muttered to himself, "Am I really that scary?"
With all eight matchups decided, some were happy and others worried. All that remained was to see how tomorrow's battles would turn out!
At the principal's announcement that school was out, everyone scattered. Hu Bin, Wu Jin, and Liu Yi left the school together. They had no plans to train today; instead, they intended to relax and celebrate their victories!
At a buffet restaurant, Vulpix, Munchlax, and Machop happily dug into a large platter piled with round Pokémon food. Hu Bin, Liu Yi, and Wu Jin were putting away food at a furious pace too, polishing off five or six steaks.
Before long, Yi Nanzi and Cyndaquil arrived at the buffet restaurant. One look at Yi Nanzi's smug expression told Hu Bin all he needed to know. Yep, looks like he advanced!
At a beckoning call from their boss lady, Vulpix, Cyndaquil jumped off Yi Nanzi's shoulder and joined the other Pokémon to chow down!
Yi Nanzi sat beside Wu Jin and asked, "How did your matches go today? I made the top thirty-two!"
Hu Bin, Wu Jin, and Liu Yi exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you guys so slow? We're already in the top sixteen!"
"Huh? How did you get through so fast? What format did you use?" Yi Nanzi asked curiously.
While eating his steak, Hu Bin said, "Our principal had a sudden inspiration this year and used Alola's simple, brutal selection method. A hundred-person battle royale, with the last sixteen standing advancing!"
Yi Nanzi's scalp tingled at that. "Wouldn't that mean all those boys at school who are practically begging for a beating would get their heads bashed in?"
Recalling Lin Chen's miserable state, Hu Bin confirmed, "Yep. A bunch of people took one of them out right at the start!"
A shiver instantly ran across Yi Nanzi's scalp. He thought that guy must have had a truly miserable time!
Little did he know that all three boys at the table had also taken vicious shots at Lin Chen. Hu Bin in particular had shown no mercy whatsoever, ordering Vulpix to unleash her strongest attack straight away!
Wu Jin asked, "Nanzi, how many matches do you have tomorrow?"
Yi Nanzi said, "Two. That'll decide the top eight!"
With grease smeared around his mouth, Liu Yi said, "Same as us, except we only have one match to decide the top eight!"
Yi Nanzi sighed with feeling. "As long as we reach the top eight, we can enter the Spring City Rookie Tournament. Thinking back to how full of ourselves we were when we first got our Pokémon... what can I say? We were so green!"
Wu Jin and Liu Yi were also filled with emotion. Remembering all their arrogant boasts during the battles on that camping trip, followed by the merciless thrashings they had received, they still flushed with embarrassment!
Yi Nanzi, Wu Jin, and Liu Yi all looked at Hu Bin and said gratefully, "It's all thanks to you, Bin. If you hadn't helped us train all this time, we wouldn't have improved so quickly."
Hu Bin brushed it off. "We're brothers. What's all this thanks for? Come on, let's raise our ice-cold colas and celebrate!"
As he spoke, he raised his glass. The others laughed and lifted theirs too, clinking glasses with Hu Bin before draining their drinks!
All four let out huge burps after finishing!
They exchanged looks and laughed, each of them thoroughly enjoying himself!
Just then, Vulpix pushed a cup over with her head.
"Vul!" Little Vulpix wanted to join the toast too!
Hu Bin laughed at the sight and refilled everyone's glasses with cola. The other Pokémon copied Vulpix, joining everyone in the toast!
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal!
After dinner, Hu Bin and the others went to see a movie. In the theater, Vulpix watched from Hu Bin's arms. It was her favorite kind of film: a melodramatic romance.
Hu Bin and Wu Jin didn't feel much watching it, but Yi Nanzi and Liu Yi were a different story. Perhaps it reminded them of their own secret crushes, because both began silently shedding tears, earning utterly disdainful looks from Hu Bin and Wu Jin!
Vulpix was deeply moved as well, her little tears falling one after another. Hu Bin could only wipe them away, caught between laughter and exasperation!
On the battlefield, Vulpix was an imperious queen. In front of a sappy romantic melodrama, she was just a delicate little girl!
The other Pokémon were stunned to see Vulpix crying. Was this movie really that touching? Why was the boss lady crying so much?
When Vulpix noticed Munchlax and the others staring at her in astonishment, her snowy-white face turned bright red. Embarrassment flaring into anger, she snapped, "Vul! Vul!"
What are you staring at? Keep looking and I'll beat every last one of you up!
Only after Vulpix returned to normal did the other Pokémon breathe sighs of relief!
Now that's our boss lady. Same as ever!
Before you continue