After Ninjask left the field, the second contestant to step up was Ru Meng from the J Pokémon Institute.
Su Bai still remembered her. As a student in the coordination program, she had earned a place on her school's team through sheer battling ability, which spoke well of her strength.
"Hi there. We meet again."
"There's nothing good about it."
Ru Meng looked rather unhappy. Although she was confident that her Pokémon would lose to no one, she had no confidence whatsoever when facing Su Bai.
"I'm counting on you, Combusken!"
Ru Meng sent out Combusken. Bai Yi noticed that its feathers were brighter than before, its eyes alert, its beak pointed, and its claws sharp. Clearly, it had been raised very well.
The question was whether it was genuinely strong or had only been groomed for appearances.
"Pikachu, sorry for the trouble."
Pikachu nodded and leaped onto the battlefield, brimming with fighting spirit.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Combusken, use Thunder Punch!"
Combusken caught Pikachu's Thunderbolt with Thunder Punch, but Pikachu was already moving at speed. A Quick Attack sent Combusken flying.
"Once more, Pikachu! Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu's Thunderbolt zapped Combusken into unconsciousness.
Since they knew each other, Su Bai felt awkward calling out "Next," so he simply waited quietly for the opposing side to switch contestants.
The next two contestants from the J Pokémon Institute used Golem and Scyther respectively. Pikachu dispatched both without trouble.
The entire crowd erupted, and the J Pokémon Institute's students began chanting.
"Su Bai, Su Bai! We came for you!"
"Pika, Pika! Unbeaten in battle!"
"Woof, woof, woof, woof! Woof, woof, woof, woof!"
That last chant was for the dog that had yet to make an appearance, but no matter how Su Bai listened to it, it sounded like an insult.
Quite a few of Su Bai's