Chu Xin had always wondered why Aier had become his family's maid. Even by his standards, she was powerful enough to compete for a Gym Leader position, so why had she chosen to work as a maid and look after a child like him?
Chu Xin had asked Aier before, but she usually gave vague answers. She only said that Mr. Chu had done her a kindness, so she was helping look after his family. She refused to say any more about the details.
In his heart, Chu Xin treated Aier as family, and that was indeed the role she played in their home. So the hint of anger in her words sent a chill through him.
He knew Aier would absolutely follow through on what she said.
"Haha, I'll definitely do my best."
Chu Xin laughed awkwardly and began reviewing the footage on Aier's camera.
He had to admit that the opponents had all become formidable once they reached the Top 16. Bai Le, Lei Jing, Zhuo Xing, and Tian Tiantian had all made it through, and every battle was thrilling.
The opponents really were getting stronger and stronger. Xiao Wu would have to go all out to beat any of those three-Lei Jing, Zhuo Xing, or Tian Tiantian. And that freak Bai Le was even worse. Even in the Top 16 matches, Bai Le's Scyther still took every opponent down in a single hit. Was this really a Monster Handler qualification tournament?
"Aier, can you think of any weaknesses in that guy Bai Le's Scyther that I could exploit?"
"You're asking me? Isn't this your tournament?"
Aier looked at Chu Xin in confusion, unable to figure out what he was trying to do.
"I'm asking because I don't have any ideas. Bai Le is just too strong. I'm afraid I won't be able to beat him even with my trump card. After all, Xiao Wu and I can only use a tiny fraction of the energy in that reverse scale right now. If we use too much, we'll end up like last time."
That was right: Chu Xin's final trump card was the reverse scale of a Dynamax Dragonite. Although Dynamax Energy was still too dangerous for Xiao Wu, Chen Huan had sealed the scale, leaving only a tiny opening. It was a tremendous help to Xiao Wu.
Dynamax Energy truly was an extraordinary kind of energy. Ever since Xiao Wu had started wearing the reverse scale, its energy had constantly influenced his body, conditioning him until his physical abilities far surpassed those of other Dratini. After so many days of training, Xiao Wu could even draw on the Dynamax Energy in the scale to Dynamax. This was also Chu Xin's trump card in his bid for the championship.
Aier looked helplessly at Chu Xin. If he had no ideas, she could not see a solution either. Bai Le was clearly a monster. Was this really his first attempt at earning a Monster Handler license? When she had been his age, she had been nowhere near his level. The gap in strength was simply overwhelming.
"I don't know. But maybe you could give Bai Yuan a call. Those two are probably brothers. You'd be better off asking him than me."
Aier shook out her arms to ease her fatigue, then picked up the bubble tea on the table and took a sip.
It was not her tournament anyway, so there was no need for her to worry. Why not leave these difficult problems for Chu Xin to solve? She had already done her part conscientiously.
Chu Xin stared at the camera in his hands with a headache brewing. He would just have to study the footage carefully. The battles ahead would be even harder, and he absolutely could not afford to be careless again!
The next day, Chu Xin left home with dark circles under his eyes. He had stayed up far too late watching videos the night before, and Aier had had to wake him up that morning.
"Wu?" (Are you okay?)
Xiao Wu looked at Chu Xin worriedly. Chu Xin really did not look well.
"I'm fine. I'm in great shape, actually. I'm counting on you for the next battle, Xiao Wu."
Xiao Wu rubbed against Chu Xin's hand, then raised his head with a confident look.
He, Xiao Wu, was invincible!!
Chu Xin arrived at the arena early. His match was the first one that day, and his opponent was Zhuo Xing.
Zhuo Xing's Pokémon was an Abra, and its fighting style perfectly suited a Psychic-type Pokémon. It freely bombarded its opponents with powerful telekinetic attacks, while their attacks could barely touch it. Every time, it teleported out of the way.
Although Abra looked drowsy and dazed, it was powerful in battle and a very troublesome opponent.
Before long, Chu Xin was standing on the battlefield. Zhuo Xing, the girl opposite him, sent out Abra as soon as she saw him take the stage.
"Chu Xin, right? I've watched all your matches. You certainly are a strong opponent, but if that's all you've got, this match is mine."
Pretty cocky!
Chu Xin looked at Zhuo Xing across from him. Gender made no difference in a Pokémon battle. Winning was what mattered most.
"Abra is strong, but we'll give it everything we've got too."
The match soon began. They could not let Abra seize the initiative. If a Psychic-type Pokémon got the upper hand, Abra would toy with Xiao Wu until he was finished!
"Xiao Wu, Extreme Speed! Charge in!"
"Abra, Confusion! Interrupt it!"
Although Chu Xin had decisively ordered Xiao Wu to charge at Abra, his opponent reacted quickly too. A blue glow rose around Abra, a clear sign that it had activated its telekinetic power.
"Xiao Wu, push through! Disrupt their rhythm! We absolutely can't let Abra start fighting back!"
Telekinetic power wrapped around Xiao Wu, making him falter in the middle of Extreme Speed, but he soon broke free. Forcing his way out of its grip injured him considerably, but even so, they had to maintain control of the battle's pace. They could not give Abra a moment to breathe!
Zhuo Xing clearly had not expected Xiao Wu to attack so decisively, and he quickly closed in on Abra.
"Abra, quick, use Teleport! No, use Light Screen!"
Although Zhuo Xing wanted Abra to use Teleport to evade Xiao Wu's attack, Xiao Wu had already reached its side with Extreme Speed. His huge tail swung toward Abra, leaving it no chance to teleport away. It could only block with Light Screen.
But the hastily erected Light Screen could not withstand Xiao Wu's Dragon Tail. It shattered in an instant, and Xiao Wu's tail sent Abra flying.
"Don't give Abra time to recover! Xiao Wu, attack with Extreme Speed!"
Chu Xin had no intention of giving Abra any breathing room. The instant his opponent hit the ground, Xiao Wu used Extreme Speed again to reach its side, then launched it into the air with another Dragon Tail.
"That's it, Xiao Wu! Even a Psychic-type Pokémon can't use moves while it's being knocked through the air. Finish it with Dragon Rage!"
"Abra, dodge, quick!"
Despite Zhuo Xing's frantic command, the airborne Abra could barely open its eyes. A blazing ball of blue fire slammed into its face an instant later, leaving it critically injured.
"Abra is unconscious. Dratini wins."
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