The Sandstorm King

After losing the first battle, Liu Ping's expression turned extremely ugly. Golduck was the core of his strategy for suppressing the opposing sandstorm team, yet its debut had ended in failure, overwhelmed by the opposing Swampert's sheer brute strength.

"Tentacruel, Acid Spray!"

The second Pokémon Liu Ping sent out was Tentacruel. As soon as it appeared, it released a peculiar, dark green venom. The eerie poisonous mist instantly corroded the surrounding ice, and the suddenly seething fumes made Swampert instinctively sense danger and slowly retreat several steps.

The acid could lower Special Defense. Although Tentacruel's Acid Spray was not particularly powerful, it could effectively open a breach against Swampert. This Mr. Liu Ping had quite decent tactical skills.

But you're underestimating Swampert!

With that thought, Gongping made his next decision. "Keep using Ice Punch. Protect yourself, then look for a chance to break through."

In an instant, Ice Punch erupted again. A thin layer of frost covered Swampert's entire body, effectively mitigating the acid's corrosion as Swampert charged forward at an incredibly aggressive speed.

This thing still dares to fight by charging straight ahead!

Liu Ping gritted his teeth as he watched the opposing Swampert's frenzy, a trace of helplessness in his eyes. "Acupressure!"

Seeing Swampert approach, Tentacruel rapidly shifted its countless poisonous spikes and activated Acupressure. Yet Swampert abruptly seized one of those spikes and yanked Tentacruel toward itself with ferocious, monstrous strength.

"Oh no! Acid Spray!"

A stream of acid shot out, but the layer of frost covering Swampert effectively blunted it. Although this lasted only about a second, it gave Swampert enough time to unleash its savage destructive power.

With a thunderous crash, Tentacruel was slammed viciously into the ground. Like a ferocious beast, Swampert's fist erupted with brilliant light, and Tentacruel let out a terrified cry as that fist came furiously crashing down.

A sharp gleam flashed through Gongping's eyes before he issued his next command. "Waterfall!"

Violent currents erupted from Swampert's entire body. Tentacruel tried to get up, only to have its whole body swept into the air by Swampert's water. Then Swampert clamped both hands tightly around Tentacruel's body and plunged viciously toward the ground at high speed.

"Waterfall is merely a means of charging. The real finishing blow lies in using that force to deliver a powerful impact. The attack looks ordinary, but it contains an extremely frightening application of power."

On the Presidential Platform, Fighting-type King Bruno finally grew serious. Gongping's methods had surprised him. He had not expected Gongping to push King candidate Liu Ping this far with a single Swampert on a stage like this.

"What an extraordinary child."

Ghost-type King Agatha sipped her tea, watching the battle below with smiling eyes, full of praise for Gongping's fighting style.

"Tentacruel, use Rapid Spin."

"Don't let it get away! Ice Punch!"

In midair, the two Pokémon clashed fiercely once more. Tentacruel spun rapidly, like a high-speed drill, trying to break free of Swampert's grip. Yet Swampert did not back down at all. Even as it endured Tentacruel's counterattack, the water flowing around its body accelerated, driving it toward the ground at maximum speed.

The tremendous impact carried powerful torrents with it. The airborne Ice Punch struck the center of the water's surface, forming a gigantic ice lotus, while Swampert pinned Tentacruel against the ground and drove it deep into the ice.

As the ice lotus shattered, a wretched howl rang out. Several of Tentacruel's tentacles snapped, and it lost all ability to battle, slowly collapsing to the ground.

"You went too far! You crippled Tentacruel!"

Liu Ping stepped forward to examine Tentacruel's injuries, his face instantly flushing red. He had never expected this fifteen-year-old boy's fighting style to be so ruthless. In that brief instant, he had devised an approach that could almost take a life.

"I'm sorry. That was an oversight on my part."

Swampert had been unable to pull back its strength in time, injuring Tentacruel's body. This had also been beyond Gongping's expectations, and it had happened because Swampert's control over its strength had not yet reached perfection. Gongping therefore apologized to Liu Ping with great sincerity.

Gongping's apology did not make Liu Ping choose forgiveness; he chose to appeal. Meanwhile, the four Kings on the Presidential Platform began their deliberations.

"The match will continue. This was purely an accident. It would have been difficult for Swampert to stop under those circumstances."

Watanabe gave his judgment, and the referee soon announced that the match would continue. Yet Gongping had now driven Liu Ping into a corner. The opposing Swampert appeared to have strength to spare, but on his own side...

"Blastoise!"

His final trump card, and also Liu Ping's first partner, Blastoise unleashed a fierce surge of presence the instant it appeared. Across from it, Swampert stepped out of the shattered ice and calmly looked at the Blastoise before it.

There were no unnecessary words. Although it had been inside its Poké Ball, Blastoise knew very well what Swampert had just done. Without waiting for Liu Ping's command, powerful water pressure gathered in its two cannon barrels.

A Water-type move even stronger than an ordinary Hydro Pump-Hydro Cannon!

Violent water blasted from the barrels, forming a vast torrent. Compared with Golduck's earlier Hydro Pump, this attack possessed greater speed and destructive power. Swampert immediately gritted its teeth and gathered water all around its body, using Waterfall to oppose Hydro Cannon.

The two enormous torrents collided, throwing up violent sprays in midair. Yet Blastoise's water pressure was more substantial and powerful, and Swampert was soon blasted away, sent flying several meters.

Although Hydro Cannon had overwhelmed Swampert, Gongping's mind remained as still as water. After all, the move would cause a period of sluggishness. If it could not deliver a one-hit knockout, it was meaningless. Gongping therefore continued watching the changing situation on the field.

The aftereffects of Blastoise's Hydro Cannon were considerable. Temporarily unable to use any moves, it could only walk slowly forward, trying to grab Swampert, which appeared to be down. Just then, Swampert suddenly moved!

Using its right foot to dissipate the force and rebound, Swampert straightened its back and waist, twisted its body to the left, and formed an Ice Punch. Rather than leap backward, it moved forward, lowered its shoulder, and slammed viciously into Blastoise's chest!

The powerful impact caught Blastoise off guard and forced it back a step. Once it recovered, it prepared to release a second Hydro Cannon, only for something unexpected to happen!

A layer of frost had appeared on the cannon barrels on Blastoise's back. Clearly, during that collision, Swampert had used Ice Punch to freeze the barrels. As the immense water pressure broke through the ice around them, the barrels also ruptured, unable to withstand the pressure.

Water sprayed in every direction as the bursting cannons struck Blastoise's body. Swampert endured its injuries and unleashed raging currents all over its body. With its Torrent Ability supporting another Waterfall, it merged its body with the ice and snow created by Ice Punch and barreled into Blastoise.

In a dangerous, disadvantageous position, it had met the challenge head-on through fearless courage, the brutality of a life-or-death struggle, and calm, accurate judgment, seizing its sole opportunity to turn defeat into victory!

Blood dripped steadily from Blastoise's back. Its cannon barrels had burst, and the backlash from Hydro Cannon had left it dizzy and disoriented. Even as the water surrounding Swampert crashed down head-on, it failed to react.

"The battle is over! Blastoise is unable to battle. Gongping wins!"

The referee looked at the fifteen-year-old boy on the field with a complicated gaze. This fighting style was a typical example of classical, violent combat.

In the stands, however, the spectators were filled with indignation. They felt that Gongping's fighting style was far too ruthless. He was nothing like an elegant Trainer, but rather a butcher.

Faced with the spectators' comments, Gongping remained calm. He walked over to Blastoise on his own and handed Liu Ping a dose of medicine. "This is a special remedy. Blastoise will be fine after a few days of rest."

"Thank you."

Liu Ping accepted it without standing on ceremony. Although he could not accept this fellow's way of fighting, the most important thing right now was to treat his Pokémon's injuries.

"The match is over. The Kanto Region's new Sandstorm King, then?"

Compared with the spectators' heated discussions, the four Kings took the matter quite lightly. Having fought Team Rocket and many other organizations for years, they had actually worried that the new King might not act decisively enough. Seeing the Sandstorm King's style now put them considerably more at ease.

At the investiture ceremony, Gongping put on a pale yellow cape specially made by the Pokémon League and a small ring resembling a rock, symbolizing the Pokémon League's official recognition of Gongping as one of the Kanto Region's new four Kings.

Then Ice-type King Lorelei, Ghost-type King Agatha, and Fighting-type King Bruno took the stage in turn to pose for a photograph with Sandstorm King Gongping. All four waved toward the audience together.

However, the spectators were not particularly enthusiastic, and some were even dissatisfied. Quite a few left early, clearly unhappy with this result...

The popularity of Sandstorm King Gongping, one of the Kanto Region's new four Kings, certainly had explosive potential. Several reporters below took photographs with great interest. Such a controversial figure would certainly give their weekly magazine sales a substantial boost.

And in terms of looks, this fifteen-year-old new King was quite the fresh-faced young heartthrob, too.