"You're my opponent? You don't look like much. Small towns really don't have anything to offer."
Tiedou sized Yushu up, a hint of contempt in his eyes.
What strong opponents could a backwater town without even a Gym possibly have? This guy probably wasn't even a Trainer.
Yushu replied casually, "Ooh, someone from the big city. How scary~"
With that attitude, he probably wasn't anyone impressive either. Just another guy who looked tough but had nothing to back it up.
"Quite the smart mouth. I'll show you what real strength is in a moment."
Tiedou snorted and threw out a Poké Ball.
"Go, Machoke!"
A Pokémon covered in bulging muscles appeared.
Its body was gray, with muscles bulging all over and a gold belt around its waist.
[Pokémon: Machoke] [Type: Fighting] [Ability: Guts] [Level: Mid Advanced Stage] [Moves: Low Kick, Low Sweep, Vital Throw, Bulk Up, Cross Chop, Submission...] [Condition: Slight muscle strain. Decent explosive power, but insufficient endurance.]
Tsk, tsk. Endurance... that's no small problem.
Yushu glanced at the data, unhurriedly took out a Poké Ball, and tossed it:
"Go, Miltank!"
A white light flashed, and Miltank appeared on the field.
"Huh? A Miltank?"
"This kid's using a Miltank against Machoke? That's hardly any better than that Caterpie earlier."
"Even a Mareep would do if he had nothing else."
The spectators chattered among themselves, all assuming Yushu was another local just here for fun.
At the edge of the field, Kaixin turned to Kurokawa. "Yushu... is he really using Miltank?"
Kurokawa looked just as puzzled. "I don't know either. I remember the kid having quite a few Pokémon."
Tiedou burst out laughing too:
"Miltank? You're sending a Miltank against my Machoke? You really are a low-class Trainer. Don't you even understand basic type matchups?"
"Oh my, how ignorant. How dare you act up before the pink demo... the pink god of war!"
The words had slipped off Yushu's tongue, but when he noticed Miltank looking at him, he quickly corrected himself.
"God of war? A dairy cow thinks it deserves that title?"
Tiedou didn't believe Miltank could have any fighting power at all. A Tauros might at least have been worth a look.
Still too young, Yushu thought. Back in the day, Whitney's Miltank had been a nightmare for countless players.
"I'll show you a real god of war! Machoke, use Cross Chop!"
"Machoke!"
With a loud cry, Machoke charged toward Miltank in great strides.
"Miltank, use Defense Curl!"
Miltank leisurely curled up into a pink ball.
Machoke rushed up and slammed a Cross Chop into Miltank.
Bam! Miltank didn't budge!
"What? It took a Cross Chop head-on without getting hurt?!"
Tiedou couldn't believe it. His Machoke had undergone rigorous training, and its Cross Chop was powerful enough to split ten bricks!!
Was this cow harder than bricks?
Yushu smiled confidently. A mere Advanced Stage Machoke dared challenge his Elite Stage pink god of war? He immediately swept out his hand:
"Miltank, use Rollout!"
"Mooo!!"
Miltank's body began spinning!
Boom! Rollout erupted on the spot!!
Machoke hurriedly reached out to block it!
But the collision sent Machoke straight backward, its feet plowing two deep furrows through the field before it finally managed to steady itself.
"Machoke!"
Machoke shook out its numb arms.
Hey! Isn't that power a little too ridiculous?!
"Th-this Rollout is that powerful? Doesn't it even need to build up power?"
Tiedou's expression turned ugly.
As far as he remembered, Miltank was just a production Pokémon whose fighting ability wasn't worth mentioning.
But the cow before him was practically a humanoid tank.
No, a cow-shaped tank!
"Machoke, use Bulk Up!"
He decided to raise its Attack in hopes of breaking through its defenses.
"Machoke!"
Machoke roared, and its muscles suddenly swelled.
A healthy red flush spread over its skin as both its Attack and Defense rose.
"Great! Now use Submission!"
Machoke lunged at Miltank, trying to grab it and execute a throw.
But Yushu wasn't flustered at all!
What a joke. At full power, his Miltank could smash rocks to pieces!
"Miltank, keep using Rollout!"
Miltank began spinning again, faster than before.
"Machoke!" (Come on!!!)
Machoke tried to grab Miltank, just like Charlotte Oven trying to stop a ship with one hand.
The result was, naturally... getting flattened on the spot.
"Machoke! Are you all right?!"
Tiedou hurried over to try to pry Machoke out.
"Machoke..."
Machoke lay spread-eagled in the crater.
It's over. I think I'm a little dead~
What even was that thing just now...?
Mayor Zongping stared at the scene, dumbfounded. "Th-this Miltank really does have some strength."
A fine hand for getting work done!
Kaixin watched Yushu on the field with a complicated look in her eyes.
Didn't this kid say he'd come back because he'd lost his way as a Trainer?
He doesn't look like someone who couldn't make it out there!
Was he playing dumb to screw her over again?
Beside her, Kurokawa marveled, "That cow... sure is strong!"
The residents watching all around cried out in amazement!
"Holy shit! Miltank's that fierce?!"
"I take back what I said! Miltank really is a god of war!"
"I've got a Miltank at home too. Maybe I should give it a try?"
Tiedou recalled Machoke into its Poké Ball, stood up, and walked toward Yushu. His expression was nothing like his arrogance before the match:
"That Miltank of yours... how exactly did you raise it?"
He had never seen such a strong Miltank. It was a Normal-type, yet it was stronger than his Fighting-type!
So it really was a pink god of war!
Yushu looked utterly carefree. "Read more books and newspapers, eat fewer snacks, get more sleep, and stay happy. That's all."
"..."
The corner of Tiedou's mouth twitched.
Pokémon need to read books and newspapers? Why not say they need to get into college too?!
He kept feeling that Yushu was pulling his leg, but he had no proof.
Yushu watched the next few matches closely.
Most of the matches weren't particularly high-level. A few contestants' Pokémon were even still hovering around the Beginner Stage, and their battle techniques were fairly unpolished. It was essentially turn-based combat, with each side taking a hit and returning one.
But one person's performance caught his attention.
It was a young man who looked about his age, named Riley. The Pokémon he sent out was a Riolu.
[Pokémon: Riolu] [Type: Fighting] [Ability: Inner Focus] [Level: Mid Advanced Stage] [Moves: Quick Attack, Force Palm, Metal Claw, Swords Dance, Feint...] [Condition: Extremely stable aura. Keen battle instincts.]
After seeing Riolu's data, Yushu formed a judgment.
This should be Riley, who spent year after year training on Iron Island in the original story. Barring any surprises, he was also the current Aura Guardian.
Riolu's opponent was a Tangrowth, enormous and rather intimidating in appearance.