Chapter 28: There's Something Off About My Pokémon. [28]
"Rhyperior, use Ice Beam!" Rhyperior let out a furious roar, its battered body standing tall once more. A freezing energy ball formed in its mouth and shot toward the immobilized Dragonite with perfect precision! Four times the damage, super effective!
Ice Beam was Rhyperior's only move that could deal type-advantage damage to Dragonite, and with a four-times damage multiplier, even Dragonite couldn't endure it. The attack left Dragonite in visible pain!
"Now, Horn Drill!" Just as Dragonite, struggling to stay airborne, began plummeting from the sky, Gongsun Rong gave the decisive order. Rhyperior charged forward with immense force, landing a powerful Horn Drill that sent Dragonite flying nearly a meter away.
In an instant, the momentum of the battle shifted! The crowd hadn't even had time to react—Dragonite, which had been dominating Rhyperior moments ago, was now on the verge of defeat!
"Oh my gosh! Gongsun Rong seized the moment, landing a perfectly timed Ice Beam for four times the damage! This is textbook defensive counterattacking!" The commentator's voice echoed throughout the arena.
"But Rhyperior's stamina is also nearing its limit! Who will come out victorious in this showdown?" Wu Ye's smile became forced. Although it still graced his face, it was clearly strained and uneasy.
"Stand up, Dragonite!" Wu Ye shouted, his pride refusing to allow Dragonite to lose to a mere top-four National Tournament competitor. Dragonite staggered to its feet, its imposing presence diminished, but its roar still echoed with defiance.
"This is the final move, Rhyperior! Megahorn!" Gongsun Rong's voice rang out with determination.
"Go head-on, Dragonite! Use Outrage!" At this decisive moment, Wu Ye's face twisted with fury. Abandoning his usual elegance, he ordered Dragonite to use the immensely powerful Outrage to clash directly with Rhyperior in a fierce brawl!
The two Pokémon collided with tremendous force, dust rising everywhere as the audience collectively held their breath, awaiting the final outcome. When the haze cleared, Rhyperior lay collapsed on the ground, while Dragonite stood, severely wounded and panting, its eyes blood-red from the effects of Outrage.
"Come back, Rhyperior," Gongsun Rong said softly, recalling his Pokémon. He spoke to the Poké Ball with a calm voice, "You've done enough." Despite their defeat, Gongsun Rong and Rhyperior had shown deep trust and flawless teamwork, demonstrating a bond that could only be respected.
"That was incredible! Let's give another round of applause for both of these trainers!" Leo, the announcer, cheered. "Thank you both for bringing us such a high-level match!"
Wu Ye silently recalled Dragonite, his expression dark as he left the stage without a word, despite the host's enthusiastic remarks.
"That was amazing," Lu Cheng muttered, still completely absorbed in the battle he had just witnessed. Would his Vulpix and Treecko ever reach such heights one day? For a moment, Lu Cheng was lost in thought, but Vulpix's cry brought him back to reality. The little fox looked toward Gongsun Rong on the stage, its eyes full of eagerness and determination.
"Tcha-ma," Treecko gripped the twig in its hand tightly, its eyes blazing with a fierce determination.
Lu Cheng suddenly smiled. If even his Pokémon weren't afraid, what was there for him to worry about? One day, he too would stand on that stage!
"Such contrasting battle styles..."Mu Mei mused, "Is this what it means to be a powerful trainer with a deep understanding of strategy?"
Wu Ye's elegant tactics and Gongsun Rong's textbook defensive counterattacks had clearly left a profound impression on everyone. Lu Cheng nodded in agreement.
Ding—Branch mission 'The Art of Battle' detected.
Objective: Receive guidance on battle style from either Gongsun Rong or Wu Ye (completing either will suffice).
Reward: +3 HP or +3 Special Defense; TM 'Protect.'
Seeing this mission, Lu Cheng asked Mu Mei, "Do you know where the contestant passage is?"
"Huh?" She tilted her head in confusion. "Are you trying to get their autographs? You should ask the staff at the entrance. If I remember correctly, the VIP tickets come with the privilege to shake hands with the contestants."
The perks of being a VIP seemed to work wonders everywhere! Lu Cheng nodded and said, "I'll go check out the contestant passage!"
On stage, Leo was still doing his best to keep the crowd excited. Lu Cheng stepped out of the luxury box, and a uniformed staff member quickly approached him, asking, "Is there anything I can help you with, sir?"
"Where's the contestant passage?" Lu Cheng asked. "Could you take me there?"
"Are you looking for an autograph?" The staff member smiled. "Of course, no problem. The passages on both sides of the second floor lead directly to the trainer's lounge behind the arena. The left side is for Gongsun Rong from the red team, and the right side is for Wu Ye from the blue team. Which side would you like to go to?"
Lu Cheng barely hesitated, "Take me to the red lounge!"
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Inside the lounge, Gongsun Rong sat with his eyes closed, reflecting on the earlier battle. He realized that he had underestimated Dragonite's stamina and that Rhyperior wasn't ideally suited to using special attacks like Ice Beam.
"One wrong move," Gongsun Rong sighed, thinking back to his previous defeat to Du Zhe years ago. At least the appearance fee from this match would be a significant help in training his other Pokémon.
Just then, the door opened, and a staff member entered, apologizing, "Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Gongsun Rong. One of the VIP ticket holders has a request—according to the agreement, they'd like to ask for your autograph."
Gongsun Rong was a bit surprised. His battle style was often defensive and reserved, which didn't usually attract many fans. Stroking his thick beard, Gongsun Rong nodded slightly and said in his deep voice, "Let them in."
The staff member nodded and motioned to the outside. Soon, a small Pokémon scurried into the room—a Vulpix. Behind it stood a young trainer.
"Sorry to bother you, may I take up a little of your time?" Lu Cheng asked nervously. Gongsun Rong was even more imposing up close, with his tall frame and muscular arms that looked intimidating.
"I have some questions about training that I'd like to ask you!" Lu Cheng's voice was tense. Gongsun Rong's eyes widened slightly in surprise, realizing this wasn't just a fan but a fellow trainer.
Despite his fierce appearance, Gongsun Rong was quite approachable. He nodded and said, "Go ahead, ask."
Lu Cheng took a deep breath and asked, "Sir, how can I develop my own battle style?"
The match he had just witnessed had left a lasting impression. He had seen that strong trainers all had their unique strategies and tactics. Even Ash Ketchum, often seen as straightforward, always pursued a high-speed, high-offense approach.
What Lu Cheng wanted from Gongsun Rong was advice on how to build his own battle strategy and develop a style unique to him.
Gongsun Rong's eyes sharpened as he took a closer look at the young novice before him. At that age, Gongsun Rong hadn't understood tactics at all. But here was this kid, already grasping the importance of strategy just from watching a match.
Sometimes fate works in mysterious ways, and surprisingly, Gongsun Rong—the trainer who absolutely hated teaching—found himself becoming someone's tactical mentor!
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