Chương 79: There's Something Off About My Pokémon. [79]
Beside him was a fresh new face—An Tongxin, who had been fast-tracked to the main commentary booth after her outstanding performance in the preliminary venues. The young woman with her sharp short haircut, dressed in a crisp suit, spoke confidently, "Today's match is between Gao Chi from Yixin Dojo and Lu Cheng from Jiangcheng First High!"
"Now, let's welcome the contestants to the stage!"
Lu Cheng stepped onto the familiar arena. The blinding white spotlights, the deafening cheers of the crowd—it all left him a little dazed. This was the same arena where Gongsun Rong and Wu Ye had once faced off. Now, it was his turn to stand here. Even the two Poké Balls at his waist trembled slightly with excitement, sharing his anticipation.
"Go, Cheng Cheng! You can do it!" His parents shouted with unexpected enthusiasm.
In Lu Cheng's corner, he noticed several familiar faces in the crowd. A-Le was waving wildly, looking comical with a Pelipper perched on his shoulder. Ding Chong, with his younger siblings in tow, was smiling warmly at him.
"Go, big brother!" Ding Yi, her hair tied into little pigtails, shouted in her high-pitched voice.
Lu Cheng couldn't help but smile. To his surprise, he even spotted Hu Sheng's familiar figure among the audience, jostling his way through the throng and swearing at anyone who shoved him.
If I could've gotten a seat, I wouldn't be stuck in the standing section!
Lu Cheng shook his head in amusement. On the other side of the arena, Gao Lu and Gao Minglang were cheering for Gao Chi, but Lu Cheng couldn't see them from where he stood.
"Contestants, please release your Pokémon!"
"Go, Vulpix!"
"Machop!"
As soon as Vulpix appeared, the crowd erupted into cheers, especially a dedicated group of fans all wearing Ninetales jackets. They waved pompoms with fervor, cheering loudly. The six vibrant red tails of Vulpix swayed, and a faint blue glow emanated from her eyes as she stared down Machop. Lu Cheng's choice was clear—Vulpix's Psychic-type abilities were perfect for dealing with the Fighting-type Machop.
Machop, slimmer than Machamp, with bluish-purple skin and red eyes, looked intimidating. At barely a meter tall, the humanoid Pokémon had an eerie, almost doll-like appearance, like something out of a horror movie if you stumbled upon it at night.
Unlike the flashy opening ceremony, the match was set on a standard battlefield. Standing not far apart, Lu Cheng could clearly hear the sounds from across the arena. Gao Chi remained silent, his intense gaze fixed on Lu Cheng. His near-tangible aura of focus made Lu Cheng break out in a sweat.
What's his deal? Did I… did I actually date his sister or something for him to stare at me like this?
"You are strong," Gao Chi suddenly said. "But even if you've mastered Double Team, you still won't defeat me."
"Not even if you're my sister's boyfriend."
"What?" Lu Cheng was completely taken aback. What kind of drama is this?
At that moment, the long-dormant system chimed in with a new mission.
"Ding—New Mission: 'Battle with the Big Brother'!
Mission Objective: Defeat Gao Chi and clear up the misunderstanding.
Mission Reward: 50,000 yuan, 3 potential points, Skill Disc [Foul Play]."
What kind of spiteful mission is this?
Before he could think further, Gao Chi issued his first command.
"Machop, use Focus Energy!"
There was no time to consider Gao Chi's motives—Lu Cheng quickly activated the system's magnifying glass and yelled, "Interrupt it with Flamethrower!"
At the same time, the system's detailed analysis appeared.
Machop
Nature: Serious
Ability: No Guard
Moves: Karate Chop, Dynamic Punch, Seismic Toss, Endure.
Evaluation: With incredibly strong upper body strength, it has mastered three elemental punches. Highly resilient.
Even though only four moves were displayed, Lu Cheng knew that this Machop had learned the "elemental punches" through technical discs, making it a challenging opponent. With its No Guard ability, Machop's offense would be pushed to its maximum.
No Guard: Ensures all moves from both the user and the opponent will hit.
With that ability, its Dynamic Punch is going to be terrifying!
Lu Cheng quickly grasped the situation and muttered, "I can't use defensive moves…"
"Then I'll have to go on the offensive and end this quickly!"
As Machop's Focus Energy was cut off, a flash of determination appeared in Lu Cheng's eyes. "Vulpix, use Extrasensory!"
Though small and delicate, Vulpix carried immense psychic power within. Her mastery of Extrasensory, developed since birth, had been honed to perfection under Lu Cheng's guidance. What had once been a faint blue glow now shimmered with traces of deep purple.
A purple aura surrounded Vulpix, her pupil-less eyes locking onto Machop. With a high-pitched cry, "Vee!", the psychic energy surged toward Machop like a tidal wave.
Machop, true to its No Guard nature, made no move to defend. Gao Chi's face remained calm and intense.
"Machop, charge in with Karate Chop!"
Despite the agony that twisted his face under the pressure of Extrasensory, Machop pressed forward, unwavering. This Machop was just like its trainer—possessing incredible endurance and a will of steel!
Ding Lei's enthusiastic voice echoed through the arena. "Right from the start, both sides are going all-out, showcasing just how intense this battle is going to be!"
As Ding Lei hyped up the atmosphere, An Tongxin provided a more analytical take. "Vulpix's strength lies in special attacks, but if Machop gets close enough, it could put her in a tough spot with its Fighting-type moves."
Lu Cheng saw this too. Extrasensory and Flamethrower both had a range of about five meters—there was no need to let Machop get too close.
"Vulpix, use Quick Attack to create distance!"
Even under the crushing force of Extrasensory, Machop moved with surprising speed, inching closer to Vulpix. Just as Vulpix dipped low to perform a lightning-fast Quick Attack, Machop's hand was already in motion, anticipating her trajectory.
Karate Chop—hit!
Vulpix let out a pained cry. Lu Cheng winced, sucking in a sharp breath. Damn, is this No Guard ability really that OP? It's almost like he's predicting Vulpix's every move!
On the bleachers, A-Le turned anxiously to Ding Chong. "Why isn't Lu Cheng using Protect? If this keeps up, he'll lose the advantage!"
Ding Chong shook his head. "I heard that some Fighting Pokémon have a trait that nullifies an opponent's defensive moves."
"But they have to sacrifice their own defense to do it."
"Now, it's a matter of who will outlast whom—the one who falls first loses!"
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