"Allow me to briefly introduce the tournament rules!"
The referee stood on a floating platform, gripping the railing as his voice echoed throughout the arena—though nobody could quite figure out how it was amplified.
"This competition follows a ring battle and team match format. The Singles Matches are conducted under a 6v2 format, with no restrictions on move count…"
"The ban list includes: Explosion, Z-Moves, and Mega Evolution…"
Despite the 6v2 rule, Teacher Lu had only brought two Pokémon anyway.
Besides, things like Key Stones and Z-Crystals…
He couldn't afford them even if he wanted to.
That said, since this was the University League, banning moves that were difficult to control was reasonable.
In the Master League, though?
Z-Moves versus Mega Evolutions?
That's when things truly get wild.
Lu Ye shook his head, taking a deep breath as he sat on the sidelines, observing.
His slot was second, a decision made by Coach Zhai so that he could analyze the opponent first.
If Imperial University's Sandstorm Team randomly threw in a Venusaur, he wouldn't even be surprised at this point.
"The first battle has begun!" The commentator's voice boomed.
Torkoal vs. Hippowdon!
---
"They sent their captain out first?"
In the VIP section, Du Yuanshan stroked his beard and glanced at Sun Huai'an.
"Getting a little desperate, aren't we?"
Sun Huai'an remained calm. "If we can sweep Singles, there's no need for a Team Battle."
"Tch, wishful thinking!" Du Yuanshan scowled.
---
Battle Start!
Hippowdon opened its massive mouth, unleashing a howling sandstorm that crashed against the protective barriers.
Torkoal stood its ground, a white aura slowly rising from its body—
Yet the sky remained overcast.
"Wait, isn't Torkoal slower than Hippowdon? Why didn't Drought activate?"
"Skill difference?"
The audience murmured in confusion.
"This is a bad start," Master Trainer Tu Yong frowned.
Imperial City's Dragon-type Gym Leader, Ji Shiyin, nodded.
"If the Sandstorm continues, it'll be nearly impossible to stop their momentum."
A few rounds later, Torkoal, on the brink of exhaustion, launched a final counterattack.
But before it could land a decisive hit, a Rock Slide crashed down, burying it completely—KO.
"The contestant must send out their second Pokémon!"
Gu Zhong clenched his jaw and withdrew Torkoal.
At the same time, Left Yu retrieved Hippowdon and nodded.
"I'll give it my all. Stay sharp."
Gu Zhong froze for a moment.
But the moment Left Yu's second Pokémon appeared…
The entire Modu University section fell into despair.
Excadrill.
The unstoppable sweeper of a Sandstorm Team.
Its blades gleamed coldly, empowered by Sand Force, the very air crackling with danger.
Excadrill began its Sword Dance, steadily building momentum—
With its stats rising, it could easily wipe out the entire team.
Only now did Modu realize Imperial University's strategy.
They weren't even planning to play a Team Battle.
Their goal was to end the tournament in Singles.
Coach Zhai's expression tensed as he looked toward Imperial University's Coach, Shao Guanghai.
Shao Guanghai simply smiled and nodded slightly in return.
Sweat dripped from Coach Zhai's forehead.
Nobody had expected Imperial University to take such a bold approach.
And worst of all…
Their strategy was already halfway complete.
"Damn… they might actually win their fourth straight championship."
"This is a complete tactical defeat."
The Imperial supporters roared in excitement, while the Modu crowd fell silent.
Gu Zhong, realizing he had no counter, forfeited immediately.
"Kids these days are getting bolder," Du Yuanshan sighed.
Sun Huai'an smirked. "Told you. Team Battle isn't necessary."
Du Yuanshan scratched his head.
Then, suddenly—His eyes lit up.
On the Modu University bench, a handsome young man stood up and walked to the front.
Every eye in the stadium locked onto him.
"Teacher Lu is up next?!"
"Not that it matters… His team is just babies! Even a Gym Leader would struggle!"
Doubt and cheers echoed through the entire stadium.
Coach Zhai furrowed his brows tightly.
"This is my fault… I miscalculated our tactics…"
He turned to Lu Ye.
"Winning isn't important. Just don't get hurt."
The entire Modu team hung their heads, morale at an all-time low.
If Teacher Lu lost…
The match would be over.
Then—Clap.
Everyone lifted their heads in shock.
Lu Ye had just clapped his hands together.
"Alright, enough sulking."
He smiled calmly.
"It's just a coin flip gone wrong. Happens all the time."
The team froze.
"But…" Han Xiaoxiao's eyes reddened. "If the strategy is against us—"
Lu Ye cut her off.
The camera zoomed in on him.
A boy who was almost too dazzling.
"Strategy?"
Lu Ye smirked, his gaze razor-sharp like an unsheathed blade.
"I am the tactic."
---
"Modu's second contestant is entering the field!" The commentator shouted.
"Can Lu Ye turn the tides? Let's find out!"
Lu Ye glanced at Squirtle, still wrapped in bandages, and chuckled.
"Alright. Crush them. I'll buy you ten bottles of Max Potion afterward."
A flash of determination flickered in Squirtle's eyes.
Without hesitation, Squirtle ripped off its bandages and hopped onto the battlefield.
The final showdown began.
Left Yu narrowed his eyes, uneasy.
"This pressure… It's no different from facing a seasoned pro…"
"Excadrill, Iron Head!" Left Yu commanded cautiously.
Excadrill's armored head gleamed white, cutting through the sandstorm as it charged at Squirtle like a bullet.
But as it pierced through the swirling sand—
Squirtle was gone.
Left Yu's heart skipped a beat.
"Where—?!"
Then, Lu Ye looked up at the sky and smirked.
"Baby Cup opponents really are predictable."
"Squirtle, Rain Dance."
BOOM!!
A deafening thunderclap shook the arena.
"Wait… was that thunder?!"
"No… I think that was Rain Dance!
"Rain Dance is supposed to be that dramatic?!"
Dark clouds rapidly gathered, rolling across the sky.
The heavy black clouds sank low, blanketing the battlefield.
The wind howled.
And then—The heavens burst open.
A torrential downpour crashed onto the arena, washing away the swirling sand in an instant.
"Rain Dance… was successful!!" the commentator shouted.
From the VIP section, Ji Shiyin's eyes widened.
"Squirtle executed Rain Dance… while underground?"
Master Trainer Tu Yong nodded in appreciation.
"Must be a unique talent. But… the amount of investment in its training must have been insane."
A Downpour of Chaos
The rain intensified, yet Squirtle was nowhere to be seen.
Left Yu gritted his teeth.
"Excadrill, High Horsepower!"
Excadrill let out a fierce roar, stomping the ground—
A devastating shockwave cracked the battlefield, sending tremors outward.
But then—Squirtle burst out of the ground.
A brutal Headbutt smashed Excadrill backward.
BOOM!!
Excadrill reeled, dazed.
It swung Metal Claw wildly, but a surging blast of water sent it tumbling several meters away.
The audience gasped in shock.
"How the hell is he predicting every move?!"
Under the downpour, Squirtle's attacks raged like a storm.
"Use High Horsepower!" Left Yu commanded.
Excadrill covered itself in crimson energy, lowering its head as it charged forward—A massive quake erupted, shattering the ground!
Lu Ye narrowed his eyes.
"Still trying to power through?"
"Squirtle, Withdraw."
BOOM!!
Squirtle was launched into the air.
For the first time, a faint sensation of pain flickered across its nerves.
A sharp glint flashed in Squirtle's eyes.
Torrent—Activated.
In the thick storm clouds above, lightning crackled faintly.
The relentless rain intensified, completely overpowering Jiaotong's Rain Team.
"Wait…"
"Who's the real Weather Setter here?!"
"Holy sht, is Modu University actually a Rain Team in disguise?!"*
From high above, Squirtle poked its head out of its shell.
It puffed up its cheeks.
"Squirtle, Water Gun."
BOOM!!
At this point, nobody even bothered questioning why Lu Ye still called it "Water Gun."
The violent torrent tore through the battlefield, obliterating the ground beneath it.
Excadrill was blasted into the air, completely helpless.
For a brief moment—The entire stadium fell silent.
The referee hesitated before finally stammering—"Excadrill… is unable to battle!"
Everyone in the audience looked like they had just seen a ghost.
"Wasn't Excadrill supposed to sweep the whole team?!"
"It had all that build-up… and got one-shotted?!"
Left Yu's jaw clenched.
Without hesitation, he threw out his next Poké Ball.
"Go, Hippowdon!"
A fresh Sandstorm erupted.
But—It was completely overpowered by the unstoppable rainstorm.
Before Hippowdon could even react—A second Water Gun shot forward.
Hippowdon howled in pain.
BOOM!!
The entire stadium took a collective sharp breath.
"One-shot?! Again?!"
Even Imperial University's Captain—Didn't last a single turn?!
The audience was dead silent.
Above them, the dark clouds slowly parted.
Sunlight shone down on the battlefield, glistening off the drenched stone tiles.
Lu Ye stood in the cleansed arena, his gaze steady, his smile calm.
He gestured lightly with his hand.
"Next."