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Fourth Round.
For Meicheng University, it felt like the final round.
Because if even their captain lost to Li Xiang, then their remaining starting member would undoubtedly be a defenseless inner territory, waiting for Li Xiang to march in and capture it.
And so far, none of the first three opponents had managed to knock out a single one of Li Xiang's Pokémon.
This was a point of deep shame for Meicheng University.
To outsiders, it looked no different from staged acting.
'At least take out one of Li Xiang's Pokémon! Three of your own are down, and the opponent hasn't lost a single one.'
'This... this is just acting, right?'
'Bribed?'
How many millions would it take to make these people act under the pressure of public disgrace and universal condemnation?
'But why? Why can't you even defeat a single Pokémon belonging to a first-year student? How incompetent can you be?'
The members of the Meicheng University team kept thinking, kept falling into despair.
Even though not many spectators were focusing on them—most cared about whether Li Xiang could win the next round—it still shattered their hearts into fragments.
To the extent that when the captain stepped onto the field, his legs were a bit shaky. His face was pale as if he had low blood pressure; at first glance, one might think he was cold.
The higher the position, the heavier the burden. With one foot already in the bottomless pit, he was now placing the second.
But the match had begun. The referee's announcement of the rules told him there was no turning back.
A sixth-year afraid of a first-year... truly unprecedented.
On the other side, Li Xiang stroked the PokéBalls on his waist, considering which Pokémon to send out.
His opponent specialized in Fire-types and was an experienced Sunny Day expert with very high offensive power. Even without held items, he could easily take down opponents.
However, the snowy field would become a disadvantage for him.
There was too much snow and ice, too thick. After three rounds, only a small portion had been reduced; a vast amount remained buried underground, immeasurably deep.
If the opponent dared to use Sunny Day without a way to stay off the ground, it would be suicide.
Li Xiang had naively thought earlier that Incineroar's cigar could burn it all away.
Only after actually battling did he realize he had been far too naïve.
With this volume of ice and snow, not even three minutes of intense burning could evaporate it all; even ten minutes wouldn't be enough. Forcing a burn would ultimately only create a shallow, watery area mixed with ice and snow.
Completely pointless and likely to hinder the trainer's own movement.
After a moment, when Li Xiang had decided on his choice, the referee blew the whistle.
Both sides threw their PokéBalls simultaneously.
Bang! Bang!
Two consecutive light sounds.
On the uneven, undulating battlefield, two Pokémon landed.
The opponent's choice was a Pokémon with an orange-brown body, a grayish-rock turtle shell on its back. The upper half of its shell had numerous diamond-shaped holes, and smoke billowed from the opening on top.
—Torkoal, a pure Fire-type and the core of Trick Room/Sunny Day teams, a better weather setter than Ninetales in the games.
In the games, its speed is so abysmally slow that it's top-tier at setting weather. However, in this world, Abilities can be controlled, and weather range is limited.
Thus, the game's scenario of slow speed allowing a second-turn weather setup doesn't exist here.
'If you don't set it, and I don't set it, we're just at a standstill.'
Coincidentally, Li Xiang had no intention of competing for weather control either. His first Pokémon was Heat Rotom.
Above the sky, sunlight gathered under an unseen force, enveloping the entire field, becoming harsh and scorching.
The snowy field instantly showed signs of melting.
"Pretty strong, this sunlight. Specially trained, huh?"
Li Xiang squinted, trudging through the field with difficulty. "Light Screen."
Heat Rotom waved its hands, creating a pink glass barrier in front of itself, which flashed and disappeared.
On the other side, the Meicheng captain, seeing Heat Rotom appear, showed an "as expected" expression.
Knowing he would use Sunny Day, Heat Rotom was the best choice.
Because the lead Torkoal had no moves effective against it, and its damage output wasn't high enough unless it used Shell Smash.
But after Shell Smash, it wouldn't be able to withstand Heat Rotom's attacks.
Thinking this, after Sunny Day was set and seeing Heat Rotom begin to use a move, he decisively switched Torkoal out.
The Pokémon that took the field was an enormous crimson centipede.
Roughly over four meters long, its body was fiery red with more than a dozen segments. It had dark brown dorsal armor and bright yellow ventral heaters, with countless legs that looked densely packed and extremely creepy.
The most eye-catching features were the X-shaped flames on its face and tail, resembling a beard, which looked quite handsome.
—Centiskorch, an eighth-generation Fire/Bug-type Pokémon with the Flash Fire Ability.
The moment it landed on the snow, ice and snow melted into water, sublimating into steam.
But its expression showed no change. The intense sunlight provided enough power for it to ignore these small droplets.
"Coil!"
Under the trainer's command, the gigantic fiery centipede coiled into a circle like a tire's tread. A purple light flashed briefly, raising its Attack, Defense, and Accuracy.
"Rollout!"
Instantly, before Heat Rotom could fly over, the enormous crimson centipede wheel, enveloped in brownish energy, sped toward Heat Rotom like a rolling wheel!
The wheel rolled on!
The two moves were chained together seamlessly, executed extremely quickly!
Heat Rotom, with its depleted stamina and sluggish movements, had been about to use Nasty Plot. Seeing the lightning-fast Centiskorch approaching like a thunderbolt, it didn't hesitate to fly high into the air, using altitude to evade the Rollout.
Unexpectedly, Centiskorch rolled onto a jagged ice rock in the field and launched itself into the air with a swish, approaching Heat Rotom with uncanny precision.
Then, its long body separated in mid-air, its tail lashing down like a whip!
Whoosh!
The air was stirred!
Heat Rotom immediately used Protect, blocking Centiskorch's whip-like body!
Slap!
The green shield dissipated.
The fierce lash missed. Centiskorch fell from the air but extremely agilely resumed its wheel form, continuing to race across the field.
"An Accuracy issue?"
Li Xiang frowned slightly. The Accuracy boost from Coil allowed Centiskorch to clearly understand how and from which angle to attack to hit Heat Rotom.
He had some experience with this through Metagross's Hone Claws.
"Let it hit you. Thunder Wave!"
When Centiskorch rolled toward Heat Rotom again, Li Xiang said this.
Heat Rotom gave up dodging, watching as Centiskorch used an ice rock to launch itself from the ground!
Boom!
The crimson body fiercely lashed against Heat Rotom!
Heat Rotom winced in pain but successfully shot several glowing blue electric currents at the falling, now-unable-to-dodge Centiskorch!
The electricity hit!
Centiskorch's body stiffened. The brownish glow around it suddenly dimmed, as if about to be interrupted.
Li Xiang's mind stirred. Unfortunately, through Centiskorch's perseverance, it managed to maintain the Rollout, landing and rumbling onward.
By now, under the scorching sunlight, the ice and snow had begun melting on a large scale. Many depressions were starting to form small pools of water.
Centiskorch waded through the water, completely indifferent to the droplets on its body. After all, once its ventral heaters activated, this dew would naturally evaporate.
Thus, the audience witnessed a scene like a wheel burning rubber on the spot. Centiskorch spun continuously amidst billowing white smoke.
The Rock-type energy glow around it grew increasingly dazzling, even completely obscuring its body.
This was a sign of Rollout's power gradually increasing. It also meant Centiskorch's next strike would be absurdly painful.
But...
Heat Rotom could still take it!
Even though it hadn't been at full strength since entering the field!
If you dare come, I dare take it!
Li Xiang exchanged a look with Heat Rotom in the sky. The latter looked utterly confident; it never fought unprepared battles.
Based on the damage taken earlier, it had roughly determined the approximate power of Centiskorch's next attack.
Therefore, it proactively used Nasty Plot to lure Centiskorch in.
If it didn't move, Centiskorch would never take the bait. It wasn't stupid; willingly taking a hit definitely meant something was up.
The brownish giant wheel raced forth, cutting through the air!
Heat Rotom's eyes lit up. It retreated slightly to increase the distance, forcing Centiskorch to disassemble!
The flaming long tail lashed out once more!
The glow of energy shone brightly!
Boom!
In mid-air, a puff of smoke exploded.
Centiskorch landed, electricity flickering over its body, interrupting the Rollout it had been building for quite a while.
The Meicheng captain's expression remained unchanged. The move had already been executed, just right ending it, saving the need to continue rolling.
But what he didn't expect was that after landing, Centiskorch suddenly became limp, as if exhausted after a long battle.
As if that last strike had drained its spirit.
'Wait! Not its problem!'
It was Pain Split!
The Meicheng captain swiftly looked up and saw Heat Rotom suddenly diving down from above the smoke!
Around it was flashing electricity!
Discharge!
'It actually wasn't taken out by Rollout! Just how tough are you?! It's been fighting for so long!'
He was almost shocked enough for his eyes to pop out. Heat Rotom's endurance was truly astonishing!
After all, Heat Rotom had contributed significantly in the previous three rounds!
"Protect!"
A green shield abruptly materialized in front of Centiskorch, blocking the rampaging lightning. This Centiskorch's Protect was unexpectedly sturdy; it wasn't shattered by Discharge and held on until the very last moment.
The Meicheng captain's expression was tense. He decisively switched Centiskorch out, not giving Heat Rotom a chance to pursue.
It was clear he was really nervous, sweat covering his face and back, his hand trembling slightly as he recalled the Pokémon.
But thankfully, Centiskorch was successfully recalled.
Li Xiang frowned. This opponent was more troublesome than the last, better at seizing opportunities too. Playing out like this, it would be hard for him to gain much advantage.
It depended on what his third Pokémon was.
As expected...
"Roar!"
A thunderous roar.. followed by a massive, orange-red figure!
A majestic dragon appeared, roaring at the sky, announcing its presence!
Without a doubt, this was the Meicheng captain's ace—
Charizard! With the Solar Power Ability!
Also the only Pokémon Li Xiang was wary of!
Under the sunlight, the enormous dragon spread its wings and soared, its body reflecting dazzling light!
Ability triggered!
Instantly, Charizard seemed to transform into a shiny Pokémon, emanating a pure golden glow!
"Volt Switch!"
"Fire Blast!"
Ring-shaped electricity and the character-shaped flame collided violently!
Boom!
The air trembled!
High temperature and shockwaves instantly melted the ice and snow below, turning them into misty steam that surged outward!
Li Xiang raised his arms to shield himself. His clothes were instantly soaked!
'What terrifying power!'