Chapter 620: No Retreat
In the first round of Group H, the Grand Master Team had won all three matches. Their advantage was currently so large that it was basically impossible to knock them off their high horse.
Natural Grace had also very effectively secured a draw against the Grand Master Team.
If the Otter Team wanted to advance to the knockout stage without relying on anyone else's results, their only hope was to win both matches today, defying fate!
There was a way out, but it was difficult.
Except for the Kubfu audience, almost no one in the world believed in them anymore.
However, just before they went on stage that day, Bella ignored her shame and rushed to the side of the player entrance tunnel. Cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, she shouted at Luna with all her might.
"Sister Luna, don't forget what you said! There will be a day when you leave the arena, but it shouldn't be today!"
After saying this, she was dragged away by the staff...
After the adrenaline faded, Bella was so embarrassed she wanted to cover her face.
"So embarrassing. It's over. I'm socially dead."
But watching her figure being dragged away by the arms, Luna paused for a moment and then couldn't help but reveal a warm smile.
That's right, those were my own words!
Even if the Otter Team will eventually leave one day, it shouldn't be today! Not during the group stage!
It's too early to give up now!
"Thank you, Bella."
The moment she walked out of the tunnel, Luna silently thanked her best friend in her heart.
Then, in the first match of the day, against everyone's expectations, they fought with all their might and defeated Natural Grace, pushing their win count to three!
But then, Natural Grace and the Grand Master Team successively took points from the wild card team in the same group.
The experience for the wild card team in the Group of Death this year was truly terrible. After six matches, they hadn't won a single one.
And the three teams above them were merciless, racking up scary scores.
By the end of the schedule, the eyes of that wild card captain seemed to have lost their light. He shook hands and left the stage with a calm face.
His face was written with: Tired, destroy it, hurry up...
At this point, the Grand Master Team's record reached 4 wins and 1 draw, locking in the first place in the group early, unshakable.
Natural Grace finished all six group matches with a total record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses.
The Otter Team's current record was 3 wins and 2 losses, but their point differential was behind Natural Grace.
In the last match, they had only one path: defeat the Grand Master Team!
No retreat!
Last match of Group H, Otter vs. Grand Master, a life-and-death battle!
This time, Bella couldn't throw away her shame and rush to the player tunnel to cheer for Luna again, but she was still incredibly nervous in the player lounge, clenching both fists, her legs shaking uncontrollably.
"Go for it, Sister Luna!"
In the entire Kubfu rest area, everyone was silently cheering for the Otter Team.
But right off the bat, in the first match, Otter's captain Warren started poorly, was severely countered, and painfully lost the first round.
"Sigh, this captain is useless," many rookie players complained angrily.
However, this time, the old captains like Leo and Grayson rarely spoke up for Warren.
"His ace Pokémon was too heavily injured in the match against Natural Grace earlier. It's understandable. Besides, he was facing one of the top main players of the Grand Master Team."
As captains who were no longer responsible for the Captain's Match, Grayson and Leo rarely felt a sliver of empathy for Warren at this moment.
It's not easy for anyone...
However, after Warren "consumed" one of the Grand Master Team's starting main players, in the second match, Melody successfully defeated a substitute player rotated in by the opponent, tying the score.
No team is perfect. The Hoenn Alliance has a small population and a small total number of registered professional players. Although their competitive atmosphere is strong and the top teams are always very powerful, the fact that there are few people and many teams remains unchanged.
Even a top team like Grand Master only had two starting main players and two rotational substitutes in their configuration.
This configuration was somewhat similar to Starlight and Frost's; the rotational players were ultimately slightly weaker than the starters.
This was also why many people joked at the beginning of the year when the competitive rules were changed: this was the organizing committee trying every way to target Hoenn—
Because this year, the Captain's Match was added, meaning the team had to add a fixed main player, which put enormous pressure on the Hoenn Alliance with few people and many teams.
The Otter Team managed to level the score by exploiting this advantage.
But next came the main event!
The opponent's other starting main player was about to take the stage!
This time it was no longer a rotational player, but a genuine world-class main player, a veteran of the Grand Master Team, and a regular in the Champions Cup!
Facing such a formidable enemy who was almost impeccable in strength, mentality, and experience, the Otter Team could only send Luna to fight.
"Good luck."
Before going on stage, the head coach encouraged Luna seriously and apologetically.
Serious because this battle was crucial!
Grand Master's captain Steven was a Big Demon King who made the whole world tremble. His dominance in the Captain's Match was no less than Arthur and Roman from Kubfu. The Otter Team needed to gain an advantage in the regular singles and doubles before the Captain's Match. This was very important!
Apologetic because the current situation was no longer within the head coach's pre-match plan.
They had intended for Luna to face the rotational player, and rely on the two All-Star veterans, Warren and Melody, to withstand Grand Master's starting main players.
But unfortunately, the opponent wouldn't follow your script.
They bet wrong.
Even more helpless was that Warren lost the first round.
Now all the pressure was piled on Luna's shoulders alone.
The head coach naturally knew that Luna was only in her first year as a main player. She was still young and shouldn't bear such a heavy burden.
But helplessly, the setbacks the team was facing allowed no one to stay out of it.
Luna nodded silently, then strode onto the player command seat.
In this battle, she bore a burden she shouldn't have at her age, but she didn't complain or hesitate.
Fighting spirit high!
After getting on stage, the field changed first.
The lottery screen for the Random Field appeared on the big screen.
Luna's half was randomized to Grass; the opponent's half was randomized to Water.
For Luna, this result was neither good nor bad.
Then both sides confirmed with the referee.
In the first round, both sides sent out Pokémon simultaneously.
And in the very first round, both sides applied for supplementary regulations!
Hoenn's regional characteristic appeared again. In this round, the opponent sent out a Fighting/Psychic-type Medicham. Undoubtedly, this Medicham also possessed the ability to Mega Evolve.
And Luna didn't hesitate, decisively choosing the item: Weakness Policy!
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