"Oh, oh, oh, it's starting, it's starting!"
When the referee announced the competitors' entrance, all the students who had come to watch the match burst into cheers.
"Let's go."
In the rest area of Arcaia City Pokémon University's team, all the team members appeared very relaxed.
If it had been Ironvale City Pokémon University's team from the previous edition, they would still have felt somewhat cautious.
But the level of Ironvale City Pokémon University's team this year was clearly lower and posed no threat to them.
"Arcaia City Pokémon University, third in the rankings. They're a good opponent. They'll serve perfectly as the step we use to propel our rise."
On the other side, Captain Jason Brooks spoke with fighting spirit; he was already eager to step onto the field.
Thus, amid the cheers of the entire stadium, the members of both teams stepped onto the battlefield.
As for the rules, in the University League, all matches were held in a 5-on-5 group battle format.
"Wow, it's Captain Bennett himself, the captain is so handsome!"
When Arcaia City Pokémon University's team appeared, the entire stands erupted in screams.
Especially the girls from the medicine department, who at that moment had become true fanatics, cheering nonstop.
"Eh, why does one of the people on Ironvale City Pokémon University's team look so familiar to me?"
Suddenly, a female student from the medicine department looked at Ironvale City Pokémon University's team with some confusion.
"Isn't that the exchange student, Ethan White?"
Another female student from the medicine department recognized Ethan and was surprised.
After identifying him, a group of female students from the medicine department was completely bewildered, unable to understand the situation.
"It's over... why did it have to be him?!"
Unlike the medicine students, who were confused, a few students who had seen Ethan act before opened their eyes wide.
Although quite some time had passed since then, they still remembered with absolute clarity how overwhelming his intervention had been.
"What do you mean by 'why did it have to be him'?" asked a confused female student from the medicine department beside Bruno.
"He's that student from your medicine department class. If he goes onto the field, this match becomes uncertain."
Bruno let out a slight sigh. After the survival test ended, he had investigated Ethan's information in detail.
Although it was only a suspicion, a very bold conjecture had already begun to form in his heart.
That exchange student from the medicine department, Ethan White, was probably actually the same Ethan Black who had won the Youth World Championship!
Just as he was thinking about how to explain it to the girl beside him, the referee also announced the list of participants from both teams.
And Ethan's name was clearly listed in the battle lineup for this occasion, which made his expression change and completely confirmed his suspicions.
"This match... we're probably going to lose."
Bruno sighed once more, feeling that even with Captain Bennett in command, the situation was very complicated.
"It's Ethan... how did he end up on the field?"
At the same time, the principal and the professors present also showed very gloomy expressions.
Although Arcaia City Pokémon University's team was quite strong this time, and Captain Bennett even possessed Quasi-Elite level, against the world champion of this edition, they really did not have much confidence.
While some students and professors off the field worried silently, the match officially began.
As for the team compositions, most of Arcaia City Pokémon University's students specialized in Ghost-type Pokémon.
Therefore, after returning to their own field, Arcaia City Pokémon University's team sent out all their Ghost-type Pokémon this time.
Five Gengar appeared on the scene at the same time, forming a lineup composed of five Ghost-type Pokémon. In an instant, a gloomy atmosphere enveloped the entire stadium, and ghostly energy transformed into a faint mist that floated everywhere.
In comparison, Ironvale City Pokémon University presented a lineup formed by Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Bisharp, Aggron, and Lucario. At a glance, it was clear that all of them were members of a sandstorm team.
Moreover, knowing that Captain Bennett's ace from Arcaia City Pokémon University's team was a Quasi-Elite-level Gengar, Ironvale City Pokémon University had also made specific adjustments, sending out Poison-type and Steel-type Pokémon, which had an advantage against Gengar.
Once the lineups were set, Ironvale City Pokémon University's team smiled.
Facing the opponent's five Gengar, their advantage was truly too obvious.
"They want to use lineup advantage to counter our Gengar team?"
"Although our poisonous mist tactic is restrained, Gengar don't only master poison."
The members of Arcaia City Pokémon University's team still maintained very calm expressions, clearly still confident in their own strength.
Very soon, the battle began.
As soon as the battle started, everyone present on the field began giving orders.
The five Gengar from Arcaia City Pokémon University immediately used their invisibility ability and disappeared into the air.
"Lucario, use Aura Sphere!"
Faced with this, Ethan gave the order directly.
Although the invisibility ability of Ghost-type Pokémon was very troublesome for other Pokémon, Lucario possessed the power of aura. And when it came to detection ability, there were probably very few Pokémon that could compare to it.
Therefore, with the help of aura, Lucario immediately locked onto one of the Gengar.
Its mental power began to stir and fused directly with the power of aura, forming a huge Aura Sphere that shot toward a specific point in the air.
Immediately afterward, under the incredulous gaze of the students present, the Aura Sphere move exploded in the air.
And right after that, they saw a Gengar sent flying out of the void, crashing violently into the protective wall and losing the ability to continue battling.
"What just happened?"
"Senpai's Gengar was defeated in a single blow?"
Seeing that, the spectators, who had still been cheering until that moment, froze.
"Is that Ethan?"
"Wasn't that Lucario supposed to be a healing Pokémon?"
The female students from the medicine department were also completely stunned.
They had spent more than a month together with Ethan, but at that moment, that classmate felt completely unfamiliar to them.
Was it really possible for an ordinary student to have enough strength to defeat the Gengar of a university team member in a single blow?
"My God... he really is absurdly strong."
Beside Ethan, Captain Jason and the others swallowed.
They knew Ethan was very strong, but defeating one of the opponent's Pokémon with a single attack was still far beyond what they had imagined.
"Ethan, Ethan Black... I remember now. This Ethan must be the champion of this year's Youth World Championship tournament."
"Only that Ethan Black could have such strength!"
After a brief moment of surprise, Captain Bennett reacted and massaged his forehead with a complicated expression.
During all this time, they had been so focused on training and competing that they had not realized it at first.
Now, thinking of Ethan's identity, everyone drew in a deep breath, and there was no longer any trace of their previous arrogance on their faces.
"Everyone, go together! Gengar, use Night Shade!"
With an order from Captain Bennett, the remaining four Gengar appeared at the same time.
Dark energy surged from their bodies and fused in the air, forming a gigantic demonic shadow that lunged directly at Lucario.
(End of chapter)