The face of the Vice Director on the rostrum underwent a slight change, especially as the Director turned to look at him. His eyes and expression seemed to ask: What happened? Didn't I tell you to hold a meeting last night so they wouldn't be careless? Why are they still like this?
The Vice Director spread his hands and shook his head helplessly, conveying that he had spoken to them, but since they chose to remain this way, there was nothing he could do.
The matches on the field continued. By the fifth match, the Indigo Academy students finally realized they could no longer look down on their opponents, or they would definitely be the ones losing in the end. This time, they had to be serious and fight a proper battle based on strength.
Twenty-five minutes later, both sides were locked in a stalemate. Ultimately, the Indigo Academy student used the type advantage of their Venusaur to defeat the opponent's Feraligatr. At this, the second-year crowd from Indigo Academy let out a collective sigh of relief. They had finally won a match. Just moments ago, the third-year students had been looking at them with rather strange expressions.
In the sixth match, both sides sent out female students. After half an hour of battling, Indigo Academy finally emerged victorious. Although they won in the end, it was not an easy victory, and the feat of a "three-Pokémon sweep" never appeared again.
The current situation was that after six matches, excluding the two ties, the score was two to two. The two sides were even. This result made Director Yanagi and the other leaders on the stage quite satisfied; as long as yesterday's situation didn't repeat, they were content.
In the seventh match, both sides sent out their seventh representatives, both being male students for Silver Academy. Since every subsequent match was crucial, neither trainer wanted to be the one to lose. The battle was intense, and Eichi and his friends watched with rapt attention. Some of the tactical shifts were very useful to him. This match dragged on for over half an hour without a clear winner. Finally, the last two Pokémon fell simultaneously to each other's final attacks.
The seventh round was a tie.
The score remained 2-2. Due to the time, the matches were suspended and scheduled to continue in the afternoon.
Afternoon, at the Battle Hall. The students from Indigo Academy were no longer so arrogant; they were now quite nervous as well. As soon as the time arrived, the matches began.
The eighth match started, and both sides desperately exerted their full strength. Finally, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, two massive figures collapsed to the ground simultaneously and did not get back up.
The eighth round was a tie.
Eichi took a sharp breath. The atmosphere was incredibly tense but also thrilling. Everyone was fighting desperately for victory.
In the seating area below, a senior with cyan hair sitting next to Yuli stood up. He looked at Senior Yuli with an exceptionally solemn expression and said, "Yuli, I'm going."
"Good luck, Ito," Yuli said. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Ito nodded heavily, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the stage. The sunlight was somewhat dazzling. His opponent arrived—a person with gray hair that almost covered his eyes.
At the sound of the referee's voice, both trainers released their Pokémon. The match officially began, and Ito poured all his focus into the battle.
Half an hour later, Ito looked at his fallen Pokémon in disbelief. He had lost. He immediately began to loathe himself. Why didn't I work harder usually? If I had worked a bit harder, maybe I wouldn't have lost now.
He walked off the field dejectedly, approaching Yuli with guilt. "I'm sorry, Yuli. I lost. I've disgraced the second-years."
Yuli shook her head and said comfortingly, "Don't blame yourself. You did very well. Now, leave the rest to me."
Several students behind Yuli added, "Yuli, it's all up to you. If you lose, we lose completely, and the first-years won't even need to compete."
"That's right, go for it, Yuli!"
Yuli nodded with great determination and walked onto the battleground step by step. On the rostrum, the expressions of Director Yanagi and the others shifted slightly, though they had great confidence in Yuli.
Looking at the determined Yuli on the field, Director Yanagi silently cheered in his heart, Good luck, Yuli. It's all up to you.
Below the stage, Eichi and the others were also quite nervous. Yuli's victory or defeat determined whether they could compete tomorrow. It also concerned the school's reputation. So, do your best, Senior Yuli.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the final match began.
The last contestant from Indigo Academy was a little boy with blonde hair and blue eyes. He had a very bright smile and clearly didn't look like someone from the Kanto region. The electronic screen displayed his name as Rex.
At the referee's command, both sides began releasing their Pokémon. Rex released a red-bodied monkey, an Infernape. The audience watched the Infernape with great interest; though they had heard teachers mention it, they had never seen a real one before.
Yuli released a blue bird surrounded by clouds, an Altaria. Under Eichi's Eye of the Bug Emperor, this Altaria's talent was Outstanding, and its rank was Elite. Rex's Infernape also had an Outstanding talent and was at the Elite rank.
The match officially began, and both sides launched attacks simultaneously. Infernape's primary moves consisted of the "Elemental Punches" and several Fire-type moves. Combined with its Fighting type, its strength was quite impressive if utilized well.
The Infernape Rex had raised was indeed good. If he had encountered someone just a bit weaker than Ito, he might have won. Unfortunately, he ran into Senior Yuli.
Eichi truly witnessed Senior Yuli's real strength today. She wasn't just beautiful; her strength was also formidable. Her power was more than a league ahead of the second-place student in her grade.
From the initial probing to the later stages, she pressured the Infernape throughout the entire fight. Infernape was defeated without much chance to strike back.
Rex released his second Pokémon, a Skarmory, but it was useless. It was still pressured and beaten, losing its ability to battle five minutes later.
Seeing this, Eichi was already ninety percent certain that Senior Yuli would win. Conversely, the expressions on the Indigo Academy side turned quite ugly. The smile on Rex's face vanished, and he released his final Pokémon, a Bronzong, with a grave expression.
This Bronzong was likely Rex's ace. Under Bronzong's super-strong defense, Altaria was soon defeated. Consequently, she released her second Pokémon, her own ace—a Milotic.
Eichi was somewhat shocked. Senior Yuli actually possessed such a precious Pokémon and had even evolved it into a Milotic. Its talent and rank were also very high: Outstanding talent and Elite rank.
Eichi knew Rex had no hope left. Sure enough, before long, Bronzong was directly hit by a jet of water from Milotic and lost its ability to battle.
Senior Yuli had won. At the moment of her victory, the sunlight shining on her body made her look incomparably dazzling. All the teachers and students of Silver Academy applauded simultaneously. Yuli had won!