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Wednesday, Magic City University.
The beautiful, sweet-voiced English teacher lectured at the podium.
Outside, scorching sunlight blazed. Inside, lukewarm air conditioning made one drowsy.
Liang Dayou elbowed Lu Ye, whispering, "Third Brother, you look terrible."
"A house nearly caught fire last night. How could I sleep well?"
"Ah? Your neighbour keeps Fire-types?"
Lu Ye propped his cheek, expression full of unspeakable suffering.
Couldn't say a Ghost-type Gastly nearly burned down the house, right?
Although phosphorus fire's ignition point was only 40°C, Gastly's Will-O-Wisp also had area explosion damage!
This was even fiercer than some Fire-types' Ember!
"Lu Ye, Liang Dayou, you two listen properly, okay?" The English teacher said gently.
"Learning English well is the foundation for becoming trainers!"
Liang Dayou declared earnestly, "Don't worry, teacher, I'll supervise Lu Ye!"
The English teacher sweetly tilted her head.
Lu Ye looked at Java Programming on Liang Dayou's desk, smiling silently.
Using programming textbooks in English class, Brother Dayou, such audacity!
"Right, didn't see Brother Youwei today?"
"Brother Youwei went to compete." Liang Dayou whispered. "That 'Piplup Cup' preliminaries."
"He actually competed?"
Lu Ye said in surprise, "I heard this year has over three thousand participants. Jiaotong University's Battle Department sent several, too?"
"Yeah, competition is fierce! But there's a 50,000 yuan prize. Under heavy rewards, brave men emerge!"
Soon-to-be-in-debt Lu Ye sighed, "Nice. Wonder who'll win this year's championship!"
Outside Pudong District's 'Mercedes' Arena, participants crowded the preliminaries.
Most were high school seniors and college freshmen from Pokémon Academies, aiming to earn rankings for Junior Trainer Certification exams.
As an officially recognised Association event, Magic University, Zhejiang University, and Jiaotong University Battle Department freshmen all participated.
Wearing branded training clothes with a custom ball holster at his waist, Tian Youwei took a deep breath. "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous!"
Tian Youwei always dreamed of becoming a trainer. Though narrowly missing Magic University's Battle Department entrance scores, Tian Youwei firmly believed his mid-career switch could still make him a promising trainer!
Looking around: sharp-eyed Pidgeot, muscular Machop, beautifully patterned Beautifly...
Battle Department students clustered together, chatting and laughing, making non-major Tian Youwei feel at a loss.
Tian Youwei took another deep breath.
"Participants matching reported ID and name, proceed to the designated field!"
"ID: 2527, Yu Hong, please proceed to Field 7!"
"ID: 3534, Lu Ye, please proceed to Field 7!"
This round wasn't his turn. Tian Youwei initially sighed with relief.
But hearing that familiar name, he couldn't help widening his eyes.
Wasn't Brother Lu not competing?!
Rushing to Field 7's entrance, Tian Youwei wanted to cheer for Lu Ye while teasing a bit.
Unexpectedly, he witnessed a deeply memorable scene.
A sinister-faced Gastly, wearing a participant badge, showed the staff a spine-chilling grin.
The verification attendant looked utterly bewildered, leaning down. "Little one, where's your trainer?"
"Kekeke!"
"Did you get separated? But without a trainer, Pokémon competing alone..."
The uniformed young lady thought, this basically equals forfeit!
"Sssskah~~~!"
Gastly widened those bloodshot eyeballs, attempting to act cute.
Eek!
The frightened uniformed lady shuddered, showing an awkward, pale smile.
"Why haven't Field 7 participants entered yet?"
A suited man strode over. The uniformed lady immediately perked up.
"Manager, the situation is..." She said regretfully to Gastly.
"Without a trainer, you can't compete alone!"
"Kekeke..." Gastly's face paled.
After hearing the situation, the manager pondered.
His keen senses detected new business opportunities.
If this Gastly could truly defeat opponents without a trainer, it would undoubtedly be an excellent marketing tool for tournament promotion.
This was a risk-free, profitable attempt!
The manager opened the entrance door, smiling, "Little one, welcome to the tournament!"
"Kekeke!"
Gastly's eyes lit up. Wearing Lu Ye's participant badge, it excitedly floated into the field.
"Manager, you're..."
"Notify media reporters." The manager pondered.
"This will be an excellent promotional opportunity!"
"Dear audience, welcome to Field 7's battle scene!"
"From the blue corner, contestant Yu Hong is a Jiangnan University Battle Department freshman. His participating Pokémon is..."
"Good grief, the evolved form of starter Cyndaquil, Quilava, with temperatures reaching 150°C!"
"As for the red corner, Magic City University Finance Department's Lu Ye, participating Pokémon is Gastly!"
"Uh... Lu Ye doesn't seem to be present?"
In the audience, Tian Youwei stared blankly at the eager Gastly.
What was Brother Lu planning?
Actually letting Gastly compete alone!
Even if forfeiting, no need for Gastly to specifically come to the venue!
Yu Hong was equally bewildered.
First match and guaranteed advancement?
This happiness came too suddenly!
Seeing that the manager didn't object, the referee still blew the whistle. "Match begins!"
Yu Hong shouted, "Quilava, use..."
The syllables 'Quilava' needed 0.3 seconds, 'use' needed 0.2 seconds.
Known: Gastly's speed stat was 80, the same as Dragonite's.
Combining conditions, Dragonite could circle Earth in about 16 hours.
Calculate: How long for Gastly to circle a standard 10x10 battlefield once?
Before Yu Hong finished speaking, Gastly was already grinning, closing in on Quilava. Sinister black mist completely engulfed Quilava!
"Yiii—!"
Quilava's sharp back flames instantly weakened, front legs collapsed, emitting pained cries.
The field's sudden change caused audience gasps.
"What the hell!"
"It ended? Way too fast!"
The announcer exclaimed, "Without commands, Gastly got the first strike!"
Just then, Quilava curled into a wheel, flames surging, forcefully breaking through the black mist using Flame Wheel!
Yu Hong breathed relief. "Ember!"
But Yu Hong's command didn't take effect.
'Thud'; Quilava crashed to the field edge, dizzy with stars circling!
Gastly retracted its blinding Confuse Ray, chuckling, and slowly approached the confused Quilava.
"Stand up, Quilava!" Yu Hong shouted hoarsely. "Use Ember!"
Gastly: ???
It's not like saying stand up makes it stand up?
No matter how deep the bond, you still need to follow battle's basic laws!
"Yiii—!!"
However, before everyone's eyes, Quilava screamed skyward, back flames surging!
Gastly: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
Under Blaze ability, seeing the opponent about to cheat, frightened Gastly quickly licked Quilava.
One Lick induced paralysis, two Licks finished it off.
In the silent arena, Gastly's 'slurp' drool sound was clearly audible.
Gastly: (*⊙~⊙)
"Winner, Gast... no, winner Lu Ye?" The referee's voice sounded uncertain.
Glancing at the manager excitedly discussing with reporters, the referee was speechless.
"Who exactly is this Lu Ye?"
"Isn't he a Finance major? How'd he beat Battle Department!"
"Trainer completely offline and still wins?"
"Killing and destroying hearts!?"
Tian Youwei glanced at the bewildered Yu Hong, then at the grinning Gastly.
A subtle sense of dissonance arose in his heart.
Is this really Brother Lu's Gastly?
Already secretly trained to this level...
Brother Lu, you still say you don't want to become a trainer!?
Please vote!!