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Outside the battlefield.
The onlookers were buzzing with discussions.
"If I'm not mistaken, that was Burning Jealousy!"
"How can Torracat know Burning Jealousy!?"
"It just used it, so obviously it can learn it!"
"Is Chesnaught really that weak? A fully evolved Pokémon getting crushed by a mid-stage one?"
"Type advantage trumps everything, bro!"
"This is so dumb! Is it just gonna spam Defense Curl and Rollout? What a one-trick pony!"
The crowd argued fiercely, from how Torracat could know Burning Jealousy to Zhu Huihui's poor command and lack of prediction.
They debated heatedly, talking about how they would use Chesnaught if they were in his shoes.
Meanwhile, inside the battlefield.
The situation was just as intense, if not more!
Chesnaught roared, using all its strength to raise its arms and shield itself, barely holding on against the relentless onslaught of Overheat's fiery storm.
Finally.
*Crack!*
A crisp sound echoed as the energy shield covered in green thorns shattered like glass, disappearing into tiny specks of light.
The remaining heat from Overheat's flames surged toward Chesnaught's front.
Like molten lava flowing from the earth, the flames distorted the air as they dripped onto the ground, vanishing. The temperature was scorching!
Chesnaught writhed in pain, its body flipping over like a hedgehog, collapsing onto the ground.
Zhu Huihui didn't dare let Chesnaught stay on the field any longer. Taking advantage of Torracat's post-move lag, he quickly recalled it.
"Tch, you reacted way too fast."
Li Xiang felt a bit regretful. Just one more second, and Torracat could have used another move. Any move would have been enough to finish off Chesnaught.
Flame Kick plus Burning Jealousy, plus a bit of Overheat—that should have been enough. The fact that Chesnaught lasted this long was a testament to its durability and the deep bond it shared with Zhu Huihui.
Even if it hadn't been knocked out, it would have been hanging by a thread, unable to pose any threat.
Now that Zhu Huihui had switched it out, it might come back to bite him later. Letting a wounded Pokémon recover was like raising a tiger that would eventually turn on you.
On the other side.
Zhu Huihui sent out his third Pokémon—a colorful, humanoid octopus, Grapploct.
This guy had the hidden ability Technician, which boosted the power of low-damage moves, and a move called Octolock, which prevented the opponent from switching out while lowering their Defense and Special Defense.
Li Xiang didn't hesitate. As soon as Grapploct landed, he had Torracat, now free from its post-move lag, use Taunt.
Torracat smirked arrogantly, striking a pose reminiscent of the infamous "crooked-mouth warrior," and beckoned Grapploct with a claw.
An invisible force emanated from Torracat, seeping into Grapploct's mind, affecting its brain's hormone secretion and stirring its emotions!
Under the influence of these hormones, Grapploct's anger flared up instantly, almost losing its rationality!
"It knows Taunt too!?" Zhu Huihui was shocked, cursing the person who sold him the information. The intel he got didn't mention any of this—at most, it mentioned Overheat.
From Burning Jealousy to Taunt, none of it was mentioned!
Now he was completely unprepared for Torracat's tricks!
But it was too late to dwell on that. He had no choice but to push through.
However, before Zhu Huihui could command Grapploct to attack, Li Xiang swiftly switched out his Pokémon, the process clean and efficient.
Torracat left the field, and Frogadier entered.
"Circle Throw!"
Zhu Huihui shouted, and Grapploct lunged at Frogadier, its four upper tentacles stretching several meters in an instant. Despite being a contact move, it managed to cover nearly six meters of distance!
Circle Throw, a Fighting-type physical move that forces the opponent to switch out!
Frogadier was a step behind in executing its move. Facing Grapploct's spring-like tentacles, it calmly disappeared into thin air, its senses fully alert, twisting its body with incredible flexibility.
It actually managed to dodge Grapploct's attack!
Grapploct's tentacles missed, leaving it momentarily stunned. Its four tentacles swayed left and right, but they still couldn't touch Frogadier!
How was this possible!?
It couldn't have just vanished into thin air!
Where did it go!?
Frogadier, lying on its back and rolling out of Grapploct's attack range, sneered.
Don't underestimate the results of my months of training in sensory deprivation!
If I let you touch me, how could I ever establish myself in the assassin world!?
My peers would laugh at me!
Imagining itself as a renowned assassin in the underworld, Frogadier clasped its hands together, and the foam scarf around its neck released a large amount of choking smoke!
"Over there! Use Aqua Cutter!"
Zhu Huihui pinpointed the origin of the smoke and shouted.
Grapploct's four tentacles were enveloped in water, stretching out again as they fiercely slashed downward!
*Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!*
The sound of continuous strikes against the ground!
A figure of Frogadier suddenly appeared, only to shatter like an afterimage!
Zhu Huihui's expression shifted from joy to shock.
Double Team?
"Be careful! It's nearby!"
He couldn't help but shout, and as he did, countless Frogadiers emerged from the smoke, rushing toward Grapploct!
"Don't let any of them get away!"
Zhu Huihui was afraid Grapploct would be fooled by Frogadier's clones, giving it a chance to attack!
But what he didn't know was that all these Frogadiers attacking Grapploct were just illusions. The real Frogadier was using its foam ropes to create an aerial platform on the wire mesh, allowing it to move freely!
Even more—
It was setting up a trap to immobilize its opponent!
Li Xiang stood at the edge of the battlefield, his gaze calm. The strategy had been planned the night before, and they had practiced it countless times.
As long as Zhu Huihui couldn't read his mind, the outcome of this battle was already decided.
Honestly, he hadn't expected Chesnaught to be so straightforward, boosting right in front of Torracat. It was practically asking to get burned by Burning Jealousy!
On the battlefield.
Frogadier's clones continued to charge at Grapploct mechanically, annoying both Grapploct and Zhu Huihui.
No!
Zhu Huihui gritted his teeth. If this continued, Grapploct would just waste its stamina!
And with visibility so low, who knew what that Frogadier was up to!?
For all he knew, it was doing the same thing as in the previous match—standing in the sky!
"Come back!"
As Grapploct dealt with the last clone, Zhu Huihui switched again, sending out Talonflame!
"Defog!"
Talonflame flapped its wings rapidly, creating a gust of wind that quickly dispersed the surrounding smoke!
Sure enough….
Frogadier was nowhere to be seen. Zhu Huihui instinctively looked up, even though he couldn't see anything, he was convinced Frogadier was up there!
"Flame Charge! Check if there are any ropes in the air!"
"Scree!"
Talonflame took off, engulfed in flames, transforming into a blazing fireball as it flew around the sky. Surprisingly, it actually managed to burn through a foam rope!
Zhu Huihui's expression lit up with excitement!
"It's in the sky! Keep using Flame Charge! It must be nearby!"
Unfortunately, what he didn't realize was that Frogadier had intentionally held onto that rope, letting Talonflame burn it.
The goal was to make him think Frogadier was nearby!
But in reality….
Frogadier had already used the lingering effect of Bounce, pulling on the interconnected foam ropes to fly even higher into the sky!
In its hands, the foam ropes had formed an elastic and resilient net, stretched to its limit like a rubber band!
Talonflame, flying around the center, hadn't even touched the trap Frogadier had set!
"Kero..."
Frogadier's pupils narrowed into slits as it focused on Talonflame below. The moment the flames on Talonflame's body disappeared—
It let go!
Its entire body, along with the knotted foam ropes, plummeted downward!
With its camouflage gone, the net-like foam ropes were suddenly exposed to everyone, causing the onlookers to gasp in surprise!
And Zhu Huihui's face turned deathly pale!
This was because the rapidly contracting foam net had already stuck to Talonflame's wings, immobilizing its body!
Then, a faint figure fell onto Talonflame, and with a gust of wind, slammed it into the ground!
*Boom!*
Talonflame became Frogadier's cushion, crying out in pain.
At the same time, the foam net rebounded, sending both Pokémon back into the air!
Frogadier used this momentum to leap high into the sky, looking down at the trapped Talonflame. It struck a pose reminiscent of the "Kamehameha," a glowing blue water ball forming in its hands!
Zhu Huihui had already taken out his PokéBall, but Frogadier was faster, unleashing its move before he could recall Talonflame. He could only watch in frustration as Frogadier hurled the water ball with all its might!
*Boom!*
The water ball exploded mid-air, creating a massive wave that surged toward Talonflame!
*Splash—!!!*
The wave hit the foam net, instantly dissolving it and applying tremendous pressure to Talonflame!
Talonflame was engulfed in the water, crashing heavily onto the ground!
Zhu Huihui raised his arms to block the water splashing toward him, his chest heaving with anger, his eyes bloodshot. He didn't dare look at Talonflame's condition.
But even if he didn't look, someone else would.
"Beep—!!"
The referee blew the whistle. "Talonflame is unable to battle! Zhu Huihui has two Pokémon remaining. Please make your next selection promptly!"
Outside the battlefield.
Cheers erupted!
What had just happened was too fast—from the appearance of the foam net to Talonflame getting trapped, the second fall, and Frogadier's Water Pulse!
There was almost no pause between the actions, as if they had been practiced thousands of times!
"Is this really the level of a first-year?"
"Who's Frogadier's trainer? They're so strong!"
"When did it set up that net!? It's only been a short time since it was sent out!"
"Coach! I want my Frogadier to learn this combo too!"
"Get lost! I want to learn it too!"
"Are first-year trainers all monsters?"
Of course, there were also those who were dismissive.
"This kind of combo only works in school battles. Professional arenas aren't this small, and there's no wire mesh."
"That Talonflame trainer is an idiot. If he knew the opponent could set up a net, he should've just flown around the wire mesh."
"Pfft! So first-years are all this bad? I should've waited a year to enroll. Getting a qualification would've been a breeze."
Outside the wire mesh.
The diverse reactions to Frogadier's outstanding performance were on full display.