Read advance chapters for both of my work, exclusively on Patreon at - www.patreon.com/Sniperwoof
-----------------
Tailwind gradually ceased.
The barely visible colorful streaks of light in the arena also dissipated without anyone noticing when. The falling snowflakes from the sky thinned out, and it was believed the snow would stop soon.
Metagross retreated from the crater.
With each step, it left a small pit in the ground.
The snowfield was simply too soft. For something like Corviknight—a hollow iron bird weighing less than a hundred kilograms—it was manageable. But Metagross was a monster over half a ton; how could it not sink?
Come to think of it, the deep crater created by Metagross was the second one in the snowfield block. The first one took out the Vanilluxe; this one took out the Galarian Darmanitan.
The two craters were quite close.
Between them was a long scorch mark left by Galarian Darmanitan's Flare Blitz, filled with shattered ice from melted and refrozen snow.
The opponent's expression kept shifting.
Finally, as if resigned, they sent out their third Pokémon—the weakened Mr. Rime.
The gentleman with the round hat had just landed when it was met with a fierce punch to the face from Metagross, which had charged over at high speed!
Silver light exploded like a grenade!
Boom!
Amidst the swirling smoke, Mr. Rime wobbled on its legs, its right face covered in charred marks. It spun a few times in place before finally collapsing unconscious on the ground.
The referee blew the whistle and announced Li Xiang's victory.
Amidst the cheers from the audience, the snow stopped.
The arena was a mess.
Li Xiang recalled Metagross, didn't even glance at his opponent, and turned to walk off the stage.
Back in the preparation area, as usual, he received a warm welcome.
"Junior, you're getting more and more proficient."
Su Xi praised, her bright eyes sparkling. "Keep improving like this, and you might very well get to play in the Regional Tournament."
Li Xiang smiled. "I guess so."
He released Corviknight. The Blizzard from Mr. Rime's resistance had frozen its wings stiff and caused some damage.
After a short rest, the ice had mostly melted.
"Cawww."
Corviknight crouched on the ground, vigorously shaking its steel feathers covered in ice chips, spreading a wave of cold air.
Then it got a solid thump on the head from Li Xiang and obediently stopped.
'Really asking for it.'
Li Xiang glared at it, and it looked back at him pleadingly.
"Teacher, juice and Potion, please."
"Coming."
The supervising teacher handed a bottle of Potion and an Oran Berry juice to Li Xiang.
During matches, consuming food wasn't prohibited, but all items brought in were inspected.
Inevitably, Incineroar's cigar was also inspected.
Of course, the cigar itself was fine—it was made of dried catnip—so it wasn't banned from entry.
On the screen, Li Xiang feeding Corviknight was displayed. Many watching this scene couldn't help but take pictures with their phones.
The intimate interaction between humans and Pokémon was always a delight to watch.
On the opposite side, the Meicheng University coach frowned, thinking Li Xiang probably wouldn't concede this time.
He looked at the defeated student walking back with their head down, didn't say much, and just patted the student's head comfortingly.
"Next! Who's next!"
He shouted at the students behind him.
"...It's me."
One person stepped forward, hands slightly trembling, face showing some uncertainty.
Actually, it wasn't just this person; the others weren't very calm either.
"Again? Again! Why can't you ever learn!"
The old coach looked at them with exasperation. "We've come this far; what is there left to fear? Does being scared help? Can fear win you matches? You haven't even started fighting and already think you'll be scorned by thousands?"
"But..."
"No buts! Your past efforts won't lie to you! Open your eyes wide! We came here to win! Don't use the opponent's strength as an excuse to willingly accept defeat!"
"..."
"The opponent is human too, not a god! No matter how strong his Pokémon are, they can be defeated. Yes, he's very talented, with the strength of our fifth or sixth-year students while only in his first year, but he is definitely not invincible!"
The old coach looked at these students whose morale had been shattered. "Don't say we've only lost one match; even if we lost four, as long as the match isn't over, there's still a chance to win! Since you're afraid of being scolded, why not dare to fight with everything you've got? Fight with all your strength, let your Pokémon battle to the very last moment!"
Risking being flayed alive, dare to pull the emperor off his horse.
The old coach's resounding words successfully rekindled the students' courage.
Everyone understood the reasoning, but not everyone could grasp it thoroughly.
Facing heavy responsibility and defeat, not everyone could remain calm and composed.
And one of a coach's responsibilities was precisely to pull the students back from the abyss every time their morale dropped.
The remaining four students looked at each other, their hearts still filled with fear of defeat and dread of responsibility.
But at least their hands stopped shaking. And they were prepared to fight with all their might.
...
When stepping onto the field again, Li Xiang looked at his new opponent and somehow smelled a sense of solemn desperation on him.
It was like a Falinks using No Retreat. Full of the flavor of a fight to the death without retreating.
It was clear the opponent had thrown caution to the wind and accepted the worst.
Li Xiang felt a slight sense of alert. His luck today wasn't great, and with the opponent in this state, there was no guarantee they wouldn't suddenly explode with power.
Couldn't give them a chance to explode.
Amidst the referee's whistle, Li Xiang and his opponent simultaneously threw their PokéBalls.
Bang! Bang!
Two soft sounds.
On Li Xiang's side, the Pokémon that landed was Metagross, its four hammer-like arms sinking into the snow.
On the opposite side, it was a Pokémon that looked like a flying saucer, with yellow antennae on top, three eyes on its front, and three large magnets on its lower body.
—Electric/Steel-type, Magnezone.
The Magnet Pull ability prevented non-Ghost-type Steel Pokémon from switching out through normal means. An ability specifically used to trap Steel-type Pokémon without switching moves.
Similar to the basic strategy in the games. The opponent would know Hidden Power - Fire.
Combined with the opponent's excellent Special Attack, Metagross could tank it, but not for many hits.
"Hone Claws!"
"Reflect!"
Both sides started the battle.
Metagross used Hone Claws as usual to raise its Attack, with its Clear Body ability ensuring it wouldn't have its Special Defense lowered by Metal Sound.
Considering the opponent's fearsome physical attack, Magnezone decisively used Reflect to boost its defensive capabilities.
Both sides completed their pre-battle preparations and moved toward each other.
A long-range Special Attacker naturally had an advantage over a close-range Physical Attacker.
Metagross controlled its electromagnetic power to prevent itself from moving awkwardly in the snow with each step deep.
The opponent also hovered above the ground.
Soon, Magnezone reached its effective attack range. Without any hesitation, its large single eye glimmered, and a crimson light lit up. High temperature accompanied the light, surging toward Metagross!
In an instant, the silver-white flying saucer resembled a scorching sun! Blinding onlookers!
But Metagross obviously wasn't among them. It estimated the distance between itself and the opponent, and its suspicion became certainty.
It indeed was eighteen meters!
It decisively retreated backward. Even though Magnezone was still flying toward it, Metagross maintained a certain distance.
Dodging skills by moving was a basic skill in games! The crimson high-temperature beam landed on it, but the damage was like ultraviolet rays blocked by the ozone layer—it couldn't cause much harm at all.
Hidden Power lasted only a brief moment.
Metagross watched the weakening crimson beam and, seizing the moment, decisively used Gravity!
Invisible, powerful gravity instantly descended!
This area forbade flight!
Boom!
Magnezone was just above four meters. As soon as Gravity took effect, it was like being struck by a heavy hammer, smashing onto the ice below!
With Metagross using it without regard for energy expenditure, most of the arena became a no-fly zone. At this point, no one could be immune to Ground-type moves!
The opponent secretly thought not good.
"Volt Switch!"
Magnezone, fallen to the ground, raised its left and right magnets, shooting two rapidly rotating rings of electricity at Metagross!
Having used Gravity, which harmed the enemy a thousand while harming itself eight hundred, Metagross how could it possibly let it go so easily? It decisively used Agility, accurately dodging the two electric rings.
'I knew long ago you'd use this move!'
Metagross couldn't outrun electricity, but it could predict moves and the direction the opponent aimed—this was also a basic skill in games.
Among the switching moves, the three that dealt damage required the move to make contact with the opponent's body to take effect. Otherwise, they were useless.
Of course, this was within the opponent's expectations. They had used it precisely to bait out Metagross's Protect.
Unfortunately, it wasn't baited out, but they decisively used a PokéBall to recall Magnezone.
It could be called a close call.
Any slower, and Metagross wouldn't have given them the chance to switch.
Not daring to think more and unwilling to give Li Xiang an opportunity, the second Pokémon was sent out from a distance.
It was a large combination of a crocodile and a dinosaur, primarily dark red with black stripes, a pale gray chest and belly, an extremely long mouth, and black eye sockets resembling sunglasses.
—Fifth generation, Ground/Dark-type, Krookodile.
Moxie ability—when it knocks out an opponent, its Attack rises.
"Krookodile!"
Sensing the gravity in the arena, Krookodile let out an arrogant shout.
Without a doubt, the opponent had turned the Gravity used by Metagross to their advantage, making it a favorable condition for their side.
At this point, if Li Xiang switched Metagross out, the Hone Claws and Agility would be wasted, expending energy for nothing.
If he stubbornly didn't switch, Earthquake would be enough to teach Metagross a lesson, possibly even knocking it out and becoming the force for Krookodile to sweep the team!
In short, no matter what Li Xiang chose, the opponent wouldn't lose!
The commentator saw through this and immediately prepared to explain it to the audience. However, just as he uttered the first word, a gust of wind howled!
Metagross vanished from its spot!
Then, it seemed to teleport, appearing right in front of Krookodile!
"Brick Break."
Following Li Xiang's calm voice, Metagross grinned fiercely at the wide-eyed Krookodile trying to defend itself. Its hammer-like brownish-red heavy fist positioned sideways, and then its entire body sharply twisted!
Crack! Thud!
First came the sound of glass shattering, followed by the muffled sound of Krookodile's body crashing through the air and shattering the icy rock!
Lock-on, movement, eruption—all in one go! Truly a hero among Steel-type crabs!
"Krookodile!"
Krookodile cried out in pain. This punch was no different from hitting its major artery! The damage was ridiculously high!
Metagross also had such burst speed?