There was too much he wanted to ask. But there were also too many things that couldn't be explained.
Li Xiang had to temporarily give up, waiting until he was strong enough to talk about it. For now, it was still too early.
After defeating Vice-Captain Chao, it was finally time for the final boss, the undisputed strongest at Mist City University. The captain who led the Grand Mist team in battles across the region—
Su Qian.
As a trainer specializing in Fairy-types, her strength was beyond doubt. But for Li Xiang, he personally felt that battling Su Qian would be a bit easier than battling Chao, unless she also pulled out a Mega Evolution.
After all, his team specialized in Steel-types.
On the other hand, although all the attention had been on Chao, who had revealed his Mega Evolution after the match ended yesterday afternoon, the fact that Li Xiang had defeated the Vice-Captain still shocked the school team members once they had processed it.
A first-year freshman had single-handedly beaten a fifth-year vice-captain?
Those who didn't know the details might think there was some luck involved. Winning against an opponent you shouldn't be able to beat due to good fortune was a normal occurrence.
But the school team students who had watched the entire match knew that he had won through his own strength.
Thunder Punch had instantly killed Primarina. Ice Punch had chased down and finished Dragapult. Two Blaze Kicks had brought the ace Scizor's stamina to the brink.
Finally, a seemingly mirrored fistfight had taken Scizor down in one go, completing a one-versus-three feat.
This wasn't something hard to accept. Pokémon that had been sufficiently boosted often did have the ability to sweep teams… but what was shown to everyone was an undeniable, cheating-like strength.
It left them speechless, unsure of what to say or what expression to wear when facing Li Xiang. Time and again, they tried to overestimate him, only to find they had still underestimated him.
Finally, the final moment arrived.
The uncrowned Queen of Mist City University faced the youngest and most powerful challenger in its history.
For both sides, the underlying significance of this battle far outweighed the surface outcome of win or lose.
Su Qian was still young and didn't want to give up the title of Mist City University's number one so easily.
To others, the so-called "number one at Mist City University" might be nothing more than an empty reputation.
But what trainers often pursued was precisely the title of the strongest.
In literature, there is no number one; in martial arts, there is no second. Every trainer, while aspiring to be champion, strode toward the pinnacle of the pyramid.
There might be people who just muddle along waiting to die, but Su Qian was clearly not one of them.
Therefore, when the two finished their daily doubles practice and parted ways at the end of the street,
"I will give it my all. Be prepared."
The considerate senior sister looked at Li Xiang for the first time with eyes like blades.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Li Xiang responded calmly.
They had come this far. Not to mention that the win rate for this battle wasn't low; even if it were less than ten percent, he would have to grit his teeth and go through with it.
After the trash talk, both sides prepared for the coming day.
...
The next day. The final battle arrived.
This match would determine the fate of an invisible crown. The number of spectators increased once again.
Even Bai Wanhua had come. The members of the university board of trustees were almost all present, along with many tenured trainer professors.
It showed how much importance everyone placed on this battle.
Li Xiang stood inside the arena. In the distance was Su Qian, wearing a different set of sportswear, doing warm-up exercises with a relaxed expression.
A confident and composed aura radiated from her.
This was the confidence built from years of victory. Even after seeing Li Xiang's strength, she felt no fear. She would simply face the enemy head-on and defeat him.
Shortly after, both sides were ready.
Miao Shuang took a deep breath, looking at the young woman and the young man on either side.
One was an undeniable genius, the other a monster that made even geniuses fear. She, the coach, was a bit nervous about who would come out on top.
After taking several deep breaths, "BEEP!" She blew the whistle forcefully!
The match began!
Simultaneous with the whistle was the sound of Poké Balls opening!
Bang! Bang!
Two Pokémon landed!
Li Xiang's lead was, as always, Corviknight!
Su Qian, on the other hand, chose a somewhat plump, pure white Pokémon with three crests on its head, two of which were red and blue. On its chest and abdomen were many red and blue triangles.
The Fairy/Flying-type, the Jubilee Pokémon, Togekiss, with the Serene Grace ability.
This was the magical ability that triggers one hundred percent of the time for lucky players and zero percent for unlucky ones.
Li Xiang felt a bit of caution. He wasn't afraid of anything except getting flinched by Air Slash every time.
"Tailwind!"
"Nasty Plot!"
Both trainers immediately gave orders, each making their choice between offense and speed.
Invisible wind, generated by Corviknight flapping its wings, swirled around its body, increasing its speed.
A wisp of cloud appeared above Togekiss's head, boosting its special attack.
The two were dozens of meters apart, but their gazes never left each other's bodies, each thinking about where to attack to surely take down the other.
"Cawww!"
Corviknight cried out loudly and flapped its wings, flying toward Togekiss!
The latter also stopped using moves, not giving Corviknight an opportunity to exploit the gap, and decisively flew over.
The two approached.
Taunt was inevitable. Preventing the opponent from using status moves would benefit subsequent developments, but it couldn't get too close to Togekiss because the latter knew too many Fire-type moves. Their attack range and power had increased after using Nasty Plot.
Although Corviknight could definitely take at least one hit, the problem was if it got burned, it would be a huge loss.
Therefore, it needed to use Taunt on Togekiss from the maximum possible distance.
Based on Li Xiang's careful research last night on the attack range of Togekiss's moves, its Flamethrower's effective normal range was twenty-eight meters. Heat Wave, being larger in scale, had a shorter range.
This meant that as long as Corviknight stood outside twenty-eight meters, it could ensure a high probability of not getting burned. If it was terribly unlucky and got burned just by being grazed, then there was really nothing to be done.
However…..
"Yawn!"
Su Qian's choice was somewhat strange.
The opponent was rapidly approaching, ready to Taunt, and instead of attacking with Fire-type moves, she chose to hinder the opponent?
Was she deliberately inviting the Taunt? Trying to force Corviknight out?
Even setting up Magic Coat would have made more sense than Yawn.
Li Xiang frowned slightly, then saw that just as Corviknight was about to hurl its Taunt, Togekiss yawned lazily.
Then, Corviknight's abusive words were instantly interrupted, and it also yawned. Its previously sharp eyes became drowsy.
Good grief! So that was a thing!
Li Xiang had never known that Taunt could be countered this way, but fortunately, Corviknight's Taunt was the best in the world.
So what if it got interrupted? It had gotten the move off first!
Seeing the dark light appear on Togekiss's body, Li Xiang breathed a small sigh of relief. His luck was pretty good today.
Not daring to hesitate, Li Xiang decisively recalled Corviknight. Togekiss had just started to make a move when Li Xiang seized the opportunity to switch.
He sent out Aegislash, deliberately keeping its distance.
"Chase it down! Flamethrower!"
Without further ado, flames surged from Togekiss's mouth, blazing fiercely as they sprayed toward Aegislash!
A honeycomb-shaped energy shield instantly materialized, blocking the surging flames, which then dissipated harmlessly.
Aegislash had practiced using King's Shield thousands upon thousands of times. Togekiss, under Taunt, couldn't Taunt it back. So Aegislash could do whatever it wanted.
Swish!
A cold light flashed!
Aerial Ace, the drawing cut!
Aegislash appeared behind Togekiss as if teleporting!
Bang!
A burst of smoke exploded from Togekiss's wing.
"Toge!"
It couldn't help but let out a pained grunt.
What a fast Aerial Ace!
Su Qian frowned slightly. This kind of burst speed was simply irregular. The wind-up was terrifyingly short, and the attack speed was so fast that Togekiss couldn't react at all. It was even much faster than what she had previously known about.
It was growing so quickly!
"Heat Wave!"
She still didn't switch out Togekiss because she knew her Pokémon wasn't that fragile. A mere Aerial Ace wasn't enough to do much damage.
Sure enough, although Togekiss had taken the Aerial Ace, it was in good condition, with few visible scratches on its wings.
It flapped its wings vigorously, summoning a blast of hot air that splashed onto Aegislash behind it!
Pfft!
A sound like a fart.
The hot air struck the hexagonal honeycomb shield again, firmly keeping the flames at bay.
Togekiss had used Nasty Plot, so even though the two were a bit far apart, the fact that it couldn't break the shield was still quite surprising.
It could take hits that well?
"Heat Wave!"
Su Qian's expression was calm. If it didn't hit the first time, try twice. If twice didn't hit, try three times.
She didn't believe that Aegislash would dare to use Protect twice in a row. If it succeeded, then good for it. If it failed? Then it would be time to say goodbye!
The hot air surged toward Aegislash again, distorting the air wherever it passed, roaring loudly!
"Phantom Force!"
Li Xiang had already decided not to hold back, so he certainly wouldn't hide his moves anymore.
Thus, this move, almost unknown to outsiders, was used by Aegislash at the critical moment!
In the second before the hot air arrived, Aegislash drilled into a dark hole beside it and successfully appeared next to Togekiss!
A sword blade shrouded in black and purple energy flew out of the dark hole with a swish, fiercely slashing down at Togekiss!
A cutting blow!
Bang!
Smoke exploded!
When could Aegislash learn Phantom Force!?
A scene never seen before caused many in the audience to cry out in surprise. They had studied for so many years and memorized move pools for so many years, and this was the first time they knew Aegislash could learn Phantom Force!
Down on the field, Su Qian's thoughts raced. After the sword slash landed, she decisively switched out Togekiss, whose condition was rapidly deteriorating.
She wouldn't even give Aegislash a chance to finish it off. Although she was equally puzzled, more importantly, she absolutely couldn't let Togekiss fall here!
Without hesitation, the second Pokémon landed!
Its appearance was like a tattered rag doll, crudely made in the shape of Pikachu. It was khaki-colored all over, with a tail that looked like a wooden stick.
A seventh-generation Pokémon, Ghost/Fairy-type, that once dominated the singles anchor position.
The Disguise ability, Mimikyu!
The moment it landed, it immediately dropped into a pitch-black hole! Extremely fluid!
Phantom Force!
Its startup speed was so fast!
Li Xiang's expression turned serious. Aegislash sensed the danger and decisively activated its shield!
Pfft!
A massive ghostly claw descended from the sky, striking the honeycomb shield!
Mimikyu's position of emergence was clearly above Aegislash!