Chapter 402: Muscle Monster
Basalt's annual salary was public, and his benefits were announced at the press conference. For the Second Division Saints Club to welcome a player with a 20 million annual salary was previously unthinkable. The key was that this player was a substitute!
But Basalt was handsome, young, and had immense potential. For such a favored son of heaven, the club's executives and coaches naturally welcomed him with open arms. Leaving aside other factors, Basalt's popularity alone meant that if the club played him more often, attendance might increase significantly. After all, broadcasting the Second Division League didn't have much of a market; who would watch it besides die-hard fans? Wasn't the First Division League more appealing? One of their main sources of income was ticket sales.
In the spacious training room, the Saints Club's head coach, Jiang Jun, enthusiastically introduced the team members.
Currently, the Saints Club had 12 players: five main players, five substitutes, and two young trainees like Basalt who had just been signed as reserve forces—essentially substitutes for substitutes.
The five main players ranged in age from twenty-five to thirty-six, significantly older than Basalt but rich in battle experience. Even the two reserve trainers were fresh graduates, about three years older than Basalt.
"Hello everyone, I'm the new member Basalt. Please take care of me in the future," Basalt said with humility.
"We wouldn't dare say 'take care.' Basalt, your annual salary is ten times mine! You should be taking care of us," Lin Jindong, the vice-captain in his thirties, waved his hands repeatedly.
This statement received unanimous agreement. Anyone with eyes could see that the Saints Club was just a stepping stone for Basalt; he would sooner or later stand on a bigger stage. And it wouldn't take long—a year at the shortest, two or three years at the longest.
Among the team members, only the youngest main player, Zhang Zheng, eyed Basalt with disdain, muttering softly, "Just because his family has money and resources? What's so great about that?"
Zhang Zheng's voice was low, and Basalt, surrounded by everyone chatting at once, didn't hear it.
After meeting everyone, Captain Li Di, sporting a full beard, exchanged a glance with Head Coach Jiang Jun and said, "Basalt, you're a newcomer, and our understanding of you is limited to paper. How about a battle?"
The club's job was to compete and fight, with no room for fancy tricks. Especially in China's Second Division League, with fifty participating clubs using a home-and-away system, each team played every other team twice. A win earned three points, a draw one point, and a loss zero points.
After all points matches were completed, the top three teams in total points were promoted to the First Division, while the bottom five were relegated to the Third Division. The system was extremely cruel.
This meant a team played 98 matches per season, averaging a game every four days, not counting the off-season months. If counted, it was equivalent to a game every three days. The intensity was incredibly high! At least, much higher than the football leagues on Earth!
"Sure, I'm looking forward to guidance from my seniors!" Basalt laughed heartily. Bronzong and Cradily had digested much of Celebi's elemental energy this month, and their strength had improved rapidly. He was looking forward to it too!
"Alright, who wants to play a match with Basalt?" The head coach glanced at the five substitute players.
The five substitutes looked at each other hesitantly, none daring to step forward. Losing would be embarrassing, but winning might make Basalt look bad. He was a super potential stock; who dared to offend him? Thighs were for hugging, not offending.
"Since none of you want to, I'll spar with Basalt!" Zhang Zheng smirked slightly and stepped forward from the crowd.
"Zhang Zheng, what are you doing?" Jiang Jun frowned slightly, scolding, "You're a main player; why are you sparring with Basalt, a substitute?"
According to Abdullah's arrangement, Basalt would start as a substitute and gradually improve step by step. In that case, he should find a substitute of similar strength to battle. Otherwise, with a huge difference in strength, a crushing defeat either way would be pointless and wouldn't help the head coach and team understand Basalt's actual combat capabilities.
Although Zhang Zheng wasn't very old, he was a main member, significantly stronger than the substitutes. Jiang Jun knew Zhang Zheng well. Zhang Zheng came from a remote mountainous area with poor family conditions. His starter Pokémon upon registering as an adult was a Caterpie. He reached his current position entirely through his own efforts. Because of this, Zhang Zheng despised second-generation rich kids the most.
Was Zhang Zheng sparring? Jiang Jun was embarrassed to point it out. Zhang Zheng just wanted to crush a noob!
"It's fine!" Basalt waved his hand and smiled. "Brother Zhang doesn't mind my lowly strength and is willing to guide me; that's a good thing. I certainly can't refuse."
Basalt didn't notice the subtle atmosphere on the field. However, Basalt himself felt that being a substitute was boring; if he was going to fight, he wanted a real fight. Coincidentally, Zhang Zheng stepped up, and Basalt couldn't be happier.
"Learning from each other, learning from each other!" Zhang Zheng shook hands with Basalt with a smile, but his eyes flashed with cunning.
"Alright then!" Jiang Jun was helpless. Basalt agreed, so what else could he say? Worst case, he'd arrange another match next time!
"This is a club match, so we'll follow league rules. The format is 3v3. Each player has one chance to actively switch Pokémon. The match ends when all of one side's Pokémon lose the ability to battle."
Jiang Jun explained the rules, mainly for Basalt's benefit, as everyone else was intimately familiar with them. The First Division League, due to high popularity, used a 6v6 format for more intense and longer battles, usually lasting over two hours. But the Second Division had high intensity and lower attention, so it was 3v3—quick and done.
"Players, take your positions." Jiang Jun acted as the referee.
Hearing this, Basalt and Zhang Zheng exchanged glances and threw out a Pokéball each.
"Moo~"
With a cry, a bull-like Pokémon appeared. It had fur on its neck, three tails, three spots on its forehead, and thick, powerful horns.
"Tauros?" Basalt stroked his chin. Tauros had decent base stats, suitable speed and Attack, and didn't need to evolve. Overall, it was very practical. Crucially, this Pokémon was abundant in the Grassland Province, so the price was affordable.
On Basalt's side, he sent out Swampert. Testing the waters was a job for the little brother; the three main forces were in no hurry.
"Both are strength-type Pokémon. Looks like it'll be a head-on, hot-blooded battle."
"Head-on my ass! I admit Swampert isn't weak in strength, but did you forget Tauros's ability? Under the ability's weakening effect, Swampert will definitely be crushed in pure strength!"
Just as the person finished speaking, Tauros whipped its three tails around, staring fiercely at Swampert with fiery eyes. A dim light rose, and Swampert's Attack lowered.
This Tauros's ability was indeed Intimidate!
"Tauros, Double-Edge!" Zhang Zheng crossed his arms, sneering repeatedly.
"Moo~"
Hooves pounding, Tauros lowered its head, revealing sharp horns, and began a reckless charge. Tauros was fast to begin with, and sprinting in a straight line, it was like a massive truck crashing through, shaking the ground.
"What the hell is Zhang Zheng doing? Using Double-Edge right off the bat? Is this still a spar?"
Some players were shocked. Double-Edge was a move with a power of 120, a proper ultimate move, and it was a STAB move for Tauros. This was clearly unleashing an ultimate!
Seeing this, Jiang Jun's face turned ashen, considering whether to interrupt the spar. He didn't want to drive Basalt away!
"Swampert, Waterfall to meet it!" Basalt looked calm.
In a contest of strength, who had the muscle monster Swampert ever feared? Did you think those muscles were built on protein powder?
"Swamp-pert~"
With a roar, rapid water jets erupted from beneath Swampert's feet, propelling it into the sky, and it smashed into Tauros with invincible momentum.
"Did I see that right? Swampert's Attack was clearly lowered, yet Basalt chose to clash head-on?"
"Tauros is a brute bull, naturally incredibly strong. What is Basalt thinking?"
Everyone was speechless, feeling Basalt underestimated the enemy too much.
The next second, Swampert and Tauros collided like Mars hitting Earth.
But unexpectedly, Tauros didn't gain the upper hand. Its horns were grabbed by Swampert, one in each hand, used as handles. Although it pushed Swampert back a few steps, Tauros didn't send Swampert flying.
"Holy ghost! Swampert blocked Tauros!"
Everyone was shocked.
On the sidelines, Jiang Jun and Captain Li Di exchanged glances, their eyes full of disbelief. Basalt's strength was much greater than they imagined!
They knew well that Basalt's three main forces were Excadrill, Bronzong, and Cradily. Swampert was a later addition, seemingly evolved not long ago. Although it looked decent, there was clearly a gap compared to the main forces. How did this latecomer display the demeanor of a main force?
As for Zhang Zheng, he was dumbfounded. His Tauros loved ramming trees to increase its strength since it was young. Later, after reaching the Pro-level, it switched to ramming steel targets, practicing diligently every day, possessing frightening strength. Even reinforced concrete walls could be easily pierced.
But now...
Just as everyone was stunned, Swampert made another shocking move.
Its arms exerted sudden force, bypassing Tauros's horns and hugging its neck, wrestling it to the ground and pinning it firmly with its body.
"Moo~"
Tauros snorted heavily, struggling violently, but Swampert's thick arms were like old tree roots, unmoving.
Immediately after, Swampert raised its fist, Fighting-type energy gathering madly, and punched out.
Fighting-type move, Hammer Arm!
After two punches, Tauros stopped moving, eyes spinning in circles, having lost the ability to battle.
Conversely, two dim lights flashed on Swampert, lowering its speed consecutively. This was the side effect of Hammer Arm; speed decreased with each hit.
"My god! Zhang Zheng's Tauros didn't even last three moves against Swampert?"
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