"Everyone, be very careful. If that Ethan is really the world champion, then his strength must already be at the Quasi-Elite level."
The captain of Redrock City Pokémon University was quite cautious; as soon as he stepped onto the stage, he began giving instructions to his teammates.
When the members of both university teams stepped onto the battlefield, that also marked the beginning of the confrontation.
At the referee's order, the members of both sides released their Pokémon.
Accompanied by flashes of light, the ten Pokémon appeared on the field at the same time.
Redrock City was located next to Battle City, and both were famous for specializing in Fighting-type Pokémon.
In addition to the Quasi-Elite-level Kommo-o belonging to the university team's captain, the other team members also released their own Fighting-type Pokémon.
Kommo-o, Breloom, Infernape, Poliwrath, and Heracross: that was the opposing lineup.
Aside from the Fighting type, all those Pokémon also had other secondary types, and from the combination of types, it was evident that this was a carefully designed formation.
"Five Fighting-type Pokémon... Wait, the Pokémon on Ironvale City Pokémon University's team... are also all Fighting-type!"
"A battle between ten Fighting-type Pokémon... this, this, this is too exciting!"
Seeing the ten Pokémon appear on the field, the spectators exclaimed in unison.
In addition to the five Fighting-type Pokémon sent by Redrock City Pokémon University's team, Ironvale City Pokémon University's lineup was composed of none other than Lucario, Blaziken, Breloom, Heracross, and Machamp.
"Redrock City Pokémon University's team specializes precisely in Fighting-type Pokémon; they are practically a Fighting-type university!"
"And yet Ironvale City Pokémon University's team has decided to face them directly with Fighting-type Pokémon! That is a completely irrational decision!"
"Exactly. Redrock City Pokémon University's team lineup has clearly been carefully designed. In comparison, Ironvale City Pokémon University's looks like a pile of scattered sand without any cohesion."
In the guest area, the commentators also began discussing among themselves, expressing their opinions, unable to understand what Ironvale City Pokémon University intended with such an approach.
When the battle began, the five Pokémon from Redrock City Pokémon University immediately adopted a formation.
Seen from afar, it was evident that they were using some kind of combat tactic: each one occupied a very specific position.
"It has appeared, Redrock City Pokémon University team's combat formation!"
Seeing that, some students specialized in Fighting-type Pokémon became very excited.
Redrock City Pokémon University had reached fifth place precisely thanks to that combat formation!
On the other hand, on Ironvale City Pokémon University's side, the five Pokémon were very scattered, without any formation worthy of the name.
"Captain, how do we fight?"
The members of Redrock City Pokémon University's team communicated with each other.
Seeing that the opponent had also sent out five Fighting-type Pokémon, they felt very irritated.
"They dare to provoke us head-on. Let's go directly. We'll crush them with pure strength!"
"But maintain the formation as well; be ready to support each other at any moment."
Following the captain's words, the five Fighting-type Pokémon advanced while maintaining their formation.
"Kommo-o, huh. I wonder if Hakamo-o has already evolved."
Seeing the Kommo-o approaching, Ethan thought of that dark Hakamo-o from Dragon Valley.
It seemed that, after all of this was over, he could go visit it in Dragon Valley.
While Ethan was lost in thought, Lucario also rushed forward.
The opposing captain and Ethan shared a notable synchronization: both went to seek each other out.
At the same time, the other Pokémon also found their respective opponents and began facing them.
Boom, boom, boom!
Thunderous sounds kept echoing across the field.
The spectators watched without blinking, moving their gazes back and forth.
Battles between Fighting-type Pokémon were always the most passionate, and they quickly ignited the enthusiasm of the entire audience.
But when they looked at the battle they anticipated the most, the one between Kommo-o and Lucario, everyone froze for an instant. In one second, that burning excitement dissipated, to the point that they felt like spitting blood from sheer frustration.
Kommo-o could be seen unleashing attacks nonstop, but Lucario completely refused to receive them. It moved continuously and always managed to dodge them, making the scene become more and more strange.
"Hit already! Come on, hit! What's the point of dodging all the time?"
The students from Redrock City Pokémon University began shouting, throwing provocations and trying to destabilize it with words.
But, as the saying goes, laymen watch the spectacle, while experts watch the technique.
In the guest area, the commentators watching the battle between Kommo-o and Lucario showed increasingly grave expressions.
"All of Kommo-o's attacks are being completely read!"
After a long while, one of the guests spoke, his voice full of surprise.
One had to take into account that Kommo-o possessed true Quasi-Elite-level strength, but even so, it was being completely read. Just how strong must that Lucario be, then?
"It is not necessarily that this Lucario is stronger than Kommo-o. Its strong point should be perception; it always manages to anticipate the opponent's actions with an instant of advantage. But if we talk about physical strength, Lucario is quite ordinary; at most, it should only barely touch the professional level."
At that moment, another guest specialized in raising spoke. From the battle between the two Pokémon, he had already deduced the degree of physical development of both.
(End of chapter)