The preliminary rounds went on for several matches.
Aside from Wang Yilun—who was eliminated in the first round and whose Munchlax had left a deep impression—
most of the opponents Serena and her Gible encountered were far more familiar.
Charmeleon.
Wartortle.
Ivysaur.
The standard Fire-, Water-, and Grass-type starters.
There were also common "early-route birds" like Pidgeotto and Starly, the kinds of Pokémon almost every trainer owned.
"Charmeleon, use Ember!"
"Gible, don't panic—charge straight in and use Stomp!"
This time, Serena's opponent was a student from the Pokémon Battle Department.
Their starter Pokémon had already evolved from Charmander into Charmeleon.
In terms of training progress—or what most people would casually call level—
these Battle Department students weren't actually that far ahead of Serena's Gible.
After all, Serena and Gible trained with such intensity that even Miss Mimosha, the school infirmary doctor, had been left speechless more than once.
Actively pursuing a dream.
Seriously wanting to become a Pokémon Trainer.
Those weren't just slogans to Serena and Gible—they lived by them.
The only reason Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur evolved faster was simple:
Their growth requirements were far lower than those of a late-blooming Pokémon like Gible.
That was why Serena's Gible was still in its baby stage,
yet kept running into second-stage evolutions as opponents.
And yet—
Dragons were apex fantasy creatures.
Whether Eastern Loong or Western Dragon, they were supreme beings that commanded the elements.
Natural resistance to Fire, Water, Grass, and Electric attacks
was one of the Dragon-type's greatest strengths.
Unless Gible faced an especially troublesome Fairy-type or Ice-type Pokémon,
even evolved starters posed little real threat.
Three levels behind?
That was still an even matchup.
Same level?
A complete stomp.
That was Gible—the wild-zone Xiao Yan of the Pokémon world.
"Kapu!"
Charmeleon's Ember scattered sparks across Gible's body,
but the damage was laughable.
Gible charged straight through the flames and leapt forward,
short legs kicking hard and slamming a brutal Stomp directly into Charmeleon's face.
"Roaaaar—!"
Enraged, Charmeleon counterattacked with Metal Claw,
its hands gleaming with silvery light as it slashed downward.
"Perfect timing—Gible, meet it head-on with Dragon Claw!"
Serena's voice rang out clearly.
Gible spun the moment it landed.
Purple Dragon-type energy surged around its fins, forming sharp claws.
It leapt upward and collided head-on with Charmeleon.
One Pokémon was smaller, with less raw strength.
The other was larger, with superior physical power.
Gible struck upward.
Charmeleon struck downward.
From every angle, it looked like Metal Claw should have had the advantage.
But—
Metal Claw had only 50 base power,
and as a Steel-type move, Charmeleon received no STAB bonus.
It was useful mainly against Rock-types—nothing more.
Meanwhile—
Dragon Claw had a base power of 80.
And although "dragon" wasn't in Gible's name,
it was unquestionably a true Dragon-type Pokémon.
That meant a full 1.5× STAB boost.
"Kapu!"
Small body.
Ferocious power.
Gible's Dragon Claw exploded upward with crushing force,
sending Charmeleon flying and securing yet another victory for Serena.
"Kapu kapu~!"
Gible stood proudly with fins on its hips, smug and triumphant.
This was a real Dragon-type Pokémon.
Not something written as "Fire Dragon" but read as "Fire Lizard."
Charmeleon: But I can learn Dragon Dance!
Gible: Too bad—I already know it.
"So much for late-blooming Pokémon being weak early on," someone muttered.
"This looks nothing like what people say."
"That's only because it hasn't run into a hard counter yet!"
"If that Gible were mine, I'd call it broken.
Since it's someone else's Pokémon… I'll just say it still needs more practice."
Serena and Gible's winning streak drew increasing attention.
As expected—
Gold always shines eventually.
It just needs the right stage.
And the Sprout Cup Freshman Tournament
was the very first step on Serena and Gible's road to legend.
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