The sun rose over the Luofu, and the atmosphere in the Liuyundu Stadium was heavy with more than just the morning mist. The second round of the elimination tournament was about to begin, and the marquee matchup was first on the roster: Fu Xuan vs. Topaz.
This wasn't just a clash of high-level gamers; it was a symbolic battle. To the audience, it was the Grand Diviner of the Xianzhou vs. a high-ranking executive of the IPC. In light of the recent trade frictions and corporate smear campaigns, the crowd's roar was borderline hostile toward the "Company" side.
"Oh dear," Topaz sighed, stepping onto the stage as a chorus of boos from the more fervent locals reached her ears. "It's just a game, why does it have to feel like a trial?"
She looked across the field at Fu Xuan, wondering if Julian Reed had rigged the brackets for drama. But Topaz was a professional; she knew that whether the conflict was real or manufactured, the only thing that mattered now was the digital world in front of her.
"Since we can't change the audience," Fu Xuan remarked, her tone cool and regal, "we might as well enjoy the simulation."
"Spoken like a true leader," Topaz replied, her expression softening into a competitive grin. "Just go easy on me, Master Diviner."
"Hmph. I make no promises."
The Psychic Wall
Topaz led with Gengar. She knew Fu Xuan favored Psychic-types, and in the current meta, Gengar was the ultimate "Mutual Destruction" button. Thanks to Fu Xuan's own viral Mew-catching guide, every player now knew Gengar as the king of the Destiny Bond trade.
But Fu Xuan wasn't a player who could be beaten by her own book.
Topaz opened with a high-speed Shadow Ball, immediately following it up with a Shadow Sneak to vanish into the terrain. It was a classic "Souls-like" pressure tactic.
Fu Xuan remained motionless. Her Alakazam didn't flinch. It crushed the Shadow Ball with a precise Confusion and immediately began to hum.
"Calm Mind!" Fu Xuan commanded.
Topaz didn't hesitate. Her Gengar burst from Alakazam's shadow, claws ready for a Shadow Punch. But the moment it emerged, Alakazam's eyes snapped open—not with surprise, but with predatory focus.
"Psychic."
The move hit Gengar mid-air. Because Fu Xuan had used a "Feint" command—calling for a second Calm Mind while the Alakazam was already prepared to strike—Topaz had walked right into a counter.
Boosted by the first Calm Mind and the same-type attack bonus, the Psychic blast was catastrophic. Gengar hit the floor, fainted, before it could even utter the curse of Destiny Bond.
The match continued in a similar vein. Topaz tried every trick in her executive playbook—flanking maneuvers, speed-blitzes, and tactical retreats—but Fu Xuan was always there, waiting at the finish line. It was as if she were playing against a mirror that moved before she did.
By the time Alakazam was finally traded out, Topaz had lost three Pokémon. Fu Xuan's Starmie cleaned up the remainder of Topaz's team, ending the match in a brutal 1-for-6 dominance.
"Before I go," Topaz said, stepping off the stage and wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead, "did you use your Divine Eye to cheat? You were in my head the entire time."
"Hmph," Fu Xuan closed her eyes. "Such a trivial duel is not worth the exhaustion of the Third Eye. Your thinking is simply too linear, Topaz. In the business world, you may hide your intent, but here? You wear your strategy like a neon sign."
Topaz laughed, genuinely impressed. "Fair enough. I suppose I shouldn't bring a work-life balance to a battlefield."
The Defense Department's Falter
The next match was Guinaifen vs. Arlan.
On paper, Arlan had the advantage. As the head of the Herta Space Station's security, his tactical training was formal and rigorous. He played a perfect defensive game, securing a massive lead by taking out three of Guinaifen's Pokémon while only losing one.
But Guinaifen had something Arlan lacked: the unpredictability of the streets.
In the fourth round, Guinaifen sent out her Blastoise and did something Arlan didn't expect: she stopped playing "optimally." She launched into a chaotic, high-pressure barrage of Hydro Pumps and Skull Bashes, ignoring her own defensive lines entirely.
Arlan, who thrived on order, immediately became cautious. He retreated, trying to find the "logic" in her madness.
"She's baiting him," Fu Xuan noted from the spectator bench. "Arlan's caution is a virtue, but against a chaotic variable like Guinaifen, it's a shackle."
Arlan's hesitation cost him. He missed several windows to end the match, allowing Guinaifen's Blastoise to trade two-for-one. Then, her Ivysaur utilized a high-risk Sleep Powder strategy that disrupted Arlan's final reserves.
The match bled into the final round: a one-on-one showdown. Guinaifen's Charizard stood opposite Arlan's last partner, the stadium holding its breath. The street performer had fought her way from the brink of a sweep back to a level playing field.
The "Soul of the Trainer" was once again proving that on the Luofu, passion could bridge any gap.
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