Chapter 44: I’ll Continue
“This is a contestant who isn’t wearing a mask and is using his real name directly…”
Zuo Hang didn’t pay attention to what the referee said. Pikachu had already leaped onto the battle stage first, and Zuo Hang’s gaze had shifted to the opposite side.
It seemed to be a rookie trainer from channel 10, not wearing a school uniform, with a head full of red hair shaped like a chicken crest.
The clown mask on his face didn’t serve much purpose. Everyone who saw this guy would probably notice his hair first. Someone with such high recognizability could easily be found by others even if wearing a mask.
Perhaps wearing a mask was just a habit for others. While Zuo Hang was complaining in his mind, the chicken-crest head had already taken out a Poké Ball.
A red light flashed, and a Pokémon several times larger than Pikachu appeared on the battle arena.
—Tall stature, thick arms, flames burning backward on both sides of the shoulders, and an orange-yellow pattern symbolizing martial arts on the belly.
This was an Infernape, with the same attributes as Combusken, Fire Fighting.
Academy City’s underground arena was actually quite famous. Zuo Hang and the others didn’t know mainly because they had never inquired about it, and Zuo Hang had been traveling outside all year round. He hadn’t even heard of Academy City at first, let alone this underground arena.
Many rookies look down on academy students, thinking trainers who grew up on campus are all show. Trainers from channel 10 are always more numerous than those from the Nine Great High Schools, just to see the so-called “academy faction.”
And Fang Xiangpeng was a “rookie” who came specifically to challenge the White Dragon Arena.
White Dragon is the first in ranking among the Nine Great High Schools, and White Dragon’s home ground is also the primary target choice for this group of “rookies.”
“Infernape! Flare Blitz!” Not much fancy stuff, straight into a fire-type big move.
Scorching flames burned around Infernape, and hot waves radiated outward with Infernape at the center. The Weather Ball randomly selected a harsh sunlight venue, where Fire-type power would receive a certain degree of boost in this weather.
Fierce flames gathered at the wrist, and Infernape suddenly punched toward Pikachu!
—Arm Hammer!
Infernape stood in place without moving. The Fighting-type Arm Hammer empowered the Flare Blitz, and one punch unleashed a fan-shaped blaze covering half the venue, sweeping over Pikachu’s position.
“Heh, is this the academy..??”
Before he could finish speaking, Zuo Hang interrupted, “You turned a dual-type physical attack into a special attack. Nice one. Putting on a fireworks show here?”
Pikachu had appeared behind Infernape at some point, with dazzling radiance blooming fiercely from its tail!
—Iron Tail!
Heavy force slammed into the back of Infernape’s head, followed closely by dazzling electric light.
—Thunderbolt!
After two moves, Infernape was electrocuted until its whole body was charred black, collapsing stiffly onto the sand and stone ground.
Flare Blitz + Arm Hammer combo.
Cool as it is, but unnecessary. If it were a close-range physical attack, the power would undoubtedly be much higher than this Fire Punch, but this fan-shaped fire wave swung directly? Nah, its power isn’t even as good as a Flamethrower.
Feels like this chicken-crest head is trying too hard to show off.
Zuo Hang touched his chin.
Rookie from channel 10? That’s it?? Way too embarrassing for the rookies.
“I’ll continue.” Without waiting for the referee to confirm with backstage, Zuo Hang spoke directly.
At this time, the arena backstage.
“Mom, lend me some contribution points. I’ll pay you back right away.” Xingye said.
“What for? Didn’t you scam ten thousand last time? That’s enough for you to earn.” Huohuo said.
“Sigh, isn’t Zuo Hang a sure win? The more I bet, the more I earn. Ten thousand isn’t enough. Newcomers here have odds of 1.5. The more Zuo Hang battles, the lower the odds will get. Might not be able to earn later.”
Huohuo thought about it and felt it made sense. “You’re not wrong, but this arena is White Dragon’s. Even if you win, you’re taking money from your own side. Next time you and Zuo Hang go to another academy to kick ass, then place bets. Winning others’ money is so much more satisfying?”
Xingye said: “White Dragon’s money is public funds, not personal. Why feel bad? Just bet and done!”
Huohuo chuckled lightly and flicked Xingye’s forehead. “Who says public funds aren’t your own? Remember that front desk girl earlier? She’s a Disciplinary Department officer. Know who manages the White Dragon Arena’s income?”
“Who? Surely not you?” Xingye said casually.
Huohuo pointed at the ceiling, leaned close to Xingye’s ear, and whispered: “The Student Union~~”
Xingye was startled, his expression shocked.
Snowy Child on the other side of his shoulder immediately got anxious. When Huohuo spoke earlier, she had leaned to the left, and Snowy Child was on the right, completely missing what she said.
Snowy Child’s little short hands grabbed Xingye’s head and shook it left and right.
“maoji? maoji? maoji!!!（ Who manages it? Who manages it?? Tell me quick who manages it!!!）”
Arena main stage, 02 rest area.
Holy Cross Academy, every year in the high school ranking battles, always nipping at White Dragon’s heels. Students from both academies have always disliked each other. When they meet, it’s basically straight to grabbing Poké Balls. It’s fine when just enrolled—first-year freshmen have no conflicts—but once the annual high school ranking battles start, these two schools are bound to clash.
“Worn, that electric mouse looks pretty strong. Really going up next?” a brown-haired boy said.
Holy Cross Academy is different from White Dragon. Though both are multi-national investments, Holy Cross is mainly funded by the British side, with mostly blond blue-eyed students. But with so many Chinese people on Academy Island, the foreigners here speak pretty good Mandarin. Xingye is an example—not only can he speak, he’s also a master of sarcastic remarks.
“Of course we’re going up. I haven’t seen this Zuo Hang before. Was he in last year’s ranking battles?” blond blue-eyed Worn asked.
“No, he’s not in White Dragon’s contestant team. I’ve seen everyone who’s been on the field. Not only no Zuo Hang, but no trainers using Pikachu either.” the brown-haired guy said.
“Oh? So maybe a third-year? Interesting. Third-years still staying at school—I’ve gotta meet him.” Worn picked up the golden mask beside his seat, put it on his face, walked out of the lounge, and exposed himself to the arena’s stage lights.
The referee on the flying device dragged out his voice: “The next challenger from the red side, Holy Cross Academy’s Redeemer!! Golden Redeemer!!”
Redeemer is the Chinese translation of Redeemer. Because his hair and mask are both golden, Worn is also called Golden Redeemer.
Holy Cross’s summer school uniform is also white, but much more advanced than White Dragon’s, embroidered with golden British-style patterns.
Worn didn’t care what the referee said and directly threw out his Poké Ball.
What emerged from the red light was a Sandslash.
The bipedal Pokémon bearing sharp stone scales, with exceptionally long hand claws, a protruding yellow crest on its head, long and narrow eyes—said to see clearly even in pitch-black underground, a pure Ground-type Pokémon.
Electric hits Ground for no effect, and this Sandslash clearly wasn’t third-rate goods like the Golem in the small forest.
“Sandslash, Dig!”
“Jump up and use Iron Tail!”
（ps: Recommendation votes are up to you all!）
