Chapter 188: Absolute Victory!
The match order for the Grand Festival is very particular; firstly, there can’t be too much of a power disparity, and secondly, there can’t be too much type advantage.
Natsuhiko Kiri was quite unlucky, as he encountered both. If there wasn’t some intervention from the match officials, Lu Li wouldn’t believe a single word of it.
After all, this is the Grand Festival, and he’s seen all sorts of foul play before.
Yao Yifei nodded with a smile and then explained, “This was requested by the people of the Yamato Region. We’re just going along with it.”
Hearing this, Lu Li nodded thoughtfully.
Was the Yamato Region deliberately making things difficult for Natsuhiko Kiri, or deliberately causing him to be eliminated early?
If it was the former, it could only mean that the Yamato Region was quite chaotic internally. But if it was the latter, that would be a different story.
The Grand Festival is never peaceful. If it’s the latter, it means the Yamato Region is definitely an insider, and possibly even one of the instigators.
However, these were all just guesses. Lu Li simply kept them in mind.
As the two were talking, a Gardevoir suddenly appeared in the room.
“Are you Lu Li?”
A clear voice echoed in Lu Li’s mind.
Yao Yifei eyed the suddenly appearing Gardevoir warily, but upon recognizing its strength, her eyes showed more tension.
Champion Level!
It was absolutely not someone she could contend with at the moment. If this Gardevoir harbored any malicious intent towards them, they wouldn’t even have the chance to fight back.
“I am. Miss Gardevoir, do you need something from me?” Lu Li asked politely.
Gardevoir are inclusive Pokémon. Pokémon of this type have one characteristic: they are exceptionally gentle, like a kind older sister.
The Gardevoir in front of him was 1.65 meters tall and looked graceful. Lu Li suddenly understood why some people married Pokémon.
For Furry Fans, Gardevoir is truly top-tier.
Lu Li even found it a bit much, and he wasn’t even a Furry Fan.
Gardevoir explained gently, “My Trainer has asked me to protect you closely for the next few days. Please excuse the intrusion.”
“Then I’ll trouble you,” Lu Li nodded.
There was no need to elaborate on Gardevoir’s background.
A Champion Level Pokémon of the Fairy Attribute. In the entire Jiuzhou Region, only Qu Suxin would send a Pokémon of this strength to protect him.
With that in mind, Lu Li turned to Yao Yifei and said, “You can go back now. Help me take care of things at home.”
Hearing this, Yao Yifei frowned slightly with displeasure. “Are you looking down on me?”
Lu Li really wanted to say yes, but as someone who had lived two lives, Lu Li had some emotional intelligence.
“No, I’m just worried someone might target my orchard,” Lu Li explained very seriously.
Thinking of the good things at Lu Li’s home, Yao Yifei immediately understood.
“That’s true. And since you have Lord Gardevoir protecting you now, I’ll head back and look after the house.”
Seeing that Yao Yifei had finally agreed, Lu Li breathed a sigh of relief.
“Then I’ll trouble you.”
A while later, Yao Yifei left.
As a Flying Type trainer, Yao Yifei was always decisive.
With Gardevoir around, Lu Li no longer dared to train, and could only release Tropius and Milotic.
After checking the condition of the two Pokémon, Lu Li was satisfied with the results.
Tropius’s strength had improved a bit, while Milotic’s growth speed was a little slower than Tropius’, but this was normal. After all, the main effect of Spirit Beauty Pills was to enhance the Pokémon’s charm; their effect in other areas was not as good as Grass Spirit Pills.
“Come, take a look. This is your opponent for tomorrow.”
Lu Li watched the match records of Natsuhiko Kiri on his tablet, while Tropius next to him also intently stared at the tablet.
The next morning.
Lu Li arrived at the Nandu Pokémon Center early in the morning. The entrance of the Pokémon Center was already crowded with reporters, and even the security guards had Gym Level strength.
Today, the security was not handled by ordinary guards but by officers. Two officers stood next to a majestic Arcanine.
Lu Li calmly pushed through the crowd, showed his admission ticket to an officer, and successfully entered the Pokémon Center.
The reporters who were staking out the entrance, seeing Lu Li successfully enter the Pokémon Center, realized they had missed another participant.
“Why are these participants so low-key? Are they not planning to give us any news at all?” one reporter complained with frustration.
The reporter next to him echoed the sentiment, “We should have interviewed trainers from other regions if we knew this.”
Lu Li could naturally feel the commotion behind him, and precisely because of this, he even deliberately quickened his pace.
Having been interviewed twice, Lu Li truly found reporters annoying.
“Student Lu Li, please wait a moment!” a staff member called out to Lu Li.
The middle-aged woman who stopped Lu Li introduced herself, “Hello, Student Lu Li, I am a staff member of the Pokémon Center, and also the invigilator for your match.”
Staff? Invigilator?
This match has an invigilator?
Lu Li looked at the middle-aged woman in front of him with some surprise.
“During the match, I will also be responsible for your safety,” the middle-aged woman added.
Lu Li politely asked, “May I ask your name?”
“You can call me Hua Jie.”
Hearing this, Lu Li carefully observed the Hua Jie in front of him.
In this world, it’s simple to distinguish between commoners and members of noble families.
When members of noble families introduce themselves, they usually include their surname and full name. Only trainers from commoner origins will not state their surname when introducing themselves.
“Hello, Hua Jie? Can I see your identification?” Lu Li asked warily.
“Of course, no problem.” Hua Jie said and then handed her identification to Lu Li.
Orchid, age 42, Gym Level Trainer, Asian Alliance Intermediate Investigator? Jinling Center Temporary Staff Member? Grand Festival Temporary Supervisor?
Looking at the titles on the identification, Lu Li’s mouth twitched slightly.
It wasn’t that the identification was fake, but rather that it looked too fake. Yet, it was indeed real.
After returning the identification to Hua Jie, Lu Li flattered her, “Please take care of me, Hua Jie.”
Hua Jie quickly teased, “It’s fine, you are the genius trainer of our Jiuzhou Region, you should be taking care of me.”
Hearing this, Lu Li smiled broadly. This Hua Jie was also an interesting person, subtly revealing her background to foster a closer relationship.
However, Lu Li wasn’t naive enough to trust her just because Hua Jie was from the Jiuzhou Region and they were fellow townsfolk.
After a brief chat, they began to discuss business.
Lu Li: “So, how is my match arranged next?”
“Your match is in two hours. You must go to the lounge half an hour in advance, and you cannot leave the Jinling Center during this time until the Grand Festival ends,” Hua Jie briefly explained the rules of the Grand Festival.
Lu Li nodded and curiously asked, “Can I go meet the other contestants?”
Hua Jie glanced around, and seeing that no one was paying attention to them, she said seriously, “I don’t advise you to do that. You are just a commoner; there’s no need to actively seek trouble.”
“Some people with ulterior motives might try to provoke you during the match. If you get into a conflict with someone in the Pokémon Center, you might be disqualified immediately.”
“Then let’s forget it.”
Lu Li’s main approach was to listen to advice, as what she said made a lot of sense.
He was aiming to become the champion, and the probability of encountering such a situation later on was quite high, so it was better not to seek trouble.
Hua Jie proactively said, “Let me show you around the Pokémon Center first. After all, you’ll be staying here for quite a while.”
Lu Li would naturally not refuse such a thing. Coming to a strange environment where he had to stay for a few days, it was necessary to get to know the surroundings in advance.
Pokémon Centers in every city are large, and the one in the Ancient Capital is even larger.
Lu Li spent over an hour without even exploring a corner of the Pokémon Center.
In the lounge, Lu Li quietly awaited the start of the match.
“After the match, can I go and observe other contestants’ matches?” Lu Li asked.
Hua Jie nodded, “Yes, and it’s very necessary.”
As the announcer’s voice echoed from the loudspeaker, Lu Li, holding Tropius’s Poké Ball, stepped onto the battlefield.
The audience seats, which could accommodate 30,000 people, were filled. Lu Li stood on the battlefield, curiously observing the young man opposite him.
Natsuhiko Kiri was not short. At 1.75 meters tall, he wasn’t exactly tall, but he was far from short.
The two exchanged a glance and then released their Pokémon.
There was no probing, no greetings. Both saw only the burning fighting spirit in each other’s eyes.
With the referee’s signal, Natsuhiko Kiri launched the first attack.
“Toxic Debris!”
A viscous, poisonous substance materialized into bubbles and flew towards Tropius with a foul odor.
Toxic Debris is a Poison Attribute skill. Froakie hadn’t displayed this skill in its previous matches.
“Fly up! Then Leech Seed.”
Upon receiving the command, Tropius immediately flew up, and several Leech Seeds shot towards Froakie like bullets.
“Dodge! Then throw.”
Natsuhiko Kiri commanded calmly.
Both sides displayed excellent dodging abilities, especially Froakie, whose speed could even rival an Elite Level Tropius.
He knew that Tropius’s speed had been developed.
Natsuhiko Kiri’s Froakie was truly outstanding. Among Pokémon of the same level, this Froakie was the most impressive Lu Li had ever seen.
Since Froakie’s speed was its strong point, it was time to neutralize that strength.
“Magical Leaf!” Lu Li commanded.
Magical Leaf is a Special Skill and even has a guaranteed hit effect.
Natsuhiko Kiri also knew this well, so this time he didn’t choose to dodge: “Water Pulse, block it!”
Hearing this, Froakie quickly channeled its Water Attribute energy. A circular water ring continuously expanded and collided with Magical Leaf in mid-air.
The circular water ring collapsed upon contact, and Tropius’s Magical Leaf continued towards Froakie.
Seeing this, Natsuhiko Kiri could only brace himself and command, “Froakie! Another Water Pulse.”
Froakie used two Water Pulses before successfully blocking Magical Leaf just as it was about to hit him.
After a brief probe, Lu Li had made a decision.
With the advantage in level and type, Froakie had almost no chance of a comeback, so they could afford to be aggressive.
Lu Li: “Tropius, continue with Magical Leaf, then approach.”
“Froakie, use Protect!” Natsuhiko Kiri also shouted.
Magical Leaf was blocked again, but Froakie’s energy was nearly depleted, and it was also facing an approaching Tropius.
The end seemed to be in sight.
Natsuhiko Kiri made a last-ditch effort: “Froakie! Quick Attack followed by Pound!”
Froakie instantly flashed in front of Tropius, and just as its Pound was about to land, Tropius also moved.
Tropius suddenly leaped high into the air, then raised its heavy forelimbs and brought them down forcefully.
It was a physical skill – Stomp!
This skill benefits greatly from many factors, such as the Pokémon’s weight and the force of its limbs.
And the energetic Tropius happened to possess these characteristics.
Rumble!
As Stomp landed, the entire battlefield shook.
Froakie, beneath Tropius’s feet, was deeply embedded in the floor, and its Sturdy ability was triggered. Froakie’s eyes spun in circles.
“Froakie is unable to battle! The winner of this match is contestant Lu Li from the Jiuzhou Region!” the referee shouted excitedly.
“Froakie!”
Natsuhiko Kiri cried out sadly.
Seeing Froakie, who was only unable to battle, Natsuhiko Kiri quickly recalled it. Before leaving, Natsuhiko Kiri didn’t forget to thank Lu Li, “Thank you for holding back.”
Tropius’s final Stomp was indeed restrained; otherwise, Froakie wouldn’t have been unable to battle, but would have been reduced to a pulp.
Although Tropius’s physical attack wasn’t outstanding, its weight and the strength of its forelimbs, coupled with the advantage in level and type, meant Froakie could genuinely have been stomped to death.
Natsuhiko Kiri clearly knew this, so while worrying about Froakie, he didn’t forget to thank Lu Li for showing mercy.
Lu Li did not accept Natsuhiko Kiri’s thanks, only offering comfort, “You’re welcome. It’s just a match, after all.”
After winning the match, Lu Li ignored the cheers and applause from the audience. After recalling Tropius, he turned and entered the player tunnel.
Tropius emerged from this round completely unharmed, having only expended some energy at most.
Today’s matches were over.
Yes, he only had one match today.
Back in the lounge, under Hua Jie’s guidance, Lu Li went to watch the matches of other contestants.
Especially the match of the Reserve Ideal Messenger.
Rayne’s Starter Pokémon was an Electabuzz, and it was an Elite Early Stage Electabuzz.
“This guy is cheating too?”
Lu Li couldn’t comprehend it.
His Tropius had grown so fast because it was boosted by Grass Spirit Pills, but why did Electabuzz have this level of power?
“Does Ideal Power also have the effect of speeding up Pokémon growth? But it shouldn’t be this outrageous!” Lu Li wondered what had gone wrong.
Seeing Lu Li’s shocked expression, Hua Jie explained, “Contestant Rayne’s Electabuzz is the descendant of a Master, and the Lei family also possesses an Electric Divine Item, which is why such a monster was created.”
High potential plus high resources could allow a Pokémon to reach Elite Level in just two months?
Lu Li still didn’t quite believe it, but he grudgingly accepted the explanation.
High potential, high resources, and the cheat of Ideal Power – it was understandable that Electabuzz had this strength, right?
“As expected, one shouldn’t underestimate the heroes of the world. It seems my cheat isn’t outrageous enough yet,” Lu Li thought.
