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Ten minutes later.
Li Xiang returned to the restroom with a complex expression.
Taking on five alone had just been a joke. Coach Xu He wanted him to take the field in the third round.
Specifically, for him to stop conceding in the next match, to start fighting normally without revealing his trump cards, and to go as far as he could.
The school was waiting to see his brilliant performance.
That was the gist of it.
Li Xiang could only say that hopefully, he'd draw a decent arena. Grass was the best—no unnecessary frills, allowing him to display his full strength.
As for the others...
Forgive his bluntness, but he found them all a bit ridiculous.
Unfortunately, as the saying goes.... the more you fear something, the more likely it is to happen.
The next day.
As Li Xiang, the vanguard, was about to step onto the battlefield, he watched the standard arena disappear and the ice and snow arena slowly rise.
He silently raised a mental middle finger.
Snowfields, ice rocks, ice surfaces, plus the low temperature in the air that made one's hair stand on end, and the unceasingly released cold air from all four sides of the arena.
This was a severe test for all Ice-weak Pokémon and those unaccustomed to cold air, reducing their combat power by at least one tier.
At the same time, it was a paradise for Ice-type Pokémon.
"How many meters deep is this thing, again?"
Li Xiang turned to ask Song Jie.
"Ten meters. It's solid ground ten meters down." Song Jie kindly answered his question.
"Then it's hopeless. Can't burn it all without... you know."
Li Xiang sighed, sensing malice from fate.
He could field Incineroar on this terrain, but it would be easy for the opponent to use the terrain against him.
Weather definitely affected Pokémon. He'd have to change tactics.
On the other side, Meicheng University, upon seeing Li Xiang, showed great wariness.
They believed their overall strength was on par with Lincheng University. Since Li Xiang hadn't appeared last round, he was bound to appear this one.
"Coach! The school's honor is at stake! Let us take the field!"
Last year's regulars enthusiastically volunteered. Hongcheng University was being torn apart online; they didn't want to be the next.
Meicheng's coach was an elderly man with graying hair, a face full of wrinkles, but quite vigorous.
Hearing his students' words, he immediately shouted without reserve, "Are you all afraid of him? Defeated before even fighting? How many times have I told you! What's the biggest taboo in Pokémon battles!"
"...Fear."
Someone mumbled a reply.
"Correct! The most important thing in a Pokémon battle is not to be afraid! What if the opponent is stronger? As long as you steady your heart, your Pokémon will stand by you! They will reward your expectations!"
The old man ranted, "Even the God of Luck will smile upon you!"
His words stirred the Meicheng students, making them burn with passion, loudly declaring their determination.
Only then did the old coach smile with satisfaction and name five regulars to take the stage.
The team: "..."
All that passionate talk, and they thought he was going to arrange something special.
"Even the most fearless people sometimes have to bow to reality." The old coach had a whole repertoire.
However, the team members were already used to his ways.
...
Pre-match preparations were brief.
Upon learning Li Xiang would take the field, the other senior sisters all laughed and said they wanted him to secure a pentakill.
This included the two other senior sisters who had a chance to play; they clearly understood that in matches with Li Xiang, they would only ever be supporting roles.
"Please, fight my share for me. Seriously."
Gong Xu pressed Li Xiang's shoulders, sincerely.
"You scram!"
Li Xiang kicked his butt. This kid was also on the roster, as a backup player.
Gong Xu covered his butt and walked away with grievance.
Back to the main topic.
From what Li Xiang knew, Meicheng University's level this year was similar to Lincheng University's performance. After last year's veterans and the old captain graduated, their strength had declined significantly, but those who remained were still not to be underestimated.
They could still scrape together five regulars.
Actually, apart from the doubles players, that's all they had left.
He needed to be prepared.
Li Xiang took a deep breath, zipped up his school jacket, put on the scarf Miao Shuang gave him, and slowly walked into the arena.
As he made his entrance, the camera Magnemite very consciously focused on his slightly youthful yet handsome face.
The audience's cheers gradually grew louder.
The commentator, like a boxing match host, shouted—
[Let's welcome our national number one! Li! Xiang!]
The applause became even more fervent.
For a moment, it felt like the battle held at Sky Chasm Arena was Li Xiang's solo performance!
The student from the opposing side felt immense pressure. Despite the cold in the arena, cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
He was very self-aware. He knew these cheers didn't belong to him.
Facing just a freshman, yet being this nervous... really felt useless.
But it couldn't be helped; physiological reactions were unontrollable.
However, Li Xiang wasn't comfortable either.
"These people really know how to apply pressure."
He listened to the cheers around him and sighed.
The Galar Champion, the so-called undefeated myth, Leon, was similarly built up.
For that man, losing wasn't an option. The burden on his shoulders was immense.
Of course, Leon himself stated he would never lose to anyone.
Proving his innate, intense desire to win, he was a quite pure trainer.
For a trainer as an individual, that mindset was good.
Li Xiang never liked that semi-coercive feeling, so he would lose when he wanted and win when he wanted.
He had already discussed this with Principal Bai.
Praising had to be done in moderation. Even the Champion Xia Chunyu had lost before. What trainer in the world was completely undefeated?
The referee recited the rules.
Li Xiang held his PokéBall, half-burying his face in the scarf for warmth. Seriously, it was quite cold.
Luckily, he'd done warm-up exercises beforehand.
'Why the heck does a perfectly good arena have to blast cold air!'
Shortly after, with Li Xiang's silent complaints, the match began.
Two PokéBalls were thrown!
Bang! Bang!
Li Xiang's side: the eternal lead, the arrogant Corviknight.
It flapped its wings on the field, emitting a sharp, earsplitting shriek!
After last time's lesson, it had learned—not speaking human language was pretty easy!
Opposite, the landing Pokémon was composed of two white ice creams with eyes and mouths, with an ice cone instead of a cone below, and an ice straw on its head constantly releasing cold air.
—The fifth-generation pure Ice-type, Snow Warning Vanilluxe.
Also known jokingly as the "only ice."
In the sky, dark clouds rapidly gathered, snowflakes fell, continuously draining Corviknight's stamina.
"Beep!"
"Aurora Veil!"
Opening with Tailwind and Aurora Veil..... nothing surprising. Both sides were far apart. If they didn't use boosting moves now, they wouldn't get another chance later.
"Melt!"
The moment Aurora Veil appeared, the opponent's command followed closely. The Vanilluxe hovering close to the ground turned into a puddle of snow, successfully blending with the surrounding snowdrifts.
'Melt again.'
Li Xiang felt this move was really popular. Anyone who could learn it used it.
Corviknight only began its loud, Pokémon-language verbal abuse after Vanilluxe started melting.
Vanilluxe could use Magic Bounce. To avoid having Taunt reflected back, Corviknight cleverly waited for the opponent to act first before using its move.
This way, it was guaranteed to hit.
The opponent's expression stiffened. He hadn't expected Li Xiang to be waiting for him. He frantically recalled Corviknight's characteristics.
"Blizzard!"
Snow and ice were whipped up, carrying bone-chilling cold toward Corviknight in the sky!
Under snow, Blizzard's attack range was greatly enhanced, almost impossible to dodge!
"Beep!"
A green shield appeared, firmly blocking the wind and snow outside.
Corviknight, flapping its wings, didn't foolishly wait in place. Instead, it flew while scrutinizing the snowy blocks.
Melt wasn't invincible.
With keen enough eyes, it might be possible to spot that guy before it voluntarily revealed itself!
Corviknight believed, with its vision, doing this wasn't difficult—
'Found it! I, Brother Crow, am indeed a genius!'
Its blood-red eyes keenly detected that among the snowdrifts, one pile of snow seemed out of place compared to its neighbors.
Because this pile of snow, under the blast of the gale, was quietly spreading out like a pancake!
'It's you!'
"Caaw—!"
Corviknight spread its wings, howling loudly. Red light glowed on its body, with wispy red smoke drifting out, dissipating into the air!
Bulk Up!
The opponent keenly sensed something was wrong and shouted again, "Blizzard!"
What else could you use in snow besides Blizzard?
With luck, maybe it could freeze!
The initially dissipating Blizzard, under Vanilluxe's control, became violent again!
Even Li Xiang, standing far away, felt that cold that seemed capable of freezing time!
However, facing this scene, Corviknight folded its wings, as if frozen stiff, and fell from the sky.
Simultaneously, white light glowed on its body, pure white feathers fluttered!
Roost!
While recovering stamina, it could remove its Flying type!
Corviknight, now only Steel-type, instantly became able to resist Ice-type moves!
Moreover, Roost was restoring its stamina!
Thud!
Corviknight crashed headfirst into the snowfield, half its body sinking into the snow, emitting a dull thud!
The opponent nervously watched Corviknight, trying to find signs of freezing on it.
—And he actually found them!
Corviknight's wings were covered in ice and snow, frost solidified into patches!
'Frozen!'
The opponent's face lit up with joy, feeling the God of Luck was on his side today.
However,
"Caww!"
Corviknight emerged flapping from where it landed, eyes blazing. Clearly, it hadn't expended too much stamina.
Even with its wings frozen, it itself still possessed the ability to move!
So what if it couldn't fly?
'Today, let you also taste the might of a ground-bound warrior!'
"Caww—!"
Charge—!
Corviknight opened its beak, legs moving nimbly, charging fiercely toward Vanilluxe!
A silver halo shone on its head, like the blazing sun rising from the horizon at dawn!
Thud thud thud thud!
Heavy footsteps echoed on the snowfield!
"Caww!"
'Star of Victory!'
Corviknight shouted its dream, stumbling, launching an attack against the self-confessing Vanilluxe!
At this moment... amid Li Xiang's whistle.. Corviknight, though alone, its momentum was like a mighty army!