Chapter 423: A Challenge is Met
After the fan tournament concluded, it was time for the main event of the entire All-Star Weekend—
The underdog challenge, where doubles players challenge the main singles players and captains!
This year, there weren't many doubles players stepping up to challenge, and the quality was noticeably lower than last year.
These things tend to be cyclical. Many of the standout doubles players this season were still rookies. It would likely be a few more years before they were ready to challenge the veterans.
The only familiar face Arthur recognized was his old partner from his former team: Asher.
However, Asher was clearly not foolish enough to challenge his old teammates.
"You're probably going to be pretty bored. The main target for challenges this year will likely be Luna," Bella mused during a break.
Because the newly formed Otter Team had an impressive record, Luna had benefited from the team's success and had made it to the All-Stars in her first year as a main singles player.
But in this domain, she was still a somewhat inexperienced rookie.
Last year, she was the challenger. This year, in the blink of an eye, she was now in the position of the one being challenged. Many people would surely see her as an easy target.
Bella's guess was not without reason. Arthur was just about to agree when, in the next moment, the host announced the first doubles player to take the stage, and that player immediately declared, "I want to challenge Arthur."
Arthur and Bella exchanged a look, both frozen in place.
This isn't the right script…
Why isn't this guy on stage following the script?
It wasn't until Arthur got up and walked down the player tunnel to the stage that he understood this person's plan.
The moment he opened his mouth, he tried to get chummy. "Senior Arthur, please go easy on me. I didn't bring an item today, so you see—"
Didn't bring an item… what a great excuse. Why don't you just say you didn't bring your Poké Balls?
His opponent was clearly trying to hint that he shouldn't use his Mega Old Flame.
But Arthur thought about it and agreed.
"Alright."
The opponent was from the Yankee Team. He was actually older than Arthur, but he was willing to call him "senior." Arthur decided to acknowledge his thick skin.
Besides, Arthur himself had a few things he wanted to practice.
For example, the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist that Greninja had been working on recently, and certain tactics that they were very likely to use in the upcoming playoffs!
This year, Arthur's mentality was completely different from last year's.
At last year's All-Star Weekend, his mind was full of thoughts of bailing on his team. But this year was different. This year, he was aiming for the championship!
So, his preparations for the playoffs had already begun long ago!
The All-Star match began. The opponent from the Yankee Team immediately sent out his signature Pokémon: Toxicroak.
A humanoid Pokémon whose main color is a deep blue. Like Greninja, it has a frog-like head and a human-like body, but unfortunately, its looks are more than a few tiers below.
As a humanoid Pokémon, the Toxicroak on the professional stage generally have decent fighting skills, and they also have the Fighting type.
The opposing Toxicroak had also shown very good close-combat ability in previous matches. Its own ability is Poison Touch.
This ability makes the Toxicroak's claws and toes permanently poisonous. As long as it scratches an opponent, even if it doesn't use a move, there's a chance to poison them.
It's an ability that's very helpful in close combat.
The good news is that this type of Pokémon doesn't have many claw-based moves. They can't learn Fury Swipes, nor can they learn Double Kick.
"Senior Arthur, how about a duel between frogs?" the opponent proactively invited.
He seemed to be maintaining a humble, low posture, but in reality, he was still scheming, trying to use words to trap Arthur into not using his ace as much as possible.
He felt he could handle Greninja, but if he had to face Specter, he really didn't have that confidence.
Little did he know that his excuse of "not bringing an item" had, at this point, already banned Arthur's Specter for him!
Arthur had already bought a Gengarite.
But at this moment, Arthur saw no need to specifically tell his opponent.
With a faint smile, Arthur did not do as his opponent wished.
For the first round, he first sent out Little Eevee.
This made his opponent freeze slightly.
This isn't what I had in mind.
I heard this kid was pretty easy to fool?
Little did he know that Arthur had just not cared about many things before. It didn't mean he was stupid!
From the first second he had stepped on stage, he had heard the opponent trying to set a trap for him with his words.
He didn't expose it, but he also saw no need to play along.
This time, before his opponent could speak, he was the first to give a command, "Little Eevee, evolve! Then use Baby-Doll Eyes!"
This command naturally signaled the start of the battle. His opponent could no longer be distracted by talking and was forced to follow the rhythm of the commands.
"Toxicroak, get in close! Use Poison Jab!"
From his opponent's "Baby-Doll Eyes" command, it wasn't hard to deduce that Arthur had chosen to have Little Eevee evolve into a Sylveon.
The Fairy-type move: Baby-Doll Eyes. A very fast-activating eye technique that creates an illusion to weaken the enemy.
This move is extremely fast. There's almost no chance to dodge it by looking away, like with Taunt or Yawn. It's almost a guaranteed hit.
The only problem is that this move deals no damage, only a weakening effect.
The Toxicroak paid it no mind and charged straight for the newly evolved Sylveon.
It then raised its poisoned hand, a cold glint flashing from the crimson middle finger!
Toxicroak has four fingers. The middle one is the longest and most prominent, and its color is different from the rest of its skin. It's the finger they habitually use to inject poison!
However, this time, Little Eevee did not dodge.
And Arthur also did not give a command to evade or maneuver, seeming to have completely given up on kiting.
Baby-Doll Eyes, as a small move, has a very fast cooldown.
The host couldn't help but get excited. "Are both sides planning to go for a head-on clash right from the start?"
The Toxicroak's speed was not slow. In two or three seconds, it had crossed the initial distance and was in front of Little Eevee. Its right hand was raised high, and from its wrist to its fingertips, it was instantly dyed a deep purple with Poison-type energy. Only that middle finger was still a brilliant, demonic red!
The middle finger protruded, a single claw strike!
Poison Jab!
And only at this moment did Arthur finally give his command!
"Now! Use Sand Attack!"
However, this command made most of the audience's jaws drop.
Many of the viewers watching the live broadcast had probably been on the edge of their seats, their toes clenched, their backs straight with tension.
But the moment Arthur gave this command, most of them let out a breath and slumped back into their sofas or chairs.
"What the hell?!"
"Why Sand Attack?"
The most basic of Ground-type moves: Sand Attack. Its effect is simply to use energy to condense sand and throw it at the opponent. If it gets in their eyes, this energy-infused sand is much harder to clean out than normal sand.
But that's it.
No damage, and no more profound, extraordinary effects.
This is a small move that many Pokémon know from birth, the most basic of basic moves.
But this time, Arthur had chosen to use this move to respond, which left everyone extremely confused—what on earth was he thinking?
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