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he knowes pokemon more than i know _Chapter_391_en
Chapter 391
Chapter 387: The Final Preliminary Match
By Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"So this is what Bruno meant by 'perfect instinct'? What a dangerous power."
In a VIP box, a handsome man with fiery red hair watched the match from afar through the glass.
He looked at the unremarkable Metapod on the field, then at the trainer behind it. The boy and the Bug Pokémon moved as one, a seamless and flawless unit.
The sight of the Kangaskhan being sent flying back by that one blow finally made him gasp.
"This new generation is truly promising."
As he spoke, a look of curiosity, mixed with a hint of delight, appeared on Lance's face.
He had already looked up the information. Ash was a homegrown Kanto native. Talent like that was exactly what the League needed most right now.
"It seems this match is already decided."
The battle ended in a flash. Lance didn't stay to watch the end, instead turning to leave. He headed for a VIP box with a view of another arena.
There was another match next door that had also piqued his interest.
"There's a competitor in the Indigo League Conference prelims who's been sweeping every match 3-0 with a single Dratini. Have you seen it, Master Lance? @Kanto's Strongest Dragon King."
"That Dratini's fighting style is really weird. You should check it out. @Kanto's Strongest Dragon King."
Lance hadn't been watching many matches these past few days. After all, the preliminary rounds were full of amateurs, the gap in skill was too large, and it was boring to watch. He might as well wait for the top four.
But his personal Weibo had recently been spammed by fans, all saying there was a competitor who had swept all three of his preliminary matches 3-0 using only a single Dratini.
If it were just that, Lance wouldn't have found it surprising. After all, the standard of the Indigo League Conference was truly abysmal, full of too many amateurs. Sweeping a prelim match 3-0? Isn't that something anyone with hands could do?
But the description that followed was what caught his attention.
"This competitor's Dratini isn't even high-level. In every match, it gets completely suppressed in the first round and is at an absolute disadvantage. But in the end, it always manages a miraculous comeback to complete the 3-0 sweep. I think his dragon-taming ability is even stronger than yours, @Kanto's Strongest Dragon King."
This was a comment from an objective observer.
"Stop with the cringe hate. Our boy Lance has always been crap at taming dragons; he switched to birds last year. @Kanto's Strongest Bird King."
This was a comment from a self-proclaimed neutral party.
The internet is not a lawless place. Lance had already sent people to check this netizen's IP address. Tonight, he would follow the internet cable to personally 'deliver some warmth.'
At this thought, his brow furrowed. He slowly walked into the VIP box for the other arena. Through the glass, another battle was underway, and it just so happened to have reached the most exciting, decisive game.
This was the Grass Arena. One of the trainers was down to his last Pokémon. His third was a large purple python with sharp, venomous fangs and a terrifying, colorful face pattern on the skin below its head.
On the other side, the trainer was still on his first Pokémon: a small, blue-and-white serpentine creature—the very same Dratini mentioned on Weibo.
The situation seemed overwhelmingly in the first trainer's favor.
However, the Dratini was covered in wounds and panting heavily. It was on its last legs, like a candle flickering in the wind, clearly having just endured a tense and brutal battle.
"Looks like there won't be a 3-0 sweep this time."
Lance immediately made his prediction.
A true expert could assess battle strength with a single glance. He could sense that the opposing Arbok's level was a cut above the Dratini's, and the latter was already on its last legs.
Moreover, Pokémon like Dratini were reckless fighters who relied on direct confrontation; they didn't have dirty tricks like Destiny Bond or Pain Split.
Dratini was even a Pokémon known for its late-game potential; its strength in the early stages was actually quite poor.
With all that, even with the most brilliant commands, winning was impossible!
"And they're @-ing me for *this*? This generation of netizens has no standards."
Before Lance could finish his sentence, he saw the large and small Pokémon on the field already engage in a direct confrontation, continuously attacking each other. The rapidly shifting situation made Lance's expression gradually turn to one of disbelief.
*BOOM!*
Ten minutes later, the large purple snake crashed to the ground.
Although the small blue-and-white snake was covered in injuries, it still stood trembling on the field, proudly raising its head with the Arbok lying defeated beneath it.
For a moment, it was as if everyone could see its future: a Dragonite whose figure might go out of shape, but whose draconic might would be immeasurable.
"Arbok is unable to battle! Dratini wins! Trainer ** advances to the Top 16 of the Indigo League Conference!"
Lance's vision had always been poor, so he couldn't make out the trainer's specific appearance. He could only see that the latter wore a gray hat and had an unremarkable aura.
"His name is **? ...What a domineering name."
He looked at the trainer's avatar on the electronic display board and found that it didn't even have a face—it was blank from the neck down, completely lacking any presence. It didn't quite match the domineering name of **.
"Tsk, another one to keep a close eye on."
Meanwhile, at the Water Arena.
The final preliminary match was also underway here.
One black, one yellow. Two Pokémon stood on floating platforms on the water's surface, as if this were a battle of destiny.
One of the trainers was a young man with short, dark blue hair. His face was quite boyish, a standard baby face that gave off a polite impression.
The Pokémon in front of him was a purplish-black Gengar. It was well-built, with lean, defined muscles. Its movements were swift, and its physique could be called "the shame of all Gengar."
On the other side was a handsome, brown-haired young man with spiky hair. Today, however, his usually flippant expression was replaced with caution, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.
In front of him was a fox-faced, humanoid Pokémon, shimmering with golden light. It clutched two peculiar spoons, and faint ripples of psychic power pulsed around its body.
"Gen..."
"Zam..."
Gengar and Alakazam, Kanto's classic counterparts. At this moment, both Pokémon stood exhaustedly on the floating lily pads, locked in their final struggle.
"This is the final battle! Both Competitor Kikuzuke and Competitor Gary are down to their last Pokémon! Gengar and Alakazam have both been pushed to their limits! This is it—the winner is about to be decided!!"
The commentator was still shouting observations from the sidelines.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Gary. My grandmother told me I absolutely must defeat you, so I'm afraid your tournament ends here today." Kikuzuke gave Gary a polite bow, ever the gentleman, before finally giving the command:
"It's over! Gengar, use Shadow Ball!!"
"Gengar!!"
This Gengar had a well-proportioned body and was incredibly fast. Its legs blurred as it sprinted across the water's surface. In the blink of an eye, it was in front of Alakazam, a purplish-black orb of energy already condensed in its palm, brimming with immense ghostly power.
Before the astonished Alakazam could even react, the Gengar let out a sly grin and shoved the Shadow Ball forward at point-blank range.
*BOOM BOOM BOOM!*
The ghostly energy erupted against Alakazam's body, shattering into a violent burst of dark power. Alakazam let out a pained cry as it was knocked back several meters, finally collapsing weakly onto a patch of lily pads.
With the type advantage, its naturally low defenses, and being on its last legs—not even ten thousand Alakazams could have withstood that move.
(end of chapter)
By Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"So this is what Bruno meant by 'perfect instinct'? What a dangerous power."
In a VIP box, a handsome man with fiery red hair watched the match from afar through the glass.
He looked at the unremarkable Metapod on the field, then at the trainer behind it. The boy and the Bug Pokémon moved as one, a seamless and flawless unit.
The sight of the Kangaskhan being sent flying back by that one blow finally made him gasp.
"This new generation is truly promising."
As he spoke, a look of curiosity, mixed with a hint of delight, appeared on Lance's face.
He had already looked up the information. Ash was a homegrown Kanto native. Talent like that was exactly what the League needed most right now.
"It seems this match is already decided."
The battle ended in a flash. Lance didn't stay to watch the end, instead turning to leave. He headed for a VIP box with a view of another arena.
There was another match next door that had also piqued his interest.
"There's a competitor in the Indigo League Conference prelims who's been sweeping every match 3-0 with a single Dratini. Have you seen it, Master Lance? @Kanto's Strongest Dragon King."
"That Dratini's fighting style is really weird. You should check it out. @Kanto's Strongest Dragon King."
Lance hadn't been watching many matches these past few days. After all, the preliminary rounds were full of amateurs, the gap in skill was too large, and it was boring to watch. He might as well wait for the top four.
But his personal Weibo had recently been spammed by fans, all saying there was a competitor who had swept all three of his preliminary matches 3-0 using only a single Dratini.
If it were just that, Lance wouldn't have found it surprising. After all, the standard of the Indigo League Conference was truly abysmal, full of too many amateurs. Sweeping a prelim match 3-0? Isn't that something anyone with hands could do?
But the description that followed was what caught his attention.
"This competitor's Dratini isn't even high-level. In every match, it gets completely suppressed in the first round and is at an absolute disadvantage. But in the end, it always manages a miraculous comeback to complete the 3-0 sweep. I think his dragon-taming ability is even stronger than yours, @Kanto's Strongest Dragon King."
This was a comment from an objective observer.
"Stop with the cringe hate. Our boy Lance has always been crap at taming dragons; he switched to birds last year. @Kanto's Strongest Bird King."
This was a comment from a self-proclaimed neutral party.
The internet is not a lawless place. Lance had already sent people to check this netizen's IP address. Tonight, he would follow the internet cable to personally 'deliver some warmth.'
At this thought, his brow furrowed. He slowly walked into the VIP box for the other arena. Through the glass, another battle was underway, and it just so happened to have reached the most exciting, decisive game.
This was the Grass Arena. One of the trainers was down to his last Pokémon. His third was a large purple python with sharp, venomous fangs and a terrifying, colorful face pattern on the skin below its head.
On the other side, the trainer was still on his first Pokémon: a small, blue-and-white serpentine creature—the very same Dratini mentioned on Weibo.
The situation seemed overwhelmingly in the first trainer's favor.
However, the Dratini was covered in wounds and panting heavily. It was on its last legs, like a candle flickering in the wind, clearly having just endured a tense and brutal battle.
"Looks like there won't be a 3-0 sweep this time."
Lance immediately made his prediction.
A true expert could assess battle strength with a single glance. He could sense that the opposing Arbok's level was a cut above the Dratini's, and the latter was already on its last legs.
Moreover, Pokémon like Dratini were reckless fighters who relied on direct confrontation; they didn't have dirty tricks like Destiny Bond or Pain Split.
Dratini was even a Pokémon known for its late-game potential; its strength in the early stages was actually quite poor.
With all that, even with the most brilliant commands, winning was impossible!
"And they're @-ing me for *this*? This generation of netizens has no standards."
Before Lance could finish his sentence, he saw the large and small Pokémon on the field already engage in a direct confrontation, continuously attacking each other. The rapidly shifting situation made Lance's expression gradually turn to one of disbelief.
*BOOM!*
Ten minutes later, the large purple snake crashed to the ground.
Although the small blue-and-white snake was covered in injuries, it still stood trembling on the field, proudly raising its head with the Arbok lying defeated beneath it.
For a moment, it was as if everyone could see its future: a Dragonite whose figure might go out of shape, but whose draconic might would be immeasurable.
"Arbok is unable to battle! Dratini wins! Trainer ** advances to the Top 16 of the Indigo League Conference!"
Lance's vision had always been poor, so he couldn't make out the trainer's specific appearance. He could only see that the latter wore a gray hat and had an unremarkable aura.
"His name is **? ...What a domineering name."
He looked at the trainer's avatar on the electronic display board and found that it didn't even have a face—it was blank from the neck down, completely lacking any presence. It didn't quite match the domineering name of **.
"Tsk, another one to keep a close eye on."
Meanwhile, at the Water Arena.
The final preliminary match was also underway here.
One black, one yellow. Two Pokémon stood on floating platforms on the water's surface, as if this were a battle of destiny.
One of the trainers was a young man with short, dark blue hair. His face was quite boyish, a standard baby face that gave off a polite impression.
The Pokémon in front of him was a purplish-black Gengar. It was well-built, with lean, defined muscles. Its movements were swift, and its physique could be called "the shame of all Gengar."
On the other side was a handsome, brown-haired young man with spiky hair. Today, however, his usually flippant expression was replaced with caution, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.
In front of him was a fox-faced, humanoid Pokémon, shimmering with golden light. It clutched two peculiar spoons, and faint ripples of psychic power pulsed around its body.
"Gen..."
"Zam..."
Gengar and Alakazam, Kanto's classic counterparts. At this moment, both Pokémon stood exhaustedly on the floating lily pads, locked in their final struggle.
"This is the final battle! Both Competitor Kikuzuke and Competitor Gary are down to their last Pokémon! Gengar and Alakazam have both been pushed to their limits! This is it—the winner is about to be decided!!"
The commentator was still shouting observations from the sidelines.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Gary. My grandmother told me I absolutely must defeat you, so I'm afraid your tournament ends here today." Kikuzuke gave Gary a polite bow, ever the gentleman, before finally giving the command:
"It's over! Gengar, use Shadow Ball!!"
"Gengar!!"
This Gengar had a well-proportioned body and was incredibly fast. Its legs blurred as it sprinted across the water's surface. In the blink of an eye, it was in front of Alakazam, a purplish-black orb of energy already condensed in its palm, brimming with immense ghostly power.
Before the astonished Alakazam could even react, the Gengar let out a sly grin and shoved the Shadow Ball forward at point-blank range.
*BOOM BOOM BOOM!*
The ghostly energy erupted against Alakazam's body, shattering into a violent burst of dark power. Alakazam let out a pained cry as it was knocked back several meters, finally collapsing weakly onto a patch of lily pads.
With the type advantage, its naturally low defenses, and being on its last legs—not even ten thousand Alakazams could have withstood that move.
(end of chapter)
