Chapter 31: Lucario Versus Crobat

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“Red side, please send out your second Pokémon.”

The red side was naturally Zhao Xuesong. After thinking it over carefully, Zhao Xuesong took out a Luxury Ball and released his second Pokémon.

“I’m counting on you, my strongest partner—Crobat.”

Everyone in the stands had already guessed that Zhao Xuesong would send out Crobat. After all, Crobat was the only Champion-level Pokémon he had publicly revealed. It was also his trump card and his signature Pokémon.

However, Crobat was completely countered by Lucario in terms of type advantage. Although Crobat had reached Champion level, the spectators were even less optimistic about its chances.

Lucario looked arrogantly at the purple Crobat, its eyes sharp and piercing, almost human in their intensity. It suddenly assumed a stance resembling some kind of martial-arts technique. Before anyone could see it clearly, Lucario launched another attack, striking first once again!

Electricity flashed and thunder roared. Both of Lucario’s fists were now wrapped in Electric-type energy. Against the Poison- and Flying-type Crobat, Lucario had chosen Thunder Punch.

Lucario drove both feet into the ground and shot forward like a sprinter exploding from the starting line. It moved like a swimming dragon, swift and graceful as a startled bird. By the time everyone could see it clearly again, it had already reached Crobat’s side.

Its lightning-wreathed fist slammed toward Crobat!

“Take to the sky! Fly up!” Zhao Xuesong hurriedly ordered. If Crobat were struck by Thunder Punch, it might very well be defeated in only two moves again.

Crobat was a Pokémon known for its speed. Even though the difference in strength made it slightly slower than Lucario, it was not by much!

With a beat of its four wings, Crobat rapidly ascended and dodged Lucario’s first attack. This was the first time since the battle began that Lucario’s attack had missed.

The instant Lucario saw Crobat rise into the air, it reacted. It crouched down at once, then suddenly unleashed its strength from that lowered stance. Its twin fists smashed into the ground, shattering it into chunks of stone.

At the same time, an immense Rock-type energy surged from Lucario’s body. Controlling the broken stones, it sent them flying toward Crobat in the air like cannonballs.

Countless fragments hovered in midair under Lucario’s control, completely sealing off every direction in which Crobat might fly.

Lucario extended one hand and clenched it forcefully. Countless stones shot toward Crobat from every direction, crashing together and leaving it no opportunity to escape.

“Rock Tomb!”

Crobat desperately dodged, attempting to rely on its speed advantage to break free of the stone blockade. But under Lucario’s control, the fragments seemed endless and impossible to defend against. They engulfed Crobat completely.

“Crobat!”

The attack inflicted severe damage in an instant.

Zhao Xuesong’s brows drew tightly together. He knew the battle had already slipped away from him. This Lucario’s strength had far exceeded his expectations. Even a Champion-level Crobat was no match for it.

He had to do something. Otherwise, by tomorrow he would become a laughingstock throughout Tiandu, and the Zhao family would become a laughingstock as well.

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He had to find a way. Even if he could not win, he absolutely could not allow himself to be swept three to zero. As long as he could force this Lucario off the field, he still had a chance.

“Whirlwind!” Zhao Xuesong had already devised a strategy and calmly directed Crobat. He planned to use Whirlwind to forcibly replace Lucario, then use Mean Look to prevent the incoming Pokémon from escaping, and finally rely on Roost to recover its strength. Crobat definitely still had the power to fight.

[Whirlwind]: Blows away the opponent and forcibly sends a Pokémon from the back of the opposing team into battle. If the opponent is a wild Pokémon, the battle ends immediately.

[Mean Look]: Fixes the opponent with an eerie, soul-hooking stare, preventing it from fleeing the battle.

[Roost]: Descends to the ground and restores the body through rest.

“There it is—Zhao Xuesong’s classic strategy.”

“The combination of Whirlwind, Mean Look, and Roost allows Crobat to single out and eliminate the opponent’s Pokémon one by one.”

“The question is whether his other Pokémon are as strong as this Lucario.”

Zhao Xuesong’s plan sounded flawless, but the result was completely unexpected. His strategy failed at the very first step.

When Crobat used Whirlwind, even Champion-level Lucario could not simply ignore the attack. It was blown back into its Poké Ball—but immediately afterward, Lucario emerged from the ball and returned to the field.

The spectators in the stands and those watching on television were filled with confusion. Whirlwind had clearly worked, so why had it still failed?

“How is that possible? Didn’t Whirlwind succeed?”

“Why can Lucario still return to the field? Did it rely on its own will and its bond with its Trainer? Is this the power of Aura? Damn it.”

“Are you an idiot? It’s obvious. The blue side—Wei Yeqin—only has one Pokémon, so Lucario went back into its Poké Ball and then came right back out.”

The crowd erupted into an uproar. But after thinking it over, they realized that this truly was the only explanation. He had brought only one Pokémon to a three-on-three singles battle. Wasn’t it obvious that he intended to sweep all three opponents?

What incredible arrogance. It was almost outrageous.

And yet this Lucario truly seemed capable of defeating all three.

…

“Roar!”

Lucario let out a bellow. The stones scattered across the ground immediately rose into the air once more and flew toward Crobat.

Faced with fragments attacking from every direction, Crobat had nowhere to dodge. The stones surrounded and trapped it before slamming into its body.

The same attack was used for a second time, and Crobat still could not escape. It fell from the air to the ground, unconscious and completely unable to continue fighting.

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A two-Pokémon sweep.

“Crobat is unable to battle. Lucario wins! Red side, please send out your third Pokémon.”

…

By now, Zhao Xuesong was drenched in sweat. As one of Tiandu’s top Trainers, how could he fail to understand what had just happened?

Clearly, this disheveled drunk had only one Pokémon—Lucario. The situation could only have occurred because Lucario was his sole Pokémon and he possessed only one Poké Ball.

What was he supposed to do? Was he really going to be swept three to zero?

“This battle no longer needs to continue.”

Just as Zhao Xuesong stood at a loss, Water-type Champion Tan Yongsen suddenly rose from the stands.

“Zhao Xuesong, you are no match for him. This Lucario is Champion level. Step down.”

Tan Yongsen’s words caused an uproar.

This Lucario really was Champion level!

“The final battle will be between him and me.”

Tan Yongsen walked from the stands onto the battlefield. Zhao Xuesong let out a sigh of relief. With Tan Yongsen saying that, he could leave with his head held high.

There was nothing shameful about losing badly to a Champion-level opponent.

Tan Yongsen possessed an imposing presence. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, and his refined, scholarly bearing perfectly embodied the virtues of gentleness, generosity, and profound moral character.

“I know you have been directing Lucario all along,” Tan Yongsen suddenly said again. “The bond between you has long since united your minds. You do not need words to communicate at all—you can communicate directly through Aura. I am not mistaken, am I, Aura Guardian?”

[Aura]: A form of spiritual energy described as the essence of every living creature.

“So I will be your opponent in the final battle.” Tan Yongsen walked onto the battlefield and spoke to Wei Yeqin.

Wei Yeqin suddenly opened his eyes, sprang to his feet, and looked toward Tan Yongsen.

“Since it is rare to enjoy a battle this much, I may as well have one more fight with you.”

“Very well. I will give it my all,” Tan Yongsen said solemnly. Then he revealed the Z-Ring on his wrist. Its meaning was self-evident.

“A Z-Move?” Wei Yeqin’s blood began to race. This was his first time fighting someone who possessed a Z-Move.

“Come on.”

Tan Yongsen’s words left the referee on the field extremely awkward. However, he did not dare say anything more. He sheepishly retreated to the side and became a spectator himself.

“But before the battle begins, all unrelated personnel must leave the field.”