Chapter 80 — Turtle School Disciple Sai Enters the Arena

Sun Wuming paused for a moment, then smiled after two seconds and said:

"Alright, then Master will give you something nice as a gift."

Sun Wuming slightly raised his right hand, his palm facing Sai as it emitted a mysterious energy wave.

In an instant, Sai's tight-fitting workout clothes transformed into a Turtle School martial arts uniform identical to Sun Wuming's.

A loose, deep blue almost black undershirt, orange training clothes, with the character for "Turtle" printed on both the chest and back.

"Thank you, Master."

Sai smiled sweetly.

Having Sun Wuming conjure clothes out of thin air and directly onto her body was nothing unusual anymore.

After all, she had seen even more extraordinary things.

At this moment, Sun Wuming felt someone tugging at the hem of his clothes.

Turning his head, he saw Marie looking up at him with an expectant expression.

Sun Wuming chuckled and raised his hand again.

Marie's punk-style pure aesthetic outfit instantly transformed into a Turtle School training uniform.

It had to be said that the spirited Sai really suited this outfit.

As for Marie... there was a slight sense of incongruity.

But it definitely couldn't be called "ugly" - rather, it gave off a unique charm of adorable awkwardness.

You could say that with a pretty face, nothing could look bad.

"Would you like one?"

Sun Wuming finally turned to ask Lurina.

"Ah~ I'll pass."

Lurina smiled gently.

"Lurina's so unsociable."

Marie puffed up her cheeks.

Sai nodded in agreement, saying somewhat displeased:

"Even though you've also received Master's teachings, we should all wear our school's uniform for the tournament."

At this moment, the announcer's passionate voice boomed through the speakers:

"Next, please welcome the Stow-on-Side Gym Leader, last year's Star Tournament runner-up, 'Galar's Karate Prodigy' Fighter Sai—to the stage!!!"

"Master, I'm going!"

Sai raised her small fist.

"Mm, looking forward to your performance."

Sun Wuming patted her back in encouragement.

Then everyone sat down to watch the broadcast on TV inside.

While Sun Wuming and Marie weren't paying attention, Lurina muttered to herself:

"I don't want to be your senior disciple, I want to be your master's wife."

Beside her, Sonia: "..."

...

...

When Sai entered the arena wearing the Turtle School uniform, her appearance matching Sun Wuming's immediately caused a stir among both the live audience and TV viewers.

In the Elite Four's room at Indigo Plateau.

Watching the livestream, Bea suddenly realized:

"Oh! I remember now, they said before that the man who defeated Cynthia was Sai's master."

Karen smiled faintly:

"This young girl getting runner-up last year had a lot to do with luck."

In last year's Galar Star Tournament, Champion-level Raihan and Elite Four-level Piers met in the semifinals, resulting in both being too injured to continue.

This led to Sai directly gaining the chance to challenge Leon from the other semifinal.

It was considered a huge upset.

And this time, Sai would face Elite Four-level Piers in the first round.

Almost no one expected her to advance.

Lance wasn't present at the venue.

Because Lance didn't really think much of the Galar League's level, unless it was Leon's battle, he wasn't interested in watching.

...

...

"Then, let us welcome the Spikemuth Gym Leader, Galar's famous rock singer, 'The Melancholic Piers'—to the stage!!!"

The announcer shouted into the microphone again.

Galar truly is the most commercialized league, with each gym leader having a bunch of titles.

The League tournaments are run like talent shows.

But the public loves this style.

"Big bro's here."

In the backstage rest area, Marie suddenly said while sitting next to Sun Wuming.

They saw a man with waist-length hair and a visual kei style coming from the other player entrance.

Soon, Sai and Piers stood facing each other.

"Turtle School disciple Sai, here to learn."

Sai said with a strong voice.

Across from her, Piers paused with his sleepy expression, then responded after about two seconds:

"Oh~ I remember now, you seem to have taken that muscular man as your master, hmm... let me see just how much stronger you've become."

After this brief exchange, both turned and walked to the command platforms on opposite edges of the battlefield.

"Who will win?"

In the backstage waiting room, Raihan put one hand on his hip and asked the gym leaders.

Grass-type Gym Leader Milo: "Piers."

Fire-type Gym Leader Kabu: "Piers."

Rock-type Gym Leader Gordie: "Piers."

This was natural - while reaching Elite Four candidate level before age eighteen made Sai.

While she couldn't be called a "genius," she was certainly exceptional.

But she still wasn't a match for Piers.

"Sai."

However at this moment, a voice spoke up in opposition to everyone else.

The male gym leaders turned their heads to look - it was Leon.

Then, they saw Leon slowly walk to the center of the group and smile as he said:

"I've personally witnessed the hellish training Sai has gone through under that man's guidance this past year. Let's see just what level that man has trained Sai to."

...

...

"Would both sides please send out their first Pokémon."

The referee announced while standing on an Aegislash.

"I'm counting on you! Hawlucha!"

"The opening number goes to you, Toxtricity!"

Sai sent out Hawlucha with its Fighting+Flying typing.

While Piers, the Dark-type Gym Leader, first sent out Toxtricity with its Poison+Electric typing.

He probably wanted to test Sai's abilities first?

The type matchup slightly favored Piers.

While many high-level trainers prefer to raise Pokémon of a single type, since this makes training and development more efficient.

But it's not unusual to have a Pokémon of a different type on the team.

To avoid type disadvantages.

Just like Fighting Elite Four Bea, who mixed a Mega Steelix into her group of Fighting-types.

This was to counter Flying-types that Fighting-types are weak against.

And with its Poison-typing, Toxtricity also has good resistance against Fighting-types that Dark-types are weak to.

"Let's start with the first song!"

Piers took out a microphone stand from behind him, put his mouth to the mic, his previously lethargic appearance becoming energetic as he shouted:

"Toxtricity! Thunderbolt!"

As Toxtricity strummed the scale-like strings on its chest, letting out a rock music-like fierce roar.

Violent lightning surged from behind, transforming into countless beams of electricity striking toward the opposing Hawlucha.

"So slow."

Sai said softly with half-lidded eyes.

The next moment, Hawlucha swung its wings under its arms like waving a cape.

Its small and delicate body moved nimbly across the field.

Like a martial arts novel character using the "Light Body Technique," each time avoiding Toxtricity's attacks just before the Thunderbolt would strike its vital points.

"What nimble dodging movements!"

In the Kalos region, Korrina, who was watching the battle livestream during a filming break, exclaimed in shock.

She also had a Hawlucha, but admitted she couldn't achieve this level with hers.

While Hawlucha used observation haki to dodge, it gradually approached the opposing Toxtricity.

"It's certainly not the same level as last year, in that case..."

Piers shook his microphone and pointed as he commanded:

"Boomburst!"

Toxtricity cupped its hands in front of its chest, then suddenly opened its mouth the next instant.

Waaaaaah!!!

The live audience all immediately covered their ears when they heard this cry.

It felt like their eardrums were about to burst!

Boomburst, a sound-based move that can attack in a full 360-degree range in front.

"Go, Hawlucha."

Sai suddenly raised her fist and shouted:

"Flying Knee Strike!"

Hawlucha leaped up, swung its short legs in mid-air, then curved slightly, unleashing an attack of incredible power as it dove down toward Toxtricity from above.

Flying Knee Strike VS Boomburst!

This was a head-on collision of power versus power.

After about three seconds of deadlock.

Hawlucha's eyes suddenly turned fierce.

A trace of smoke seemed to emanate from its curved right knee.

Across from them, Piers's expression changed slightly.

Then, Hawlucha's Flying Knee Strike broke through Boomburst's obstruction, striking Toxtricity hard in the face.

Toxtricity was immediately knocked down.

But thanks to Poison-type's good resistance to Fighting moves, one hit wasn't enough to take Toxtricity out of the fight.

"Just now, what was that?"

Piers furrowed his brows.

He was certain his eyes hadn't deceived him.

In that instant just now, smoke had definitely come from Hawlucha's knee.

In the rest area, Sun Wuming saw this and smiled slightly as he commented:

"That girl Sai, she can already use Haki coating."

"Letting it get too close seems dangerous, in that case..."

Piers pondered silently, then decided:

"Sludge Bomb!"

Hearing its trainer's command, Toxtricity crouched on all fours, its deep purple skin beginning to secrete and release large amounts of poison, rapidly gathering into a huge poison ball on its back.

"Wah!"

Toxtricity let out a roar, and the Sludge Bomb flew toward Hawlucha like it had been fired from a cannon.

"Use Karate Chop."

Sai raised her right leg high, then made a chopping motion with her hand.

Hawlucha spread both arms, its palms glowing with bright light as it flew toward the incoming Sludge Bomb, apparently planning to chop the Sludge Bomb apart directly with its hands.

However, just as Hawlucha swung its hands, everyone clearly saw those glowing chopping hands instantly turn completely black.

Splat!

In the next instant, the Sludge Bomb was cleanly split in two.

Looking again, Hawlucha had already dive-bombed to directly above Toxtricity.

"Go!"

Sai shouted while throwing a punch.

Bang!!!

Hawlucha's karate chop struck Toxtricity's head.

Toxtricity's jaw slammed heavily into the ground, producing a deep thud.

After a long while, it still couldn't get up.

"T-Toxtricity is unable to battle, Hawlucha wins."

The referee rode over on Aegislash, announced with a trembling voice after checking Toxtricity's condition.

The whole venue immediately erupted in an uproar.

Who could have imagined that Sai, an Elite Four candidate, would take the first win against Elite Four-level Piers.

Moreover, what was that black energy covering Hawlucha's claws just now?

— — —

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