Chapter 232: Lin Yu vs. Feng Tian

After the battle ended, Chuxing silently nodded, returned his Scizor to its Pokéball, and turned away, heading toward the area the referee had just pointed out.

As he exited, the crowd finally snapped out of the tension from the final clash, erupting into a wave of reactions.

"That Imu guy is incredible. I mean, Chuxing had so many powerful moves and still lost."

"Right? But his Skuntank really is something else. It dodged all those attacks so effortlessly!"

"Yeah, looks like it's been trained really well—not just strong, but fast, too."

"You're all missing the real point—it's the Skuntank's calm composure that's most impressive. That was the key."

"Exactly! Unlike Scizor, who let emotions take over way too easily."

While the spectators chatted, the contestants in the beginner tier section grew visibly more serious. With a formidable opponent like Imu rising through the ranks, none of them dared to take the competition lightly anymore.

Meanwhile, over in Ryo's group, they were reacting to the outcome as well. Konan glanced at Ryo and commented, "Boss, looks like you were right. That ninja named Imu really did take the win."

Nagato nodded in agreement. "Whether it's the trainer's mindset or the Pokémon's discipline, Imu was clearly a tier above Chuxing."

Ryo gave a slight nod. "That's why Pokémon battles aren't as simple as having better stats or more moves. Mentality, attitude toward the fight, even emotional control—all of it factors into victory."

He then turned his gaze to Eliza. "What do you think? How does this match compare to what you expected from a real Pokémon battle?"

Eliza sighed, clearly disappointed. "Honestly? It's a little underwhelming. We've passed down so much knowledge about strategy and the fundamentals of battle… yet there are still trainers out there who don't even seem to understand the basics."

She paused, then offered a more tempered judgment. "That said, Imu's performance was decent. Considering how new Pokémon are in this world, it's not bad progress."

In a private box not far from the arena, Tsunade and the others watched on with calm expressions. While they didn't know as much about Pokémon as Eliza or Ryo, they understood combat. From the very start, it had been clear to them that Chuxing was going to lose, and now that the battle had concluded, it felt only natural.

Back in the center of the battlefield, the black smoke that had filled the arena during the match quickly dissipated. Skuntank stood once again in full view of the crowd, not celebrating its win but still alert, eyes scanning the field warily.

"Skuntank, come back for now," Imu said, walking toward the center while retrieving his partner.

Just then, Eliza reappeared on the battlefield with a bright smile. She turned to the audience and announced, "That was a truly exhilarating match. Both sides fought well. Let's give a round of applause to the winner of the first battle—Imu! We hope he continues his strong performance in future rounds."

Applause rang out from all corners of the arena. Imu gave Eliza a grateful nod.

Eliza didn't waste time. "As the victor, Imu will now draw the names of the next competitors."

A staff member appeared again, this time holding a single box labeled with the character for "Middle," indicating the intermediate group.

Imu approached without hesitation, pulled two slips of paper from the box, and handed them to Eliza.

"Thank you, Mr. Imu. Now let's see who will be facing off in the next match."

She opened the slips and read aloud, "Up next, we have two contestants from the intermediate group: Lin Yu vs. Feng Tian."

After that, Eliza exited the battlefield again. The two chosen contestants stood from the waiting area, made their way to the center, and sent out their Pokémon.

Time flew, and match after match played out, bringing the event to the final battle of the day.

As the latest winner drew two more names, Eliza unfolded the new slips with a smile. "And now for today's final match—our third in the advanced group—we have Lin Yu versus Feng Tian!"

The moment the names were announced, chatter exploded through the audience.

"Whoa, Lin Yu and Feng Tian this early? I didn't think we'd get this matchup today!"

"No kidding—these two are among the strongest of the regular trainers. And to see them face off on Day One? That's wild."

"This is going to be the best match of the day, no doubt."

"It's just a shame they're facing each other in the first round. Either of them could've advanced easily."

Eliza, overhearing the buzz, simply shook her head and said, "Now let's welcome our final two contenders of the day."

As she stepped off the field, Lin Yu and Feng Tian stood, exchanged nods and a friendly smile, then made their way into the arena.

...

Ryo's eyes lit up the moment he saw them. "Didn't expect those two to meet so soon. This should be fun."

"Fun?" Eliza raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean?"

Ryo simply shook his head. "Nothing. Just watch. This match should be intense."

Eliza narrowed her eyes but didn't press further. Her gaze returned to the field, now occupied by Lin Yu and Feng Tian.

She recognized Feng Tian—one of the few who had seriously studied Pokémon strategy. But Lin Yu? She didn't recall seeing him before. Still, Ryo's reaction alone told her this guy wasn't ordinary.

Her expression sharpened with curiosity. She was eager to see just how explosive this final match would be.

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