CHAPTER 121
121 Runner-Up Competition! Against Petalburg University Amateur Team
Qin Yun's faint smile, falling into the eyes of the Star Troopers, was like that of a demon in human form.
"Captain, it seems we were celebrating too soon."
"Who could have guessed that Lurantis' melee combat would be this overwhelming? It completely overturned every tactic we prepared in advance!"
They had no choice but to accept reality. After yesterday's matches, they had meticulously analyzed video footage of all the competing teams, paying special attention to the four non-seeded teams. Their strategic breakdown covered every possible scenario, particularly focusing on countering Qin Yun's team.
Their calculations suggested that, even allowing for unexpected developments, they had over a 90% chance of securing victory.
Yet, reality had proven otherwise.
The changes in the battle had been far too drastic—so much so that their planned counters had fallen apart before they could even be executed.
"Looks like our run stops here in the top eight. Still, at least we're walking away with 200,000 in prize money."
That amount was nothing to scoff at. A few celebratory feasts, some extra savings, and maybe even upgrading their equipment—it was more than enough to justify their efforts.
For many strong yet unranked teams, prize money from tournaments like these helped cover training expenses or even supplemented their daily lives. It was a key part of the competitive Pokémon circuit, where traveling from region to region for matches could be costly.
"Well, no point brooding over it."
The team members accepted the loss with relative ease. They had fought hard, and even reaching the top eight was an achievement worth acknowledging.
After all, the jump from eighth to fourth place only increased the prize pool to 300,000—an extra 100,000 wasn't exactly a life-changing sum.
They had already made peace with their fate, and after a few half-hearted attempts to push back, they surrendered.
To the audience, Qin Yun's victory came as an unexpected surprise. Most had assumed his team lacked the firepower to advance further.
"In the third match, the winning team is Yongji University!"
A small but confident smile played on Qin Yun's lips. They were now one step closer to the championship.
As the crowd erupted in cheers, Qin Yun and his team stepped off the battle stage, their excitement palpable.
Even Lin Rouyu couldn't hide her satisfaction. Making it to the semi-finals was a remarkable feat, exceeding the expectations of many.
With such a result, she could confidently report back to the university.
"Let's see how tomorrow's match unfolds. If we end up facing one of the top two teams, we might conserve energy and focus on securing third place instead."
While a top-three finish would be incredible, Lin Rouyu was well aware of the near-insurmountable challenge posed by the top two seeded teams. A third-place finish would also allow her to lobby for better resources and training support for Qin Yun's squad.
"Understood."
The team was content. Reaching the semi-finals was already an overachievement, and a third-place finish would be beyond expectations.
As for winning the whole tournament?
That seemed out of reach.
The dominant force in the competition was Haxorus—a Pokémon with monstrous attack power. Even Qin Yun's Lurantis, despite its resilience, would struggle against an opponent of that caliber.
At least, that was what the others believed.
Douzi, however, stole a glance at Qin Yun. She knew his sights were set on nothing less than the championship.
"We'll have a real reason to celebrate tomorrow night."
Ma Tao grinned. He knew that, under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have made it this far in the tournament.
This competition was a golden opportunity for him. Not only had it expanded his knowledge and confidence, but it also meant increased attention from the school. If their performance continued, the university would likely invest in their training, significantly boosting his chances of reaching the professional circuit.
---
Four Into Two: Haxorus Unleashes Its Power
The semi-finals had begun.
Haxorus stood at the center of the battlefield, its gleaming tusks reflecting the stadium lights. Without hesitation, it activated Swords Dance, sharpening its attack before launching directly into Outrage.
Outrage was an infamous move—an uncontrollable, relentless assault with an immense base power of 120.
Unlike most high-damage moves, which had drawbacks such as stat reductions (Close Combat lowering defenses, Leaf Storm reducing special attack), Outrage sacrificed control instead.
Once it began, the user would enter a berserk state, mindlessly attacking any opponent in its path until the effect wore off—leaving the Pokémon confused.
But in a match like this, the confusion penalty hardly mattered. The sheer force of Outrage was enough to determine the outcome.
"Dodge it! Move, move!"
The audience roared in excitement. Watching a high-stakes battle like this was exhilarating, especially with a Pokémon as ferocious as Haxorus dominating the field.
"The captain never changes. The moment he senses weakness in an opponent, he just steamrolls through the entire team."
"Yeah, we're basically just spectators at this point."
His teammates could only watch helplessly. Their captain had a habit of single-handedly dismantling weaker teams, leaving them with little to do.
"This championship is practically guaranteed."
"Yeah, as long as he doesn't run into the main Petalburg University team. That's the only matchup where he'd struggle."
"Agreed. Those guys are on another level entirely."
The moment Petalburg University's varsity team was mentioned, their expressions darkened.
Those competitors were terrifying—on a completely different tier from amateur teams.
Their captain, in particular, was a force of nature, wielding a fully professional-level Pokémon.
Just the thought of facing them was nerve-wracking.
---
Preparing for Petalburg's Amateur Team
"Boss, our next opponent is Petalburg's amateur team. How should we approach the battle?"
Unlike the varsity squad, Petalburg's amateur team was strong but not unbeatable. The real challenge would come later.
"Just watch and learn."
Qin Yun shrugged. He didn't expect Ma Tao or the others to be of much use in this matchup.
From an outsider's perspective, Petalburg's amateur team seemed to rely on individual strength. But Qin Yun saw something deeper—their ability to disrupt and break apart enemy formations.
No matter how an opponent tried to maintain structure, Petalburg's team always found ways to exploit weaknesses and force battles into chaotic, unpredictable skirmishes.
"Fine, we'll conserve our energy for the afternoon match."
Ma Tao wasn't about to argue. He trusted Qin Yun's judgment.
Qin Yun, meanwhile, was contemplating his own lineup.
"Their team composition is varied—there's no single Pokémon that can avoid their attacks completely."
"In that case… I'll go with Heracross."
His eyes flashed with determination.
Lurantis was an all-rounder with immense staying power, but in a prolonged match like this, Heracross had the greater advantage.
Particularly now that it could repeatedly enter Saiyan Mode, a state akin to Moxie, allowing it to snowball attack power with each victory.
"The only problem is endurance."
Six consecutive high-intensity battles would take a toll on Heracross. No matter how strong the Pokémon was, maintaining peak performance throughout was no easy feat.
Still, Qin Yun was prepared.
No matter the challenge, he had every intention of fighting for the championship.
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