Chapter 207: First Encounter with the Main Player Level
The second match of the duel was Arthur and another trainee from the youth camp as a pair, facing off against Luna and Bella.
Although this matchup seemed very unfair, with a completely random pairing, all combinations would eventually be met. Complaining was useless.
Even after having seen the strength of Arthur's Greninja, Bella still didn't think she would lose.
However, before the match, she noticed that Luna's attention still hadn't returned.
This was not at all like her usual prim and proper best friend.
"What are you thinking about? The match is about to start," she reminded her.
Luna broke into a smile, and for once, at such an important moment before a match, she took the initiative to chat with Bella about something unrelated.
"I was thinking, the Otter Club probably has no idea what they missed out on."
If she hadn't started watching Arthur's Golden Autumn Cup amateur matches with Bella since last October, she would also find it hard to believe now that this young man had achieved all this in such a short period of time.
What was even more terrifying was—he really didn't rely on a coach!
When she had heard some rumors previously, Luna had thought they were exaggerations.
Only now was the truth happening right before her eyes.
Bella, at the side, was stunned for a moment, then suddenly came out with a completely random sentence, "So you like underage little shotas too?"
Luna was dumbfounded for a second before she reacted, then fiercely rapped her partner on the head.
"Is your brain filled with nothing but hugging powerful thighs and little shotas?!!"
She was clearly talking about something serious! She was witnessing the rise of a new professional star who could potentially stun the entire Alliance!
Bella muttered under her breath, "No, it's not."
"Hmm?"
"It has to be a handsome shota for me to like him. I'm very picky."
"..."
I was so stupid to expect this partner of mine to have a brain... At this moment, Luna couldn't help but facepalm.
"Sigh, let's just seriously think about how to play this round..."
"Oh, okay, I'll listen to you, my powerful thigh~"
At the same time, on the other side, Arthur was also discussing this round's tactics with his teammate.
This teammate had quite a bit of fate with him: it was none other than the trainer of the Gallade he had challenged when competing for a seeded player spot in the youth training camp, named Elijah.
At that time, before the graduation tournament began, Elijah was only ranked fourth in the youth training camp, not in the top three.
However, just as Arthur, who had only been ranked seventh before the tournament, debuted in the "C position" after two rounds of graduation matches, Elijah, whose solo rank hadn't made the top three, also performed exceptionally well in the subsequent doubles graduation tournament. He successfully leaped up in the rankings and earned the opportunity to graduate.
Now, he stood together with Arthur on the stage for the team's tryouts.
"I never thought we'd become teammates fighting side by side this time. What Pokémon are you using for this match? Greninja or Mismagius?"
Arthur thought for a moment and said, "Let's go with Greninja."
"Alright, I'll still use Gallade. Let's do our best."
Elijah's voice sounded a bit heavy.
Because, to be honest, he had little confidence in this match.
This was true even after having seen Arthur's great power in the previous match.
Because this time, their opponents were a proper, professional-grade doubles pair.
And what was even more terrifying was: Luna's main Pokémon, Kabutops and Empoleon, were both "Main player level"!
This was also why Bella cried and clamored to hug Luna's powerful thigh every day.
If it weren't for the fact that Luna's Pokémon team had a severe quality gap, with her other Pokémon unable to keep up with her two mains, she could have actually become a main player for the 1v1 "pick 3 out of 6" matches long ago.
The main players of ordinary teams didn't have every Pokémon at the main player level; usually, only one or two mains were at that level, while the rest were still at the professional level.
If only Luna's other Pokémon weren't so weak, she would be a mainstay right now, no question.
In reality, Luna was also under a lot of pressure.
Because she was several years older than Bella and had already been playing on the 2v2 scene for five years. If she couldn't advance to a main player position soon, she would quickly face the deadline for retirement.
To some extent, her situation was similar to Asher's—both were approaching the age of thirty and were stuck at the final hurdle before becoming a main player.
If they could cross it, their professional careers could continue. If not, they could only retire quietly.
Of course, her current results, strength, and popularity were all much stronger than Asher's, so for now, the pressure didn't seem as great as his.
However, when she took the stage, the pressure on Arthur and Elijah's side was not small at all!
In this match, Bella used Luxray, and Luna used Empoleon.
As soon as the match started, the two of them immediately had a clear division of labor—
"Luxray, accelerate, use Wild Charge!"
"Empoleon, fall back, Swords Dance!"
Luxray charged forward to apply pressure, while Empoleon retreated to apply buffs.
Their coordination was extremely skilled.
We have to stop that penguin!! In an instant, Arthur and Elijah reached a consensus.
The main player-level Empoleon was already the strongest on the field. If it was allowed to get its buffs up, it would truly be one-slashing the "little children."
"Greninja, Double Team!"
"Gallade, Teleport over there!"
Greninja and Gallade had the same combat characteristics; Arthur had chosen to challenge him back then precisely because their styles were mirror images.
At this moment, both Pokémon charged forward together, their speed like the wind and lightning!
Greninja created a large number of clones, trying to confuse Luxray so it couldn't find the main body for a moment.
Gallade, after rushing forward a certain distance, used "Teleport," instantly crossing the terrain to appear in front of Empoleon.
However, at this moment, Luna gave no further instructions.
The humanoid Gallade leaped up and spun, delivering a roundhouse kick towards Empoleon, but the opponent didn't even pay it any mind, continuing to twist its waist and dance on the spot.
This attack didn't have enough damage to force Empoleon to interrupt "Swords Dance."
Elijah was startled but hadn't panicked yet.
The cooldown period of "Teleport" was related to the distance teleported. He had intentionally had Gallade rush forward a bit, only teleporting when it was about to be intercepted by Luxray. The distance was very short, so the cooldown was very fast!
At the same time, Luxray, surrounded by electricity, smashed through all the clones like a rampaging chariot, forcefully finding Greninja's main body in the most violent way possible.
For a moment, Greninja was tied up by Luxray and couldn't provide support.
Elijah assessed the situation and instantly understood that he could only rely on himself!
"Gallade, use Brick Break!"
The short cooldown period ended, and he immediately unleashed a skill!
He was confident that at this moment, only his Gallade on the field had its skill ready again!
"Wild Charge" was an Electric-type core move on the same level as "Thunderbolt." Its power was second only to an ultimate move, so its cooldown was bound to not be that fast.
Luxray didn't have time to stop him.
Still not giving up on "Swords Dance"?
Fighting-type is super effective against Steel-type!
Gallade's hand chopped down like a blade.
The result—
With a loud "smack"!
All the spectators nearby widened their eyes!
Empoleon, while keeping its body twisting in a dance, managed to block this hand-chop by crossing its wings above its head, not retreating a single step.
Although its body was split with wounds as if pierced by sword energy from the skill's power, it did not retreat!
Not retreating meant—
The skill wasn't interrupted!
Soon, it stopped twisting.
"Swords Dance" was complete!
"Use Steel Wing!"
Empoleon counterattacked with a slash of its wing, and the stunning blade light completely tore open Gallade's chest to its abdomen!
As if to instruct scornfully: Little brother, this is how you use a slashing skill!
"Ah, this…"
At this moment, the audience couldn't help but sigh.
They had already realized: this round would probably be over very quickly.
(End of Chapter)
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