ch-29

"If this is all you've got, then it ends here!" Renjiro's calm yet resolute voice echoed across the arena.

"Beedrill, use Twineedle — interrupt Swellow's charge!" he commanded.

Swellow, wings spread wide, had been making a sharp dive toward Beedrill. The moment Renjiro gave the order, Beedrill's wings buzzed louder, the sound vibrating through the air like an ominous drum. With agility and precision, Beedrill shifted its body, tilting ever so slightly to evade Swellow's trajectory. As the two Pokémon nearly brushed past each other, Beedrill's twin stingers glowed menacingly, striking upward towards Swellow's exposed abdomen.

"Not good! Swellow, Quick Guard, now!" Ba Xiaoqin's voice rang out in alarm, her expression tight with tension.

She had realized too late — she should've focused on slowing Beedrill down instead of charging headfirst again. It was a critical misstep, one that could cost her the match.

"Hoothoot!" Swellow cried, its body shimmering with a sudden burst of blue energy as a protective barrier flared around it. The translucent shield deflected Beedrill's Twineedle at the last instant, sparks flying where the stingers met the barrier.

The audience gasped collectively.

> [What a close call! That Beedrill almost had Swellow right there!]

[Yeah, that Quick Guard saved it — that was a clutch defense.]

[Still, the fact that this kid's Beedrill could force a pro trainer to rely on Quick Guard twice already... incredible!]

Ba Xiaoqin exhaled deeply, relief washing over her. The defensive maneuver had worked. Losing to an unrated student would've been humiliating — especially in front of this crowd.

But Renjiro wasn't finished. His sharp eyes stayed locked on Swellow, reading its every move.

"It's not over yet! Beedrill, Quick Attack, close the gap!"

Without hesitation, Beedrill shot forward, becoming a blur of motion, its speed enhanced by the Quick Attack. In mere seconds, it was right on Swellow's tail.

Ba Xiaoqin clenched her fists. Her mind raced, but she wasn't panicked. She was, after all, a professional.

"You're still too green! Let me show you what real battle experience looks like!"

She pointed at Beedrill and shouted, "Swellow, Aerial Ace, now!"

Swellow, sensing the opportunity, let out a fierce cry. Its body twisted midair in an elegant arc, wings slicing the air as it spun back toward Beedrill. The maneuver was swift and precise — there was no time for Beedrill to evade. The distance was too small. Victory was within Ba Xiaoqin's grasp.

Or so she thought.

Renjiro smirked, his plan unfolding exactly as intended.

"You think I don't see that? Beedrill, show her what you can do. Use Aerial Ace!"

Ba Xiaoqin's face froze. "W-What?!"

It sounded impossible. Beedrill using Aerial Ace? A Flying-type move from a Bug/Poison-type Pokémon? That had to be a mistake — or a slip of the tongue. But Renjiro's expression told her otherwise.

In a stunning display, Beedrill mirrored Swellow's motion, curving through the air in a perfect arc, its form glowing with the familiar energy of Aerial Ace. The two Pokémon became twin comets on a collision course, but Beedrill was faster, more precise, and unrelenting.

The crowd erupted in disbelief.

> [Beedrill?! Using Aerial Ace?! This is insane!]

[I've never seen anything like this — is this even possible?]

[That kid's Beedrill must be a monster in disguise.]

Up in the observation deck, even Gan Fengyu, the elite Flying-type trainer who had been watching with idle amusement, was now on his feet, eyes wide in shock. He stared at Beedrill, watching its movement. The form was raw, not polished, but unmistakably Aerial Ace. It was as if the Beedrill had just learned the move — on the spot.

"Quick Guard, Swellow!" Ba Xiaoqin yelled, desperation creeping into her voice.

But Renjiro was ready. "Too late! Beedrill, finish it!"

Beedrill's speed, already formidable, was amplified by Aerial Ace's burst of acceleration. It struck Swellow head-on before the Quick Guard barrier could fully manifest. There was no time for Swellow to react. The blow landed squarely, sending Swellow spiraling out of control.

"Guuh!" Swellow cried, its form dipping dangerously as it struggled to stay airborne.

"Now, Beedrill — Twineedle, end this!"

Ba Xiaoqin clenched her teeth. "Swellow, one more Quick Guard, please!"

Swellow tried, greenish-blue energy beginning to form again. But the move faltered, the protective barrier flickering weakly — then shattering like glass before it could stabilize.

For protective moves like Quick Guard, repeated use increased the chance of failure, and luck was no longer on Ba Xiaoqin's side.

Beedrill's twin stingers struck true, landing a decisive hit.

Swellow let out a final, weakened cry and plummeted to the ground, its wings limp, unable to continue the fight.

The hall fell silent for a moment, stunned by the unexpected result — and then erupted into cheers and applause.

> [He did it! He actually beat a professional trainer!]

[That Beedrill is incredible. I've never seen a Bug-type fight like that.]

[This is the most exciting match I've seen here in years!]

On the sidelines, trainers and spectators alike began to murmur, recognizing that Renjiro wasn't just some lucky amateur. He was a prodigy in the making, and his Beedrill was extraordinary.

A system notification rang out in Renjiro's mind:

Ding! Your Beedrill defeated the level 31 Swellow and gained 301 experience points!

You have obtained a combat value of 47. Current combat value: 670.

Renjiro walked toward Ba Xiaoqin, his face calm, his posture steady. There was no need to gloat. The battle had spoken for itself.

"You've lost," Renjiro said simply.

Ba Xiaoqin stared at the ground, legs giving out beneath her. She slumped to her knees, the weight of the defeat crashing over her.

"I... lost," she whispered, disbelief clouding her features. "To an unrated high school student... and I couldn't land a single hit..."

For a professional trainer like Ba Xiaoqin, the loss was crushing. It wasn't just about pride. It was a realization that someone she had underestimated had outclassed her at every turn — with a Pokémon she thought would be easy to beat.

But Renjiro offered no further words. He simply turned back, giving Beedrill a nod of quiet approval. The Bug-type Pokémon buzzed softly, its wings humming with satisfaction. The bond between trainer and Pokémon had deepened further through this battle.

As the crowd continued to cheer, Gan Fengyu watched thoughtfully. His earlier amusement was gone, replaced with genuine respect — and curiosity.

> "That kid... He's got talent. And that Beedrill... It's no ordinary Pokémon. I'll be keeping an eye on this one."

And so, Renjiro's name began to spread within the Battle Tower. No longer just an unknown student, but a rising star with a Beedrill that defied expectations.

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