"Roar!" The Salamence became a streak of white light as it hurtled towards the Legiana.
Bang! The Legiana flapped its wings and instantly crashed towards the Salamence. Sky Attack!With a 100% speed boost, the Legiana was now unbelievably fast.
RUMBLE!
Just as they were about to collide, the Legiana made a sharp turn, dodging the Salamence's Dragon Rush. The Legiana was not a reckless brute like a Deviljho; it was a flying wyvern known for its flexibility and skill. It would not trade blows unless the enemy was significantly weaker.
The moment it dodged, the Legiana flapped its wings again, and a wave of frost shot out, striking the Salamence. This was its White Frost skill. Salamence was four times weak to Ice; the attack was a guaranteed one-hit knockout.
"Roar!" sensing the danger, the Salamence instantly stopped its Dragon Rush and used Protect. The translucent barrier appeared just in time to block the frost.
But the Legiana's next move had already arrived. It had somehow flown directly above the Salamence's head.
Flying Pounce!
The moment the Protect barrier vanished, the Legiana's huge claws shot out.
CLICK!
The Salamence's wings were instantly torn off. Blood sprayed across the ice.
"What a murderous Pokémon!" the audience thought, a collective chill running down their spines. Normal Pokémon were not this brutal.
"Is this really a Pokémon?" Professor Oak frowned. He was a Pokémon Doctor, and he could see more than others. From the Legiana's practiced movements, he could tell it had done this kind of thing not tens of thousands of times, but hundreds of thousands. This was a true predator. It ate meat. It did not look like a Pokémon at all.
"Roar!" The Salamence let out a mournful cry and fell towards the ground. But the Legiana was faster. It caught up with the falling dragon and prepared to strike again.
"Come back, Salamence!" Raihan quickly recalled his Pokémon, saving it from further injury.
"Phew!" Raihan gritted his teeth. He hadn't expected the Legiana to be so fast and flexible. "Your Legiana... it's too ruthless," he said, his face contorted with barely suppressed anger.
"Raihan, this is a battle, not a playdate," Zhang replied calmly. "Real battles are far more brutal than this. When you face bad people, do you think they will show you mercy if you ask them not to kill you?"
"You..." Raihan didn't know how to refute him. Zhang was right.
"Raihan, throw in the towel," Zhang said. "Your heart is in disarray. You are no longer fit to fight."
Raihan looked at the severed wings on the battlefield and hesitated. Then, he raised his hand. "I... I admit defeat." The moment he said the words, he seemed to shrink, as if all the strength had been drained from his body.
"Raihan has forfeited! The winner is Zhang Tian!" Iris announced. "Congratulations to Zhang Tian for entering the Round of 16!"
"Did you see that? Your 'dragon genius' got clean swept!"
"Hahaha, 6666!"
"Zhang Tian is the man! He actually swept his opponent!"
"I feel like he's as strong as the veteran Elite Four members!"
The Great Xia netizens in the live chat were ecstatic. The foreign fans, on the other hand, went silent. They had just been slapped in the face, and now they didn't dare to show themselves.
"Professor Oak," the host Xiaolan said, "what did you think of the battle?"
"They are both excellent young men," Professor Oak replied. "But compared to Zhang Tian, Raihan is a little more immature and has less combat experience. I observed that Zhang Tian predicted Raihan's movements many times. His battle experience is clearly richer."
"Professor Oak, what is your evaluation of Zhang Tian as a player?" Xiaolan asked. "How does he compare to the previous Rookie Kings?"
"I can't say," Professor Oak shook his head.
"What? Even you can't see it? Are you kidding?" Xiaolan was incredulous.
"I'm not kidding," the Professor said seriously, his eyes fixed on Zhang's departing figure on the screen. Zhang's back was very similar to that of another young man he knew. The same air of invincibility, the same pursuit of victory, the same confidence.
Is this boy like Red? A 'Battle Person'? he wondered. It would make sense. Only a Battle Person could make such a vicious and brutal monster submit to him. From the Legiana's performance, he could tell it was a truly wild and cruel beast. It was a man-eater. Why would such a creature obey anyone? But it would make sense if Zhang were a "Battle Person," a rare individual with an innate, supernatural talent for Pokémon battles. Even legendary Pokémon would obey them.
"He is definitely stronger than the previous champions," Professor Oak said. "What I mean by 'I can't see' is that I can't see his true strength. He wasn't fighting seriously at all. His commands were casual. Raihan didn't put any pressure on him. There was no trace of fighting spirit in Zhang's eyes. That is the proof."
"So, Professor, what is your final evaluation of him?" Xiaolan pressed.
Professor Oak took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and said with the utmost gravity: "A legend."
"What!?"
"Zhang Tian will definitely become a legend in the future! A true legend! His potential is no less than that of Red!"
Xiaolan was stunned. A legend? In this world, that word referred to only one person: Red, the legendary trainer. Red had become the champion of his region one year after his debut. Soon after, he became the world champion. He single-handedly crushed Team Rocket. He battled at the top of the Battle Tower and became the first person in the world to subdue a first-tier legendary god. He rode Rayquaza into outer space to fight Deoxys. In the end, having no one left to fight, he retired to Mt. Silver.
And now, Professor Oak was saying that Zhang Tian would become the same kind of champion-kicking, god-punching monster. She couldn't believe it. "Professor Oak, are you serious?" she asked, swallowing hard.
"I am," he nodded.
The moment he nodded, the entire world was shocked into silence.
"A legend!" Bella's eyes were full of a fanatical fighting intent as she watched the TV. She clenched her fists. "Zhang Tian, don't make me wait too long!"
"Crazy girl," the silver-haired woman next to her said, shaking her head. But then she too thought of the videos of Red and Rayquaza's battle. A trace of fear flashed in her eyes. "Can this little boy really become that kind of terrifying existence?" she whispered.
"Not bad, not bad at all! God bless the Great Xia!" Gym Leader Shilong laughed, overjoyed. When Zhang became a legend, he would be a pillar of the nation, ensuring its prosperity for hundreds of years. "It seems I'll have a real fight with this little guy soon. How exciting."
"A legend? The next generation is truly terrifying," Champion Gu Xinghe said, putting down his phone and lying back on his Articuno. "I hope he challenges me soon. I could use a good rest."
If Zhang Tian had been famous before, now he was a household name across the globe.
"Zhang Tian! Zhang Tian!" Bea ran up to him, her face flushed with excitement.
"What's wrong? Did you win the lottery?" he asked, confused.
"It's you! It's you!" she shouted.
"Let me say it," Cynthia said, stepping forward. Her eyes were full of admiration. He is worthy of being the man I have my eye on. "Just now, Professor Oak said that you will definitely become a legend in the future, as powerful as the legendary trainer, Red."
"So, how does it feel to know you're going to be a legend?" Bea asked, her eyes sparkling.
"I don't feel anything," Zhang shrugged. "I never needed the approval of others. It doesn't matter what he says. I always believed I could be the best in the world. I don't need anyone else's approval." His tone was calm, but filled with the absolute confidence of a Chosen One.
"Worthy of you. So confident," Cynthia said, her eyes shining.
"Zhang Tian, no wonder Professor Oak said you could become a legend," Bea sighed. "If you had gotten complacent from his evaluation, I would have thought you couldn't."
"Bea, it's time for your match," Zhang said, hearing her name called.
"I'm going!" she said, striding away.
Nessa, Zhang thought, recognizing Bea's opponent. Nessa, the Water-type Gym Leader from Galar, a black-skinned beauty with a huge fan following.
An hour later, the Round of 32 was over. After a half-hour break, the Round of 16 began.
"The Round of 16 will now begin! Please welcome to the stage, Zhang Tian and Valerie!" Iris announced.
A girl in a pink dress, with an enchanting, sweet look, walked onto the field. It was Valerie, the Fairy-type Gym Leader from Kalos.
"Zhang Tian, I didn't expect my opponent to be you, the future legend," she smiled. "It truly is an honor."
"You're welcome," he replied calmly. "Legend or not, that's for the future. There's no need to talk about honor. You make me sound like some big shot."
"So modest," she smiled. "But whether you become a legend in the future or not, this battle will be my victory. You are not my opponent today."
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