Time always flew by. Teacher Zhou leaned against his Trevenant, watching the energetic students on the playground. He patted Trevenant with a touch of emotion. "Ah, I remember being as energetic as them when I was in school. You were just a small Phantump back then, remember?"
He checked his phone; it was already 3:50. Teacher Zhou took the whistle from his chest and blew it. "Students, gather!"
The students who were playing on the playground quickly lined up after hearing the whistle. Teacher Zhou nodded with satisfaction when he saw them in formation. "Next, we're going to the gym for our practical combat class. Stay close."
And so, a line of students followed Teacher Zhou, heading towards the gym.
Upon entering the gym, Teacher Zhou stopped and turned to face the students behind him. "Ahem, today is our first practical combat class. We're going to have a challenge: battling opponents that have a type advantage over your Pokémon."
"Huh??" As soon as he said this, everyone questioned him, "Isn't it easy to lose in a type-disadvantage battle?"
Teacher Zhou clapped his hands. "I know you're all new trainers and not very good at type-disadvantage battles, so you need to overcome it."
"Enemies won't avoid fighting you just because your type is disadvantaged. What we need to do is overcome type difficulties to defeat the opponent."
"Next, I will randomly select some of you to battle opponents that are disadvantageous to your Pokémon's type. Please take it seriously. This challenge will last for one week. If you don't pass within a week, you might fail this subject."
Hearing Teacher Zhou say this, the students below quickly abandoned their complacent attitudes and began to take the challenge seriously.
"Alright, the first student to come up is... Wu Qian!" Teacher Zhou looked at the list in his hand and randomly called out a name.
A pale-faced, somewhat roguish-looking boy came forward. Cheng Tian frowned. Why did this kid look so weak?
"Alright, send out your Pokémon." Wu Qian heard this, threw out a Poké Ball, and with a flash of red light, a Geodude appeared on the field.
"Okay, then your opponent is him." After speaking, Teacher Zhou pulled a remote control from his pocket and pressed a button on a strange machine on the other side of the field.
Blue light flickered in front of the machine, projecting a dull Wooper.
"What is this?!" Everyone was surprised. Teacher Zhou explained, "This machine can virtualize Pokémon that counter yours, based on your Pokémon's level and gender. You will battle them."
Hearing Teacher Zhou say this, everyone nodded in understanding. "Alright, the battle begins now."
"Geodude, Rock Polish and Defense Curl!" Hearing this, Geodude's rocky body emitted a grinding sound as it became significantly rounder, greatly increasing its defensive capabilities. "Now, Rollout!" Geodude curled into a ball and rolled across the field towards Wooper.
If the Rollout move can be continuously used, its power will stack, eventually becoming a terrifying move.
The dull Wooper shook its small head. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered over the field, and a light rain began to fall.
Wu Qian felt a bit helpless. If the virtual Pokémon was truly the same level as his, as the teacher said, then his Geodude was level seven, and the opposing Wooper should also be level seven.
But the tricky part was that Wooper, as a Pokémon, would learn the weather-altering move Rain Dance on its own at level four. This move was a huge counter to Geodude.
"Speed up and hit Wooper!" Geodude's speed increased, and it rolled towards Wooper. At this moment, Wooper opened its mouth, and clumps of yellow mud flew out—Mud Shot.
Wooper clearly didn't intend to defeat Geodude with Mud Shot; it just wanted to temporarily slow down Geodude's Rollout. This way, Geodude would continuously lose stamina from the falling rain.
Wu Qian knew that Geodude would constantly lose stamina in the rain, and rolling for such a short time wouldn't be enough to defeat Wooper in one go. So, he had already made up his mind. When Geodude rolled next to Wooper, Wu Qian immediately ordered, "Self-Destruct!"
Self-Destruct, a move that should typically only be learned by Golem, was unexpectedly inherited by Geodude. This was also Wu Qian's trump card to defeat Wooper in one fell swoop. At this moment, Geodude's body erupted with a fierce white light, and a terrifying aura burst forth.
Cheng Tian nodded. In situations where the level isn't high and there's a type disadvantage, it's generally very difficult to win. But using a one-for-one exchange like this is also an option, however... Cheng Tian muttered, "However, you also need to understand the opponent's ability."
Just as Geodude was about to Self-Destruct, the white light erupting from its body extinguished as if it had fizzled out, disappearing completely in an instant.
Geodude was also bewildered at this moment. It was clearly about to Self-Destruct? What was happening now? "Woo..." Wooper quickly spewed out streams of Water Gun from its mouth. The super effective Water Gun, boosted by the rainy weather, instantly rendered Geodude unable to battle.
"What?!" Wu Qian couldn't believe his eyes. He didn't understand what had just happened.
Cheng Tian sighed. This Wooper's ability was Damp. During battle, as long as this Wooper wasn't knocked out, no Pokémon could use Self-Destruct or Explosion-like moves.
"Wu Qian, defeat!" Teacher Zhou was clearly displeased. "During a battle, considering the opponent's various abilities and whether they will affect your moves is a fundamental skill every trainer must have. Wooper has an ability called Damp. If you encounter this ability, you can forget about using Self-Destruct."
"In battle, constantly having your Pokémon use self-damaging moves to win is a big taboo. You should use this move less in the future; using it too much will cause fundamental damage to Geodude."
Listening to Teacher Zhou's reprimand, Wu Qian also realized his shortcomings and mistakes, promised to change, and then left the field.
The remaining students came up one after another, but almost no one could defeat their type-disadvantaged opponent. They all shook their heads as they came down. Even Lin Lin and Bai Yun were no exception.
"Next, Cheng Tian." Hearing his name called, Cheng Tian walked onto the field and threw out Froakie's Poké Ball. A lightning-type Manectric quickly materialized on the field.
Cheng Tian's mind didn't provide the corresponding information panel. "Tsk, is it because it's a virtual Pokémon?" Since there was no panel, he wouldn't know the opponent's information for the battle.
"Froakie, Double Team and run! Suppress with Water Pulse!" Froakie quickly split into four copies, greatly increasing its speed while firing streams of Water Pulse at Manectric.
Cheng Tian didn't blindly let Froakie engage in close combat because he was afraid that Manectric's ability was Static. That's why he had Froakie kite it.
"Roar---!" Manectric let out a long howl, its aura rapidly rising, and its attack power greatly increased. Then, currents of electricity burst from its body, sweeping across the entire field.
"Jump!" Froakie's real body quickly jumped, while the other copies were hit before they could jump, and they instantly vanished.
Froakie gathered a Water Pulse in its hands and hurled it at Manectric. Manectric's mouth also gathered lightning, and an Electric Ball quickly formed, then shot out, clashing with the Water Pulse.
However, the Water Pulse continuously tore through its surroundings, and the Electric Ball couldn't withstand the Water Pulse. Seeing the Water Pulse continue to smash towards it, Manectric quickly lunged to its left, dodging the Water Pulse. At the same time, it used Quick Attack, its body quickly covered in electricity, and charged towards Froakie.
"A virtual Pokémon can even inherit Quick Attack?!" Cheng Tian gritted his teeth. "Froakie, take it with Cut! Try not to make contact with Manectric!" It seems they could only engage in close combat!
Froakie condensed two sharp Water Shurikens in its hands and met the charging Manectric. Manectric's sharp teeth bit into the Water Shurikens, and Froakie strained to hold it back, the two in a stalemate.
The duration of Quick Attack quickly passed, and Manectric's teeth were quickly covered in electricity. After using Thunder Fang, Manectric's strength increased a few points, and Froakie was almost unable to hold on.
"Give him a Water Gun to the head!" Froakie opened its mouth and quickly shot a Water Gun. The close-range Water Gun hit Manectric's head, instantly interrupting its move. However, water conducts electricity, and Manectric and Froakie were directly connected. The electric current from Manectric caused Froakie's body to feel a jolt of paralysis.
It seemed Cheng Tian's judgment was correct; this Manectric indeed had the Static ability, which would paralyze an opponent upon contact in close combat. However, the current conducted by water alone wasn't enough to paralyze Froakie.
Froakie seized the opportunity and severely slashed Manectric on the head with Cut. "Roar!" Manectric cried out in pain, letting out an angry roar. It used Quick Attack again, charging towards Froakie.
"Use Bubble on its eyes!" Froakie ripped two clumps of foam from its neck and threw them, directly hitting Manectric's eyes. The eyes are an important and fragile organ for both humans and Pokémon. This Bubble not only caused damage but also deprived Manectric of its vision, making it unable to determine Froakie's location.
"One last Water Pulse to send it down!" Froakie condensed a Water Pulse and launched it at Manectric. This Water Pulse was significantly larger than before. Cheng Tian looked closely and saw that Water Pulse had actually leveled up!
Water Pulse (Lv4)
After leveling up, the power of Water Pulse significantly increased. The continuously rotating Water-type energy generated terrifying tearing power, leaving huge wounds on Manectric's body. "Roar!" Manectric shrieked, fell to the ground, lost its ability to battle, and finally dissipated into specks of blue light.
"Clap, clap, clap..." Teacher Zhou applauded. "Very good, student Cheng Tian successfully completed a type-disadvantage battle. Let's give him a round of applause!" As he spoke, he silently noted down Cheng Tian's name and appearance.
Everyone applauded. Cheng Tian thanked Teacher Zhou and recalled Froakie.
Teacher Zhou's voice was full of praise. "You first judged the opponent's ability to avoid close combat, then accurately gave commands when in danger to interrupt the opponent's moves, and finally seized the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. Student Cheng Tian, your battle experience is very rich."
Cheng Tian said somewhat sheepishly, "Teacher, you flatter me, it was just good luck." Seeing Cheng Tian's humility, Teacher Zhou didn't say anything more, but the approval in his eyes couldn't be hidden. After letting Cheng Tian leave the field, he continued to call the next person's name. "Next, Su Han."
Cheng Tian, who was walking off the field, and Su Han, who was preparing to go on, met face to face. Cheng Tian cheered Su Han on, "Good luck!" Su Han responded with a smile, then walked onto the field and threw out Sylveon's Poké Ball.
The machine on the field quickly generated the corresponding Pokémon: a purple Grimer.
Hmm... after all, it's just a virtual Pokémon, so it can't be 100% accurate. Some details are still lacking; for example, this Grimer doesn't emit the foul odor that a real Grimer would.
Cheng Tian in the audience and Su Han on the field had the same thought: hidden ability Poison Touch.
If it can't emit a foul odor, then it's not Stench. If it's not holding an item, then Sticky Hold is useless. So, it can only be the hidden ability Poison Touch.
Poison Touch: Has a certain chance of poisoning enemies it touches.
With a plan in mind, Su Han ordered Sylveon: "Quick Attack!" Hearing this, Teacher Zhou frowned slightly. Engaging in close combat with a Grimer that has the Poison Touch ability could lead to poisoning.
Cheng Tian also didn't know what Su Han was thinking. Sylveon's Pixilate ability turned its Normal-type moves into Fairy-type, which certainly had benefits, but when facing a type-disadvantaged opponent, it could only deal half damage.
In this situation, using Quick Attack to engage in close combat with the opponent would be a disadvantage.
However, Sylveon always unconditionally supported its trainer, its body quickly turning into a white light as it rushed towards Grimer. Fairy-type moves did not have a good effect on Grimer, and a purple hue appeared on Sylveon's forehead, clearly indicating it was poisoned.
Seeing the opponent charge, Grimer spewed a large cloud of purple mist from its mouth—Poison Gas!
"Use Yawn!" Sylveon, enduring the Poison Gas's toxins, let out a cute yawn. Grimer instantly felt drowsy, and, fighting off sleepiness, its eyes suddenly turned white.
Sylveon felt it couldn't use Yawn anymore—it was Grimer's Disable! Grimer suddenly spat out a lot of purple liquid from its mouth, which was the corrosive Acid Spray.
However, Su Han's goal had been achieved. "Use Quick Attack and come back!" Sylveon quickly ran back to Su Han, dodging the Acid Spray. At the same time, Grimer finally couldn't resist the sleepiness and fell to the ground, beginning to snore loudly.
"Alright, Sylveon, continue to use Bite to defeat the opponent." Hearing this, Sylveon opened its mouth, and Dark-type energy condensed into a large black mouth in front of it, biting Grimer. Fairy-type couldn't deal normal damage, but Dark-type could. Under continuous Bite attacks, Grimer quickly dissipated into specks of blue light.
"Well done, two students in a row have passed this challenge. Let's give her a round of applause." Teacher Zhou said while clapping. Everyone also applauded, and this time the applause was noticeably more enthusiastic than for Cheng Tian, after all, the one on stage was their goddess.
Two consecutive successful challenges greatly encouraged the remaining students. They all eagerly went up, wanting to defeat their opponents.
However, they mostly lost quite badly.
When all the tests were over, Teacher Zhou nodded. "Today, on the first day, two students in our class passed the test. The remaining students, if you don't want to fail this subject, please train hard in the coming week, summarize your shortcomings, and strive to defeat your opponents. I hope you can all become legendary masters of type-disadvantage battles."
Teacher Zhou smiled. "Alright then, class dismissed! Everyone can pack up and go home."