"Gabite, use Dragon Breath!"
Boom!
The Gabite, which was already stomping the ground in a fury, opened its maw and unleashed a turbulent blast of draconic energy. The Larvesta, staggered by the previous Stomp, couldn't maneuver in time and was engulfed by the skill, being blown back across the arena.
However, when Hu Tao saw the result of the hit, her expression darkened.
The damage... was unexpectedly low!
She watched as the Larvesta crawled back up from the dusty crater. If this were a video game, Hu Tao would likely see the "Not very effective" message floating above its head. Wait, no—Dragon-type moves have neutral coverage against Bug types. It should have been full damage.
But the output is so weak...
Hu Tao suddenly realized the impact of the Struggle Bug move Xiangling had opened with. That skill didn't just deal a "tickle" of damage to her Gabite—it carried a debuff that lowered the target's Special Attack.
By prioritizing a debuff skill at the start, Xiangling had successfully neutered the power of Gabite's Dragon Breath!
"It's our turn now, Larvesta!" Xiangling shouted. "String Shot!"
Whoosh! A thick, sticky web of insect silk erupted, wrapping around the Gabite's powerful legs and torso. At Level 24, Larvesta's silk was significantly stronger and more resilient than when it was a newborn. Even a beast as strong as Gabite found its movements heavily restricted.
"Bug Bite!"
The Larvesta scurried forward with surprising speed, sinking its mandibles into the Gabite's hide. Gabite roared in frustration, eventually ripping through the sticky threads with brute force and swatting the moth away, but the damage was starting to accumulate.
Hu Tao wasn't happy. "Fine! Sand Tomb!"
The blue-gray fins on Gabite's body glowed, and a localized sandstorm rose out of thin air, encircling the Larvesta and trapping it in a vortex of abrasive grit.
Hiroshi, standing as the referee, looked at the confused faces of the audience. After all, the Pokémon Era was in its infancy; many of these people only understood raw elemental power, not the nuances of Pokémon move-sets.
He decided to step in as a guest commentator:
"Struggle Bug is actually a top-tier tactical skill for Bug types. While the damage is low, its ability to hit multiple targets while simultaneously reducing the opponent's offensive power is vital. Player Xiangling used this to bridge the gap, effectively cutting Gabite's output in half."
"Without that debuff, the Larvesta would already be on the verge of fainting from that Dragon Breath."
Hu Tao's fighting style was rough and direct: Take Down, Stomp, Breath. Now, adding Sand Tomb for chip damage and trapping. It was a relentless combo. Larvesta was only staying in the fight because of its strategic opening.
"What an eye-opener!" Yoimiya whispered. This was her first time seeing a high-level exchange between Pokémon. The rhythm was suffocating!
Ningguang added thoughtfully, "Xiangling has avoided using Larvesta's Fire-type moves. Is it because the Dragon type resists Fire?"
Hiroshi gave Ningguang an appreciative nod. "Exactly. Against a Dragon Pokémon, Fire-based skills only deal half damage. In a high-stakes match like this, using a resisted move is a waste of a turn."
Yelan, Signora, and Childe all nodded. They were beginning to see the depth of the game. It wasn't just about who hit harder; it was about the accuracy of the hit and the synergy of the skills.
On the podium, Xiangling saw that Larvesta was exhausted, trapped in the Sand Tomb with no way out. Eventually, the little moth collapsed from the continuous damage. She bit her lip and recalled her partner.
"Damn it! If I had taught you Protect, I could have stalled her out!"
Hu Tao snorted triumphantly. "And I'll say it again—when Sharky evolves into Garchomp, my attacks will be like a tsunami! You won't be able to stop me!"
Xiangling threw her second ball. "It's your turn, Scyther!"
The audience checked their Pokédexes. In just a few days, Xiangling's Scyther had reached Level 16.
"Double Team!"
Whoosh! The Scyther moved so fast it created afterimages, appearing as two identical mantises in a pincer formation.
"Quick Attack!"
The clones blurred toward the target. Hiroshi's voice rang out: "A brilliant combination. Gabite may not be able to distinguish the real body in time."
Gabite looked around, confused. "Sand Attack!" Hu Tao shouted, but it was too late.
Clang! Clang!
The Scyther's scythes struck the Gabite's rough skin, emitting sparks. However, Gabite was vicious. It pivoted and used Slash, catching the Scyther squarely in the chest.
THWACK!
The momentum was crushing. The Scyther was slammed into the ground, its breath hitched. It was nearly a one-shot from a normal move. Xiangling gasped; the level gap was simply too large. Scyther's blades had barely scratched the surface, leaving only two small cuts on Gabite's hide.
Xiangling raised her hand. "I forfeit! I give up!"
She quickly recalled her Scyther, fearing another hit would seriously injure the baby Pokémon. Hiroshi explained the outcome:
"The level difference is nearly ten levels. At this stage of cultivation, level suppression is absolute. However, once you reach Level 50 or 60 and your Pokémon are fully evolved and master their ultimate moves, it becomes possible for an elite Trainer to overcome the gap and even defeat Overlord-level opponents."
Xiangling walked down, glaring at the gloating Hu Tao. "Just you wait! When my Larvesta becomes Volcarona and reaches Level 60, my Fiery Dance and Quiver Dance combo will make you regret everything!"
"Bring it on!" Hu Tao laughed. "My Garchomp won't be afraid of a moth! I am the Dragon Queen!"
The audience cheered. The holographic projection of the stadium roared with excitement. Hiroshi decided to strike while the iron was hot.
"Hu Tao, Xiangling, take your Poké Balls to the healing station. Next—who else wants to take the stage?"
Childe's Alolan Vulpix let out a determined cry.
"Vulpix~!"
Childe wasn't surprised. He had spent the last week moved by the sheer perseverance of his partner. He knelt down, stroking its soft, snowy fur with a gentle smile.
"You want to prove how hard we've worked, don't you?"
"Vulpix!" The Pokémon nodded seriously. Childe looked up, his eyes meeting Hiroshi's. Man and Pokémon were in perfect sync.