Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game.

When Mikkuri switched to Swampert, he made it very clear that it was the main Pokémon of his second team.

Swampert, which is close to the Elite Four level, was actually injured to such an extent by a single energy ball from Gardevoir?

Admittedly, Swampert is four times weak to Grass, and Gardevoir also had a boost from Meditation, but is that the reason why a Pokémon that barely reaches the Gym level one star can severely injure a pseudo-Elite Four Pokémon?

Is this reasonable?

Meanwhile, Gardevoir's condition plunged them into silence once again.

Compared to Swampert, which was severely injured and in great pain, Gardevoir's white dress was almost completely undamaged!

…………

"how did you do that?"

Qianli's face showed the same astonishment as the ordinary spectators around him. He muttered a guess: "Did the water dissipate most of the Swamp Monster's impact?"

Adam shook his head. "Impossible. Water could never be an obstacle for the Swamp Monster."

This is the confidence of a Water-type specialist trainer in his outstanding disciple.

"That's protection?"

Qianli immediately dismissed his second conjecture, "That's not right either. Continuous energy balls and teleportation are almost the limit for Gardevoir. It's impossible for her to have the energy to block this waterfall after teleporting."

Adam seemed to have thought of something, and his brows suddenly relaxed. "Perhaps it's a shadow clone?"

Gardevoir only has so many moves in its move pool. Excluding moves that are impossible to achieve this effect, Shadow Clone seems to be the only possibility.

Qianli nodded in realization. "You mean, when Gardevoir released the Energy Ball, it secretly created a clone underwater? If it's a Psychic-type Pokémon, that's certainly possible."

For a Pokémon known for its mental strength, multitasking while unleashing moves does offer room for skillful maneuvering.

Then it becomes clear what Gardevoir did in those few seconds while Swampert was charging.

While condensing an energy ball, a clone was buried in the water. Then, at the critical moment before the Swampert crashed in, the clone teleported and hid in the deeper water beneath it.

This series of maneuvers isn't difficult for Gym-level Pokémon; the real challenge lies in—

"His mind is far too calm to come up with such a countermeasure in such a short time and then draw Gardevoir's attention."

Qianli nodded silently, echoing Adam's sentiment with a hint of sourness, "That's how they are with superpowered people."

…………

Compared to the audience's amazement, the two trainers on the field didn't have time to think and analyze so much.

"Swamp Monster, Water Breaker!"

"Gardevoir, hold it back, try to get it as close to the water as possible!"

Mikoli and Xia Chen made commands that seemed completely contrary to the situation on the field.

Swampert, still relentlessly charging upwards after being severely injured, retreated while Gardevoir, who had the upper hand in the battle, shrank back.

Neither of them was surprised by the other's choice.

If we use a game as an analogy—

Swampert with the [Torrent] ability is now like a berserker with full mana and no health, while Gardevoir is like a mage with full health but no mana.

It goes without saying who is chasing and who is running.

The driving force of its weak superpowers was ultimately no match for its powerful limbs that seemed to have ten thousand horsepower. Underwater, Swampert's body continued to approach Gardevoir's body.

Even in the water, the azure water energy surging and flowing across his body surface appeared so extraordinary.

[Intense] Ability activated - The lower your HP, the higher the damage of your Water-type moves.

At this moment, the abundant water-type energy on Swampert's right fist was surging like boiling water, and no one doubted whether this explosive punch could instantly kill Gardevoir.

Let alone Gardevoir, even if Xia Chen's tankiest Milotic were to take it down, it would probably be in trouble.

The only question is whether Swampert can catch up with Gardevoir before Xia Chen brings it to the surface and recalls it to its Poké Ball.

Judging from the speed at which the distance between the two is decreasing, it doesn't seem difficult to do.

But as Mikoli gazed at Xia Chen, whose face remained calm on the opposite bank, he vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

Worried that things might go wrong if he waited too long, he hurriedly commanded, "Swamp Monster, go all out!"

Upon hearing this, Swampert swam even faster, and the nearly bursting water was only a fist's distance from Gardevoir diagonally above.

The powerful and fierce aura pressed down on Gardevoir, almost suffocating it.

next moment.

A powerful punch lands!

boom--

The water, brimming with Swampert's rage, finally burst open, and Swampert, having released its pent-up emotions, let out a deafening roar.

"Swamp——"

However, at that moment, dozens of emerald green leaves stubbornly broke through the water flow and swirled down, growing larger and larger in the astonished pupils of the swamp monster.

…………

With a deep, resounding sound, a water column several meters high suddenly erupted from the water's surface, and a slender, tall figure flew out from the water column—it was Gardevoir!

The audience was filled with admiration and exclaimed in awe.

Swamp Monster in its "Flood" state is truly terrifying!

Two consecutive whistles sounded, confirming that Gardevoir had indeed lost its ability to battle, and the score was now 1:

Wait, why is it 1:1?

Did those two whistles mean that Swampert has also fallen?

The audience, regaining their senses, looked towards the arena and were shocked to find that Swampert had also surfaced thanks to the help of Laplace, the referee's mount, and was also unable to fight.

At the same time, several leaves that had already dissipated their energy and were turning into fragments also floated up.

The reason for this situation is all too obvious.

The final straw that broke the swamp monster's back was this magical leaf!

The silent audience erupted in uproar.

"So Gardevoir and the near-Elite Four member Swampert fought to a draw?"

"That's right, it only took two moves."

"What are you saying? I would have said that Gardevoir owes Swampert two lives for taking that water rift."

"But that's Mikuri's second team of Swamperts! How can Gardevoir deal so much damage?"

"It's not just the high damage that's the reason; Gardevoir's two moves also achieved the theoretically highest output, which is a very important factor. Gardevoir never wastes a single energy until Swampert gets right up to it. It's truly a case of skill and daring!"

"Too strong! I am invincible below the Heavenly King level, and I can trade one for one with those above the Heavenly King level!"

The rare "mutual destruction" situation brought the match to halftime, since neither side had any Pokémon on the field, so neither side could gain an advantage.

Mikuri took out a Poké Ball to recall Swampert, and looked at Xia Chen with increasing admiration.

He squinted and smiled slightly, "Truly breathtakingly magnificent and elegant! Well then, please allow me to offer my highest respect to this battle!"

He paused slightly, then took out a dark blue diving ball from his waist, slowly raised his hand and lifted it up. The ordinary movement looked quite pleasing to the eye because it was Mikoli who made it.

"This is my true power, so watch out! Show me your mesmerizing water phantom, Gyarados!"

A beautiful, poetic voice rang out, and a Poké Ball flew out, revealing a fierce and violent azure dragon-shaped Pokémon in mid-air above the water.

It is Gyarados, a Water/Flying-type Pokémon!

…………

"This child is really serious now."

From the stands, Adam gazed at Michael on the other side of the water arena and remarked with emotion.

He knew his disciple better than anyone else, having personally taught him for over a decade.

Qianli, however, showed an expression of watching a good show and clicked his tongue in amazement, "This guy actually brought out this Gyarados, he seems to really value Xia Chen!"

Senri naturally participated in last year's dojo master tournament. Although his result of reaching the quarterfinals was acceptable, it was still far from his expected championship.

The person who kept him out of the final four was none other than Mikoli.

As an opponent he had only recently faced, he was very familiar with Gyarados's strength. While he could certainly not match Milotic, the absolute ace, Gyarados could be ranked alongside Ludicolo and Swampert in the second tier.

Such a high level of attention means that it is no exaggeration to say that he is treated as an opponent of equal standing.

Thinking this, Senri turned to look at the boy on the other side of the water field, her gaze sharp, as if trying to discern something from his calm expression.

How would you handle such pressure?

Meanwhile, on the battlefield.

"Roar--"

The Gyarados opened its massive jaws and emitted a deafening sonic boom, as if venting its ever-present, overwhelming rage.

In nature, a Pokémon with the loudest cry is not necessarily the most terrifying, but Gyarados is an exception.

He is the spirit that seafarers fear most when they encounter him at sea, because their ferocity stems from their genes, not from their external environment.

Once discovered by such a spirit, it will not rest until it fights to the death.

But Xia Chen always believed that such brainless Gyarados were not scary; what was truly terrifying were those individuals who could control their emotions.

Clearly, the Gyarados that Mikkuri sent out belonged to this category.

After its initial roar, the Gyarados quieted down, staring intently at Xia Chen as if patiently awaiting his challenge.

Clearly, that roar was his [Intimidate] ability, but unfortunately there were no Pokémon on the field, so it was all for naught.

Should we give up one trait at the start?

Xia Chen ignored that and focused on sensing the strength of Gyarados.

As expected, the dense and terrifying energy aura that emanated from it was that of a true Heavenly King level being!

His heart was pounding faster and faster. Was this Mikuri's true main Pokémon?

I'm getting more and more excited!