Pokémon: Hard work pays off, moves can be upgraded infinitely.

"Next, let's welcome the two teams facing off in the next match: Gu Mingdeng and Mu Yun!"

As the host, Seventeen, began to speak, Mu Yun and a man who looked quite mature stood up together.

He is the old dragon trainer who defeated Zhao Hailong in the first round, and is also a powerful player who ultimately advanced as the second-place finisher in his group.

"Please release your spirits!"

After Mu Yun and Gu Mingdeng took their positions, the referee's voice rang out as usual.

"Bingbing, I'm leaving her to you."

He had witnessed the old dragon's battles and knew his strength, so Mu Yun did not send Xiao Du to take action.

In fact, among the contestants who advanced, apart from Liu Hesheng's Azure Flame Blade Ghost which was quite threatening and required Xiao Du to hold the fort, the rest of the Pokémon could be given to Bo Feng and Bing Bing for practice, in Mu Yun's opinion.

"Old Dragon, prepare for battle!"

Gu Mingdeng's voice was deep and hoarse, just like his precocious face.

"Buzz!!"

As Gu Mingdeng threw the Poké Ball in his hand, a figure more than three meters long appeared on one side of the battlefield.

It has a slender body, skin that is a deep, sky-green color, and fluffy white hair like clouds on its head, jaw, belly, and tail.

The overall impression he gives is just like his name suggests: a kind, hunchbacked old man.

Judging from his appearance alone, he certainly doesn't look like a belligerent or fierce elf.

That is indeed the case.

The Old Dragon is a peaceful and kind spirit, but once attacked, it will instantly transform from a clear sky into a dark cloud, unleashing its thunder.

Let the challengers see the might of Dragon-type Pokémon!

..............................

【Sprite: Old Man Dragon】

Gender: Male

[Attribute: Normal + Dragon]

[Level: 26 (Senior)]

【Trait: Raging Fury (After being attacked, increases own Special Attack. When HP drops to half, the increase reaches its maximum value of 50%).】

[Moves: Whirlwind Blade, White Mist, Echo, Harmony, Tornado, Protect, Orochi's Gaze, Light Screen, Dragon's Fury, Nature's Grace]

【Item Carried: Dragon Scale (Intermediate)】

[Potential: Dojo Level]

[Racial stats: 485]

【Dragon Scale (Intermediate): A special amplification-type treasure. It is an item resembling scales formed from the essence of a high-level Dragon-type Pokémon under the influence of a special power. If a Dragon-type Pokémon carries it for a long time, it can accelerate its leveling speed and increase its control over Dragon-type energy.】

..............................

"It really is that Ice-type Pokémon that looks just like Vulpix. This is going to be tricky..."

Gu Mingdeng looked at the snow-white Six-Tailed Fox on the other side of the field, feeling a little worried.

Just as Wang He collected information on others, the team leaders of other contestants would naturally also take the initiative to collect information on Mu Yun and the others.

Therefore, Gu Mingdeng was well aware of Mu Yun's combat performance.

In a total of nineteen group stage matches, they annihilated everyone, including Lin Youqi.

No one, not even one of his Pokémon, could last two rounds against him.

The terrifying pressure brought by their formidable combat power was almost synonymous with Liu Hesheng, the monster of the Liu family.

He is one of the strongest people in this competition, according to Gu Mingdeng.

"Both Pokémon are in position, the match begins!" The referee, unconcerned with the players' inner thoughts, immediately announced upon seeing Bingbing and Laowenglong.

"Old Dragon, glare with your giant snake eyes!"

Gu Mingdeng had watched Bingbing's fight videos and knew that she had a starting move that looked very similar to Blizzard.

Therefore, he planned to first use the giant snake's glare to interrupt the opponent's spellcasting. As long as the large-scale blizzard that could block the view could not be unleashed, his old dragon would have a chance of winning.

..............................

[Orochi's Glare: A Normal-type transformation move that displays a terrifying posture and paralyzes the opponent.]

..............................

"Buzz!!"

The old dragon let out a low roar, his kind and gentle expression changed, his eyes widened, and his cloud-like fur stood on end, instantly turning him into an angry Vajra.

The whole process was quick; it was obvious that they had practiced beforehand.

Unfortunately, no matter how fast the old man Long was, he still had to wait for Gu Mingdeng's voice to reach his ears and for him to react.

Bingbing didn't need to give any instructions at all.

As instructed by Mu Yun before she went on stage, she had already activated her Extreme Cold Territory the moment the referee finished speaking.

Before the old man could catch a glimpse of Bingbing, the raging wind and snow obscured his vision.

"So fast?"

Gu Mingdeng froze as he watched the snowstorm intensify.

Generally speaking, the more powerful and widespread a move is, the longer its wind-up animation will be.

He previously thought that the reason why the opponent couldn't interrupt Bingbing was because they lacked sufficient methods and proficiency in their moves.

But now it seems that it was simply because the opponent's moves were too fast, so fast that his old dragon couldn't even perform the simplest giant snake glare.

How can we fight like this?

Gu Mingdeng's expression changed, but his mouth remained open: "Old Man Long, use the Light Wall!"

Regardless, first use the wall of light to find some breathing space, and then wait for the right opportunity to act.

"Buzz!!"

The old dragon suppressed his angry glare, and a semi-transparent wall gradually solidified in front of him.

However, just as the wall of light was gradually appearing, a rainbow-colored beam of light suddenly shot out from the ice storm.

It struck directly at the wall of light that was mostly condensed.

It's an Ice-type special attack move—Aurora Beam!

"It's no use. My old dragon is extremely skilled in special attacks. His Light Screen is even comparable to that of a typical Psychic-type Pokémon."

Seeing this, Gu Mingdeng was not too flustered.

The rapidly forming ice storm did surprise him, but he already had ways to deal with both the aurora beams and the freezing winds.

That's the wall of light!

Despite its low overall base stats, the Elder Dragon has a remarkably high Special Attack, which makes it very effective when using status moves like Light Screen.

This is why Gu Mingdeng immediately had the old dragon deploy a light barrier after discovering that the giant snake's glare was ineffective.

Firstly, it can withstand attacks like ice storms, which seem to have a large range but actually do not deal much damage each time.

Secondly, it can also defend against attacks from opponents who may strike at any time.

Although he wasn't sure what kind of Pokémon this Vulpix was, he recognized whether its Ice-type moves were physical or special attacks.

"Buzz!!"

The old dragon in the arena remained completely calm as he watched the rainbow beam of light shooting towards him, continuing to condense a wall of light with composure.

Then, watch the iridescent beam of light approach.

Hit the light wall.

It made a cracking sound...

Wait, a cracking sound?

Old Man Long suddenly froze, his small eyes, hidden by his long eyebrows, widened as he stared at the wall of light in front of him, seemingly in disbelief.

The wall of light, which should have been completely undamaged, was now covered with cracks finer than a spider web, like glass struck by a sledgehammer.

As the rainbow beam continued to exert its force, the crack continued to spread at an extremely fast speed. In just a few seconds, the crack had spread to the entire light wall.

Click~~

With a crisp sound, the wall of light exploded, turning into scattered starlight.

The rainbow-colored beam of light continued its relentless advance, like a spear aimed directly at the old dragon.

Extreme cold territory bonus 30%!

This attribute grants a 50% bonus!

Ice-type moves have a 120% power boost!

Ice-type attacks deal double damage to Dragon-type attacks!

In an instant, the old dragon was transformed into a lifelike ice sculpture under the combined effects of the ice storm and the aurora beam.

Inside the ice sculpture, the old dragon seemed to feel time slowing down or even stopping, and his strength and body temperature were rapidly depleting.

Until he no longer had the strength to open his eyes.

My eyes turned into mosquito coils...

Gu Mingdeng: ? ? ?

Gu Mingdeng, who had just been so confident, was completely dumbfounded.

No, what happened? What's going on?

My old man Long lost just like that?