Elf: I have a secret realm of emerald green.

Only a few of Xia Shen's fans who had done their homework beforehand explained in the comments that Garchomp was his starter Pokémon.

However, these comments were quickly drowned out by the vast majority of bullet comments such as "Is it open for business?"

……

In short, with everyone except the school team pessimistic about their chances, the whistle blew and the battle officially began.

[Swift Sword Dance!]

Xia Shen started with the old trick: leaving the center wide open to lure the enemy into a trap.

Although opponents will more or less be wary of the speed at which their Pokémon are boosted.

Even if the opponent doesn't come, Garchomp getting a free Weakening Swords Dance is definitely not a loss.

"Hatch!"

Over there, Jiang Xinran also decisively chose to strengthen herself at the start of the game.

Xia Shen raised an eyebrow slightly. The opponent was quite clever. They had read that he would strengthen his opening like in the last game, so they simply ignored him.

You want to upgrade? No problem, let's all do it together!

The enhancement from hatching is far more powerful than Sword Dance, boosting both attack and speed by two levels each!

This magnitude is probably the most exaggerated of all enhancement methods.

The loss of some defensive and defensive stats is negligible for a tough-skinned Blastoise.

Moreover, this is in a match where there is a significant difference in energy levels.

……

Although breaking out of the shell is the opponent's optimal solution, it does not mean that Xia Shen has no means of countering.

He had anticipated this possibility, so after Garchomp completed its weakened sword dance first, he decisively sent a telepathic message.

[Swift as a meteor shower!]

While the enhancement after hatching is significant, it also has its drawbacks in reality.

That's slow!

While Garchomp was using Swords Dance, Blastoise was hatching. Garchomp's Meteor Shower flew into the sky, and Blastoise... was still hatching.

That is the advantage of swift moves.

If it were a normal meteor shower, Blastoise would have plenty of time to slowly activate its protective shield after hatching.

But the [Swift] meteor shower fell just as Blastoise was about to hatch!

Chapter 105 Don't put strange things inside!

Jiang Xinran had considered that the Garchomp's move casting speed would be faster than other Pokémon of the same level, but she didn't expect it to be this ridiculously fast!

Your turn, your turn, how come it's still your turn?

Jiang Xinran looked up at the several meteorites falling from the sky, each accompanied by a purple wave of flame, and gritted her teeth, shouting, "Keep breaking out of the shell!"

Although it's still not too late to stop hatching and immediately protect yourself, letting your opponent get a free Sword Dance is something you absolutely cannot accept.

For now, she could only console herself that the strengthening effect of breaking out of the shell was much stronger than the sword dance.

……

Finally, just before the first meteorite struck, Blastoise's shell began to glow, completing its softening transformation.

At the same time, bursts of orange light suddenly erupted from its body.

The shell hatched before the meteor shower hit.

While Blastoise's Attack and Speed ​​have been greatly increased, its Defense and Special Defense have also decreased.

Jiang Xinran smiled wryly. This was too much of a coincidence. If it had hit earlier, Blastoise would have been less injured.

But it doesn't matter, once Blastoise hatches, it will become the nightmare of its opponents!

"Boom—"

The successive impacts of the meteorites imbued with Dragon-type energy left Blastoise dizzy and disoriented, causing it to stagger a few steps.

"Kami..." Blastoise shook its head, turned back and whispered to Jiang Xinran, indicating that it could still hold on.

Jiang Xinran nodded in response and said in a deep voice, "Prepare for a counterattack, Blastoise, Water Cannon!"

Blastoise turned around, bent over, and was about to charge up its cannon, only to find that Garchomp had already burrowed into the ground after unleashing Meteor Shower.

Helpless, he could only sit up straight, feeling frustrated, and wait for the trainer's instructions.

Jiang Xinran was also annoyed. Her Blastoise hadn't learned Earthquake, so it really couldn't do anything about digging.

However, after hatching, Blastoise's attack power is terrifying.

That Garchomp clearly wanted to engage in close combat with the Blastoise whose defenses were lowered, so let it have a good taste of Ice Punch.

Hmph, a quasi-god? I'll make sure he doesn't leave alive!

Pulling herself back to reality, Jiang Xinran called out sharply, "Ice!"

There are no obscure codes, so it doesn't matter whether the opponent understands them or not. Even if he knows that Blastoise can use Ice Punch, does that mean Garchomp won't come out?

Blastoise nodded knowingly, quietly watching Garchomp's dorsal fin protrude from the ground and get closer and closer to it, while Ice-type energy began to flow into its arm.

A chilling, icy blue aura emanated from his fist, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop slightly.

The Freeze Punch is ready, all that's missing is a punching bag with four times the Ice weakness!

……

The ground suddenly shifted, and Blastoise narrowed its eyes. It looked at the slightly trembling patch of soil about three meters away and knew that its opponent would definitely not come any closer.

It's alright, if the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain.

Blastoise strode forward, rushing to the spot where Garchomp wanted to come out, its right fist clenched, ready to pounce.

Blastoise knew that Garchomp was about to emerge from the ground when the soil beneath its feet suddenly loosened.

It raised its right fist and slammed it down into the hole in the ground, where the sharp-toothed land shark had already poked its head out.

But the Garchomp that had just emerged... suddenly retreated back inside.

Jiang Xinran was speechless. What did this mean? Was she playing whack-a-mole with her?

Blastoise was quite annoyed. "How come you're more skilled at retracting your head than I am?"

This has happened twice already. The feeling of having no outlet for his strength is fueling an unnamed rage within Blastoise.

Seeing that the ice energy on his fist was about to dissipate, he had no choice but to gather new ice energy again.

Today, I, Blastoise, will definitely knock you out with my Ice Punch!

"Blastoise, behind you!"

The trainer's voice reached his ears, and Blastoise turned around abruptly, only to see Garchomp digging a new exit and about to burst out of the ground.

He fiercely raised his icy fist and slammed it down on the hateful shark head again, but... the Garchomp retreated again.

This is the second time! The water rocket's cannon barrel is already bent from its sluggishness, but it's not over yet.

The third time...the fourth time...

Garchomp seemed to be playing a game of whack-a-mole with him, as four holes had already appeared in the ground around Blastoise.

Blastoise's eyes were blazing with fire as it stomped the ground in a fit of rage, regretting that it hadn't learned how to use earthquakes.

But the strange feedback from the soil beneath his feet surprised him. Could it be that he had learned how to control earthquakes because of his excessive desire for them?

Before it could even feel joy, the increasingly soft sensation under its feet made Blastoise sense something was wrong.

Looking down at the gradually collapsing ground beneath its feet, Blastoise finally understood Garchomp's true purpose.

Playing whack-a-mole with yourself is a pretense; the real purpose is to dig out the ground beneath your feet while using the opportunity to dig a hole!

By the time it realized what was happening, it was too late. Blastoise's feet were already buried in the soft mud, as if it were trapped in a swamp.

Because Blastoise is quite heavy, it will probably take some effort for it to get out.

Just as he was struggling to escape, the Garchomp he had been waiting for finally emerged from underground.

However, the tide had turned.

……

[Garuda, quicksand hell!]

Xia Shen didn't rush to have the newly emerged Garchomp immediately use offensive moves like Earthquake or Dragon Claw. Instead, he used Sand Hell first.

Not only can it disrupt the opponent's vision, but it can also make Blastoise, which is already struggling to move, even more difficult to get around.

A massive sandstorm swept over the spot where Blastoise was trapped, and the flowing sand beneath its feet made it seem as if it were imprisoned, forcing it to continue standing there as punishment.

After setting up the quicksand trap, Xia Shen continued to transmit his voice: [Fierce Dragon Claw!]

Since the opponent is unable to move, it would be a real shame not to reward him with a powerful Dragon Claw attack.

Even if the opponent protects him, it's fine. Without protection, Xia Shen can unleash the Fierce Earthquake without restraint.

……

In the sandstorm, Garchomp's claws seemed to be burning with a blue flame. Blastoise couldn't see it clearly, but he knew that it was a move formed by the condensation of Dragon-type energy: Dragon Claw!

Although it is also a close-range attack using the hands, the Dragon Claw is ethereal outside the real claw, and its attack range is much larger than the Frozen Fist that is solidified on the fist.

This means that Garchomp can hit Blastoise, but not vice versa.

Blastoise understood this, so he abandoned his thoughts of retaliation and only considered one question: should he protect it or not?

……

Jiang Xinran also saw that bright blue color in the sandstorm. She knew that she had to hold onto the protection tightly now.

If we hand over the protection now, Blastoise will face an even more terrifying earthquake soon.

But with the sandstorm providing cover, it's hard for Blastoise to land its attacks. Does that mean Blastoise is just going to get hit for nothing?

Of course not, her Blastoise can use Aura Strike.