Pokémon, you're not allowed to expel me from human form!

finally......

He connected the very tip of the sword to the shield, then stepped out with one foot, twisted his waist, gripped the hilt with both hands, and smashed the shield out like he was swinging a sledgehammer!

When the terrifyingly heavy shield landed and all the stored spiritual energy inside exploded, the Grass and Wood Dojo, and even the surrounding area, clearly felt a tremor beneath their feet.

boom!

...

"earthquake?"

Carmen, who had openly moved into the Ripple Gym after meeting Rocco, was somewhat puzzled.

However, since the vibration only occurred once, she didn't pay much attention to it and continued to face the computer, looking at the small group chat of the four top executives of their Z company displayed on the screen.

Rando: [My situation isn't going well. I've played against my idiot older brother so many times lately, and I've lost every single time.]

While still in Tiangang, Lan Dao made no attempt to conceal his failure, nor did he offer any excuses for it; he simply stated it out loud.

Upon seeing him post such a message, the other three cadres did not mock him.

The first to respond to him was Nibiru, who had gone to the hunting grounds.

Nibiru: [You moved too fast. I only infiltrated the hunting area a short while ago and am still preparing. I haven't even made a move yet.]

Dragon: [Nibiru, you need to hurry up—I'm done here. I'm now the Dragon-type Gym Leader of the China region. The rest are just minor issues.]

Nibiru: [A minor issue? I remember the champion of the Shenzhou region, your older brother, Dragon King Jiang Chuan, hasn't returned yet, right? If he comes back and finds out you defeated your second brother, he'll definitely come after you.]

Dragon: [I have abandoned my original name. Now I am simply Dragon, nothing more.]

Dragon: [As for Jiang Chuan... his return isn't a bad thing for me at all; I actually think it's a good thing! Just thinking about fighting him gets me excited!]

Rando: [Then I wish you success]

Seeing the interaction between the three of them, Carmen sighed softly and started speaking in the group chat as well.

Carmen: [You guys are all doing well. My original plan has fallen through, so we'll have to start tomorrow.]

Carmen: [However, just like with Randall, although I won't back down from a fight, I don't think things will go smoothly on my end either—tomorrow I'll challenge Rocco to a 'Warrior Rules Battle,' which is a one-shot match between a human and an elf.]

Carmen: [To be honest, I don't think I can beat him.]

Randy: [I also think you can't win... It's difficult to beat Mr. Rocco under these rules!]

Nibiru and Dragon were both somewhat surprised to see the message from Carmen and Landau.

Carmen is an instructor in Z Company's elite forces. She is physically capable, has combat experience, and her Pokémon is strong enough.

Lan Dao, on the other hand, is Ruo Zong's bodyguard, and his martial arts skills are unparalleled.

These two are enemies recognized by both sides under the Warriors' rules...

Dragon: [I really envy you guys. To be able to fight such strong opponents, I'd be willing to die even if it was just once!]

Nibiru: [I'd also like to meet his elf.]

Seeing their reactions, Carmen smiled slightly, and her initial nervousness eased.

"Yes, what more could I ask for than to fight such a powerful opponent?"

Thinking of this, Carmen looked out the window with her only remaining eye, towards the Grass and Tree Dojo across the street.

"I will not back down from a fight, no matter how incredibly strong you are, I will never give up!"

"Regarding Karen... well, let's make a deal with Roco before the match tomorrow. If I win, I'll make him pay more attention to Karen's feelings. That way, no matter the outcome, at least he'll realize what Karen is thinking."

"This is the only thing I can do for you, Karen. As for the rest... since this is the path you chose, you will have to work hard for it yourself in the end."

......

35. Is he... really human?

The weather was sunny, and the wind carried the scent of grass and a pleasant coolness.

The arena, which was originally isolated in the sea of ​​grass, is now full of people, and all the facilities inside are fully operational according to the scale of a large-scale competition.

Luo Ke was standing right in the center of the arena.

“Logically, since I initiated this competition and chose this venue, I should be here giving a full-page speech as the competition is about to begin—but I know that’s not where you’re here to listen to that.”

At this point, Luo Ke smiled.

"One-on-one, doubles, team battles, martial arts rules, or even the rules for the brave—any of these are fine, the choice is yours."

"I only accept challenges during the day, starting at nine in the morning and ending at seven in the evening. Come on, make the most of this time."

"Well then—anyone who wants a challenge, come on up!"

Upon hearing Luo Ke's words, Alice, who was present, and Yulika, Bai Linglong, and others who were watching the live stream, all of whom knew Luo Ke, became serious.

They could see how much Luo Ke valued this competition.

How did you figure that out?

He even skipped lunch, isn't that taking it seriously enough?

He's Roko, more of a gourmet than a trainer, more of a culinary king than a psychic king.

"Any rules are fine, then my chance has come!"

As Luo Ke spoke, a man in the audience, dressed in denim and sporting a large brown beard, grinned, revealing his teeth in a wide smile.

If you live in North America and frequently watch various sports events, you'll probably recognize him.

This man named John Wayne is one of the top three cowboys in North America, based on all factors!

If we're talking about the Cowboy Rules, then he's one of the best trainers below the Elite Four.

That's why he felt this was his opportunity.

but...

The right to be the first to challenge Rocco had already been reserved.

"The Rules of the Hero!"

While the others were still itching to make their move, a Growlithe suddenly darted out from the contestant tunnel opposite Rocco, and Carmen, who was perched on its back, spoke up decisively after the Growlithe stopped.

"Let's start with a single game to decide the winner!"

Before going on stage today, Carmen tied her long white hair into a neat braid and changed into the Z Company uniform, which is more convenient for movement and has better protection.

But the most obvious thing about her was that she had two fixed shoulder bags.

"In the Brave Rule mode, which is basically the same as the Cowboy Rule mode, not carrying weapons... it's an item-based system."

John Wayne saw through Carmen's thoughts immediately.

"The backpack is fixed, the uniform is also fixed to the Pokémon, and there's a helmet in his arms—it seems like it's meant to be fixed to the Pokémon to prevent battles between trainers."

"Such a pure prop-based style is truly classic."

John shook his head slightly at Carmen's tactics.

Many years ago, when the cowboy rule was just becoming popular, this pure prop-based approach was quite innovative. However, as similar rules have evolved to the point where multiple tactics are often combined, such classic tactics are too formulaic and have been phased out.

So even before the match started, John and other trainers familiar with similar rules already considered Carmen an amateur.

Of course, Carmen is no novice.

The fact that she can be an instructor means that she is not an amateur in any aspect.

In this situation, she chose the pure props-based approach because of Luo Ke!

She had already witnessed Luo Ke's speed and power in easily killing enemy generals amidst a vast army. If she chose the more popular modern mixed tactics, then facing Luo Ke would be no different from admitting defeat.

Therefore, we must abandon all illusions and absolutely must not be greedy.

Only then would she be qualified to fight Rocco under the Warriors' rules.

"Warrior Rules, huh? Then come forth, Aegis-wielding Swordsman."

Rocco's expression did not change with Carmen's entry; he simply nodded slightly and then casually released his own Pokémon.

When the Shielded Sword Monster appeared, a guy on the other side of the field, wearing a black robe that almost covered his entire body, was clearly stunned for a moment.

"Isn't he the Psychic-type Elite Four member? It's one thing that his ace is Ditto, but why didn't he send out a Psychic-type Pokémon as his first Pokémon?"

"But thankfully it's Aegislash... my Dark-type Pokémon still has an advantage!"

He and other trainers who mainly build Dark-type teams thought so, but what many people didn't understand when they saw Aegislash was a different issue.

Carmen and the Pokémon are locked together, she'll definitely use Arcanine—that Aegislash, it's weak to fire!

Why did the player who sent out the Pokémon later choose one that was countered by the opponent?

They were very puzzled, but the mechanical announcements in the arena wouldn't wait for anyone.

The match begins!

Upon hearing this sound, Carmen completely ignored Rocco's actions, immediately bent down, and put on her helmet in the process. At the same time, Arcanine also started moving.

Speedy!

The tactics had already been decided, so as Carmen's ace, Arcanine, with champion-level strength, decisively started running, using the speed brought by its Extreme Speed ​​move to turn itself into a blur and disappear from the spot.

Her strategy is a classic example of the item-based approach: she binds herself to a spirit and then lets the spirit use its speed advantage to accelerate the pace to a level that humans can't keep up with.

Therefore, those who understand this tactic pay more attention to Rocco.

Rocco and Carmen were in completely opposite situations.

Carmen's tactics were obvious, but Rocco... no one understood his strategy.

As Arcanine unleashed its speed, Roko leisurely grabbed Aegislash, pulled out the sword, held it in his hand, and raised his shield.

No one could understand this!

By equipping oneself with a spirit that is far superior to humans in every aspect, the human's attributes are used to indirectly limit the spirit's abilities...

Is this how you're supposed to use a spirit?!

Just as they began to question it, Luo Ke made his move!

With a single step, his figure vanished instantly, as if by teleportation. He appeared in another location on the field, and the Arcanine, which had increased its speed to a level beyond the limits of the naked eye, was so easily blocked by Roco!

Then something even more terrifying happened.

Rocco, a human standing on two feet, used his shield to collide directly with the charging Arcanine!

The human didn't retreat even a single step, but the Arcanine was intercepted by Roko's shield and immediately exited its Extreme Speed ​​state!

Seeing this, John, who had previously been confident that he could defeat Rocco using the Cowboy Rules, now had wide eyes, his scalp tingling, and he whispered the question that trainers with similar thoughts were all lamenting.

"Is he... really human?"

......

36. Charge Blade... cough, this is how sword and shield should be played!

The audience was surprised, but Carmen on the field didn't have time to think about anything else.

When she saw Rocco holding up Arcanine with his shield and raising his sword with his other hand, whether Rocco was human or not was no longer important to her.

"Hold on!"

Carmen immediately gave Arcanine this command.

This caused Arcanine, which had originally planned to retaliate, to immediately change its mind. It decisively took a few steps back using the force of Rocco holding it back, and then directly erected a protective shield in front of it.

clang!

The next second, Luo Ke's sword slammed into the protective shield. Sparks flew everywhere, and the friction between the blade and the shield produced a crisp cracking sound.

It looks like Rocco's attack was blocked, but Carmen can tell from the fact that Arcanine uncontrollably retreated while maintaining Protect that Rocco actually had the upper hand!

However, the protection provided by Arcanine ultimately gave her, the trainer, some time to think.

so...

"Big characters burst into flames!"

In this situation, considering that Roko's equipped Pokémon was Aegislash, Carmen decisively let Arcanine take advantage of its Fire-type ability.