"Do you want to go in?"
After explaining the situation, Lin Feng looked down at the little Eevees.
The Eevees glanced at each other, hesitant, until Arlo, the middle one, stepped forward.
Lin Feng recognized him immediately. Arlo was the only male among the three Eevees. That alone was unusual normally, male Eevees were far more common than females. Yet here, out of three, two were female.
Among the trio, Arlo's older sister, Aria, was the largest but also the most timid. Sage, the smallest, was the bravest and most reckless. Arlo, squarely in the middle, had an unremarkable personality. He liked to eat, drink, and keep the peace, avoiding conflict. But when it came to battle, it seemed the male Eevee naturally stepped forward first.
Lin Feng glanced at Arlo's status panel.
Pokémon: Eevee (Arlo)
Gender: Male
Ability: Adaptability
Rank: Blue
Individual Values: HP 15 / Attack 24 / Special Attack 21 / Defense 15 / Special Defense 18 / Speed 25
Level: 21–23
Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Growl, Quick Attack, Sand Attack, Swift, Dig, Protect, Double Team…
Affection: 81 (He likes you a lot)
Happiness: 50 (Feels like trying something new…)
Arlo had just entered elite level, and with an affection of 81, he was reasonably bonded to Lin Feng. Yet Lin Feng still found the numbers curious. Sage's affection was already 94, a level that should have triggered Eevee's evolution into Sylveon, but she had not evolved yet. Perhaps full evolution required a hundred affection, or maybe her current energy level was too low.
Lin Feng made a mental note to stock up on Evolution Stones for Pokémon that didn't want to evolve after the tournament.
"Eevee Eevee"
Seeing Arlo step forward, Sage's eyes twinkled and she moved ahead as well. Her personality reminded Lin Feng a bit of Shiro, quirky and mischievous, though unlike the elegant Sylveon.
"You want to go too?" Lin Feng asked.
"Eevee~!" Sage raised her paw enthusiastically.
"Alright then. I'll find a chance to let you both in. But remember to keep your limits in mind," Lin Feng said with a smile. By leaving the possibility open, he resolved the question of winning and losing. Eevees could win when they could, and if they lost, it wouldn't matter much.
Meanwhile, the ongoing matches continued. Lin Feng watched carefully, noting what Pokémon the other trainers brought. This way, he could decide which Pokémon to send in later.
The morning slipped by quietly, and the first round of matches neared its end. At noon, trainers took their Pokémon to eat, and most spectators gradually left in an orderly fashion. A few tried to edge closer to Lin Feng for autographs, but when he politely declined and reminded them of the restricted area, they left reluctantly.
Lin Feng considered leaving the seat for a more open park to eat, but then he realized the trainer area was almost empty. There was plenty of space, and it would be convenient to have lunch there.
He set up the meal right there, taking out today's prepared food. Since the afternoon matches might start soon, he hadn't cooked fresh dishes. Instead, he brought out a large pot of rice balls from the morning. The rice balls were stuffed with meat and wrapped in cabbage leaves harvested locally.
They weren't gourmet, but they were filling. Moreover, these rice balls had a particularly good effect on Fighting-type Pokémon.
A-Rank Rice Balls with Cabbage and Meat Regular rice transformed into compact rice balls with a special meat sauce inside, giving them a unique taste.
Effect 1: Pokémon feel full for a short period.
Effect 2: Regular consumption over time grants a slight increase in strength.
Lin Feng explained that these were specially made for Blaziken. He also brought out some high-level Ability Boost Energy Cubes. Since Blaziken had used its ability heavily in the previous race, these would help maximize its recovery and performance.
"Blaziken!" The Pokémon's eyes lit up as soon as it saw the rice balls. It was as if it had spotted treasure. Lin Feng chuckled and shook his head, letting Qin Shu bring her parents over. Together, they all began their midday meal.
However, the lunch was interrupted almost immediately.
"Roar!"
The normally quiet trainer area trembled with a dragon-like roar. A massive shadow fell over the group, and Lin Feng looked up to see a huge Charizard descending gracefully from above. Its fierce face, sharp claws, and blazing tail marked it as a powerful, young Charizard.
On Charizard's back, a young trainer leapt down.
"Champion Ji Yan?" Lin Feng blinked in surprise. The rice balls paused mid-air. He recognized the judge of the Youth Cup's main matches, though he had wondered before why a Champion would be interested in officiating these games.
Now, it was obvious. Blaziken's performance had caught Ji Yan's attention.
Lin Feng glanced again at Charizard and its stats panel, and his jaw tightened. No wonder this Pokémon had once completely overwhelmed Liang Feng's Beedrill, breaking the opponent's confidence. Its strength was staggering.
Pokémon: Charizard
Gender: Male
Ability: Blaze
Rank: Gold
Individual Values: HP 30 / Attack 29 / Special Attack 28 / Defense 28 / Special Defense 28 / Speed 27
Level: 81–83
Moves: Ember, Flamethrower, Flare Blitz, Dragon Claw, Heat Wave, Fire Fang, Slash, Intimidate…
A level eighty-plus Charizard with nearly perfect stats was comparable to a typical Champion's Pokémon. As it landed, it sniffed the air cautiously. Blaziken's vigilant gaze followed it, noting Charizard's attention shifting toward the high-level Ability Boost Energy Cubes behind it.
Clearly, this Pokémon had excellent instincts… and a keen sense for powerful items.