Tian Youwei froze momentarily.
"Did Ivysaur's Hidden Power Fire not just hit?"
"Since choosing attrition warfare, direct confrontation was not a wise choice."
Lu Ye explained. "Magneton's ability is Sturdy. Ivysaur's power was insufficient, instead exposing vulnerabilities."
In the judges' seats, South China Region Champion Guo Ming's evaluation echoed Lu Ye's identically.
"Still too reckless." Guo Ming frowned. "If the Hidden Power Fire trump card was revealed slightly later, it would be better."
"Young people can be understood." Chairman Song Pengcheng smiled.
"Who is next?"
Guo Ming flipped through the name list, immediately raising his eyebrows.
"Finance major student? Actually reached semifinals?"
"This is this tournament's biggest dark horse." Song Pengcheng smiled.
"Halfway self-taught, actually reaching semifinals."
Guo Ming's tone was quite cold. "I see the Piplup Cup's value is declining."
These non-professional trainers, pursuing battle power, often employed amateurish and excessively harsh breeding and training methods.
Guo Ming had witnessed too many such examples, thus developing stereotyped impressions toward amateur contestants.
However, Song Pengcheng smiled warmly. "This is not an ordinary amateur contestant."
"Commanding techniques even surpass some Elite trainers I have encountered!"
Guo Ming frowned, noncommittal.
Song Pengcheng laughed cheerfully. "You will understand after watching shortly!"
In the contestant tunnel, "Be quick and efficient. I have an ominous premonition!" Lu Ye gritted his teeth.
Eevee was staying home alone, which logically should pose no problems.
However, critically, his Pokémon did not conform to common sense either!
Lu Ye sat in the contestant room, thinking more and more that something felt wrong; his hands and feet growing increasingly cold.
He could only finish the match quickly and return home to check.
"Kekeke!"
Sensing Lu Ye's emotions, Haunter nodded seriously.
Not knowing where it produced Tamato Berry Poké Blocks, Haunter grabbed them in its hand, suddenly tossing them upward.
"Ah wu~(*⊙~⊙)"
Haunter opened its gaping maw, directly swallowing the Tamato Berry Poké Blocks.
Instantly, Haunter's eyes widened as the eye sockets seemed filled with bloodshot veins.
"Kekeke!"
Lu Ye's expression turned strange.
Already checked. Not a single drop of urine in the stimulants!
Lu Ye slowly walked from the contestant tunnel. The field side immediately erupted with cheering sounds.
"Teacher Lu, add oil!"
"Look quickly, Lu Ye has entered!"
Appearing only a few times, yet the audience seats actually formed his own support group, even pulling up banners.
Lu Ye felt quite embarrassed.
Looking back, even the opposing viewer displayed an excited expression.
"Tea, Teacher Lu." Han Xiaoxiao blinked. "Later, please be gentle."
"I will try being gentle." Lu Ye nodded solemnly.
Pulling out the Poké Ball, red light flickered. Haunter grinned viciously, floating on the field.
The audience seats immediately erupted with noisy discussions.
"Gastly actually evolved!"
"Specifically saving evolution for semifinals? Such deep scheming!"
"Could this also be part of Teacher Lu's plan?"
Guo Ming specifically noticed Haunter, lightly exclaiming.
"This Haunter appears to be bred quite excellently."
Song Pengcheng also nodded.
"Evolution should have been under one week ago. Just do not know how adaptation is progressing."
Han Xiaoxiao also released Breloom.
The kangaroo-sized Breloom, topped with a hat-like mushroom cap, body primarily green and cream-colored.
Extending red claws on both arm sides, Breloom emitted sharp cries.
Simultaneously, the system Pokédex displayed Breloom's data.
[Breloom, Grass + Fighting type
Ability: Effect Spore
Moves: Mach Punch, Mega Drain, Stun Spore, Leech Seed, Spore, Bullet Seed, Substitute, Headbutt]
Spore's ability was somewhat troublesome, having a probability of randomly inflicting an abnormal status on opponents.
From the move configuration and ability perspective, it quite inherited Teacher Lu's dirty tactics' true teachings.
Lu Ye pondered momentarily as the referee's whistle rang in his ears.
"Match begins!"
"Go, Breloom!"
Being able to battle with Teacher Lu as the tactical master, Han Xiaoxiao felt somewhat excited, yet her eyes remained extremely sharp.
"Spore!"
From Breloom's neck, large amounts of flocculent mushroom spores drifted, sufficient to induce drowsy sleep upon contact.
Enhanced by Breloom's Effect Spore ability, this move was even harder to evade!
Han Xiaoxiao's mouth corners raised a confident smile, but she suddenly widened her eyes.
Ghostly blue Will-O-Wisp suddenly bloomed on the field, burning the sky-filling mushroom spores into blue butterflies!
This magnificent scene immediately triggered cheering eruptions from audience seats.
Guo Ming displayed a completely astonished expression. "This Lu Ye is also a Coordinator?"
Song Pengcheng opened his mouth.
Gazing toward Lu Ye with quite appreciative eyes.
This kid always produces new tricks!
Massive phosphorescent flames danced across the field as eerie light bloomed, precisely Haunter's Confuse Ray!
Breloom felt dizzy and disoriented, and even its steps were gradually swaying.
Lu Ye commanded sternly. "Haunter, Hex!"
"Kekeke!"
Massive black mist emanated from Haunter's surroundings.
Confuse Ray gradually dimmed as black mist grew more massive, instantly swallowing Breloom!
Haunter's sinister laughter rang out. Within that black mist came Breloom's continuous wails.
The venue fell utterly silent.
Tian Youwei and Liang Dayou exchanged glances, appearing somewhat bewildered.
Was this still the Brother Lu they knew?
How did Brother Lu become this strong within one month!
Black mist dispersed, revealing the battered Breloom trembling all over, yet still not collapsed.
Han Xiaoxiao urgently commanded. "Breloom, Mega Drain!"
However, just as Breloom barely stood, ghostly blue Will-O-Wisp bloomed on Breloom's body again!
Boom!!
In the judges' seats, Guo Ming wore a ghost-sighting expression.
Although Han Xiaoxiao was merely a high school senior contestant, her crushing from start to finish showed a strength disparity far too great!
More critically, this contestant, named Lu Ye, gave Han Xiaoxiao absolutely no counterattack opportunity.
No thinking required, this storm-like, aggressive style seemed like his commanding instinct!
"I retract my previous statement."
Guo Ming sighed admiringly. "This is a trainer with gorgeous tactics and considerable offensive nature!"
Song Pengcheng froze slightly.
Were they discussing the same contestant?
Top eight Lu Ye relied on SubToxic, achieving extreme endurance tactical styles for victory, right?
A mere rookie trainer could actually switch between two tactical styles with complete ease?
"Today's youngsters are genuinely becoming more impressive." Song Pengcheng murmured.
Breloom collapsed miserably as the referee blew the whistle.
"Winner, Magic City University, Lu Ye!"