Chapter 358: Marshtomp's Power Display
"Basalt, you accept?" Sylvie was overjoyed.
"Don't celebrate too early. I don't have the Fountain of Life water on hand right now. I need to make a trip to Saffron City to get it, so you'll have to wait a few days," Basalt said, shrugging. "Getting into the Veridian Forest requires the help of the Life Energy Bureau."
"That's fine! A few days is nothing. I can wait!" Sylvie smiled sweetly, waving her hand dismissively.
Just then, Mr. Burton, the class advisor, walked in. All the students quickly found a seat.
Mr. Burton nodded in satisfaction. "This semester's final exam is divided into two phases. The first phase is an internal class tournament to select the top four, and those four will then represent our class in the grade-wide ranking match. The higher your individual ranking, the more academic credit you earn, and the richer the rewards."
"So everyone, give it your all!" Mr. Burton encouraged them, then immediately began to organize the matchups.
Battle Class 1 had a total of thirty-two students, so they were divided into four groups of eight. The winner of each group would make up the top four.
Although it was an internal competition, there were seeded players—the top four from the previous semester's internal ranking, which included both Basalt and Sylvie. To qualify, one had to defeat a seeded player.
Soon, the group divisions were posted. Some were happy, but most were gloomy.
Generally, everyone was worried. They knew they couldn't defeat the seeded players; they just hoped to put on a good performance. Their goal was modest: not to qualify, but to aim for a good score in the evaluation.
Of course, there were a few top-ranked students who weren't seeded. Their desire to fight was the strongest.
Led by Mr. Burton, the students moved to the training grounds. Referees and evaluators from other grades were already waiting there. Mr. Burton's job was simply to maintain order, as he wasn't allowed to score his own students.
"First match, Basalt VS Frank. Will both students please take the field!" The referee called out the first match.
"Huh? The first match is against the class president?" Basalt paused. He hadn't paid close attention to the groupings. But who cares? A win is a win.
"Basalt, please go easy on me," Frank said, looking helpless.
Basalt waved his hand and chuckled. "Don't worry, Frank. I'm a gentle soul!"
Once they were ready, the referee announced, "This match is a 2v2. Trainers, please send out your Pokémon."
Basalt and Frank threw their Pokéballs. A blue Pokémon and a brown Pokémon appeared.
Basalt, of course, sent out Marshtomp. Frank's Pokémon was a massive brown bear, with a yellow ring on its belly. It stood upright, its face fierce. It was Ursaring.
"Ursaring, huh?" Basalt raised an eyebrow, his mind calm.
Frank, however, was secretly thrilled. Basalt is truly a friend; he's going easy on me. But is it too obvious that he's sending out an unevolved Pokémon like Marshtomp? Frank was worried. Marshtomp vs. Ursaring... that wasn't even a fair match.
Seeing Basalt send out a new, unevolved Pokémon, the surrounding students were surprised. Isn't Basalt getting a little too arrogant? But then they remembered his Excadrill. They figured Excadrill could handle the remaining Pokémon, so they relaxed. Excadrill's strength was great enough to turn the tide in a 1v2.
"Ursaring, Slash!" Frank, who didn't want to waste any time, commanded the attack. He wanted a quick, decisive win.
"Marshtomp, meet it with Waterfall!" Basalt smiled slightly.
"What? A direct clash? Is Basalt serious?"
"Exactly! That Ursaring is a brute. Its strength is terrifying! Marshtomp is strong, but it hasn't evolved yet!"
The crowd gossiped, not favoring Marshtomp. Only Mr. Burton's eyebrow twitched. He recognized the force behind Marshtomp's Waterfall.
"It looks like Basalt learned something from Old Alvin. He hasn't neglected his training." Mr. Burton felt a slight sense of relief. Like the others, he had worried Basalt's rank would drop. But seeing the progress of the other reserve members, his relief faded. Especially that Shane... his progress has been frightening. He's a threat to all the Rookie Kings.
BOOM!
The fish and the bear slammed into each other, the collision sending a shockwave that made the onlookers' clothes flap.
Then, something happened that no one expected.
"Marsh-tomp!"
Marshtomp's eyes narrowed, and its body surged with power. The stalemate was broken. With a terrifying push, Marshtomp sent Ursaring stumbling backward, its claws digging deep trenches in the ground.
"Holy crap! Am I seeing things? Ursaring lost the strength contest?"
"Oh my god! Is that Marshtomp eating Machamp for breakfast? That strength is insane!"
The crowd was stunned, their jaws dropping.
Basalt smiled inwardly. "My Marshtomp has been absorbing the Fountain of Life water every few days to enhance its physique and Water-type affinity. In a contest of brute strength, it fears no one!"
Marshtomp was excellent. It only seemed inconspicuous in Basalt's team because his other "cheats" were so massive. But compared to the unboosted, Marshtomp was still a force of nature.
"Stomping Tantrum, then finish it with Mud Bomb!" Basalt's voice rang out, calm and detached.
"Gro-mortar!"
Marshtomp slammed Ursaring backward, then heavily stomped the ground, sending out a shockwave. Then, with a flick of its wide tail, numerous gray mud projectiles shot out, instantly burying Ursaring. Ursaring took three hits in a row and collapsed.
The referee quickly raised his flag and announced, "Ursaring is unable to battle. Frank, please send out your next Pokémon!"
"I... I lost?" Frank's mouth twitched. He couldn't accept it. His Ursaring had lost too quickly. One moment he thought he had the win in the bag, the next he was on the ground.
Falling from heaven to hell, I guess this is what it feels like.
☆☆☆
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you