Machamp cracked open a wide grin, baring its fangs, and lifted its other two arms right in front of Incineroar's terrified eyes.
"Bam!"
Cross Chop landed square on Incineroar's body.
The moment Incineroar went flying, its eyes spun in circles—it was done.
"How is that possible!"
Skorelsky's face twisted with disbelief. He jabbed an accusatory finger at Machamp and howled.
"How could it one-shot my Incineroar?! There's no way!"
"Machamp is holding a Flame Orb, and with its Guts ability, even though Intimidate lowered its Attack, there was still a chance it could take Incineroar out in one hit."
Just as Skorelsky was spiraling into incoherent rage, Liu Xiangjun picked up the microphone and explained to the crowd in a measured tone.
After Liu Xiangjun's explanation, Lu Zhengjie cooperatively gestured for Machamp to lift its chin.
Immediately, everyone noticed the collar around Machamp's neck—a Held Item Portable, with a fiery-red, seemingly still-burning orb sitting right in the center.
Lu Zhengjie gazed at the Flame Orb around Machamp's neck and let out a soft laugh, recalling what Lu Ze had said while they were waiting for Machamp and the others to come out of the treatment center.
"Your Machamp has the Guts ability, right? Machamp with Guts pairs best with a Flame Orb. After all, you can't rely on your opponent to inflict a status condition for you."
Then, when Lu Zhengjie shook his head and said he didn't have a Flame Orb, Lu Ze just sent Mini Dragon back to get one, and during dinner, he put it on Machamp along with a Held Item Portable.
"The lecture's already covering held items now. Everyone's starting to realize how important they are. If you don't use them, your battle power takes a serious hit—especially for a Pokémon like Machamp with Guts, which is extremely item-dependent."
"This month's ranking battles have started. Try not to lose. The higher your rank, the better the rewards."
"For Lucario and Lopunny, I don't have anything suitable for them right now. When I find something, I'll give it to you."
Lu Zhengjie thought back on it, still deeply moved, especially by what Lu Ze said after Lu Zhengjie tried to refuse.
"Just take it. I'm your brother, don't be a stranger with me."
Now, staring at Machamp standing proud in the arena and Incineroar crumpled on the ground, Lu Zhengjie felt his resolve harden.
(I have to…!)
"A Flame Orb?! How can its Pokémon hold an item?!"
Liu Xiangjun had already explained, but amid the crowd's jeering, Skorelsky kept pressing with unreasonable demands.
"You're playing favorites! Favoritism toward your own student! You're scared he can't beat me, so you let him bring a Flame Orb, you—"
Before Skorelsky could finish, Liu Xiangjun's brow furrowed. Then Cottonee's Vine Whip shot out and bound him up, gagging his mouth so thoroughly he couldn't get out a single sound.
"Next. Who else would like to go?"
Liu Xiangjun皱着眉头说出这句话之后,这才意识到自己说的话有歧义,于是连忙改口道.
"还有谁想上来继续实战演练?"
Liu Xiangjun's expression hardened as she spoke, then she caught herself and quickly clarified.
"Is there anyone else who wants to continue the practical demonstration?"
At that, the Dragon Kingdom and American students alike finally exhaled in unison.
"Whew, I thought she was about to kick us out."
"You said it. Teacher's Cottonee is as terrifying as ever. Though I still prefer Sweet Queen—oh, Sweet Queen, give me another one of those disdainful looks!"
Watching a classmate gazing at Sweet Queen with hearts in his eyes, another student shuddered. "You perv."
Then, as if catching the same infection, his eyes also popped with hearts—but they were fixed on Cottonee.
"Ahhh~ Cottonee, lash me with your Vine Whip!"
"Pervert!"
The group chorused in disgust and quickly put distance between themselves and the two.
"I'll go."
At that, another person from the American side stepped forward, standing up with heavily accented Mandarin.
"Nice to meet you, I am Dolbice Rodriguez. You can call me my Chinese name—Old Dog."
Finishing, Old Dog grinned. But that fake voice he ended with made everyone struggle to hold back laughter while simultaneously shuddering.
"Mn. Old Dog. Not a bad name."
Gazing at Dolbice Rodriguez, who was beaming with pride, Lu Zhengjie held in his own smile and said his Chinese name for him.
"Yes, I think so too!"
"Enough talk. Send out your Pokémon."
By now even the referee couldn't take it anymore. The Chinese name, the Chinese accent—genuinely headache-inducing.
"Mhm, okay!"
Old Dog hurled his Poké Ball.
"Go, Claydol!"
"Swoosh!"
The flag dropped. Battle start.
Old Dog's speech accent was so grating that the referee waved his flag the instant Claydol hit the ground—just to avoid having to listen to another word from Old Dog.
"Claydol, Zen Headbutt!"
"Machamp, Ice Punch!"
Both trainers barked orders at the same time, their Pokémon charging each other head-on.
A moment later, amid the crowd's gasps, both Pokémon toppled backward simultaneously.
"Man, this foreigner doesn't pull any punches!"
In the stands, Sikong Ling excitedly shook the arm of Wang Siyuan next to him.
"Stop shaking me, my brains are going to slosh out."
Sui Yan turned to Fugui beside him and murmured, "It's probably the No Guard ability."
Fugui nodded. Before he could speak, Liu Xiangjun's voice cut in.
"Trading blows head-on. Not a bad call. Against a Pokémon with Guts, your options are either to hit harder—like a Slaking would—"
"—or play defensively and counter: set status conditions, use something like a Klefki. And then there's what this American student chose—go head-to-head, exploit No Guard's特性, and trade with Machamp one-for-one."
Lu Zhengjie recalled Machamp, scratching the back of his head with an awkward expression.
There was nothing he could do here. Even knowing Claydol had No Guard, he couldn't switch out.
Right now, the only ones who could handle this situation were Machamp and Lucario.
Lopunny's strength wasn't there yet—she couldn't compete at this level.
And Lucario was doubly weak to Ground-type moves. Putting it out would be worse than sending out Machamp.
At least the Zen Headbutt hitting Machamp didn't have STAB.
But the Ground-type moves hitting Lucario did have STAB. So all he could do was send Machamp out for a one-for-one trade.
No Guard was exactly this恶心—forced head-to-head, no exceptions.
"Please both trainers, send out your next Pokémon."
Hearing the referee's urging, Lu Zhengjie shook his head and hurled Lucario's Poké Ball.
"Go, Lucario!"
"Go, …"
Good, no writer's block, mission accomplished. Time for bed!
———
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