Chapter 24: This is not right. This shouldn't happen
The vast arena was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Expressions of disdain on the Battle Department students' faces gradually turned to shock, then to bewilderment.
Lu Ye recalled his Gastly, his expression complex. "It seems... I've won."
Shen Tingzhi stood there in a daze. After a long pause, she nodded slowly.
"We're using this arena for our class," Lu Ye glanced at Shen Tingzhi. "No objections, right?"
Shen Tingzhi shook her head blankly.
Lu Ye sighed, a bit regretful. She's an honest kid. Too bad she's withdrawn.
It wasn't until then that someone timidly asked, "Did Class Rep Lu... just win?"
"He beat the school team?"
"Holy crap, he really pulled that off!" Liang Dayou exclaimed. "Lu Bro, you're an absolute beast!"
Cheers erupted from the Finance Department, while the Battle Department students were still questioning their reality.
No way... this shouldn't have happened...
Shen Tingzhi was their class's strongest Trainer, even recognized by the school team's coach. Yet, she'd been defeated by some no-name student from Finance? Was something wrong here?
"Did you catch what happened during the match?"
"Uh... Gastly's speed was insane!"
"No, I mean the Trainers' commands!"
Being Battle Department students, they could naturally discern the gap between the Pokémon. Gastly had extraordinary speed, but in raw power, it was no match for Granbull. Yet, under Lu Ye's command, Gastly had utterly dominated the match.
This meant Lu Ye's tactical level far exceeded that of Shen Tingzhi, who was on the school team!
"Is this a joke? Isn't he from the Finance Department?"
"How does a Finance student have such command skills?!"
"Sister Shen got completely outplayed!"
Successfully predicting an opponent's moves required either incredible luck or a vast skill difference. Shen Tingzhi had been out-predicted time and again, and luck couldn't explain that away. That left only one possibility...
"Let's get out of here!"
"Yeah, let's not mess with this guy."
"This doesn't make sense... how is he from Finance?"
The Battle Department students retreated dejectedly. Shen Tingzhi cast one last glance at Lu Ye before hesitantly speaking.
"Would you... consider trying out for the school team?"
While Gastly's strength was still developing, Lu Ye's tactical skills made his place on the team a sure thing. For Shen Tingzhi, losing to Lu Ye left her with little face to stay on the team. This could be her chance to step down gracefully...
"Nope!" Lu Ye answered firmly.
Shen Tingzhi froze, confused.
What was Lu Ye's goal?
To make big money, become a boss, and buy a mansion! Before that, he needed time to grow his streaming and content creation career while keeping up with his studies.
Modu University's school team? Is that supposed to be impressive? Even world champions are my fans. Did I make a fuss about that?
In Shen Tingzhi's eyes, however, Lu Ye was a standout. Talented, attractive, driven, and gentlemanly.
Shen Tingzhi gave a deep bow. "Thank you!"
Watching her quickly walk away, Liang Dayou nudged Lu Ye. "She lost but still thanked you. What's she after?"
"I have no idea," Lu Ye scratched his head. "Maybe I'm just too handsome?"
Liang Dayou scrutinized Lu Ye for a moment, clicked his tongue, and said, "Eh, barely. Just a little better looking than me!"
With the situation settled, Mr. Gao was immensely grateful to Lu Ye. In the course "Pokémon Battle Studies," Lu Ye naturally scored full marks. This made 3 courses where Lu Ye had finished as the top student. The thought of the 6,000 yuan semester scholarship brought a huge grin to his face.
Locked in. This one's in the bag!
Following his battle with Shen Tingzhi, the system chimed in with evaluations:
[Earned admiration from classmates! BP +1, BP +1…]
[Successful predictions! BP +50]
[Trash talk tactics used successfully! BP +50]
[Victory achieved, rating: Tactical Domination! (BP +100)]
Shen Tingzhi, true to her status as a school team member, had provided over 500 BP.
[Current BP: 3,280]
Still, despite earning 500 BP from an elite opponent, Lu Ye felt dissatisfied.
"I can get over 1,000 BP just editing a video."
"Guess being a Trainer isn't worth it. Streaming for easy money is the way!"
Reflecting on the battle, Lu Ye realized something odd. In Pokémon: Battle, his opponents were typically at least Master level, which had unknowingly sharpened his tactical skills. Still, even a skilled cook can't make a meal without ingredients. Training Pokémon remained a costly endeavor.
For now, Lu Ye's primary goal was securing that semester scholarship. As for the Piplup Cup Rookie Trainer Tournament...
Heh, I'll just go with the flow. No way I'd actually win, right?
That evening, Gastly learned a new move.
Lu Ye: ?
Perhaps defeating Granbull had given it substantial experience points. Gastly's mastery of Substitute had reached a new level. The "new move" turned out to be a combination of Night Shade and Substitute. As one of Gastly's few offensive options early on, Night Shade was a critical move. Its new manifestation involved summoning a sinister, 1-meter-tall specter that inflicted damage through fear and illusion.
Lu Ye exclaimed, "Don't try to fool me; I've watched Naruto before!"
This was basically Susano'o, wasn't it?! Sending a Substitute to brawl with opponents was one thing. Now it was using Susano'o? And if that's Will-O-Wisp, doesn't that make it Amaterasu?!
Grumbling aside, Lu Ye dutifully crafted energy blocks for Gastly. Considering his late-night grind and today's over-level battle, Gastly hadn't rested in 2 days.
Lu Ye prepared a mild energy block infused with Moomoo Milk, Pecha Berries, and some store-bought honey. After eating the block, Gastly obediently floated to the ceiling and fell asleep, bringing a small smile to Lu Ye's face.
It may backstab me sometimes, but it sure looks cute when it's sleeping.
At 2 a.m., Gastly snapped its eyes open after only 2 hours of sleep. Its enormous, eerie eyes glowed faintly green in the dark.
Tomorrow was the second round of the group stage. It needed more training!