In the vast arena, only Lu Ye's calm voice echoed.
The Jinling Battle Center was silent.
Cui Yuanshan’s eye twitched. He found it unbelievable.
Was Modu University’s rookie champion really this strong?
Eevee hadn’t even evolved yet… Wasn’t this level of training too insane?
“Be careful,” Cui Yuanshan coughed.
“His Eevee must be at its limit.”
Qin Yu nodded, but a sense of unease crept over her.
This didn’t look like a Pokémon out of stamina!
Jinling University’s fourth contestant stepped onto the field.
Qin Yu took a deep breath and threw her Poké Ball. “Go, Braixen!”
Braixen, elegant like a young girl, flicked the red fur near her ears. She waved a stick, and fiery flames burst forth from its tip toward Eevee.
As Eevee dodged, Qin Yu commanded, “Set the field on fire!”
Braixen drew a circle in the air with her stick.
The stray flames landed, forming a ring of fire around the arena.
Eevee's Quick Attack was forced to a halt, the flames steadily closing in.
“If hitting him is too difficult, we’ll trade blows.”
Coach Zhai Wenyang frowned.
“They’re leveraging the advantage of the battle rotation!”
“Quick Attack!Substitute!” Lu Ye ordered.
Eevee immediately understood the plan, bared its teeth, and lunged forward.
“Target Eevee! Psybeam!”
Following Qin Yu’s command, Braixen aimed her stick at the charging Eevee, and a dazzling blue beam erupted.
At this close range, missing was impossible!
But just as the beam fired, Eevee’s figure split in two, evading with perfect coordination.
The Fire Spin surged toward both figures. The Substitute was swallowed by the flames, but the real Eevee leapt out, soot-covered but unfazed.
Eevee landed on Braixen's shoulder and bit down viciously!
Qin Yu's face turned pale.
A critical hit! This was devastating!
Using Braixen’s head as a springboard, the little guy leapt out of the inferno without even looking back.
Braixen let out a pained cry before being engulfed by her own flames.
When the fire subsided, Braixen had already fainted.
Silence filled the arena.
The referee's whistle broke it: “Braixen is unable to battle. The winner is Lu Ye!”
The audience erupted into chaos.
“He… He’s taken down four in a row?”
“Are you kidding me? He still has stamina?”
Four consecutive battles, and he used Substitute twice…
Did this Eevee eat miracle fertilizer? Its stamina was better than a Snorlax's!
“C-Coach!” Han Xiaoxiao exclaimed. “Teacher Lu is really going to sweep the team!”
Zhai Wenyang didn’t speak, just looked at Lu Ye with pride.
He remembered Modu University had some move TMs suitable for Eevee.
He’d let Lu Ye choose one as a reward!
Qin Yu left the field, her face downcast, and Jinling University’s morale was low.
Lu Ye turned to Eevee, concerned: “You okay?”
“Vee! o(´^｀)o” Eevee licked its paw, lifting its head with disdain.
Seeing Eevee still energetic and satisfied with the battle, Lu Ye nodded thoughtfully.
Just then, Lu Ye raised his hand.
The crowd tensed, expecting his infamous catchphrase.
Instead, Lu Ye smiled. “I’d like a one-minute break… to remove Eevee’s held item.”
Whispers filled the arena.
“Eevee was holding an item?”
“Was it a Berry? But I never saw it use one!”
“Isn’t removing a held item a bad move?”
The referee hesitated, glancing at Director Wang, who nodded with a complicated expression.
The last competitor, Jinling University’s “mole” (cross that out), and Lu Ye’s fan, Zhao Xianyong, blinked and sighed in relief.
It looked like Teacher Lu was going easy on him!
But when Zhao Xianyong saw Lu Ye’s next move, the crowd’s expression shifted.
Lu Ye picked Eevee up by the scruff of its neck.
The war-god-like Eevee turned red, struggling desperately.
Lu Ye removed the pink anklets from each of Eevee’s four legs, weighed them in his hand, and said, “These are heavy…”
“So this is what proper power application means—don’t let Eevee exert itself?”
Eevee’s held item was a Power Anklet—protective, but heavy.
[Power Anklet: Lowers speed while held but boosts speed growth over time.]
Lu Ye tossed the anklets to the ground. A loud thud echoed across the arena.
The entire stadium fell silent.
“Gulp…” Lu Ye suddenly worried.
“Those cost over a million… I hope they didn’t break.”
Jinling University’s team stared wide-eyed.
This Eevee had been wearing that during their matches?
And it still swept four opponents?!
Zhao Xianyong felt like Rock Lee during the Chunin Exams. Everyone around him looked like they’d seen a ghost.
This was going easy?!
Teacher Lu, you’re ruthless even to your own fans!
Lu Ye cleared his throat and smiled. “Next.”
To Zhao Xianyong, that smile looked demonic.
But… battling Teacher Lu was still an honor!
Zhao Xianyong took a deep breath. “Go, Electabuzz!”
The yellow-and-black-striped Electabuzz roared, crackling with weak electric sparks.
After confirming its ability was Static via his system Pokédex, Lu Ye commanded: “Eevee, Yawn!”
Zhao Xianyong’s face fell.
Here it was—Teacher Lu’s signature tactic!
Cui Yuanshan from Jinling University blinked.
With the anklets off, Eevee’s normal speed could rival Quick Attack.
And yet, Lu Ye opted for ranged tactics?
Even though Electabuzz’s ability was Static…
Wasn’t this too cautious?
Electabuzz’s Thunderbolt missed, and its eyes grew heavy. Eevee refused to close the distance.
Jinling University’s team felt chills down their spines.
“This guy’s tactics… are infuriating!” Feng Zhe gritted his teeth.
Cui Yuanshan chuckled wryly.
“No chances for a comeback… What an excellent player!”
Teacher Lu never left things to chance.
With Static Electabuzz, ranged attacks were the safest bet.
The sleeping Electabuzz got pummeled by star-shaped beams, collapsing before it woke up.
Eevee showered sand over Electabuzz until it was buried, then licked its paw with satisfaction.
“The winner is Lu Ye!” the referee announced.
Eevee lifted its head proudly.