There's Something Off About My Pokémon [103]
Lu Cheng was a bit surprised; Liu Shengnan hadn't mentioned anything about this. A trainer gathering held on a luxury cruise ship seemed extravagant. He wandered around the second deck and soon found that the term "luxury" was no exaggeration. There was a bar, a bowling alley, karaoke rooms, and every indoor entertainment you could imagine. If anyone got hungry, they could head over to the buffet area, where food was available around the clock for free.
Still, he'd only be on the ship for one night. Plus, he had a mission to keep in mind. After walking around a bit, Lu Cheng decided to check out the third-deck open-air deck where the gathering was happening—maybe he'd even pick up some useful intel.
As he reached the deck, a gentle, salty breeze greeted him. It was dusk, and the sky was draped in deep purple, with the neon glow of the distant shoreline visible on the horizon. Out over the dark sea, a few Tentacool floated lazily, their faint glow casting ripples of light on the waves below.
"Lu Cheng?"
Hearing his name, he turned to see a familiar face. It was Kevin, blonde and sharply dressed, looking pleasantly surprised. "You're here too?"
Smiling, Lu Cheng nodded. "Yeah, just taking a couple of days to visit Magic City."
"Perfect timing!" Kevin chuckled. "We're hosting a battle gathering here!"
"A battle gathering?" Lu Cheng followed Kevin's pointing finger toward a group of trainers of all styles and backgrounds, forming a circle. In the center, two Pokémon were battling it out.
A massive grey-and-white Pangoro scratched its claws together, fixing its intense gaze on its opponent—a Watchog whose orange-marked fur gave it the look of a scar-faced, glowering old mob boss.
"Everyone just jumped into battle mode at this trainer gathering," Kevin explained with a grin. "It's a king-of-the-hill style—whoever stays standing last wins."
"Is there a prize?" Lu Cheng asked, intrigued.
"A solid gold Nugget," Kevin replied, somewhat embarrassed. "Not exactly a power boost for your Pokémon, but it's definitely worth something..."
To Kevin, this kind of flashy reward didn't add much to his Pokémon's training. But Lu Cheng's eyes sparkled. A Nugget! Just imagine how much that could sell for. Cashing that in could give his system's stat boosts a nice upgrade!
Just then, the Watchog struck with a devastating Hyper Fang, instantly knocking out the Pangoro. The crowd erupted in cheers as the short trainer returned his fainted Pangoro and blended back into the crowd.
"Next up!" the triumphant trainer called out with a smug grin.
Since it was a king-of-the-hill challenge, anyone could step up to challenge the current champion. And, naturally, a longer winning streak was a solid proof of skill. The trainer with the Watchog had just secured his second consecutive win, and his confidence was brimming as he awaited his next challenger.
"Why don't you give it a try?" Lu Cheng asked Kevin.
Kevin shook his head with a smile. "I went in at the beginning. Helped get the party started, but Kirlia's stamina ran low, so I decided to take a break."
Remembering Kevin's eerie-looking Kirlia, Lu Cheng couldn't help a shiver. These back-to-back battles were a real test of endurance for any Pokémon. It was probably a smarter strategy to wait and jump in closer to the end—better odds of winning that way.
"You should give it a shot, Lu Cheng," Kevin suggested with a grin. "That Nugget might end up in your pocket!"
Lu Cheng scanned the crowd. Most of the trainers here looked to be around his age, and judging by their expensive attire, many came from well-to-do families. After all, getting onto a luxury cruise like this likely required some connections.
Then, the system chimed in with a new task.
Ding—New Task Unlocked: 'Winning Streak on Deck'
Objective: In the Pearl of the Orient's trainer battle gathering, achieve as many consecutive victories as possible.
Reward: Dependent on performance.
Guess I'm meant to join in. Lu Cheng glanced around, noting the absence of Liu Shengnan and Xie Yuan. Discreetly, he switched off the earpiece on his collar and broke into a grin.
Surely a little break here couldn't hurt, right?
---
"Next challenger!" The Watchog trainer stood with hands on his hips, striking a pose nearly identical to his Pokémon's.
"I'll go." The crowd parted as Lu Cheng stepped forward. Since the system prompted him to go for a win streak, getting on the stage quickly was his best bet. With two Pokémon at his side, he wasn't too concerned about stamina either.
Most people didn't seem to recognize him at first. But the moment Lu Cheng released his Grovyle, gasps broke out from the audience.
"Wait, isn't that the U20 Champion from Zhejiang?"
"No way! Is he really joining this gathering?"
"That's gotta be him—no mistaking that Grovyle's bone blade!"
A few scattered cheers even started up, and one girl, wearing a custom Ninetales T-shirt, waved excitedly.
Amid the crowd's murmuring, Lu Cheng returned their smiles with a nod, while his opponent's expression turned sour.
"Go, Watchog!" the other trainer called, gritting his teeth. "Use Quick Attack!"
Lu Cheng stayed focused, giving his own command. "We'll use Quick Attack too!"
Watchog's vaunted speed didn't come close to measuring up to Grovyle's. Both Pokémon dashed forward, but Grovyle's timing was impeccable. In a flash, its Leaf Blade struck right at Watchog's neck, settling the match in an instant.
"I lost…" The trainer recalled his fainted Watchog, shoulders slumped, and faded back into the crowd.
"Anyone else?" Lu Cheng smiled, scanning the crowd.
A heavy silence hung over the deck. The battle had ended so quickly that everyone was still processing it.
"That Grovyle's speed… could you even see its moves?" someone whispered.
"How did he manage to go second and still be faster than a Quick Attack?"
"That Leaf Blade—was it a critical hit? Watchog went down instantly!"
Yet nobody stepped forward to challenge him. Nobody wanted to be a mere stepping stone, a supporting role in someone else's show. If they were serious about winning, they'd bide their time and wait until Lu Cheng's Pokémon ran low on stamina. In this challenge format, it made sense to strike last.
Just as the stalemate settled over the crowd, a soft, clear voice rang out.
"I'll go next."
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