There's Something Off About My Pokémon. [29]
Vulpix leapt onto Lu Cheng's shoulder, curiously eyeing the bearded man. At the same time, Treecko was released from its Pokéball by Lu Cheng. Upon recognizing the trainer from the match earlier, Treecko let out a cry, its eyes burning with competitive spirit. "Cha-ma!"
"Your Pokémon have a good look in their eyes," Gongsun Rong remarked with a rare smile, but his expression quickly returned to its usual seriousness. "Did you recently become a trainer?"
Lu Cheng nodded and replied, "I only turned eighteen last month. Vulpix is my starter Pokémon."
Looking at Vulpix, Gongsun Rong couldn't help but reminisce about his first encounter with his Rhyhorn. Youth is truly a precious thing.
Gongsun Rong sighed, but his curiosity remained. "Why did you choose to come to me, instead of seeking advice from that Dragonite trainer?" he asked.
Lu Cheng frowned. "I don't like his style. I think it's a bit too flashy."
"You're wrong, kid," Gongsun Rong said, his tone now serious. "Whether it's flashy or steady, as long as it's effective and can deal damage to the opponent, it's a good tactic."
"Don't judge a trainer's battle style based on your personal preferences," Gongsun Rong paused before adding, "or their strength."
He had once underestimated an opponent himself and lost to Du Zhe, now the head of Jiangnan University.
"As for your Vulpix and Treecko, they're still too weak," Gongsun Rong continued. "Rather than focusing on battle style, you should concentrate on improving their strength."
His words were fair, but Lu Cheng had his own thoughts. He planned to train Vulpix and Treecko during the U20 Tournament while attempting to develop his unique battle style. After all, the art of commanding was a crucial part of battle. People often overlooked the trainer's skill, focusing solely on the strength of their Pokémon.
"Of course, I'm not trying to discourage you," Gongsun Rong said with a hint of hesitation. "When I was your age, I had no concept of strategy at all. I fought recklessly, relying on brute force."
"But that led to my Rhyhorn getting injured many times," Gongsun Rong's eyes softened. "Rhyhorn always forgave my immature commands, holding out with its immense defense until it could land a decisive blow."
"I think that's where our battle synergy began," Gongsun Rong said with a nostalgic smile. "So, don't rush things."
With a serious expression, he advised, "As long as you keep accumulating battle experience and stay on this path, you'll eventually find a style that's uniquely yours."
Ding—Branch task 'The Art of Battle' completed.
Objective: Receive guidance on battle style from Gongsun Rong.
Reward: 3 HP points; TM 'Protect.'
Ding—Long-term task 'Tactics and Style' discovered. Mission Objective: Establish a personal battle style, achieve any tactical accomplishment, and receive recognition from the system.
Mission Reward: Trait - "Tactical Master" Trait Description: As a Tactical Master, you can adapt to any battlefield and weather. You can choose the most suitable tactics for your Pokémon. Their stamina consumption will decrease by 20%, and damage taken from weather effects like sandstorms and hail will also be reduced!
Ding—Tactical Achievements tab unlocked, please check it yourself!
The series of notifications left Lu Cheng's mind spinning. Nevertheless, the mission was completed, and an additional long-term task had been unlocked. This meant that Lu Cheng didn't need to rush things. He could take his time to establish his tactical style once his Pokémon became stronger.
Curious, Lu Cheng opened the achievements menu and found a new golden "Tactics" section. Inside were various tactical achievements waiting to be unlocked:
Tactical Achievement - "Swift and Free"
Achievement Description: In rainy weather, further increase your Pokémon's speed and perform a dazzling offensive during thunderstorms and heavy rain. Establish a Rain team centered around a Pokémon with the Drizzle ability!
Tactical Achievement - "Sandstorm Funeral"
Achievement Description: With high average base stats, the cost of a Sandstorm team scales with its power! Strike down your opponents in the dust storm of financial power, building a Sandstorm team centered around Tyranitar!
Tactical Achievement - "Your Tactics Are Dirty"
Achievement Description: Use moves like Substitute, Protect, and Toxic to wear down your opponent's Pokémon and gain an advantage in battle…
Lu Cheng felt as if he had just opened the door to a new world.
"You're also a participant in this U20 Tournament, aren't you?" Gongsun Rong said with a smile. "In any case, keep it up—I have high hopes for you."
Lu Cheng, infected by Gongsun Rong's smile, grinned from ear to ear and said, "Thank you, teacher!"
As he watched Lu Cheng's departing figure, Gongsun Rong muttered to himself, "Teacher, huh…" A small smile crept onto his face. "It doesn't feel too bad."
Just as Gongsun Rong lifted his head, he noticed Lu Cheng rushing back into the room. Surprised, he asked, "Why haven't you left yet?"
Lu Cheng, slightly embarrassed, replied, "I forgot to ask for your autograph."
---
Meanwhile, Wu Ye forced a smile as he greeted the fans gathered backstage, but his face darkened the moment he entered the dressing room alone.
"Better not disturb him," his manager, well aware of Wu Ye's temperament, anxiously closed the door behind him.
What a complete failure. This match was too ugly. Wu Ye buried his face in his hands, feeling the humiliation of letting his Dragonite engage in close combat with such brutish Pokémon. It was utterly disgraceful! Biting his lip hard, he looked up again, his face already restored to its usual expression.
"Well, as expected, I need to keep pushing forward." The coldness in his eyes, paired with that flawless smile, was enough to send chills down anyone's spine. Wu Ye lightly tapped his fingers on the table, muttering to himself, "Next... it's time for the main event."
In the center of the dressing room, a large screen broadcasted the live scene on the main stage. Leo stood at the center, microphone raised high.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now approaching the final part of the opening ceremony, the most anticipated event!" Leo's voice was full of excitement. "During this segment, no matter how shocking the scene may get, please remain in your seats," he added with a mysterious smile. "After all, what you see with your own eyes may not necessarily be real."
"So, open your eyes wide, because it's about to get wild!"
Just as Leo finished speaking, a massive wave of water, towering over ten meters high, surged through the venue as if the heavens and earth were collapsing. It crashed toward the audience like a tidal wave.
The crowd screamed in terror, and people began to flee as chaos erupted. However, many were frozen in place, too stunned to react as they watched the gigantic wave descend upon them.
The speed of the wave was astonishing!
At that moment, a man in the audience remembered Leo's earlier words and shouted, "Everyone, don't panic! The organizers wouldn't deceive us!"
But just as he yelled, the wave slammed into him, swallowing him whole.
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