CHAPTER 731: RANKINGS RELEASED! ILLEGAL POKÉMON

Prism Tower, battle arena.

Pupitar stood clad in gray-green armor, and Sirfetch’d held its leek blade and shield, standing opposite one another.

The contrast in their physiques was striking.

Lu Ye stood outside the center line of the arena, serving as referee together with Little Rotom.

“When Larvitar hatched, Ducklett actually incubated it…” Lu Ye drifted into a momentary daze.

This intra-team match was the last inventory check of the squad before returning to Donghua.

Like opening your party screen before tackling Victory Road in a game—checking levels, making sure the right moves and items are equipped.

It also affected Teacher Lu’s household status!

“Bangii!”

Pupitar brandished both claws and let out a fierce, adorable roar.

“Gah…”

Sirfetch’d remained calm, rigid, and gave a slight nod.

Pupitar looked thoughtful.

Looks like my Intimidate doesn’t affect the senior at all…

But.

Pupitar’s eyes hardened with resolve.

This is another precious chance for me to show it how I’ve improved!

“Gah…(ﾉД`)”

Sirfetch’d felt conflicted—this, this is just impossible to go all out against!

“Sirfetch’d—”

Lu Ye shouted, “Treat this fight like a coaching match!”

Sirfetch’d’s Coaching had given the little ones crucial help early on in the team.

Back then, even Turtwig respectfully called it “Coach Sirfetch’d”… and still does now.

However, Ducklett currently lacks proper enhancement;

its raw strength is indeed inferior to Mega Blastoise.

If you want to beef up Ducklett, you'd probably have to go to Sirfetch’d’s birthplace, the Galar region, to find prospects.

Hearing Teacher Lu’s shout,

Sirfetch’d paused, then a light kindled in its sharp eyes.

A coaching match?

This is my jam!

“Gah!”

Facing the tall, ferocious Pupitar, Sirfetch’d gripped its leek, V-shaped brow smoothing into an air of unshakable composure.

Come at me, kid.

Let me witness your growth!

In an instant, the battle began!

Pupitar reared and roared, vicious sand ravaging across Prism Tower!

Sirfetch’d: (⊙ˍ⊙)

I said attack, not start weather control!

Teacher Lu’s mind raced.

Pupitar has a four-times weakness to its moves, but with that rugged physique and the frequent use of Endure Fruit, it won’t be like in the game where it can’t even take one Mach Punch. ŕ𝐚ＮŎВÊ𐌔

Pupitar, trained with the Essence of Earth, favored large-scale Earthquake and Rock Slide as its strongest attacks.

Under a sandstorm, coupled with quicksand hell, Pupitar could even use sand to implement a ‘return-punch shield’ tactic!

“Bangii—!!”

Pupitar’s fighting spirit soared, ranking among the top three in Teacher Lu’s squad.

As the desert tyrant, it proudly pulled out its signature offensive immediately in the first turn!

Gray energy swirled into jagged chunks of sharp rock around Pupitar, continuously orbiting. In the next moment, those rocks launched into the sky, riding the sandstorm’s cover, and rained down like a torrential downpour—Rock Slide screamed toward its target!!

Lu Ye’s eyes flickered;

he didn’t issue a command.

Gazing at the falling Rock Slide, Sirfetch’d did not flinch.

Instead it lowered its stance, eyes razor-sharp.

Sirfetch’d swung its leek into a dense net of blade slashes, reading the trajectories;

white sparks flew as it cut the rocks apart relentlessly!

Bang! Bang!

This move is called True Seeing, also called Miess-cut!

Teacher Lu’s expression was complicated.

This is obviously Conqueror’s Haki!

Sirfetch’d’s speed was concerning, but the way it wielded the leek carried a solid, weighty beauty.

Pupitar stomped the ground;

the earth caved and cracked, fissures spreading in all directions, releasing white light like explosions!

Rumble!!

Pupitar unleashed its proud move—Earthquake!

“Gah!!” Sirfetch’d held the leek like a lance, planted it midline, and charged straight at Pupitar.

During the rush, the lance tip began to glow gold, ending with the entire leek sheened in golden light!

“Gah!!”

Watch closely—this is an unstoppable Meteor Assault!!

Lu Ye crossed his arms, expression numb.

I should recognize this… That’s Armored Haki.

Ducklett’s Brave Bird slash also produced golden blade light… very flashy!

Earthquake roared;

light pillars erupted from the fissures and engulfed Sirfetch’d.

Then a sliver of gold pierced through the pillar first.

Wounded but unbowed, Sirfetch’d thrust like a dragon and kept charging!

Meteor Assault has two variants—thrown and non-thrown—both causing a hard recovery afterwards.

But since Sirfetch’d used it as a lance thrust, there’s no worry about throwing it away and not getting it back.

“Gah!!”

Sirfetch’d locked eyes with Pupitar.

“Bangii!”

Pupitar cracked a grin, curled its fist radiating white light, and its arm-hammer smashed toward the spear tip!!

Boom!!

A veil of black smoke rolled out.

Teacher Lu blinked.

Pupitar panted, armor scarred, yet somehow withstood Meteor Assault!

Did the arm-hammer offset some of the damage…

Seeing the little one injured, Lu Ye instinctively glanced to the side.

“Healing Pulse is ready!” Latias said cheerfully.

Lu Ye stayed silent and looked at Blastoise.

“Ka-may!ヾ(⌐■_■)” Blastoise gave a thumbs-up.

Full Recovery Potion, Revival Root, Life Drops, Healing Pulse… all ready!

Only then did Teacher Lu nod in relief.

“Rati~” Latias drooped a little.

On the field, Sirfetch’d leaned the leek into the ground, frozen and gasping.

When it looked up, Pupitar stomped again;

the armor swirled with a dark-red ripple, cyclones sweeping up sand!

Dragon Dance!!

“Gah! (´థ౪థ)σ” Ducklett’s eyes welled with tears.

Lu Ye’s eyes lit—this was the perfect chance to fully assess the team’s level. He raised his right hand and commanded:

“Pupitar—Mega Evolution!!”

Sirfetch’d: ???

The sandstorm intensified, vision dimmed, and Lu Ye put on dust-proof goggles.

In this weather, even attacking would be extremely difficult for the opponent.

This was Pupitar’s most important tactical role in Lu Ye’s team—weather setter!

Through the goggles’ infrared imaging, a spiked-armored beastlike Mega Pupitar roared in a burst.

Sand hammered from all sides;

Sirfetch’d felt despondent, then a lightbulb popped above its head: “Gah!”

“Gah!” Sirfetch’d swung its leek left and right, and the gust cut through flying sand, summoning a blast of wind!

Defog!

Big wind, big wind!

Mega Pupitar widened its eyes. Seeing the sand pause for a moment, Sirfetch’d leapt out at high speed!

“Gah!” Sirfetch’d vaulted high and slashed downward;

the blade tip emitted a critical green Leaf Blade!

But the faster mover was the Dragon Danced Pupitar!

Pupitar’s body gleamed with a silver sheen, appearing steel-like with diamond luster.

Energy concentrated on Pupitar’s head—Iron Head met the slash head-on!

“Gah!” Sirfetch’d held the blade horizontally;

sparks flew with a ‘clang’, and Sirfetch’d was knocked backward.

The blade stuck in the ground;

Sirfetch’d plowed backward several meters while sand pelted down!

After a stunned silence,

“Gah…” Sirfetch’d lay down and stared with spiraled eyes.

“Beep-beep… Winner, Pupitar, Roto!”

Pupitar de-Mega’d and scratched its head weirdly: “Bangii…”

Why did senior suddenly stop…

Lu Ye stroked his chin.

A peak Elite Four Sirfetch’d losing to a Dragon Danced Mega Pupitar is normal.

But… was it because of coaching?

It felt like Ducklett had held back—no, had released the seas of origin…

The first round of drills ended.

Medics hurried forward to restore everyone.

“Nimi~” Victini’s V-mark glowed red as it spread energy with open arms.

“Melo~” Meloetta’s gentle song eased the tired ones.

Teacher Lu roughly assessed Pupitar’s rank.

Normally an Elite Four level, and after Mega Evolution, peak Elite Four.

Taking on the Victory Road Elite Four would be fine;

challenging the Champion would be somewhat difficult.

Lu Ye glanced at Ducklett, still pretending to be dead.

“Gah…_(:3 ⌒ﾞ)_”

I’m lying flat, quack~

Teacher Lu shook his head gently.

Understood—when it’s time to fight Legendary Pokémon, I’ll send you out as a sacrificial meat shield, then you won’t hold back!

Second match.

Pupitar versus Arcanine!

Arcanine’s role in Teacher Lu’s team lay in Intimidate, joint defense, Morning Sun field control, and also acting as a Sunny Day setter.

Arcanine’s moveset coverage was extremely diverse: Solar Beam, Wild Charge, Heat Crash.

If this were a four-move-limited match, Arcanine’s set could be as nasty as Dan Emperor’s Charizard.

In addition, Arcanine’s recoil moves like Wild Charge and Flare Blitz could harness intertwined power.

Intertwined power is the crossover energy between lightning and fire—more powerful but more taxing on the user.

This allowed Arcanine to adopt a berserker blood-selling playstyle: amplify recoil moves with intertwined power—then heal back with the Flame of Life!

Teacher Lu shivered.

This, this won’t get reported by others, will it…

He thought the opponent would be Mondo, but it was Olaf with Mondo-level moves!

In rank terms, Arcanine was currently a Champion main, and thus showed dominance over Pupitar.

“Roowr!!”

Arcanine opened its mouth and spewed not flames but a vibrant green beam of life energy!

Rumble!

Sirfetch’d: “Gah…(⊙ˍ⊙)”

Good thing I didn’t go out… facing Arcanine would have been awful.

Not about strength.

This was pure food-chain pressure!

Lu Ye: “How did you wake up so fast?”

“Gah…_(´ཀL`」∠)” Sirfetch’d immediately collapsed.

Medic, I need treatment!

Lu Ye: “……”

Everyone’s really going all-out on the acting…

Unexpectedly for Teacher Lu,

Third match was Togepi versus Arcanine.

“Chagi-duyi~(ﾉ´▽｀)ﾉ♪”

Togepi waggled a finger.

A piercing blade of light cut from nothing and sliced away a strand of Arcanine’s fur;

the slash missed but ‘sssh’—it cleaved a ripple in space!

“Awoo…щ(ﾟДﾟщ)” Arcanine stared dumbfounded.

Darkrai: “Su-subspace Slash? Σ(ﾟДﾟ;

)”

Togepi can pull that out with Metronome?!

Lu Ye froze, expression complex.

Haunter and Darkrai hadn’t learned that move.

Instead, Togepi randomly pulled it out!

“Awoo!”

Arcanine tentatively fired off a Fire Blast, roaring as it flew toward the little eggshell.

Togepi recalled its older brother’s gaze and raised both hands:

“Duyi! (╬◣д◢)”

Togepi’s eyes sharpened!

Lu Ye: “……”

I have to settle this with A-Jin!

Then Togepi sprang up, charged at Arcanine, and cut a golden streak through the air—like a descending heavenly sword, dazzling as a falling star!

Dragon Ascent!!

Lu Ye: “What the—!”

Darkrai: “What the—!”

Clemont-Tro: “System rebooting… reboot failed!”

Boom!!

Black smoke rolled out.

Arcanine’s massive body caved into the wall;

its wise eyes full of bewilderment: “Awoo…”

Lu Ye looked up at the sky.

Togepi could pull out Dragon Ascent… because of that Prismatic Meteor shard.

Earlier, that meteor fragment had been used to Mega Evolve Rayquaza and then remained with Teacher Lu.

They said Togepi’s eggshell was stuffed with lots of happiness;

if treated gently, it shares that luck with its trainer.

Whether Togepi shared the luck, Lu Ye didn’t know.

But without any command from him, Togepi produced Dragon Ascent on its own…

“What use is this trainer!” Lu Ye wailed in despair.

Fourth match: Togepi versus Blastoise.

“Tuduyi…” Togepi made an adorable bow.

“Ka-may!”

Blastoise braced as if facing a dire enemy, and rapidly set up three layers of Iron Defense, stacking armor.

Clearly, Arcanine’s earlier defeat had put a lot of pressure on Blastoise!

Then Blastoise formed a Water Ring;

the curtain shimmered with Life Drop luster and even had detoxifying properties.

Lu Ye rubbed his brow and let Togepi and Blastoise stare each other down while he drifted into thought.

On the team, Blastoise was a top-tier damage dealer;

after Mega Evolution, it belonged at Champion peak.

Once it mastered Core Disturbance, it might even contend for battle-legend status.

On the field, Togepi squatted down and started playing a handheld game.

Blastoise retreated into its shell and kept stacking defenses…

If this went on, night might fall before a victor decided.

Lu Ye: “……By fatigue rules, count Blastoise into the next round.”

To restore defensive honor, it is our duty!

Fourth match.

Sylveon vs. Blastoise.

For fairness,

Teacher Lu kindly had Haunter blow a Black Mist to clear all stat boosts from Blastoise.

Graceful and charming, Sylveon stepped onto the field with pink ribbons scattering crystalline sparkles, then opened her clear blue eyes.

“Bu-bii! (#｀皿´)”

Sylveon is majestic!

“Ka-may…” Blastoise’s brow sweated.

The big sister’s presence pressed tighter and tighter…

A palm-sized Fairy Plate slowly floated up and hovered over Sylveon, emitting a crystalline light that sank into her.

Fairy energy filled the air;

Sylveon’s white fur seemed glazed with a halo of radiance—beautiful and elegant.

Blastoise frowned.

With Geomancy in play, you can’t trade buff wars with the big sister!

“Ka-may!” Blastoise decided immediately, launching a water column from his feet that wrapped his body and burst into spray.

Blastoise’s momentum surged;

eyes sharpened and the cannons readied!

Full health, Torrent!!

Lu Ye’s face was complicated.

When we faced Primal Kyogre it was probably red-blood Torrent… not sure if Torrent locks HP…

“Bu-bii!”

Sylveon did not hold back;

a dazzling brilliance spread over her body as energy from all around condensed into white light and flowed into her.

Visible charge-up covered the whole arena—this was Xerneas’s Geomancy!

With the Fairy Plate and Xerneas’s help,

Sylveon grasped the signature move faster than Blastoise or Pupitar!

Darkrai crossed his arms and twitched.

In just half a month he watched Sylveon grow to Champion caliber.

With the Fairy Plate and Geomancy, the Sylveon before them matched, if not exceeded, the Blastoise that had faced Primal Kyogre!

No flashy gimmicks.

Blastoise’s expression hardened;

its cannons fired two full-power Hydro Cannons!!

Rumble!!

Like thunder, the twin Hydro Cannons merged and roared, a surging water column blasting at Sylveon!

In front of Sylveon, overlapping Light Screens shone, enhanced by Lunar Power to glimmer crystal-clear!

Boom!!

The Hydro Cannon shattered the Light Screens—one, two, three layers broken—and struck Sylveon!

“Bu-bii!!”

Sylveon gritted her teeth, staggered back from the impact, but with astonishing Special Defense she endured the Hydro Cannon hit.

“Ka-may…” Blastoise’s gaze was extremely grave.

Facing a Sylveon boosted by Geomancy, white fur glowing and eyes fierce.

“Bu-bii! (▼皿▼#)”

“Blastoise—Mega Evolution!!”

“Ka-may!!”

A brilliant light burst across the arena.

Hum—

Mega Blastoise’s pupils glowed red;

a protrusion rose on the forehead and a gigantic cannon mounted on its back. Launchers lined its arms like submachine guns.

However, Blastoise was still in Hydro Cannon’s hard-recovery pose, standing rigid with furrowed brow, only able to spout a water globe skyward with its back cannon!

Water Pulse!

The water mass splintered into segments like a waterfall from the heavens, crashing down!

With Geomancy’s full 100% amplification, plus Sylveon’s already impressive Special Defense…

Teacher Lu didn’t worry about Sylveon taking damage;

he worried about Blastoise’s medical bills!

“Oh no!”

Seeing the annihilating white glare erupt from Sylveon’s mouth, Lu Ye’s eyelids twitched.

He had thought nothing could hurt Blastoise…

He’d forgotten the intra-team match included the big sister!

“Bu-bii!!”

Sylveon unleashed a dazzling Hyper Beam;

a tide of light swallowed the braced Mega Blastoise!!

Lu Ye’s eyelids jumped.

It was impossible to calculate… the Hyper Beam’s power registered at thirteen thousand!

The little ones’ expressions varied.

“Gengarrr~o(ﾟДﾟ)っ！”

“Gah…(´థ౪థ)σ”

“Beep-beep… unable to comprehend, Roto! o(TヘTo)”

Black smoke dissipated.

Mega Blastoise reverted, half-kneeling on the ground;

its shell smoked. It looked back at its shell and slowly raised a claw: “Ka-may…”

Everyone was shaken.

The invincible Blastoise had fallen!

“Bu-bii~” Sylveon proudly swished her ribbons.

Who dares call themselves invincible;

who claims to be unbeatable!

Silence fell across the arena. The aftershock of Hyper Beam blew through Latias’s Light Screen and rattled Prism Tower.

Teacher Lu swallowed.

This—this is a Sylveon with the Fairy Plate as an item!

He glanced at Clemont-Tro and found it frozen in crash mode.

“Gengarrr…” Haunter looked up blankly at Lu Ye.

Lu Ye: “No more fighting… call the renovation team first…”

…

Dusk fell.

Teacher Lu’s intra-team rankings came out hot.

In order: Haunter, Sylveon, Blastoise, Togepi, Arcanine, Pupitar, Sirfetch’d.

Even referee Little Rotom personally stepped into a match and narrowly lost to Sirfetch’d.

Haunter at the top as a trainer’s partner was indisputable.

Sylveon beating Mega Blastoise was quite the “surprise”…

Lu Ye finally understood: his Pokémon each secretly carried unique tricks!

Before returning to Donghua,

Teacher Lu decided to do a long-awaited livestream and announce his plan to challenge Victory Road.

The script was set.

Sinnoh’s script would be titled Sinnoh Son-in-Law…

This stream—this one’s called The War God's Return!