Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 107: You're a Champion, Stop Taking My Points…

Cheng Feng, a finalist in the Xiang Province High School League, stood dumbfounded.

Now facing Hikaru, the champion of the same league, he couldn't believe his bad luck.

"Aren't you supposed to aim higher, Hikaru? Why are you here grinding in the qualifiers?"

He felt an odd mix of admiration and despair. "Why does a champion even need to participate in the qualifiers? Can't you let us mere mortals have a shot?"

Before Hikaru could send out his Pokémon, Cheng Feng hurriedly addressed the Rotom referee.

"Uh, Rotom, my Pokémon needs rest. I can't accept the challenge right now!"

"Rotom confirmed: Cheng Feng declines Hikaru's challenge," the referee buzzed.

Hikaru raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"Lucario?" Lucario tilted its head, equally puzzled.

Cheng Feng crossed his arms and sighed dramatically. "Hikaru, I can't afford to let you take my points! Everyone knows you're leagues above us. If you use Lucario, my Ampharos might as well be a practice dummy."

"Oh, I see." Hikaru glanced around, noticing other trainers in the vicinity exchanging wary glances.

They had overheard Cheng Feng's remarks and were now subtly edging away, avoiding eye contact.

"Darn it, I forgot about this!" Hikaru groaned. "Alright, Lucario, Larvitar, let's head back."

Half an hour later, Hikaru returned to the same park, but this time wearing his Mirage Mask.

With the mask activated, Hikaru's aura was subtly altered to make him appear like an average trainer.

Stepping into the bustling square, Hikaru boldly shouted, "Who wants a match? I'm only using Larvitar or Lucario!"

The announcement drew immediate attention. Several trainers, who had been hesitating to find opponents, now perked up.

To many, the opportunity to battle a single, low-level Pokémon sounded like easy points.

"Hey, buddy, are you serious about only using Larvitar or Lucario?" A young man with a wolf-cut hairstyle approached.

"Absolutely," Hikaru replied with a confident smile, gesturing to his Larvitar and Lucario.

Larvitar puffed out its chest and struck a proud pose, clearly eager to prove itself.

Despite its best efforts to look intimidating, its diminutive size made the gesture more endearing than imposing.

"Alright, I'll take you on. I'm Liu Feng!" the challenger said, pulling out a Poké Ball.

"And I'm… uh, just call me Mask," Hikaru responded with a smirk.

Within moments, a Rotom referee floated down.

"Registering match: Contestant 666 (Mask) vs. Contestant 2854 (Liu Feng). Selected Pokémon: Larvitar vs. Charmeleon."

"Charmeleon, let's go!" Liu Feng shouted as he sent out his Pokémon.

The fiery lizard roared as it emerged, its flame-tail blazing brightly.

[Pokémon: Charmeleon

Ability: Blaze

Gender: Male

Talent: Master-tier

Level: 31

Moves: Growl, Tail Whip, Scratch, Fire Punch, Fire Spin, Flamethrower…]

The spectators murmured in appreciation. Despite not being fully evolved, Charmeleon exuded strength and determination.

Larvitar, meanwhile, tilted its head as if unimpressed.

"Larvitar?" (What's this? It doesn't even compare to Boss Charizard.)

Hikaru chuckled at Larvitar's skepticism. "Remember, it hasn't evolved yet."

"Begin!" Rotom announced.

"Charmeleon, Smokescreen!" Liu Feng commanded.

Charmeleon spat out a dense cloud of black smoke, quickly obscuring the battlefield.

"Larvitar, Screech!" Hikaru countered immediately.

The high-pitched soundwave tore through the smoke, disrupting Charmeleon's strategy.

The vibrations even forced some of the smoke to dissipate, revealing the fire-type Pokémon lurking within.

"Flamethrower!" Liu Feng yelled.

"Stone Edge, then Screech again!" Hikaru ordered.

Larvitar stomped the ground, summoning jagged rocks that shot upward, deflecting the incoming flames.

Simultaneously, another ear-splitting screech echoed across the battlefield, further lowering Charmeleon's defenses.

Charmeleon hesitated, clearly feeling the effects of Larvitar's attacks.

"Rock Slide!" Hikaru called out.

Larvitar summoned a large boulder and hurled it at Charmeleon.

"Fire Punch!" Liu Feng responded.

Charmeleon's flaming fist smashed into the rock, shattering it. However, the fragmented stones still caused minor injuries.

"How is it holding up so well?" Liu Feng muttered, his confidence wavering.

Spectators began to murmur among themselves.

"Isn't Larvitar supposed to be weak at this stage? How is it standing toe-to-toe with a mid-stage evolution?"

"Charmeleon's still stronger, right?"

"Fire Spin!" Liu Feng shouted.

Charmeleon surrounded Larvitar in a vortex of flames, trapping it.

"Push through and use Mud-Slap!" Hikaru commanded.

Despite the fire swirling around it, Larvitar stood its ground and launched clumps of mud at Charmeleon, hitting it squarely.

Charmeleon stumbled, its flame-tail burning even brighter as its Blaze ability activated.

"Flamethrower!" Liu Feng seized the moment.

But just as Charmeleon unleashed its full power, its tail flame flickered and dimmed.

"What?!" Liu Feng gasped.

Hikaru smirked. The Suppression effect of his "Judgment" trait had just nullified 50% of Blaze's power.

"Larvitar, Iron Head—finish it!" Hikaru called.

With a resounding roar, Larvitar charged forward, its glowing head slamming into Charmeleon with immense force.

The fiery lizard collapsed, unable to continue.

"Charmeleon is unable to battle! Contestant 666 wins!" Rotom declared.

Liu Feng stared at the battlefield in disbelief. His powerful Charmeleon had just been bested by a tiny Larvitar.

"Your Larvitar's a monster…" Liu Feng muttered, shaking his head as he recalled his Pokémon.

Hikaru simply smiled, gently patting Larvitar on the head. "Good work, buddy."

Larvitar puffed out its chest once more, its confidence reaching new heights.

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