NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Sweating Yet, Gym Leaders?
Chapter 53: Sweating Yet, Gym Leaders?
The flash of electricity intertwined with the power of water exceeded Hikaru's expectations.
Quilava rolled forward, engulfed in flames, appearing like a fiery wheel of destruction. The sight was awe-inspiring.
But...
Why did the water-energy-formed bird sparkle with electricity?
What kind of technique was this?
The audience was dumbfounded.
"Is this a Water-type move or an Electric-type move?"
Zhongyue furrowed his brow, astonished by Frogadier's absurd talent.
While he had seen unusual combinations in the wild, like Surfing Pikachu, this was on another level.
And the sheer power radiating from that electric bird—it was intimidating.
As the Quilava spun closer, charging with all its might, there was no turning back. The impact was inevitable.
The bird let out a sharp cry.
"Chirp!"
It collided with Quilava.
The fusion of water and electricity snuffed out the fire instantly, sending electric currents surging through Quilava's body. The shocking pain caused it to halt abruptly, breaking its Rollout momentum.
The audience watched in disbelief as the small, radiant electric bird overwhelmed Quilava, leaving it incapacitated.
Quilava collapsed, completely unable to continue battling.
The arena was silent.
Even Zhongyue was momentarily speechless.
This Quilava wasn't just any ordinary Pokémon. Its talent was exceptional, reaching Elite-tier in just a year. It had fought countless wild Pokémon and could activate Blaze under pressure.
But this time, it didn't even get the chance.
"What is that move?" Zhongyue finally asked, breaking the silence.
"Extreme Thunderbird," Hikaru replied with a faint smile, his delight evident.
He had tested the move in his training chamber, but seeing its true potential in battle was a different experience.
One move. One move was all it took to take down a Level 29 Quilava.
"Impressive," Zhongyue admitted, nodding. "You and your Frogadier have clearly put in a lot of effort to combine Water and Electric energy. Well done."
Zhongyue raised his hand, signaling victory. "Challenge successful!"
---
The crowd erupted in cheers, shaking the entire arena.
It wasn't uncommon for challengers to defeat a Gym Leader, but to do so with such overwhelming ease? That was unheard of.
In the VIP section, the other Gym Leaders watched Hikaru with astonishment.
"He's this strong already?"
"That Frogadier is incredible," one murmured.
"Is this really a high school sophomore?"
For the first time in a long while, the Gym Leaders felt pressure.
---
Hikaru's victory didn't just stir the audience; it sent ripples of unease among the Gym Leaders.
The Water Gym Leader leaned toward the Grass Gym Leader, muttering nervously, "What do you think? Can you handle him?"
The younger Grass Gym Leader frowned, contemplating. "Maybe… but what if Frogadier isn't even his strongest Pokémon?"
"Oh?"
The Water Gym Leader raised an eyebrow. "Then what is?"
"His Charmeleon."
"Well, in that case, good luck."
---
The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.
"Hikaru's first match ends in victory! Who will he challenge next? Let's wait and see!"
Despite the excitement, two Gym Leaders were visibly sweating.
Hikaru, however, didn't overthink his next move. Charmeleon was on the verge of reaching Gym-tier, even the gym-tier Pokemon couldn't have a chance to fight.
"I choose the Water Gym!" Hikaru declared.
The crowd cheered as he walked to the next arena.
"This time, Hikaru brings out his Kirlia!" the announcer exclaimed. "A few months ago, this Pokémon was just a small Ralts. Now it's a formidable Kirlia!"
"Facing Kirlia is… a Poliwhirl!"
The match started with a flash, and within seconds, it was over.
Kirlia's Psychic Storm, a new move learned from its recently equipped trait, created a devastating burst of psychic energy that overwhelmed Poliwhirl instantly.
---
Once again, the audience was left stunned.
Months ago, Kirlia had seemed weaker compared to Charmeleon. Now it could summon a massive psychic storm capable of wiping out a near-Gym-tier Poliwhirl in one move.
For the spectators, it felt almost absurd.
"How long has it been? And Kirlia can already defeat near-Gym-tier Pokémon in a single move?"
Even the announcer was struggling to process the match.
"Our challenger Hikaru… does it again! Another Gym Leader defeated in one strike. Can the Grass Gym Leader withstand the power of his Charmeleon?"
---
Hikaru sighed. "This announcer is throwing me under the bus," he thought.
The exaggerated commentary wasn't helping, but it certainly hyped up the crowd.
The atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Hikaru's dominant performance had reinvigorated the audience's enthusiasm, making them feel like they were winning alongside him.
For the Gym Leaders, however, the pressure was palpable.
The Grass Gym Leader, in particular, felt the weight of the arena's gaze.
Turning to the Ice Gym Leader—Aunty Yu—he whispered, "Can't you take this one for me?"
She chuckled, clearly amused.
"You're on your own, kid. If I step in now, tomorrow's headlines will accuse you of backing out of a fight."
Defeated, the Grass Gym Leader looked back at Hikaru, who stood confidently on the field.
"This is going to be rough…" he muttered, wondering if he should send out his strongest Pokémon to at least preserve some dignity.
"But even if I win… would it really count?"
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To be continued...
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