69novels Chapter 235 Explosion - The Battle Begins
Chapter 235 Explosion - The Battle Begins
The light surrounding Victini became even more dazzling, once again illuminating the dim interior of the Tower of Heaven.
This shows that the mythical Pokémon has fully understood the current situation and is releasing a bright flame symbolizing victory to witness the all-out battle between the challenger and the champion.
In a sense, the passion that trainers unleash in battle is the true source of Victini's power. Now, being able to witness this championship match up close, the little guy is overjoyed, as if the frustration of being imprisoned by Team Plasma has been completely swept away.
"This is my summoning spirit."
Hugo walked back to the center of the field and, without saying a word, let the Poké Ball in his hand fall to the ground along with his words.
Place all your Pokémon in preparation on the ground in front of you, and pick up a Poké Ball and throw it at the start of the match – this is a championship final format that was abandoned by the regular league matches more than a decade ago.
The reason for designing the rules this way is that it allows trainers and their partner Pokémon to be at the center of the battle from the very beginning of the competition, showcasing the strength of both the trainer and the Pokémon, and testing their teamwork.
However, in modern times, trainers have become increasingly reluctant to personally participate in intense battles, preferring more elegant battle styles. Furthermore, television-broadcast league matches have faced numerous restrictions, requiring the avoidance of graphic depictions of trainers being directly injured. Consequently, the format of the finals has had to be compromised and changed.
However, this format is of great significance to the Ardek Champions – during the period when the aging Volcarona was active in the arena, the Championship Challenge adopted this format. This special competition mechanism witnessed Ardek and Volcarona's journey from mediocrity to the pinnacle, witnessing their true golden age.
For this reason, Alderk put his six starting Pokémon into a Poké Ball in advance and placed it in the center of the battlefield.
How Hugo, this young man, chooses his Pokémon is his business, but in this serious battle, Alder must stand firmly with his partner.
However, Hugo seemed to have anticipated this, clearly familiar with the special rules. He skillfully threw the Poké Ball, repeating Alder's previous pre-match preparations.
As the black-clad detective's entrance lineup was tossed from his fingertips and rolled silently to the ground, the air in the arena instantly became deathly still.
It was still late at night, and Victini's light couldn't penetrate the translucent Poké Ball, so the Pokémon that both sides had sent out were still unknown.
But the focus of everyone's attention was clearly not on the ball itself.
As is well known, a human hand has five fingers, making people particularly sensitive to quantities up to five. If shown one, two, three, four, or five objects, they can quickly answer the question about the number of objects within a similar timeframe. However, when there are more than six objects, the response time increases, and the increase in response time is directly proportional to the increase in the number of objects.
Without the slightest hesitation, astonishment surged through everyone's minds like an electric shock.
Hugo placed four Poké Balls on the ground.
Isn't this an all-out six-on-six battle?
"Hey, what's wrong with that detective?" Alice frowned in annoyance beside the dumbfounded Wanlong Tianwang.
"I watched him busy himself with the transmission device at the Pokémon Center for ages, and in the end he only managed to find four Pokémon that could participate in the battle..."
The girl suddenly thought of another possibility and couldn't help but shiver.
"No, wait a minute, could it be... that there's only one outside helper inside, and the other three Pokémon are still... No way, it can't be like this, right?"
.
"Your name is Hugo, is that right? Young man, aren't you underestimating this old man from the Union?"
Even the magnanimous and open-minded Champion Alder couldn't help but feel a hint of anger in his voice as he looked at the four lonely Poké Balls in front of him.
Bictini, who had just become a referee, noticed the emotional fluctuations among the contestants and took the initiative to fly to the center of the field.
The little guy flew around the Poké Balls that the two of them had placed, counted several times on his tiny three-fingered paws, and then turned to look at Hugo.
The large, azure eyes blinked repeatedly, clearly trying to confirm whether the detective still had the remaining two elves hidden.
"As a Pokémon trainer, I am still inexperienced, so this is all the effort I can put in."
The detective in black kept his head down, making it impossible to read his expression.
"However, there is no rule in the world that challengers must have the mindset of defeating their opponents before stepping into the ring. To be honest, standing here and now, I have absolutely no confidence in defeating you, Champion Ardek. Therefore, it is not a matter of looking down on you or taking you seriously. It is just a hasty decision to give it a try. If Champion Ardek regards such awareness as contemptible recklessness, then I have nothing to say and can only nod in agreement."
"Neither certain to lose nor certain to win, just a trial? In that case, you do possess an unusually strange level of awareness... Well, seeing is believing, so let me experience it for myself."
The aging champion assumed a sprinting stance, his wide sleeves fluttering and billowing, scattering a trail of shadows on the ground—
"Let me make it clear beforehand, you are not allowed to complain about not having enough Pokémon to fight after a defeat, or I will really get angry."
“That’s how it should be.” Hugo interlaced his fingers and stretched out his arms in front of him, making a popping sound from his knuckles.
The huge V-shaped ears on Victini's head glowed red, and with a long, drawn-out cry, flames of astonishing heat gradually rose around its body.
"Ti-Tini!"
The duel begins!
Alder leaped forward, his agile figure belying his advanced age, and the champion reached the Poké Ball in less than two large steps.
With a bent back and outstretched arms, his rough, weathered hands reached straight for the Poké Ball carrying his partner.
"Meet your long-lost students, Mr. Adek."
It was as if the detective's voice could be heard faintly from five meters away, yet he stood rooted to the spot, completely motionless.
Instead, one of the red and white Poké Balls on the opposite side began to shake violently, and an astonishing power gradually emanated from it as it shook.
On par with Volcarona... no, it's an opponent that's even stronger than Volcarona in its normal state!
What is the background of that young man in black?
"So it really is that Pokémon?" Wanlong sighed softly. She had had this premonition ever since she saw Hugo climbing the tower. Mr. Alderk must be very surprised right now.
I just wonder which of those two Pokémon will jump out of that Poké Ball?
Of course, being in the thick of it, Adek didn't have time to think much at the moment, and he resolutely reopened the Poké Ball of the old Volcarona.
But just as the sun was about to shine brightly again over the entire Tower of Heaven, the opponent appeared.
The opponent's Pokémon broke free from the Poké Ball's restraints on its own!
Its deep blue skin was rough and hard, the bulge on its head resembled a warhammer swinging left and right, there was an inverted five-pointed star-shaped yellow spot on the tip of its nose, and its sharp teeth gleamed with a cold light.
In the legends of Sinnoh and Unova, there exist legendary dragon-type Pokémon whose power is almost capable of splitting the heavens and earth. They can cleave space and time, shake the universe, or unleash thunder that can burn the earth to ashes...
But in Hugo's mind, there was only one strongest dragon from beginning to end.
That was his original starter spirit.
“Re-tread.”
With absolute confidence, the detective gave the order.