Chapter 10: The Choice of Strategic Concession?

"This kid, his eye is really poisonous!" Professor Oak, watching the fire circle gradually taking shape on the field, couldn't help laughing out loud, his tone full of helpless admiration.

"A few days ago I slacked off and didn't clear the weeds on the field, and he turned them into a tactical aid. But this isn't a Grass-type exclusive arena; even if these wild weeds burn out, they'll only last a minute."

"Hmm, at most a minute." Huo La nodded in agreement, his gaze never leaving the battlefield, "And Squirtle is Water-type; as long as it wants, it can use Water Gun to extinguish the fire at any time. Red is probably trying to use this minute to force Squirtle to choose—either extinguish the fire and expose a defensive gap, or keep retracting its shell and spinning, draining stamina."

Professor Oak, hearing that, gave Huo La a deep look, then gently shook his head: "What you say makes sense, but Red's intentions are probably not that simple."

Seeing Huo La's puzzled expression, he didn't elaborate, just lifted his chin: "Keep watching, the result is coming soon."

Huo La followed his gaze and indeed saw the fire circle firmly enclosing Squirtle at the center, and the once rapid-spinning Squirtle had visibly slowed, as if the top were running out of energy.

"Could it use Water Gun?" Huo La thought this, and then saw Squirtle completely stop spinning, its shell dropping heavily to the ground; after a while it slowly poked its head out—its eyes half‑open, its head still slightly wobbling, clearly having fainted.

"Squirtle has lost combat ability, Red wins!" Professor Oak raised his hand at the right moment, announcing the result.

Then raising his voice, as if answering Huo La's question and explaining to everyone present: "When Squirtle spins at high speed, its stamina consumption is already huge, and its oxygen intake efficiency is far lower than normal."

"Red burned the weeds to create the fire circle; on one hand the flames consume surrounding oxygen, on the other the spin generates airflow that acts like a 'shield', trapping the thin air inside the circle, forming a high‑temperature suffocating micro‑environment."

"Under the dual pressure of stamina depletion and hypoxia, Squirtle naturally collapses into fainting."

After hearing the explanation, Huo La's eyes also flashed with light, carefully pondering Professor Oak's words.

It turned out Red's core tactic wasn't "forcing a choice," but "using the environment to create a lethal weakness"; this control of battlefield details is definitely the greatest rival on the road to future champion.

Red merely gave a faint smile, saying nothing.

【5】 Xiao Mao silently walked to Squirtle's side, carefully retrieved it into a Pokeball, and when he looked up at Red, though his eyes held a trace of unwillingness, there was no resentment: "Xiao Chi Ge, I lost this time. But next time we meet, Squirtle and I will win back."

Xiao Mao silently walked to Squirtle's side, carefully put it back into the Pokeball, looked up at Red, and though his eyes held a trace of unwillingness, there was not the slightest resentment: "Xiao Chi Ge, I lost this time. But next time we meet, Squirtle and I will definitely win it back."

After speaking, he gave Red a slight bow, turned and left the battlefield without looking back. Proud as he is, he refuses to linger in the emotions of defeat.

Red subconsciously tried to call after him, but Professor Oak stopped him: "Let him go. This kid has always been proud; tasting his first defeat right out of the gate might not be a bad thing—recognizing the gap tells him where to strive."

Red thought for a moment, then ultimately withdrew his steps.

"But back to the point, you could so quickly combine the field environment, the burning reaction, and the Pokemon's condition to devise a tactic; my assessment of you back then was indeed correct," Professor Oak said, looking at Red, his tone full of satisfaction, "A born fighter—that's exactly a kid like you."

At that moment, a cold mechanical voice from the system suddenly rang in Huo La's mind:

"Mission release:

Mission type: Battle Task

Mission content: Pokemon Battle with Red

Mission time limit: 1 hour

Mission reward:

Defeat Red: Rare Candy ×5

Lose to Red: achievement title "Red's Defeated Underling", effect—next battle against Red, the deployed Pokemon's Battle Will Amplification increases."

Huo La: "???"

He stared at the task panel in his mind, momentarily both amused and exasperated.

The victory reward being Rare Candy is fine—it's a "artifact" that can directly raise a Pokemon's level—but what the heck is this failure‑reward title? Ignoring how absurd the name sounds, the effect alone… "Battle Will Amplification next time"?

Huo La mulled over the system's rewards repeatedly—though Rare Candy can quickly raise a Pokemon's level, a short‑term "weapon", the Battle Will boost from the "Red's Defeated Underling" title is clearly more valuable in the long run.

He couldn't help asking the system in his mind: "What is the ratio of Battle Will increase to combat power from the achievement? Can it stack later?"

"Searching host query… answer retrieved. The 'Red's Defeated Underling' achievement provides a base 1.25× increase to Pokemon combat power; if the host continues to lose to Red, the increase can stack; until the host defeats Red, the achievement effect reverts to the base 1.25×."

The cold mechanical voice faded, Huo La resolved completely, shaking his head helplessly: "Looks like I really have to 'strategically concede' after all."

A base 1.25× boost isn't low; if it can stack a few times, future battles with Red will see a qualitative leap in Pokemon Battle Will and combat power, especially if meeting Xiao Chi in the championship… that's far more worthwhile than the short‑term gain of five Rare Candies.

He had just clarified his thoughts when he saw Red cast a puzzled gaze at him, clearly having noticed his earlier oddity.

Huo La no longer hesitated, stepped forward and said: "Red, I also want to battle you!"

Red froze for a moment, looked down at the Charmander at his feet—the little fellow's tail flame still burned brightly, its eyes still held post‑battle excitement, clearly its Battle Will remained.

He then smiled, his tone candid: "The only Pokemon I have ready now is Charmander; Fire-type suppresses Grass-type and Bug Type, are you sure you want to fight?"

He wasn't bragging, but giving a practical warning—if he were to use the other Pokemon that has already evolved into Raichu, with Huo La's current lineup he probably couldn't even last a single turn.

Choosing Charmander was already a deliberate lowering of difficulty.

A warm feeling rose in Huo La's heart, naturally understanding Red's deliberate mention of type suppression and even the goodwill of only fielding Charmander.

He looked down at the Bulbasaur at his feet; the little one was looking up at him, its glossy black eyes full of eager anticipation, its short Vine Whip lightly tugging his pant leg.

"I know Fire-type suppresses Grass-type and Bug Type," Huo La said with a smile, "According to the rules I can only use one, so I'll choose Bulbasaur!"