Chapter 18

[Torchic defeated Vulpix, gaining 100 experience points!]

[Torchic has sufficient experience, leveled up to Lv12, and learned the move Flamethrower!]

[Flamethrower: Launches a blaze at the opponent to attack. Sometimes inflicts a burn status on the opponent.]

"Vulpix has lost the ability to battle! Therefore, the winner is Su Yu!"

Even Yu Dong announced the match result with some disbelief.

"Su Yu actually won!? Am I not dreaming?"

"Damn, you are definitely not dreaming, because I just slapped myself, and it hurts!"

"Holy crap, Su Yu is actually this strong? He defeated the Gym Leader!"

The students below the arena said in disbelief.

Liang Liang Wensheng's face was also iron-green; he never dreamed Su Yu could actually defeat Wang Tao!

After all, just moments ago, he had been thoroughly crushed by Tao!

Would Torchic's victory not make his own weakness even more apparent?

It seemed he had once again become a backdrop for Su Yu!

Thinking of this, Liang Liang Wensheng gritted his teeth so hard it felt as if he wanted to crush them.

022: The Free-Spirited Senior; Su Yu Seeks Advice

Wang Tao on the field quickly accepted his defeat.

As early as the start of the match, he had sensed Su Yu's troublesome nature.

Facing such a fast Torchic, his Vulpix currently had no way to cope.

"Congratulations on your victory, junior Su Yu." Wang Tao smiled freely, unconcerned by his recent failure.

Having been a Trainer for many years, his mindset had been tempered to great maturity.

"Senior Wang Tao simply didn't use his full strength," Su Yu said modestly.

The facts were indeed so; as an experienced Gym Leader, Wang Tao was limited by Vulpix's lower level.

He simply could not manipulate the situation of the battlefield.

Even if he possessed a host of skills, Vulpix could not execute them; and even if it could, it would be relentlessly pursued and beaten by Torchic.

Torchic's level and speed were something the current Vulpix could not handle!

"Junior, there is no need for modesty; I am indeed no match for you."

"Even if you gave me another chance, the result would remain the same."

"With your strength, junior, there is great hope for you to obtain first place in this upcoming Pokémon Assessment."

Wang Tao walked over to Su Yu and emotionally patted his shoulder.

"With junior Su Yu this year, our Yunhai No. 1 High School should become famous."

At this moment, Principal Yu Dong also walked over.

Hearing Wang Tao's evaluation, the smile on the corner of his mouth could not be hidden.

"Very good, Su Yu, this time our school relies on you to make a name for us!"

"Once you obtain first place, I will definitely hang a banner at the school gate!"

Wang Tao led Su Yu back to where the students were located.

There was not a trace of depression on his face from losing to a high schooler; instead, he began to explain.

"You all saw the battle just now."

"Although the field-control tactic is very effective when implemented, it is helpless against an opponent's fast attack."

"The strength of the field-control style lies in the layered attacks once field control is established, but before the situation is formed, it is very weak."

"You can seize this flaw and launch an attack on the enemy first."

"This will basically achieve surprising results. Student Su Yu did this exceptionally well!"

The students present, seeing that Wang Tao lost the match yet did not become discouraged but instead explained his own weaknesses to them...

...all felt deep respect.

To have such a teacher was their honor.

The students present listened earnestly to Wang Tao's words, unwilling to miss even a tiny bit of information.

Through today's two battles, they had all learned a great deal.

Through the first battle between Wang Tao and Liang Liang Wensheng, they saw that the field-control style could still achieve victory even when at a type disadvantage.

And the second battle, through its failure, told them of the importance of adopting a speed attack when facing a field-control style.

It could be said that these two matches vividly interpreted the content he wished to teach today.

"Then today's lesson ends here; you may begin your own training for now."

"Remember, no matter how much you learn, it must be digested before it becomes useful!"

After speaking, Wang Tao dismissed the students.

"Thank you, Senior Wang Tao; we have all gained so much today!"

The students also expressed their thanks one after another.

As for Su Yu, after the dismissal, he approached Wang Tao.

"Junior Su Yu, do you have any further questions?"

Wang Tao asked curiously, his gaze toward Su Yu filled with appreciation.

Such a young person had a broad future ahead.

He might even become a major figure in some region.

"Senior Wang Tao, actually, I would like to ask how to daily cultivate Fire-type Pokémon."

"I want to raise my Torchic more effectively."

Su Yu straightforwardly stated his purpose.

"Raising a Torchic?" Wang Tao pondered carefully.

"Junior Su Yu, you intend to train your Torchic into a fast-attacking specialist capable of striking first every time, correct?"

"Senior, you're truly impressive; you deduced my intentions from just one match."

Su Yu readily admitted it.

"To train a Fire-type Pokémon into a speed attacker, you should incorporate some Tamato Berries into its daily diet."

"Furthermore, during routine exercises, you must frequently train the Torchic's leg muscles."

"Since the Torchic is still young, you can wait until it evolves into Combusken before starting intensive training; for now, just let it run around more."

"Moreover, in the daily life of Fire-type Pokémon..."

Su Yu and Wang Tao continued their discussion for half an hour.

During those thirty minutes, Wang Tao held nothing back, sharing all his years of experience training Fire-type Pokémon with Su Yu.

First, because Su Yu was his junior; second, because Wang Tao saw great potential in Su Yu's future and wished to invest a little more.

That way, when Su Yu eventually rose to prominence, the returns he would bring would surely be many times greater than what was being given now!

Wang Tao had always trusted his own judgment; he believed his youthful success stemmed entirely from his keen eye.

From Su Yu, he saw limitless potential.

Su Yu, too, felt he had gained immensely from Wang Tao.

After hearing Wang Tao's explanation, his ideas on raising Torchic became much clearer.

It was no wonder he was a Gym Leader; he truly knew how to raise Pokémon.

023: Preparing for the Exam, Su Yu's Confidence!

When Su Yu slowly returned to his classroom, he noticed his classmates' gazes had become even stranger.

"What's wrong with all of you?"

Su Yu asked, somewhat puzzled.

The students in Class A all looked at Su Yu with intense eagerness.

"Su Yu, I heard you actually defeated Wang Tao, the Leader of the Fire Cloud Gym, in the Battle Hall! Is it true?"

"It's already spread like wildfire through the other classes; they say Senior Wang Tao wanted to teach control tactics, but you directly found a countermeasure and defeated him."