Chapter 537: Meganium

Very soon.

Clavell and Professor Bai Bai Leiya, who led the Blueberry Academy team, completed their discussions and finalized the specific battle rules.

Blueberry Academy would field a total of seven students, ordered by age and academic year, namely—

Arios, Lacey, Carmine, Kieran, Du Ruo, Snipe, and Koyomi.

Meanwhile, the seven students fielded by Grape Academy were—

Rika, Joy Shizuka, Hearing Hearing Nimo, Arven, Momo, Ai Li Qi Si, and Shinji.

It could be said that all of them were students personally cultivated by Luo Mu over the past year.

After sending Geeta away, Luo Mu's gaze met Adak's across the distance.

The corners of Adak's mouth curled upward as he cast a look imbued with the meaning, "Want to have a match?"

Of course, this did not mean that Adak and Luo Mu were about to begin a third showdown.

Just as Luo Mu had cultivated Hearing Hearing Nimo and the others at Grape Academy,

Adak, who had become a teacher at Blueberry Academy about three months ago, had already taken charge of the academy's Battle Club affairs and was personally instructing Du Ruo and the others.

Hearing Hearing Nimo and her group had grown, but so had Du Ruo and theirs.

Who would win and who would lose could only be determined by having a match.

The battle rules were no longer the double battles or single-trainer double battles commonly seen at Blueberry Academy.

Instead, they were restricted to deploying three Pokémon each, featuring one-on-one 3VS3 single battles between individual students.

Since there were seven matches, the probability of a tie resulting in similar scores was low; it could be said that the competition relied entirely on the pure strength of each individual student.

Time slipped by quietly, and once all preparations were complete, they quietly arrived at the stage for both sides to "trash talk."

On the vast Sun Plaza, seven people faced off against seven others, making Luo Mu, who stood aside with arms crossed, feel as though he were currently on the set of a neighboring xianxia film, watching a seven-versus-seven academy team battle.

Beside him, Nurse Nurse Mimosha, now changed into a white lab coat, asked Luo Mu in a soft voice, "Why aren't you anxious at all, Director? Generally speaking, shouldn't you be the most nervous one in this situation?"

Luo Mu raised an eyebrow and replied without hesitation, "I've done everything that needs to be done; the rest is up to them. Why should I panic?"

He believed that under the near-24-hour non-stop Pokémon battle devil training orchestrated by Hearing Hearing Nimo with his approval, the strength of the several students must have improved rapidly.

Even Ai Li Qi Si and Shinji, whose talents as Trainers were strictly speaking slightly weaker, might perhaps unleash unexpected combat power.

Of course.

The premise for all of this still required them to face the opponents they were supposed to face.

After all, the order of matches this time offered no possibility for him to rig the results; it was a pure lottery, and who met whom was entirely up to fate.

Thinking of this, Luo Mu reined in his thoughts, ignored Cassiopeia who was trying to get his attention, and focused his attention on the center of the plaza.

Clavell and Bai Bai Leiya randomly selected spectators to create the "lots" needed for the draw and proceeded to draw them.

Before long, under the selection of a little girl about five years old, the first matching pair was revealed.

After taking turns reading the two slips of paper, Clavell and Bai Bai Leiya announced together, "The first match of the friendship exchange tournament between Grape Academy and Blueberry Academy features the following opponents—"

"Joy Shizuka VS Carmine!"

A wave of exclamation rose from the surroundings, especially among the citizens of Mesagoza, who had spontaneously begun organizing themselves to cheer for Shizuka.

It was evident that during her time as one of the three Nurse Joys of Mesagoza, she must have accumulated an excellent reputation.

Not to mention that the matter of a Nurse Joy abandoning medicine for martial arts was itself incredibly legendary; hadn't everyone seen that group of reporters with green light shining in their eyes, frantically recording something in the small notebooks they carried?

The Blueberry Academy side also looked at Shizuka with some surprise.

They had been saying why Shizuka looked so familiar; it turned out that if one simply tied up her shoulder-length pink hair, which was kept slightly longer, she was the image of a Nurse Joy from their usual impressions!

Among the seven, Koyomi, whose age was about the same as Kieran's and who was considered the youngest, sighed softly, "So amazing, battling a Nurse Joy and all."

Kieran worriedly tugged at the hem of Carmine's clothes, but before he could speak, Carmine's hand landed on his head, ruffling his hair into a bird's nest.

Guessing what Kieran wanted to ask, Carmine smiled and said, "Don't worry, A-Li, I will go all out."

This could be considered a little secret between the two siblings.

They intended to prove themselves in today's battle, so there was no possibility of holding back due to their admiration for Luo Mu.

This applied to both Kieran and Carmine.

Lacey, who was arguably Carmine's best friend at the academy and also her classmate, pushed up the frames on the tip of her nose, closed her eyes, and said, "We know nothing about the opponent's lineup; be careful not to lose your cool."

In response to her friend's admonition, Carmine replied very seriously, "Of course, I will keep it in mind."

Compared to the harmonious atmosphere between the two friends, the Grape Academy side was somewhat flustered.

Momo propped up Shizuka, whose brain was so overloaded that she was nearly collapsing to the ground, and upon hearing her muttering to herself, felt momentarily speechless.

"First to appear... first to appear..."

Shizuka simply could not imagine that she, who should be at the bottom of the student rankings, would actually be the first to take the stage! As a Nurse Joy, she could remain calm and make the most composed treatment decisions even when facing emergency patients.

Yet once here, she had inexplicably started to become nervous.

Moreover, that tall girl on the opposing side looked very intimidating at first glance!

Just as Momo and the others were at a loss regarding Shizuka's condition, the expressionless Shinji had already taken practical action—

He pressed the button on the Poké Ball belonging to Chansey in Shizuka's pocket.

With a flash of Bai Guang, Chansey appeared among their group.

"Lucky."

Seeing Shizuka in such a hopeless state, Chansey helplessly shook her head.

It seemed that only she, acting as Trainer, could go into battle and command her partner—

But this approach seemed unworkable, as there were not enough Pokémon to compete.

Sighing once, Chansey walked a few steps to stand before Shizuka, her short arms glowing with Bai Guang as she swung them repeatedly.

After several waking slaps from Chansey, Shizuka finally calmed down, and her brain was no longer so chaotic.

She bowed her head in shame, and a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz sounded.

"I have calmed down."

To speak of it was shameful.

Seeing Luo Mu's high-spirited demeanor as he commanded his Chansey, she had always believed she could accomplish the same feat.

Yet her actual first appearance had nearly ended in embarrassment.

Pipa came over to help Shizuka up, smoothing things over by comforting her: "Don't worry, everyone gets nervous during their first match; just perform normally."

After the first group, under the draws of different onlookers, the allocations for the subsequent six groups were also revealed one after another.

Group Two: Paul vs. Uli; Group Three: Hearing Nimo vs. Du Ruo; Group Four: Moutan vs. Ziyu; Group Five: Peper vs. Akamatsu; Group Six: Pipa vs. Nali; Group Seven: Ai Li Qi Si vs. Ailios—truly a rather subtle set of pairings.

Luo Mu offered this assessment.

Perhaps the surrounding onlookers did not understand the implications of these pairings, but as the parties involved, the fourteen students understood them better than anyone.

Du Ruo, having reshaped his Dao heart, immediately issued a harsh challenge to Hearing Nimo.

"I will win this battle!"

Even though Du Ruo was a troublemaker fond of fanning the flames, he possessed the pride of a Dragon-type Trainer.

He had never forgotten the matter of his previous defeat against the combination of Hearing Nimo and Peper, using it as a whip to spur himself on, growing to his current state.

Now, under the training of his grandfather Xia Ka and his teacher Dai Ke, he was far beyond what he had been just a few months ago! On Hearing Nimo's side, seeming to believe that Du Ruo had improved greatly during this period just as she had, her fighting spirit surged instantly, and she responded fervently: "I will also go all out to face you!"

The corner of Du Ruo's mouth twisted as he said in a teasing tone: "Don't cry if you lose~"

Bearing Paul's gaze, which seemed as if it wanted to swallow him whole, Uli, who had never seen anyone with such fierce eyes before, lowered his head, pumped himself up, and summoned his courage to say: "... Please, Duoduozhi Sect."

"Mm."

Paul, completely unaware of the lethal power of his own gaze, nodded slightly and replied coldly with a single sound.

"... Brother."

Gazing at his older, more mature version who surpassed him in every aspect, Ai Li Qi Si nervously swallowed.

As if noticing his younger brother's nervousness, Ailios revealed a kind smile, put an arm around his shoulder, and comforted him: "Do you remember what I taught you? Stay calm before a battle; don't be nervous."

"You have truly grown; being able to represent Grape Academy in battle, let us both exert our full strength and leave behind a result with no regrets."

"Look, Grandfather is watching us."

Ai Li Qi Si froze, looking in the direction Ailios indicated.

Grandfather Emperor Yan Di was there.

"Grandfather..."

Suddenly calming down, Ai Li Qi Si took a deep breath, his peripheral vision falling upon his brother who was holding him with a brilliant smile.

Relying on his understanding of his brother, he could see it clearly.

Just as classmate Paul had analyzed, his brother was currently quite absent-minded, seeming to believe victory was already assured, his entire person relaxed.

This was his chance to give his brother a huge surprise!

A trace of determined light flashed in Ai Li Qi Si's eyes.

After the opponents in each group exchanged simple words with one another.

Clavell and Bai Bai Leiya jointly presided, acting as referees to officially kick off the Academy Friendship Exchange Match.

Amidst the cheers of the citizens of Mesa City, Shizuka and Danya had already taken their positions on opposite sides of the battle field at Sun Plaza.

Clavell announced loudly: "Upon hearing the whistle, both sides, release your first Pokémon!"

The moment his voice fell, Bai Bai Leiya beside him promptly blew the whistle in her hand.

Amidst the shrill whistle, Danya and the now-calmed Shizuka simultaneously threw their Poké Balls.

"It's your turn to appear, Mightyena!"

"I'm counting on you, Venusaur!"

With a flash of light, two Pokémon simultaneously appeared on Sun Plaza.

One was a Mightyena with gray fur, resembling a brown hyena, its back and limbs covered in black fur, exuding a vicious aura.

The other was the final evolved form of Bulbasaur, the noble Pokédex number 0001, recommended by the Kanto League official authorities in the Kanto region as "suitable as a starter Pokémon for Trainers just embarking on their journey"; its skin presented a blue-green hue, overall resembling a giant reptile, with a huge flower blooming on its back supported by a trunk-like structure resembling a palm tree, its temperament calm and steady.

Mightyena were commonly found in the Hoenn region, while Venusaur was the final evolution of Bulbasaur, the Kanto League's official recommended starter for new Trainers in the Kanto region.

These two Pokémon were naturally extremely rare to the native Paldeans; their appearance immediately caused an uproar of exclamations, and it was only when Professor Turo from Grape Academy went down to educate the audience that the commotion finally subsided.

In just over a month, Shizuka's Bulbasaur had completed two evolutions; such a growth rate was inseparable from Shizuka's own cultivation methods and Hearing Nimo's devilish special training.

There was also the factor that this Bulbasaur had originally been in Professor Oak's Laboratory, repeatedly failing to be selected, thus it was already near the edge of evolution and possessed a certain connection.

But regardless, a battle between a Dark-type and a Grass/Poison-type, two Pokémon with no type disadvantage in terms of base attributes, was about to begin.

Luo Mu also focused his attention.

Danya herself was quite a pure offensive type; the moment Mightyena landed, she issued her command: "Charge forward, Fire Fang!"

Since Blueberry Academy raised starter Pokémon from every region, Danya was also very familiar with Venusaur.

Due to its size, although Venusaur had decent reaction speed, its movement speed was its fatal flaw; relying on Mightyena's speed could easily establish an advantage!

"Roar!"

Mightyena lowered its head, blazing flames igniting within its sharp teeth; it crouched low and shot forward like an arrow from a bow, its gaping maw radiating scorching heat rushing from afar to near, about to bite onto Venusaur! A Fire-type attack with excellent effectiveness, a quite correct choice.

Shizuka's choice, however, exceeded the expectations of many.

Her slightly trembling voice rang out in time.

"Ingrain!"

From around the flower on Venusaur's back, illusory emerald energy roots immediately extended, plunging straight into the ground, as spherical energy began to continuously transmit into Venusaur's body through the roots.

The Grass-type move Ingrain; at the cost of being unable to leave the field or move, it gained a means to continuously recover stamina!

The very next moment after Venusaur completed Ingrain.

Mightyena's fangs, burning with fierce flames, bit viciously onto Venusaur.

Boom! Accompanied by a violent explosion, flames completely engulfed the Venusaur, and a pained roar erupted from within.

Undoubtedly, that was the Venusaur's voice.

The super-effective Fire Fang posed far too great a threat to it.

After the dust and smoke cleared, everyone saw the Mightyena still clamped tightly onto the Venusaur's front leg, its terrifying bite force continuously inflicting damage and agony upon the Venusaur.

At this moment, the Venusaur looked exactly like prey being hunted by the Mightyena! Some parents nearby instinctively covered their children's eyes, unable to bear watching, and closed their own eyes as well.

Yet at this very moment, Joy Shizuka's mind was clearer than it had ever been.

In her thoughts, Luo Mu's various teachings from the past flashed by repeatedly.

After taking a deep breath, she shouted loudly, "Venusaur, Poison Powder!"

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(End of Chapter)