Chapter 149: If You Lack Strength, Don

"Huo La, you don't need to join today's P1 Competition, I can handle it alone!" Xiao Gang, looking at the contestant badge hanging on Huo La's chest as well, couldn't help but speak—he was still thinking of winning the match on his own to show off in front of Ai Mei.

Huo La withdrew his gaze from the corner of the arena, turned his head back, and shrugged at Xiao Gang: "I'm just so poor I want to earn a bit of money."

The Champion prize of the P1 Grand Prize Competition includes, besides the honor‑bearing belt, a reward of, 000 League Coins, and for Huo La, who is still owing a Hiring Fee, that money is more tangible than anything.

At that moment, the broadcast in the center of the arena roared to life, the announcer's stirring voice echoing throughout: "Thanks for waiting, everyone! Pokemon Fighting Grand Prize Competition — P1 Grand Prize Competition, now officially begins!"

The previously noisy arena fell silent in an instant, all eyes converging on the battle stage at the center, even the air seemed to tighten a few degrees.

"Alright! Next, let's invite the contestants to the stage!" the announcer's voice rang again, "First, with a warm round of applause, welcome last year's P1 Fighting Grand Prize Competition Champion — Nan Jia Ye, and his partner Zhan Wu Lang!"

Spotlights instantly swept toward the entrance, and a fair‑looking man emerged with a brown‑blue Pokemon—the Zhan Wu Lang wore a red Martial Arts Uniform, standing tall, eyes sharp, exuding power.

The whole venue erupted in thunderous cheers, and many spectators held signs bearing the name "Nan Jia Ye."

"It's actually Battle Wolf, that's rare." Xiao Gang rested his hand on his chin, his gaze full of professional scrutiny, "As the evolution line of the Fearless Kid, Battle Wolf requires attack and defense to be perfectly equal to evolve, making it far harder than Savage Wolf and Abyssal Beast. But precisely because of that, its overall stats are more balanced, with both offense and defense outstanding."

Huo La nodded—he had also seen from the system panel that this Zhan Wu Lang was of high level, its move proficiency maxed out, truly a formidable opponent.

"Next up is last year's P1 Fighting Grand Prize Competition runner‑up — Dong Ni, and his partner Abyssal Beast!"

As the announcer introduced, a middle‑aged man in a white Martial Arts Uniform stepped forward, his Abyssal Beast wearing red gauntlets, muscular lines defined, each step exuding an intimidation, — it was Ai Mei's father and his Abyssal Beast.

The audience roared again, many shouting the chant "Go Dong Ni!"

"Following that, entering now is last year's P1 Fighting Grand Prize Competition third place — Xiang Shan, and his partner Guai Li!"

A burly bald man strode into the arena, followed by a four‑armed Guai Li; each swing of Guai Li's fist produced a "whoosh" as the air was struck, radiating sheer Deterrent Power.

Dozens of veteran contestants followed in turn, each bringing an experienced Fighting-type Pokemon, and the arena's atmosphere grew ever more heated.

"Finally entering are the two last‑minute registered traveling Trainers — Mr. Xiao Gang, and Mr. Huo La!"

The spotlights finally fell on Xiao Gang and Huo La, the two locked eyes, and walked side by side toward the center of the arena.

They were met not with cheers but with sparse applause, and some whispered, "Who are these two? I've never seen them."

"Probably just here to fill numbers; they should be eliminated in the first round."

To that, Huo La was indifferent—after all his goal was the prize money; Xiao Gang, however, felt a bit resentful, clenching his fists.

The draw results came quickly; nineteen contestants were split into nine pairs for head‑to‑head matches, and Xiao Gang's luck held, granting him a bye into the next round.

Huo La, however, wasn't so "lucky"; his opponent was a yellow‑haired youth accompanied by a Wrist Power, whose gaze at Huo La was full of contempt—staff said this was his second time in the P1 Competition, having reached the second round last year.

"Heh, a last‑minute rookie, don't think knowing a few Combat Techniques lets you just fill a slot." The youth twisted his mouth, his tone dripping sarcasm, "I'll show you that a Fighting Championship is nothing like the League Challenge you play! Go, Wrist Power!"

Wrist Power leapt, landing steadily on the field, assuming a fighting stance, fists clenched with a crackle, eyes ferociously fixed on the opponent.

Huo La rolled his eyes, too lazy for small talk, and tossed his Pokeball: "Go, Snorlax!"

"Snor—" with a lazy call, the massive Snorlax landed on the field, shaking the ground with a gentle tremor.

It looked down from its height at Wrist Power, the size gap making Wrist Power seem like a child before a giant.

"It's actually Snorlax?!" Xiao Gang, standing in the audience, widened his eyes in surprise.

He had expected Huo La to send out a balanced Nidoqueen, but was surprised that Huo La switched to Snorlax instead.

Not only Xiao Gang, but the entire audience and other contestants erupted—no one had ever seen anyone bring a Snorlax to a Fighting Championship.

It's not that Snorlax can't be used, but the creature eats excessively; its daily feed consumption alone is beyond what a normal Trainer can bear, let alone training it in Fighting-type Moves.

"Th‑this judge! He must have broken the rules!" the crooked‑mouth youth shouted at Snorlax's massive body, his voice trembling, pointing at Huo La, "How can a Snorlax enter a Fighting Championship? Its size is utterly unfair!"

The judge approached, examined Snorlax closely, then cross‑checked the skill records on the entry list, finally shaking his head: "According to the rules, Snorlax knows 'Million‑ton Heavy Punch' and 'Brick Break' among its Fighting-type Moves, meeting the entry requirements, not a violation; the match continues."

Huo La grinned, waving at Snorlax: "Snorlax, don't waste time with him, use Million‑ton Heavy Punch!"

"Snorlax!" Snorlax raised its massive arm, gathering colossal energy, and hammered Wrist Power with a crushing punch!

"Wrist Power, dodge now! No, block!" the crooked‑mouth youth panicked, his commands garbled.

Yet before the absolute power gap, everything was futile.

Snorlax's fist struck Wrist Power, the overwhelming force flinging Wrist Power outward, slamming heavily into the arena's edge netting, instantly rendering it unable to fight, not even a grunt.

"Wrist Power is unable to fight, Snorlax wins!" the judge raised the flag, loudly announcing the result.

Huo La recalled Snorlax, turned, and walked out of the arena.

Passing the crooked‑mouth youth, he halted, deliberately sizing him up, smacking his lips: "If you lack strength, don't imitate others' crooked smiles to look cool; you think you're some online 'Crooked‑Mouth War God'? But you aren't wrong about one thing: a Fighting match truly can't compare to the Pokemon League."

After speaking, he left without looking back, leaving the youth flushed, standing speechless with anger, while suppressed laughter rippled from the crowd.