Chapter 647: You Are Not Allowed to Play Pokémon! Chapter 325

Is there such a good thing?

It seems so. At the beginning, when Sylveon and Riolu hadn't grown up yet, he also used his main team to face the challenges of newcomers.

It's just that later, the Pokémon in his own team opened a bit too much, so it was not good to use them to assess newcomers.

Sylveon with Sketch + Parental Bond, Lucario with two unique martial arts of Unseen Fist and Isle of Armor, Ogerpon who looks cute but actually one-shots a Titan with one stick, plus the Shellgon who hasn't fully developed yet and will be illegal sooner or later, and legendary Pokémon like Mew and Mewtwo that can be summoned...

Excluding the Hatterene sister who is still in secondary development, just looking at this lineup, I'm afraid anyone who comes will have to leave a bad review before leaving.

Developing the League and Battle Castle's Pokémon and developing other various tactics is also based on this reason.

To put it bluntly, the premise for tactics to be effective is that the strength of both sides must be basically on the same level, and his Pokémon's strength has already surpassed newcomers too much, so even if he forcibly goes easy, it won't have any assessment effect.

And he didn't intend to catch too many Pokémon from the beginning, so he couldn't cultivate a large number of backups in tiers like other gym leaders, so he chose this way to assess newcomers.

At present, the effect is not bad. Although the students' process is a bit painful, as long as they can pass his assessment, the subsequent journey will be much smoother.

But that is the restriction on Qingyu (the gym leader's appearance), now he seems to have an extra identity.

Qingyu (the Elite Four's appearance)!

As a student, the gym leader challenged initially is himself, and finally arriving at the champion assessment, the one encountered is still himself...

This can also be considered a beginning and an end.

"I understand."

Qingyu nodded.

Rika's meaning is very clear:

After the champion assessment begins, he, who is guest-starring as an Elite Four, must increase the intensity!

As the initial gym, the Sunshine Gym taught students the thinking of cultivating Pokémon and how to exert their full strength in actual combat.

Then, when the summer vacation arrives, Elite Four Qingyu also has to give them a brand-new lesson.

The name of this last lesson is called—

Refined into Steel!

Just thinking about the students entering the Paldea League with excited hearts and proud legs at that time, intending to sweep the Elite Four and step on Chairwoman Geeta to become the next champion, but suddenly bumping into him when entering the door...

At that time, the expressions of these cute students should be quite wonderful, right?

Qingyu's face was soon filled with a smile.

"I look forward to meeting the students again in the summer vacation."

For some reason, watching Qingyu's gentle smile, Rika suddenly felt a sense of discomfort that made her shudder.

It should be my illusion, right?

"Hmm... then it's settled."

Rika nodded.

"Besides the League's mission, there is actually another thing I came over for this time."

"Little Qingyu... no, it should be Teacher Yu. You should still remember this child, right?"

After Rika finished speaking, she took a step forward, letting Poppy, who had been hiding behind her, finally appear completely in Qingyu's line of sight.

"Eh? Is the serious business finally finished?"

Poppy, who had been trying to lower her presence and seemed to be a bit sleepy at this time, suddenly raised her head and met eyes with Qingyu, who seemed a bit confused. She immediately subconsciously raised her head and chest, looking at him with an expression full of momentum.

"Hmph hmph, since the adults' business is over, then it's Poppy's turn to go on stage now!"

"Long time no see, Gym Leader Qingyu!"

Poppy confidently put her hands on her hips and said in adult language that sounded quite like it.

"..."

At first, Qingyu thought Poppy was just relatively familiar with Rika, so she came along by the way.

After all, whether in games or animation, the relationship between these two is very good, and Rika is like Poppy's sister.

However, looking at it now, was Poppy aiming for him from the beginning?

Although he hadn't figured out why, Qingyu still had great patience for children, so he followed her words and lowered his head to smile.

"Indeed long time no see, Poppy."

When he last saw Poppy, he was still a newcomer gym leader who was not so familiar with the business.

Two months later, Poppy didn't seem to have changed, which confirmed Qingyu's guess—

Is it true that humans in the Pokémon world evolve one stage at 10 years old?!

After greeting Poppy, Qingyu soon turned his gaze to Rika.

Compared to Poppy, he wanted to know why Rika brought her to the Sunshine Gym.

It couldn't be because he won against her once more than two months ago...

"Oh my, this matter is quite complex..."

Rika waved her hand with a bit of helplessness.

"In short, because you accepted Poppy's gym challenge back then, letting Poppy taste the taste of failure for the first time, she has been working hard during this period, determined to become stronger and wash away the shame~"

"Speaking of which, did you tell this child before that she must come to challenge you again?"

Rika's expression suddenly became a bit playful.

"..."

Qingyu thought for a while and soon recalled.

It seems there really was such a thing.

However, what he said at the time was that after the Champion Road started, she could try to challenge again, maybe she could get his recognition?

It was clearly polite words, how did the meaning change as it was passed on?

He always felt that he seemed to have become a pervert who likes to bully the weak in Rika's eyes now...

This is slander, naked slander!

"That's right! So this time I'm here to keep the appointment!"

After hearing Rika's words, Poppy nodded repeatedly with satisfaction and looked at Qingyu again.

"Teacher Yu, please accept my second challenge!"

"..."

Qingyu fell into silence.

He actually really wanted to say that the Sunshine Gym is already closed now, so please come back tomorrow.

But in this current scene, I'm afraid he would have to be responsible for coaxing the child not to cry...

However, if she loses to him again this time, will she still cry?

And if Poppy can really pass his hurdle, it seems she will have to pay back the debt on the Champion Road sooner or later...

So troublesome!

Thinking about it, Qingyu couldn't help but sigh secretly.

"Don't be so nervous, anyway, Poppy hasn't reached the age yet, even if she wants to participate in the Champion Road, she doesn't have the qualification, so she won't see Elite Four Qingyu at that time."

Rika on the side spoke at the right time, while actively whispering a reminder.

"Also, don't underestimate this child Poppy. She seems to have a very special affinity for Steel-type Pokémon by nature, and now she has also inherited several powerful Pokémon from her family. Her strength is at least not inferior to an ordinary gym leader~"

"I brought Poppy here this time, besides intending to let her fulfill her wish, I also have the idea of using her to observe the overall level of your team now."

"Of course, the outcome of this battle won't affect anything, it's just to deepen our understanding of 'Teacher Yu's' strength."

Rika didn't hide anything and directly said all her thoughts.

After Qingyu heard it, he couldn't help but twitch his mouth.

So 8-year-old Poppy was already this absurd?

No wonder she could command a Pokémon like Corviknight with obvious good strength last time. It turned out to be because of a special constitution?

Looking at it this way, it's quite reasonable for her to become an Elite Four at 9 years old.

After all, powerful Pokémon generally won't recognize ordinary trainers, but if Poppy has this special ability and can gain their trust, even if her own level is slightly worse, commanding them is not a problem.

And listening to Rika's meaning...

This time, in the battle with Poppy, he is going to use the lineup when he guest-stars as an Elite Four in the future and have an all-out battle with her?

Although she said it wouldn't affect anything, it can be considered an assessment for his promotion to Elite Four. Theoretically, he should go all out.

However, would this be a bit too bullying to a child?

"That's right! Don't underestimate Poppy, I'm very powerful now!"

After being praised by Rika, Poppy clearly showed pride, and there were a few more fiery looks in her eyes when looking at Qingyu.

"So let's battle, let's battle!"

"... I understand."

Things having reached this point, Qingyu could only nod helplessly.

If Poppy has no opinion, he doesn't need to be pretentious.

"Rules? 3v3 or 6v6?"

"5v5. If there are no accidents on the Champion Road, it will be a full-member battle. Considering that the students might have slightly inferior strength, the Elite Four side will send out one less Pokémon, which is just right for you to adapt to this battle mode in advance."

Rika answered for Poppy soon, to which Qingyu only nodded.

"Since it's a battle for the Elite Four assessment, please allow me to prepare a little."

"Of course, no problem, please take out your full strength, Gym Leader Qingyu!"

Seeing Qingyu agree, Poppy soon laughed happily, and Rika beside her also nodded.

So Qingyu soon walked into the Sunshine Gym.

Because his Pokémon don't need to battle challengers usually, most of the time Qingyu keeps them in a "free-range mode."

Especially Lucario, it is basically not seen in the gym during the day.

However, perhaps because it was close to mealtime, the Sunshine Gym happened to be at full capacity at the moment.

It just gave him a chance for "Qingyu's big roll call."

Sylveon, Lucario, Ogerpon, can be considered Qingyu's stable three main forces.

Although Shellgon hasn't evolved yet and its combat power is relatively average, since the requirement is to use his own Pokémon, it definitely can't be missing.

The last two positions, although it can be considered a bug, are just right if you count Mewtwo and the newly arrived Hatterene sister.

It just happens to be a practice for the upcoming Psychic Master Tournament.

It was only until this moment that Qingyu suddenly discovered—

If you don't count Mewtwo and Hatterene, he hasn't even gathered six main forces until now?

Is he a bit too Buddhist...

A few minutes later.

On the outdoor battle field of the Sunshine Gym, Qingyu and Poppy were already standing on their respective halves, waiting for Rika, who was acting as a temporary referee, to declare the start of the battle.

"Speaking of which... before starting, as a gym leader, doesn't Teacher Yu intend to say something?"

Just as Qingyu gripped the Poké Ball in his hand, ready to send out his lead Pokémon at any time, Rika suddenly turned her head and said.

"Saying some words full of momentum to encourage the challenger before the battle starts is a basic skill for a gym leader, right?"

"..."

Qingyu was speechless for a moment.

Is this really a tradition in the Pokémon world? ===== CHAPTER 649 =====