Chapter 402: After Trying Your Best to Win, You Suddenly Discover the Boss Has a Second Phase

If one word were to describe the current mood of this challenger using Lokix, it would be—

Numb!

This isn't what we agreed on, hey!

Shouldn't it be me commanding Lokix to kick the evil Sableye away with one blow, venting the frustration for all the previous victims?

And then, having easily won the Gym assessment, I would accept the Sunny Gym Badge personally awarded by Mr. Xiang Qingyu amidst the unanimous praise and admiring gazes of the viewers in the broadcast room, becoming the most handsome guy in Paldea today?

It would be even better if there were a few more compliments, and if the praise came from Mr. Xiang Qingyu himself, that would be even more wonderful!

But...

Why did Mr. Xiang Qingyu suddenly switch Pokémon?

Wasn't it agreed that Sableye would hold the fort? Where did this Riolu pop out from?

Watching Riolu, who was currently warming up its wrists, the young student suddenly felt a tremor in their heart for no reason.

After trying your best to win, you suddenly discover the boss has a second phase...

It seems I have heard that the Pokémon Mr. Xiang Qingyu usually uses for assessments are rented from the Alliance.

But Mr. Xiang Qingyu has also raised a few Pokémon himself, and in Kitakami, he even caught a powerful Pokémon, possessing the terrifying strength to even take on four legendary powerful beings in a 1v4...

And this Riolu was one of the first Pokémon Mr. Xiang Qingyu showed to challengers.

Perhaps because using his main team would be bullying beginners, that's why he sent out such an unevolved Pokémon?

Thinking this, they finally let out a sigh of relief in their heart.

If it's just a Riolu, it shouldn't be too strong!

"Lokix, it's just a mere Riolu, let's overcome it together!"

Lokix subconsciously turned its head and looked at its trainer with a strange gaze.

"Saa?"

Even Xiang Qingyu could tell what it meant.

【Me fighting Riolu? For real?】

Because they are born with battle instincts, Pokémon are far more sensitive to momentum or combat power than humans.

Especially for some Fighting-type Pokémon that aim for the Mind's Eye, their sixth sense rarely fails.

Although Lokix is not a Fighting type, it is also very good at judging an opponent's strength.

So Lokix could clearly feel that something was wrong with this Riolu.

No unevolved Pokémon has such terrifying momentum; it feels like I'm facing a Machamp instead!

But since the trainer has already said so...

"Saa!"

After nodding, Lokix quickly assumed a battle stance, and the third pair of legs folded behind its back quickly touched the ground to serve as a balance support.

Because it was the first time seeing this Pokémon, Xiang Qingyu couldn't help but look at it a few more times.

It really does look like it ran out of a neighboring tokusatsu studio...

At the same time, Lokix's panel appeared in his eyes.

【Lokix (Female)】

【Type: Bug + Dark】

【Ability: Tinted Lens】

"So it's Tinted Lens?"

Xiang Qingyu muttered to himself, and immediately understood why this young student had the confidence to push through despite the type disadvantage.

Although, in reality, Bug + Dark isn't that afraid of the Fighting type...

The Tinted Lens ability has the effect of doubling the power of moves that are not very effective.

Except for cases where the composite type provides double resistance, moves can generally be dealt with normal power.

It looks useless, and in fact, it is.

Rather than relying on an ability to forcibly continue the battle, it is better to switch to other Pokémon that are more effective against the opponent.

This is also part of the "defensive synergy" Xiang Qingyu mentioned earlier.

Clearly, regarding this point, the students of Naranja Academy are not yet able to understand.

However, I believe that after today's battle, they will understand.

【Is there really no problem? Is this challenger a bit too stubborn?】

【Maybe it's a secret move they've been hiding; being able to make Mr. Xiang Qingyu bring out a second Pokémon is already a great success!】

【Makes sense, come on! Big brother using Lokix!】

On the battlefield, Riolu was also observing its opponent.

Judging from the muscle distribution of this cricket Pokémon, it should be a master of using its legs and feet.

Although the Aura energy doesn't seem to have anything special, maybe it's hiding some terrifying move...

"Lokix, use First Impression!"

The opponent quickly made a command, shouting to take the initiative.

First Impression is a move that can only be used when a Pokémon enters the field or at the start of a battle. The principle is to rely on momentum to attack the opponent in one go, catching them off guard, so the power is very considerable.

However...

"Riolu, Quick Counter!"

Xiang Qingyu quickly revealed a smile.

The young man is still too young; don't make your intentions so obvious.

As an apprentice who has long endured the torture of the Rapid-Strike Style Master, Riolu has honed its reaction speed to a terrifying degree.

Almost the moment the opponent's hind leg muscles exerted force, Riolu keenly sensed it through Aura and had long been on guard.

Therefore, when Lokix kicked off with both feet and attacked, Riolu just supported itself with both hands, then slid forward like lightning.

"Pa—"

A crisp sound came, and while dodging the attack, Riolu slapped Lokix's abdomen not too lightly or heavily, interrupting its attack motion.

Seeing this, Xiang Qingyu silently smiled.

Although it has Prankster, there are not many moves Riolu can use with this ability. Besides helping teammates with Coaching and some buffing moves, there are only Protect, Quick Guard, and Substitute.

Compared to these, in singles, it is obviously better to use Fake Out, which it learned somehow, and this Quick Counter move.

Quick Counter is a small technique that relies on reaction to interrupt an opponent's attack. By using the palm heel to attack after detecting the opponent's movement, it makes the opponent briefly flinch.

If the move the opponent uses is not a priority attack, it will fail because the opponent is given a chance to react.

It is a move that tests strategy in the game.

However, in reality, because Riolu has the "Aura" cheat, it can know the opponent's actions one step ahead, so the success rate is relatively high.

The power of this move is not too high, but due to Riolu's training over the past two months, Riolu's combat power is no longer what it used to be.

One slap directly stunned Lokix, who fell to the ground and wondered for a long time before climbing up.

Who am I? Where am I?

"Damn it, show our momentum, Lokix!"

The challenger immediately clenched their fists, seemingly cheering for their Pokémon.

However, for Lokix, this sentence was a bit complicated.

Lokix struggled to support its body, clutching its stomach.

The opponent should have held back on that slap just now, otherwise, I might have already fallen...

Under such circumstances, is there really any need to continue fighting?

Lokix subconsciously looked at its trainer.

"Are you not considering switching Pokémon? Lokix is obviously not doing well against Riolu, right?"

Just then, Xiang Qingyu also spoke at the right time to remind them.

"So-called defensive synergy is finding the right time to switch Pokémon during a battle, allowing yourself to gain an advantageous matchup with as little loss as possible."

"Learning to judge the situation and make changes is one of the basic qualities of a trainer, you know."

Xiang Qingyu's words quickly made the challenger opposite blush.

Originally, they were thinking of relying on this sneak attack to severely damage Riolu and make Mr. Xiang Qingyu look at them with admiration.

But they didn't expect that Mr. Xiang Qingyu seemed to have guessed their thoughts in advance...

Is it true that as long as it's a Paldean Pokémon, there's nothing Mr. Xiang Qingyu doesn't know?

After thinking for a while, they decisively listened to the advice and recalled Lokix.

"My next Pokémon is—"

"Quaxwell!" ===== CHAPTER 404 =====