"Heh..."
Darren grinned at Ricky, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
"Not bad for a freshman. Now let me show you what a proper sophomore welcome looks like."
His expression sharpened as he threw out his second Poké Ball.
"Luxray, you're up!"
A flash of light burst across the battlefield, revealing a large black-and-blue feline Pokémon. It stood nearly 1.4 meters tall, its mane bristling around its head while its cold golden eyes locked onto Blastoise.
"Luxray!"
The moment it appeared, Luxray let out a powerful roar.
Blastoise instinctively took a step back.
Aaron narrowed his eyes.
That reaction...
Intimidate.
He immediately checked Luxray's information.
[Name: Luxray]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Adamant]
[Type: Electric]
[Ability: Intimidate — When Luxray enters battle, its intimidating presence lowers the opponent's Attack by one stage.]
[Base Stats Total: 523]
[Level: Gym (Early Stage)]
[Potential: Class Champion]
[Known Moves: Thunder Fang (Perfect), Wild Charge (Perfect), Electric Terrain (Master), Spark (Master), Thunder (Master), Bite (Master), Thunderbolt (Master), Charge (Proficient), Crunch (Proficient), Protect (Proficient), Discharge (Proficient), Double Team (Proficient), Quick Attack (Proficient), Tail Whip (Proficient), Roar (Proficient)...]
[Description: Luxray, the Gleam Eyes Pokémon. It evolves from Luxio and possesses powerful vision capable of seeing through solid objects, allowing it to track hidden targets with ease.]
Aaron's expression grew slightly more serious.
So this was the real level of a sophomore at Crown University.
Darren had deliberately started with a peak-stage Elite Raichu. Now he had brought out an early-stage Gym Luxray.
Ricky really was in trouble this time.
No exaggeration.
...
Ricky, however, seemed completely unfazed.
"Blastoise, keep the momentum going! Water Pulse!"
"Blas!"
Blastoise roared as Water-type energy gathered in its mouth. A dense sphere of water formed and shot across the battlefield toward Luxray.
Darren barely moved.
"Thunderbolt."
"Lux!"
Electricity erupted across Luxray's body before a brilliant bolt tore through the air.
The two attacks collided.
"Boom!"
Thunderbolt ripped straight through Water Pulse, causing the sphere to burst apart in a spray of water. The Electric-type attack barely slowed before continuing toward Blastoise.
Ricky's eyes widened.
"Blastoise, dodge!"
Blastoise tried to move, but Luxray's Thunderbolt was already upon it.
"BOOM!"
Electricity engulfed its entire body.
For a split second, Blastoise's silhouette flashed white, its skeleton visible through the crackling current like something out of a cartoon.
"BLAAAS!"
It cried out in pain as smoke rose from its shell.
Then its eyes rolled back and it collapsed onto the battlefield.
Out cold.
The difference between Elite and Gym had made itself painfully obvious.
Within the same major tier, a Pokémon could sometimes overcome a difference in substage through superior stats, move proficiency, matchup, or better commands from its Trainer.
Crossing an entire major tier was another matter.
It was not impossible.
But unless the Trainer and Pokémon involved were genuine monsters, the stronger side usually had an overwhelming advantage.
...
"Blastoise is unable to battle!"
The referee finally looked pleased again as he raised his flag.
"Ricky, send out your next Pokémon!"
From the spectator area, the cat-eared volunteer laughed softly.
"Well... looks like your friend finally hit a wall. One Thunderbolt and he was done."
Aaron glanced at her.
"He's the one who got one-shot. What does that have to do with me?"
She blinked, then laughed again.
"You're still talking big?"
"I'm just stating facts."
"Uh-huh. Sure." She gave him an amused look. "Wait until it's your turn. Then we'll see how confident you are."
Aaron said nothing.
The volunteer folded her arms.
"Beating a second-year as a freshman is hard. Really hard. Losing here wouldn't even be embarrassing."
Then she paused.
"Well... unless you happen to be one of those monsters from this year's Hidden Dragon Rankings."
Aaron's expression shifted slightly.
She continued, clearly thinking aloud now.
"I heard Crown University recruited the guy who broke the Hidden Dragon Tower record this year. The one who cleared the ninth floor."
She frowned, trying to remember.
"What was his name again... Aaron?"
Aaron: "..."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
The volunteer looked back at him.
"So unless you're secretly that Aaron, I wouldn't get too confident."
Aaron stared at her for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"If I told you I actually am Aaron... would you believe me?"
...