The White Elephant Battle Club was a world-class battle club. Its battlefields and facilities were far more advanced than the public battle zones attached to Pokémon Centers. Even in the regular battle area here, sizable arenas were sectioned off. When a battle began, defensive light barriers would rise from the four corners of the arena, preventing Pokémon from accidentally injuring spectators outside. There were also supporting medical facilities and League-certified Pokémon doctors.
"The formal battle area has fields with different environments, but the Pokémon battling there are all entry-level or elite-level."
Su Hao was visiting a battle club like this for the first time.
He was looking for an opponent.
According to the receptionist's introduction, here, aside from the staff, anyone could be an opponent. As long as you locked eyes, you could start a battle. There was also a points ranking, but that required first getting a White Elephant Club membership card.
He looked around.
Not many people were battling at the moment. Since Pokémon injuries and spiritual energy recovery took time, a crowd of spectators often gathered around each arena.
"Most Pokémon have spiritual energy in the 60-100 range."
Any lower, and their combat ability was limited.
Any higher, and most had already broken through to the entry level.
"Go find a battle to observe on your own," Su Hao said to the Dream Butterfly.
It had already evolved. It was a mature Pokémon now and should learn to summarize battle techniques on its own. There was no need for it to stick with him.
"Gu-nuo? Gu-nuo!"
The Dream Butterfly flapped its wings and flew off.
It was used to this kind of training. The little one didn't resist this observation and summarization at all—in fact, it seemed a bit delighted.
That was probably the joy of comparison.
Su Hao continued searching for a suitable target.
His gaze swept over one Pokémon after another, then suddenly lingered a bit longer on a Daruma Pokémon.
It was the first time he'd seen this kind of Pokémon.
It looked just like a Daruma doll toy, but it was as tall as a seven- or eight-year-old child. Its body wobbled back and forth, and its eyes darted around.
This Pokémon's training level was decent—good enough to warm up Little Fire Crow.
"Hey, want to battle?" he walked over.
A young man around his age looked over, glanced at Little Fire Crow, and asked, "What's your battle points score? What's your win rate?"
Su Hao was taken aback.
"You don't even have battle points? I don't fight weaklings." The young man shook his head in disappointment, turned around with his Daruma, and left.
Su Hao: "???"
So he was being looked down on?
He tried a few more people and found that the stronger trainers in the regular area all dismissed him as a "newcomer."
As for those willing to battle him, Su Hao wasn't interested.
Disappointed.jpg.
After all, not everyone had eyes like his that could analyze a Pokémon's level.
He walked up to an empty arena, read the instructions for a moment, and started operating the touchscreen panel.
"Please scan the QR code to pay."
Su Hao initially wanted to input a thousand, but after a moment's thought, he added a zero.
A moment later,
The arena he was on activated the "Defender Mode."
A conspicuous prompt light immediately caught the attention of nearby Spirit Masters.
They all looked over.
[Defender Mode: The winner receives a 10,000 Dragon Kingdom Dollar prize provided by the defender.] [Note: Not to be rude, but all of you here—standing, sitting, lying down—are… weaklings!]
"Who's this guy, so arrogant?"
"Probably never been knocked down a peg by society."
"Haha, I bet he won't last three matches."
"Three matches? He'll get taken down in one."
Defender Mode was purely a thankless task.
The prize money had to be put up by the defender. Only by winning ten consecutive matches could they get their deposit back, along with an equal reward from the club and a Defender Badge.
The difficulty and reward were completely out of proportion.
The only benefit was that it attracted plenty of opponents.
But did a battle club really lack opponents?
"Another rich newbie with more money than sense. I'll take that ten thousand!"
A tall, burly man challenged first, making several slower Spirit Masters sigh in regret.
The burly man brought out an unranked Wind Fang Wolf, its teeth sharp, glaring fiercely at Little Fire Crow and letting out a roar:
"Awooo~!"
"Both Spirit Masters and Pokémon, take your positions… Battle, begin!"
The professional referee of the battle club waved down his flag.
Instantly,
The burly man swung his arm. "The prize money is mine! Get close and use Gale Rush!"
The Wind Fang Wolf sprinted on all fours, closing in quickly, its fur stirring up gusts of wind.
It lunged straight at Little Fire Crow, who couldn't fly very high due to the arena's restrictions.
"Awooo~!"
"Dance, Little Fire Crow!"
Facing the Wind Fang Wolf, which leaped upward, its body wrapped in wind and rapidly swelling…
Little Fire Crow didn't dodge.
It even felt like laughing.
Finally… it was this crow's turn to show off!
Flames ignited on its claws, instantly forming a massive flame claw. The three claws closed together, turning the claw into a fist, and punched out!
A blazing, scorching flame fist!
Hah-yah!
The Wind Fang Wolf flew backward even faster, crashing into the arena's light barrier. The barrier rippled heavily, then bounced the wolf back, sending it crashing onto the field, completely unconscious.
The atmosphere froze instantly.
After a long pause, the professional referee was the first to react, raising his flag:
"Wind Fang Wolf is unable to battle. Wang So-and-so's challenge fails. Su Hao successfully defends."
Even as the medical team carried the Wind Fang Wolf off, the burly man was still standing there, dazed.
Most of the surrounding audience hadn't reacted either.
Too fast!
Several Spirit Masters who had been itching to go for the prize money were stunned.
They were relieved they'd been a step too slow—otherwise, their Pokémon would be the ones lying up there.
They didn't dare step up anymore.
Little Fire Crow cawed as it flew around the arena, occasionally preening its feathers.
Looking very pleased with itself.
But Su Hao sighed.
It was too bad at acting.
If it were Dream Butterfly, it would know how to take down an enemy with minimal effort.
Little Fire Crow still had a lot to learn.
Still,
Perhaps because there were plenty of "strong players" in the battle club, or maybe because of the ten-thousand-dollar lure, three more stronger Spirit Masters stepped up in succession, only to be KO'd by Little Fire Crow.
Then,
A familiar face entered the arena.
It was the young man who had refused Su Hao's battle request earlier.
"I didn't expect you to be this strong. You're worthy of a fight with me—whoa!"
Little Fire Crow didn't want to hear him ramble and threw a massive fireball at his Pokémon.
Caught off guard, the Daruma's body glowed with an earthy yellow luster as it barely withstood the fireball.
This triggered the Daruma's ability "Rebound"—after taking a hit, its next attack's power increased slightly.
"Energy Ball, blast it!"
A soccer-ball-sized earthy yellow energy ball shot out, hurtling toward Little Fire Crow in the air at incredible speed.
Two more earth-type energy balls followed, forming a triangle to block Little Fire Crow's escape routes.
"Caw!"
Little Fire Crow tucked its wings in, turning into a black arrow that traced a "Z" shape, slipping through the gap between the three energy balls and landing right in front of the Daruma.
Its wings spread wide.
Steel Wing!
Wing Attack!
Its black wings, like giant hands, slapped left and right, over and over.
The Daruma leaned back, bounced forward, leaned back again, bounced forward again, and again…
After about six or seven slaps, only one Daruma remained standing, but its eyes were spinning in circles, trembling and wobbling.
It hadn't fallen, but it was done for.
Five consecutive wins. On the arena, Little Fire Crow spread its black wings, scattering tiny sparks.
Behind the sparks, Su Hao stood with a faint smile, hands clasped behind his back.
Like a demon lord.
The Spirit Masters, intimidated by the newcomer, felt their faces burn with shame.
Finally,
A young man stepped forward, drawing low gasps from the watching crowd.