Soon, while everyone was still preparing, Wen Qi approached the dominant Venusaur and said, "Lord Dominant, welcome. Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to be here. Your grandson is over there; after the competition ends, arrangements can be made for him to come see you."
The Dominant looked into the distance at the Bulbasaur happily playing, noticing how much it enjoyed the lively scene. More importantly, the Bulbasaur's aura had significantly improved, and its strength had grown rapidly during this time. Seeing this, the Venusaur felt deeply gratified and said, "This competition seems quite lively. I am very grateful for your care of Bulbasaur. It has made tremendous progress recently—it seems choosing you was the right decision."
"Thank you for the praise. Raising Bulbasaur is my duty. Lord Dominant, I have a favor to ask of you."
"What is it? Please, speak."
"It's nothing major. For the upcoming Elite and Gym-level battles, I'd like to trouble you to act as a referee and also protect both sides, in case the fighting gets too fierce and accidents happen. I wouldn't ask for your help without compensation." With that, Wen Qi took out a fragment of Grass-type essence and handed it to the dominant Venusaur.
The Dominant looked at the fragment. Although he had used one before and it wouldn't be as effective for him, it would still benefit other Pokémon in his clan. After a moment of thought, he nodded in agreement. Seeing the dominant Venusaur agree, Wen Qi was overjoyed and breathed a sigh of relief. The preparations for this battle had been rushed, and he hadn't found a suitable referee, so he had to trouble the dominant Venusaur.
Soon, the Beginner Group battles for levels 11-20 were about to begin. This group had a large number of participating Pokémon, making the scene exceptionally lively. The Pidgeot family sent out three imposing level-20 Pidgeottos, stretching their broad wings with sharp eyes, as if ready to showcase their skills on the field. The Poliwrath family was not to be outdone, with three level-20 Poliwags wriggling cheerfully, full of anticipation for the upcoming fight. The Scyther family's three level-20 Scythers were particularly eye-catching, their sharp forelimbs glinting coldly, as if they could cut through any obstacle in an instant. The Venusaur family's three level-20 Ivysaurs stood tall and proud, their leaves radiating vitality and strength. Meanwhile, Wen Hua and his sister brought two lively Pidgeys, small in size but with clever and courageous eyes. Wen Qi's participants were a level-18 Bulbasaur and a level-19 Rhyhorn. Bulbasaur hopped around energetically, while Rhyhorn stood steadily, its iron armor exuding a tough aura.
All sixteen Pokémon gathered behind the arena, ready to draw lots to determine the battle order. The adorable Mr. Mime was in charge of the draw, holding slips of paper with numbers and wearing a mysterious smile. One by one, the Pokémon stepped forward to draw, some trembling with nervousness, others brimming with confidence. The first Pidgeotto from the Pidgeot family drew number 1 and chirped excitedly, seemingly pleased with the opening slot. The first Poliwag from the Poliwrath family drew number 4, blinking as if pondering who its opponent might be. The first Scyther from the Scyther family drew number 7, swinging its forelimb as if warming up for the fight. The first Ivysaur from the Venusaur family drew number 10, standing calmly to the side, quietly waiting for the match to start. The first Pidgey from Wen Hua and his sister drew number 13, flapping its wings as if cheering itself on. Wen Qi's Bulbasaur drew number 2, and Rhyhorn drew number 5.
After the draw, Mr. Mime quickly organized the battle chart. The first match would be the Pidgeot family's Pidgeotto against Wen Qi's Bulbasaur, the second would be the Poliwrath family's Poliwag against another Pokémon... With the chart set, the atmosphere grew even more tense and excited, everyone eagerly anticipating the thrilling battles to come.
The Beginner Group battles for levels 11-20 officially began, the atmosphere tense and electric, as if the very air trembled. First up were the Pidgeot family's Pidgeotto #1 and Wen Qi's Bulbasaur. Pidgeotto started by leveraging its excellent flying ability, flapping its powerful wings to circle in the air like a hunting hawk, seeking a weakness in Bulbasaur. It then unleashed "Gust," a powerful gust of wind roaring toward Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur responded calmly, keeping its eyes fixed on Pidgeotto's movements with a steady, cool gaze. As the Gust approached, it quickly ducked behind a nearby barrier, which served as its sanctuary. Then, it shot out "Bullet Seed" from its mouth, a dense rain of hard seeds flying toward Pidgeotto with unstoppable momentum. Pidgeotto dodged left and right but was hit by a few seeds, slowing its speed and making its once-agile movements sluggish. Seizing the opportunity, Bulbasaur used "Vine Whip," extending tough vines like flexible serpents that successfully entangled Pidgeotto's wings. Pidgeotto struggled fiercely, flapping desperately, but couldn't break free. Eventually, due to heavy injuries, it lost its ability to battle, and Bulbasaur claimed its first victory.
Next was the Poliwrath family's Poliwag against a Pidgey. Pidgey used its flying advantage, flapping its wings in the air to unleash "Air Slash," harassing Poliwag with invisible wind blades that howled toward it. Poliwag cleverly countered with "Water Pulse," sending out rippling blue waves like beautiful rings, each attack making it hard for Pidgey to get close. However, Pidgey seized a gap in Poliwag's attacks, diving down quickly and using its wings to create a strong "Whirlwind," sending Poliwag tumbling like a rootless duckweed. Pidgey then followed up with "Peck," its sharp beak striking Poliwag like lightning. Poliwag couldn't dodge in time and was hit in a vital spot, giving Pidgey the win.
The third match was Scyther against Ivysaur. Scyther immediately displayed its fierce aura, swinging its blade-like forelimbs to use "Fury Cutter," charging at Ivysaur. Its movements were swift as a ghost, stirring up a gust of wind. Ivysaur quickly rooted itself to the ground and released "Razor Leaf" to defend, sending out countless sharp leaves like a green storm. Scyther's speed was incredible, deftly dodging the Razor Leaf and closing in on Ivysaur in an instant. Ivysaur hurriedly used "Vine Whip" to counter, but Scyther sidestepped and struck Ivysaur hard with its forelimb. Ivysaur fell to the ground, its leaves trembling slightly, and Scyther won the match.
Rhyhorn took the field in the fourth match, facing another Pidgeotto. Pidgeotto circled in the air, its sharp eyes searching for Rhyhorn's weakness, then used "Quick Attack," turning into a streak of light as it dove down with blinding speed. Rhyhorn remained unmoved, standing firm like an unshakable fortress, its iron armor exuding toughness. Timing its move, Rhyhorn charged forward with "Take Down," its momentum overwhelming, sending Pidgeotto spinning dizzily like a lost kite. Rhyhorn then used "Horn Attack," and Pidgeotto, unable to dodge, was knocked to the ground, securing Rhyhorn's advancement.
As the battles progressed, the intensity grew. Bulbasaur faced off against Pidgey. Pidgey moved quickly in the air like a shooting star, trying to make it hard for Bulbasaur to aim, and occasionally used "Gust" to create turbulence, the wind howling across the arena. Bulbasaur calmly observed Pidgey's flight path and suddenly released a cloud of "Sleep Powder." The pink powder filled the air, and Pidgey accidentally inhaled it, feeling drowsy, its flight speed slowing and wing beats growing heavy. Bulbasaur seized the chance to use a powerful "Vine Whip," knocking Pidgey out of the sky like a falling star, advancing to the next round.
Rhyhorn encountered the Poliwrath family's Poliwag. Poliwag started with "Water Gun," a strong water jet aimed at Rhyhorn, the thick column fierce and powerful. Rhyhorn's tough armor absorbed most of the damage. Enraged, Rhyhorn charged with "Stomp," each step making the ground tremble, while Poliwag agilely jumped aside. The two exchanged blows, neither giving ground, like valiant warriors in a life-or-death struggle. In the end, Rhyhorn's endurance and strength prevailed, using "Horn Attack" to send Poliwag flying and claim victory.
Scyther once again showed its strength in a match against another Ivysaur. Ivysaur tried to restrict Scyther's movements with "Vine Whip," swinging the vines through the air with a whooshing sound. But Scyther was too fast, easily dodging like a phantom, elusive and unpredictable. Scyther closed in quickly, its relentless "Fury Cutter" strikes overwhelming Ivysaur, each slash carrying lethal intent. Ultimately, Scyther advanced.
Finally, as the matches concluded, the top four were Scyther, Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Rhyhorn. The semifinals began, with the first intense showdown between Bulbasaur and Rhyhorn. Bulbasaur used its small size to display agile movements, darting around Rhyhorn like a green shadow, a butterfly dancing among flowers. Rhyhorn, despite its immense power, was slow to turn due to its bulky body, and its attacks repeatedly missed Bulbasaur's nimble form, like heavy punches hitting cotton. Seizing the moment, Bulbasaur opened its mouth and shot out a barrage of "Bullet Seed." The hard seeds struck Rhyhorn's tough skin painfully, causing it to roar in anger and charge recklessly with "Take Down," its horn aimed at Bulbasaur like a runaway tank. But Bulbasaur nimbly jumped aside, avoiding the fierce charge. Unable to stop its momentum, Rhyhorn crashed into an obstacle at the edge of the arena. The impact left it dazed and sluggish, like a drunken giant. Bulbasaur capitalized on this, repeatedly using "Vine Whip." Its vines extended instantly, striking Rhyhorn with sharp cracks, each hit carrying determination. Once, twice, three times... Despite its stubborn resistance, Rhyhorn's stamina gave out from the dizziness and relentless attacks, and it collapsed like a crumbling mountain. Bulbasaur advanced to the finals.
The other semifinal was a fierce battle between Scyther and Ivysaur. Scyther started with its signature ferocity, swinging its sharp forelimbs to unleash a powerful "X-Scissor," its crossed blades flashing as if tearing through space. It shot toward Ivysaur like lightning, too fast for the eye to follow. Ivysaur, knowing Scyther's ferocity, went all out on defense, rooting itself and emitting a green glow from its leaves to form a protective barrier like a sturdy shield. But Scyther's attacks were too swift and fierce, "X-Scissor" breaking through Ivysaur's defense repeatedly, the barrier cracking like shattered glass. Ivysaur tried to counter with "Razor Leaf," sending out countless sharp leaves like flying knives, but Scyther's speed and agility let it dodge easily, like a slippery eel in water. As time passed, Ivysaur's stamina waned, its defense weakening, its leaves losing their luster. Finally, Scyther broke through Ivysaur's last line of defense, defeating it and meeting Bulbasaur in the finals.
The highly anticipated final arrived, with Bulbasaur and Scyther engaging in a thrilling peak showdown. Scyther used its incredible speed to charge at Bulbasaur like a ghost, its movements a blur. It unleashed "Fury Cutter" and "X-Scissor" repeatedly, its crossed blades flashing with deadly intent, as if determined to finish Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur, facing such fierce attacks, remained calm, its eyes steady and full of fighting spirit. It made full use of the arena, weaving between obstacles to dodge, making Scyther's attacks miss like a nimble monkey leaping through trees. At the same time, Bulbasaur countered with "Bullet Seed," trying to slow Scyther's rhythm, the seeds raining down. But Scyther's speed was too great, easily evading them like a passing breeze. The two exchanged blows, the battle reaching a fever pitch. Sweat and dust flew, and the audience held their breath, eyes glued to the arena.
At the critical moment, Scyther accelerated again, its blades glowing brightly as it unleashed its finishing move, "X-Scissor," with a destructive aura. Bulbasaur, having dodged many attacks, was tiring and couldn't fully evade this time. "X-Scissor" struck Bulbasaur hard, and it cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground, its leaves trembling. In the end, Scyther's tenacity and superior tactics won it the championship of the Beginner Group levels 11-20. Bulbasaur took second place, while Rhyhorn and Ivysaur, having lost in the semifinals, tied for third. This spectacular battle thrilled the audience and became a classic in the Beginner Group.
Wen Qi was astonished that Bulbasaur had achieved second place, knowing it had only recently been born, its skills were still rough, and its level wasn't the highest. He attributed the result to its innate talent boosting its combat ability, allowing it to perform so well. His heart was filled with joy.