Wen Qi knew immediately upon seeing the Wartortle that his Rhydon was outmatched.
The opponent's Wartortle, with yellow-tier potential, was level 28 and Water-type, completely countering his Rhydon. Wen Qi recalled his Rhydon without hesitation and, after a moment's thought, decided to send out his Flaaffy instead. Though Flaaffy was only level 23, its Electric-type abilities were strong, perfectly countering the opposing Wartortle.
Wang Qi felt a sinking feeling when he saw the Flaaffy emerge. He had been confident about winning, but now he wasn't so sure. Still, this was his last Pokémon, so he had no choice but to continue the battle.
Wen Qi had Flaaffy use Electric Terrain first. In an instant, the battlefield transformed into a thunderous arena. Once the skill was activated, the entire field was charged with intense electricity, as if every corner held boundless electrical energy. Wang Qi knew this was bad—under these conditions, Electric-type Pokémon would see a significant boost in power, their attacks fiercer and defenses tougher. For non-Electric types, the terrain was fraught with danger; one misstep could mean being struck by the current and losing the ability to fight. And his Pokémon was Water-type, practically helpless against this setup.
With no other option, Wang Qi realized Water-type moves were essentially unusable. He said, "Wartortle, use Tail Whip, then close in quickly and use Tackle."
After Wartortle used Tail Whip, Flaaffy seemed momentarily confused, unsure of the move's purpose. Wen Qi, seeing the hesitant Wartortle, commanded, "Flaaffy, use Thunder Wave—quick attack."
A wave of electromagnetic energy shot toward Wartortle, too fast for it to react. It was hit directly. Wartortle's body stiffened, and it found itself unable to move. Wang Qi noticed his charging Pokémon had frozen and knew it had been struck. Panicking slightly, he shouted, "Wartortle, hang in there! Pull yourself together!"
Seeing Wartortle immobilized by the Thunder Wave, Wen Qi recognized the opportunity. He ordered, "Flaaffy, use Thunderbolt—finish it."
Flaaffy unleashed Thunderbolt. The air around it seemed to ignite with electricity, a dazzling blue light cutting through the sky. The powerful current poured out like a storm, shaking everything in its path. The attack was both devastating and swift, leaving Wartortle's paralyzed body no chance to dodge. It was hit directly, letting out a pained cry before collapsing on the field.
The battle ended. Wen Qi won.
Wang Qi recalled his Wartortle with some disappointment and said to Wen Qi, "You're strong, but I won't give up. Let's battle again sometime." With that, he left, hurrying to heal his Pokémon.
Meanwhile, the Growlithe, though a bit slow, wasn't stupid. It realized the battle was over but it hadn't even been sent out. It started barking at Wen Qi in protest, as if saying, "I didn't get to fight—how is it over already?" Hearing the Growlithe's cries, Wen Qi knew it was his mistake for not using it earlier. Still, he reassured the Growlithe, "The battle isn't over yet. There's more to come. Don't worry—you'll be up next." Only then did the Growlithe calm down. Wen Qi breathed a sigh of relief. He rarely let the Growlithe out and wondered if it might be a destructive one.
Soon, the battle hall arranged a new opponent for Wen Qi. This time, it was a woman who looked several years older than him, likely already working, though probably not as a trainer. She seemed like a white-collar office worker who had raised Pokémon in college but hadn't put much effort into it. After years of college and work, with little training, it made sense that her strength hadn't reached the advanced level. Wen Qi's room was set for opponents below that tier.
Huang Wen was exactly as Wen Qi had guessed. She mostly worked, but sometimes visited the battle hall on days off. Though her level wasn't high, she had plenty of battle experience. Entering the room, she saw a younger man across from her—clearly Wen Qi, several years her junior. Huang Wen specialized in Grass-type Pokémon. Her starter was the Alola starter Meganium, now at level 35, along with a level 28 Vileplume and a level 29 Whimsicott.
The battle began. Wen Qi had no choice but to send out the impatient Growlithe, while his opponent chose Vileplume. Wen Qi's Growlithe had golden fur, like flames in the sunset, with a determined glint in its eyes. The opposing Vileplume was a massive, vibrant flower with thorny petals, exuding an intimidating aura. Its power was strong and mysterious, not to be underestimated.
As the battle started, Wen Qi planned to strike first. He commanded, "Growlithe, use Bite on Vileplume!"
Growlithe charged at Vileplume, opening its mouth for a Bite attack. But Huang Wen's Vileplume seemed prepared, swiftly swaying its petals to dodge the move. Huang Wen then said, "Vileplume, use Sludge Bomb on Growlithe." Vileplume opened its mouth wide, spewing a powerful stream of poison toward Growlithe. Growlithe agilely leaped aside, avoiding the lethal attack. The first exchange ended with neither side gaining an advantage.
Wen Qi realized Vileplume was no pushover—one slip could lead to poisoning, which would be bad. He decided on a more cautious strategy. He had Growlithe circle Vileplume a few times, observing its movements and openings. The opposing Vileplume waited quietly, as if gathering strength.
The second round began. Wen Qi had Growlithe use a Fire-type attack. Growlithe suddenly lunged at Vileplume, unleashing Ember. Sparks shot from its mouth like lightning tearing through the sky. Vileplume responded by opening its petals and releasing a powerful energy wave. The sparks and wave collided midair, erupting in a blinding flash. Both sides expended significant energy in that clash. Growlithe panted heavily, but its eyes shone with even greater resolve. It knew it had to go all out to defeat Vileplume. And Vileplume seemed to sense Growlithe's determination, watching its opponent more warily.