Pokémon: Starting with a Bound Entry System

Chapter 117: Relax, Quick and Painless~

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The second round of the tournament featured opponents with a Level 38 Magneton and a Level 39 Electabuzz.

To be honest, after the first round, most competitors already had a good grasp of each other's strength.

With the internet as advanced as it was, finding footage of past matches was almost effortless.

So, when the opponent saw Hikaru, their fighting spirit had already diminished significantly.

They even asked Hikaru to go easy on them.

Hikaru reassured them with a smile, "Relax, quick and painless."

Then he sent out Greninja.

"Croak…"

As usual, Greninja struck a dramatic pose, its sleek black body, streamlined figure, and massive water shuriken on its back exuding an air of charisma.

The audience erupted into cheers and applause from the stands.

Hikaru couldn't deny Greninja's allure—it was undeniable.

Even without changing its typing, Greninja easily defeated Magneton and Electabuzz with its Rasengan and Flying Water Shuriken, captivating the audience with its impressive moves and style.

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The third round—32 into the Sweet 16—featured a match between a Feraligatr and a Noctowl.

In the stands, Hikaru observed the match.

"This flying arena isn't exactly fair for certain Pokémon types," he remarked.

The so-called flying arena was filled with hundreds of floating platforms suspended in midair by a Metagross using its psychic powers.

The rules required Pokémon to stay airborne, using only the platforms to battle.

This severely disadvantaged ground-type Pokémon while significantly boosting the chances of flying-types.

As a result, even a Gym-tier Feraligatr struggled against a weaker Noctowl.

The Feraligatr's inability to feel stable footing and its unfamiliarity with the terrain ultimately led to its defeat.

Compared to the gap between Elite and Gym tiers, the disparity between Gym and Leader tiers was even more pronounced.

The trainer of the Feraligatr looked visibly upset. Having come so far, only to be eliminated by a battlefield limitation, was frustrating.

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"It's my turn next. I'll be off, big bro~"

Sakura cheerfully announced before heading to the arena.

The draw revealed the flying arena again, but it posed no problem for her.

Just like in Mizuki City, her Dragonair performed flawlessly even in such an environment.

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[Pokémon: Dragonair]

[Ability: Marvel Scale]

[Gender: Female]

[Potential: Champion]

[Level: 46]

[Moves: Dragon Rage, Dragon Dance, Aqua Tail, Leer, Wrap, Thunder Wave, Twister, Rain Dance, Agility...]

[Description: A Dragonair with exceptional potential.]

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"A mid-Leader-tier Dragonair… this girl might reach Master-level before even starting university," Hikaru murmured in awe.

Every time he saw Sakura's Pokémon, they never failed to surprise him.

With a Level 46 Dragonair, it was likely she would be his opponent eventually.

The thought filled Hikaru with a mix of admiration and concern.

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"Junior?"

"Hmm?"

The cool voice of Yuki brought Hikaru back to reality.

"What is it, senpai?"

She murmured softly, almost to herself, "Your little junior… she's really strong."

On the battlefield, Sakura's Dragonair gracefully dodged a Brave Bird attack from her opponent's Talonflame. It then performed an elegant Dragon Dance, culminating in a dazzling Aqua Tail that knocked the Talonflame out in one hit.

The seamless execution, combined with Dragonair's natural grace, elicited gasps of amazement from the crowd.

Who would have thought that a battle could exude such beauty, rivaling that of a Pokémon contest?

Hikaru noticed Yuki's thoughtful expression and tried to console her.

"Little Sakura has a natural advantage with her Pokémon, and her background, as you know…"

But Yuki interrupted him, "Junior, can you tell me how you two met?"

Hikaru paused before replying, "It's not exactly a secret. It's actually a funny story—I must've been five or six, watching a Pokémon battle in a park…"

He began recounting the tale with a nostalgic smile.

However, he didn't notice the dimming light in Yuki's eyes as she listened.

So, they've known each other for that long? No wonder she's so confident.

By the time Hikaru finished his story, Sakura had returned to the stands after her match.

Yuki's expression had returned to its usual calm, though her resolve seemed to have solidified further.

She wasn't going to give up.

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"The next match features Hikaru against Kei Hama!"

"It's my turn. I'll see you later," Hikaru said, standing up.

So far, none of the competitors had left a strong impression on him. Perhaps the real experts were still holding back?

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"Impressive, man!"

Kei Hama greeted Hikaru with a look of genuine admiration.

"I've never seen anyone who could make Sakura Hayashi stick up for them while also having another girl by their side. And that silver-haired girl—she seems into you too!"

What kind of love triangle is this?

Hikaru, however, was baffled.

Do I know this guy?

His attention shifted to Kei's Pokémon: a Level 39 Doublade and a Level 41 Excadrill.

The flying arena was drawn again, leaving Kei with little choice but to rely on Doublade.

Hikaru decided to start with Lucario, eager to test out the newly acquired [Shave] perk.

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"Both trainers, send out your Pokémon!"

"Go, Lucario!"

"Go, Doublade!"

As expected, Kei opted for his flying-capable Doublade.

The two trainers stood atop floating platforms, overlooking the battlefield.

"Lucario!"

Through Aura, Lucario instantly grasped the battlefield rules.

"He's using Lucario?" Kei frowned.

Wouldn't Charizard have been a better choice for this terrain? With its ability to fly, Charizard would be nearly invincible in such a setting.

"Doublade!"

Doublade floated in the air, exuding an intense battle aura.

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[Pokémon: Doublade]

[Ability: No Guard]

[Gender: Male]

[Potential: Elite Four]

[Level: 39]

[Moves: Swords Dance, Automize, Fury Cutter, Pursuit, Shadow Sneak, Aerial Ace, Iron Defense, Shadow Play...]

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"Let the battle begin!"

Lucario immediately entered a combat stance.

"Hold on a second, friend," Kei suddenly called out.

"Huh? What's up?" Hikaru signaled Lucario to remain alert.

"Bro, you're amazing. After the match, add me on GreenBubble. I love making friends with people who excel in certain areas."

Hikaru nodded slightly. "Uh, sure. Lucario, Bone Rush!"

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