Pokémon: Trainers Start as Bounty Hunters.

Even if an ordinary near-heavenly king were to face a heavenly king, the outcome wouldn't be so one-sided.

The differences shown in the data simply cannot lead to such exaggerated results.

Before leaving the field for a break, Tetsuya glanced thoughtfully at the Blastoise opposite him, which had just been recalled to its Poké Ball as well.

No, the perceptive Tetsuya noticed that the other person's state was not as relaxed as they appeared.

You can see that the Blastoise, which had been calm, showed a barely perceptible expression of relaxation the moment it was retracted.

If Blastoise were truly as unharmed as it appeared, it wouldn't have needed to do this.

Tetsuya pondered for a moment and roughly understood what the other party was thinking.

In a private box in the audience area, Shiba and Watari were sitting together, watching Tetsuya walk back to the rest area below and chatting happily.

As the Four Heavenly Kings of Kanto, they were naturally responsible for protecting the safety of the surrounding area during the Indigo Plateau Conference, which was the headquarters of the League.

This is one of the few times of the year when, apart from meetings, you can see the Four Heavenly Kings all together.

"That kid seems a bit dazed." Shiba picked up a bunch of grape-like fruit with his thick fingers and started eating.

"Don't splash my cloak."

Instead of replying to Shiba immediately, Wataru said something with a hint of complaint.

"It's just a normal way to conceal one's strength; he probably figured it out by now."

No one knows how Wataru saw Tetsuya's eyes from the spectator box, which was so far away from the battlefield, but it was clear that Shiba trusted him quite a bit.

"Oh really? That's normal, but he probably won't be able to break your record."

Shiba, who was eating fruit with gusto that made juice splatter everywhere, clearly didn't take Wataru's initial warning to heart.

"For a rookie trainer, reaching the top 16 is already a very good result."

Du didn't care. Given their relationship, it was just a joke. Anyway, he changed his cloak every now and then.

For wealthy cloak enthusiasts who don't mind spending a lot of money, the cost of a custom-made cloak is just a drop in the ocean.

"Besides, he's different from us. We were called rookie trainers back then, but we weren't that new."

Du shook her head slightly.

Even though he had high hopes for Tetsuya from the beginning, he didn't expect the other's performance to reach this level.

If we define a rookie trainer as someone who has been competing for three years, then Lance, who made it directly to the finals in his third year of competition, is undoubtedly the first person in history to achieve this.

In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the champion of that year unexpectedly pulled out two Elite Four level Pokémon, Lance, who had a Dragon-type Pokémon, should have won his first tournament championship title long ago.

It seems that there is a rule for geniuses in any era: their opponent in the same year will always be someone stronger than the one before them.

However, it is precisely because of this that one can be called a genius. If all the opponents that year were incredibly weak, no one would acknowledge how talented you are; they would only think that you have the ability, but you are even luckier.

The title of champion is the same, but there are still differences.

"That's true. In terms of achievements of rookie trainers in their first year, this guy should be among the top ones."

After quickly finishing the fruit with his gaping maw, Shiba nodded in agreement.

He didn't say it was the best.

Because in the relatively long history of the league, there have been better results than Tetsuya's top 16 performance.

Excluding the few conferences that were unable to be held due to unforeseen circumstances, the total number of regional conferences held in all known regions of the world is approaching four figures.

Given such a long period of time, so many times, and so many people, it's perfectly normal for a few extraordinary individuals to emerge.

However, considering objective factors, Tetsuya's grades may not be the best, but they are certainly the most outstanding.

The others didn't grow up in an orphanage like him.

Even long ago, most families did not abide by the League's rule that one could only own an elf at the age of sixteen.

Although it's said to have just debuted a year ago, its top-tier Pokémon have actually been trained for who knows how long.

Everything about Tetsuya is verifiable; he is a genuine member of the League.

The fifteen-minute halftime break flew by.

Tetsuya and Shinagawa Seiji stood on opposite platforms at opposite ends of the venue once again.

This time, when they looked at each other, they didn't talk or try to get into a mental game.

Both sides are well aware of their respective situations.

Tetsuya's side is at a disadvantage and the situation is somewhat bad. Shinagawa Seiji's Blastoise is not as unscathed and easy as it seems on the surface.

"Please send out Blastoise, Shizushi Shinagawa. Please send out your next Pokémon, Tetsuya."

The referee concisely announced the start of the second half.

"It's up to you, Serpent Lord!"

Seeing Blastoise reappear on the field with great momentum, Zhe didn't hesitate to send out Serperior to fight.

On the large screen at the side of the field, there were three dim and three bright Poké Balls under Tetsuya's image.

As Serperior appeared on the field, its appearance was revealed next to the fourth Poké Ball that was still lit up.

Chapter 293 vs. The Messenger of Hell

As the only remaining near-Elite Four level combatant, Lord Serpent is the best option Tetsuya can make at the moment.

Furthermore, the Grass-type Serperior can effectively counter the Water-type Blastoise.

However, it is clear that Shinagawa Seiji had different considerations.

"Come back, Blastoise."

As the two sides were locked in a standoff, Shinagawa Seiji abruptly pulled out Blastoise's Poké Ball and pointed the switch at his partner.

A red light shot out, and to everyone's astonishment, Blastoise was recalled back into its Poké Ball.

"Preparing for the upcoming battle?" Tetsuya's expression was very calm.

To be honest, Shinagawa Seiji's behavior was somewhat disrespectful to him, and as his opponent, he should have been angry about it.

However, he could understand Shinagawa Seiji's reasons for doing so; otherwise, Blastoise's performance during the battle with Blaziken might have been in vain.

However, understanding and acceptance are two different things.

"Energy ball ready."

Tetsuya gave the order without any hesitation.

Since you've chosen to change your Pokémon, you should be prepared to be attacked first.

A cold glint flashed in the noble eyes of the Monarch Serpent. For the proud Serpent, Shinagawa Seiji's behavior made it extremely unhappy.

Wisps of green light converged from all directions, and a ball of energy filled with green gradually took shape in front of the Serpent Lord.

"Go, burn it, Houndoom!"

Shinagawa Seiji calmly threw out his fourth Poké Ball.

A dark, canine-like Pokémon, resembling a hellhound, appeared on the field amidst a red glow, except for its orange muzzle and belly.

Its head has large, curved horns, and light gray, bone-like objects surround its neck and back. Each of its four ankles has two bone-like objects, and it has a demon tail that looks like an inverted triangle.

It was Houndoom, the elf known as the messenger of hell.

Its most distinctive feature is that it can spew out flames mixed with toxins, and once burned, it will cause unbearable pain.

As a Dark/Fire-type Pokémon, Houndoom's advantage over Serperior is self-evident.

Tetsuya, who was already familiar with the composition of Shinagawa Seiji's team, knew very well that the opponent had switched in only a few Pokémon, but he couldn't react to it.

After all, he only had one near-Elite Four member left, Serperior. The other two elite-level Pokémon would have a hard time winning against any near-Elite Four member, regardless of their type.

It can only be said that even a skilled cook cannot make a meal without rice.

"Chirp~"

The monarch serpent hummed softly.

In stark contrast to its sound was the burst of green energy spheres.

Houndoom, which had just emerged from its Poké Ball, was hit head-on by a Grass-type Energy Ball.

It swung backward uncontrollably, leaving deep marks on the ground with its limbs.

"Hey ho~"

The energy ball quickly lost its power, turning into specks of green light and dissipating into the air. Houndoom, having taken the hit head-on, shook its head dismissively and snorted.

The place where it was hit by the energy ball only had a slight scratch.

Despite its relatively small and even somewhat slender size, Houndoom's defensive capabilities are not a weakness; it is particularly adept at energy defense.

Moreover, its type advantage is undeniable; Houndoom has excellent resistance to Grass-type attacks.

"Woof!"

Houndoom roared to the sky, its terrifying cry sending chills down one's spine, which is a major reason why it is known as the messenger of hell.

A long howl reached everyone's ears. Houndoom crouched down, assuming a hunting stance, its two barely noticeable outer fangs peeking out.

This is not just about showing off one's power.

Houndoom had unknowingly used the Normal-type Howl, increasing its physical attack power.

If we're talking about the use and control of this skill, if Houndoom claims to be second, probably no other Pokémon would dare say that they use the Howl skill better than the Houndoom family.

They are already good at howling, and their mastery of this skill seems to be ingrained in their bones, allowing them to perform it easily in the blink of an eye.

This is why Houndoom often displays stronger attack capabilities than many people realize; a truly skilled Houndoom's starting move is always Howl.

"Charge! Flame Fang!"

Shinagawa Seiji followed up with the command.

Tiny sparks appeared on the two outer teeth near Houndoom's mouth, then burned more and more intensely.

With a powerful leap, Houndoom launched itself across the battlefield, which had returned to normal.

The flames around its mouth drew long red trails on either side of its head, echoing its two large, backward-curving horns.

Because it also possesses the Dark attribute, Houndoom's Fire-type moves produce flames that are inherently dark, which, combined with its gray-black body, creates a bizarre aesthetic that delivers a powerful visual impact.

Gasps of amazement rose and fell from the audience.

"Use the shadow clone to dodge, then use Nature's Grace."

Facing the seemingly fiery Houndoom that appeared to have come straight from hell, Tetsuya remained calm and composed.

This is probably one of the reasons why Shinagawa Seiji sent out Houndoom instead of Rapidash, which is also a near-Elite Four member.

Both of these Pokémon require close combat, but compared to Houndoom's weight of around 30-40 kilograms, Blaze's weight of over 100 kilograms is undoubtedly a breakthrough point when facing Serperior.

After all, Grass Knot, a "divine" blocking move, is a nightmare for large Pokémon. The damage and power suffered by Pokémon weighing 30-40 kilograms is two levels higher than that suffered by Pokémon weighing over 100 kilograms, almost double.

Houndoom is definitely inferior to Rapidash in straight-line speed and endurance, but it's a different story when it comes to agility.

At least Tetsuya felt that using the grass knot rope to stop Houndoom would be quite difficult.

"call out"

Two vine whips extended from the sides of the Monarch Serpent's body, causing it to sway left and right. In the blink of an eye, double-digit numbers of Monarch Serpents appeared on the field.

With its evolution and breakthrough to the level of a near-Elite Four member, Serperior's mastery of shadow clones has become far stronger than it was during its time with Vine Serpent.

"Awooo"

The moment Serperior created its shadow clone, Houndoom, its head seemingly engulfed in flames, arrived and bit down hard on one of the Serperior.

A crisp sound rang out as the upper and lower teeth collided.

The Serperior that was bitten vanished into thin air the instant it was attacked. Houndoom, who had used too much force and couldn't stop, grimaced in pain.

But its offensive showed no signs of slowing down.

With a nimble turn on the ground, Black Lulu charged towards the shadow clones scattered around him with the ferocity of a hungry tiger, trying to find the real body among them.

Having recovered from the skill usage lag, Lord Serpent began the next step of the operation according to Tetsuya's instructions.

All the Serperior Lords scattered around Houndoom raised their tails in unusually synchronized motion.