083 Wonderful Duel! The First Defeat
"As expected of Master Wu—choosing to endure the attack directly and decisively, all to make full use of Blaze?"
Qin Yun had a deep understanding of the Blaze ability.
He had used it extensively in battles when playing Pokémon games, often pairing it with Sunny Day to maximize the offensive potential of Fire-type moves. His experience with Blaziken in past encounters made him well aware of how terrifyingly effective Blaze could be.
"It's a pity I already anticipated your strategy."
A gleam of insight flashed in Qin Yun's eyes.
In-game mechanics dictated that Blaze activated when a Pokémon's HP dropped below one-third, boosting the power of its Fire-type moves by 1.5×. While it might seem like a minor increase, on a powerhouse like Infernape, it turned its already devastating Fire-type attacks into overwhelming forces.
However, despite knowing Wu's strategy, Qin Yun faced one key challenge—Infernape's sheer strength. Defeating it outright before Blaze could activate was easier said than done. Qin Yun knew that relying solely on raw power wouldn't be enough; Combusken was still at the Elite Junior level, whereas Infernape had long surpassed that.
Even though Combusken had performed exceptionally well so far, the power gap remained significant.
"Has he seen through my plan?"
Master Wu stiffened upon catching Qin Yun's confident expression.
"That shouldn't be possible. If he truly sees through it, then this kid is terrifying!"
Shaking off his doubts, Wu reaffirmed his strategy.
Despite having the stronger Pokémon, he had been forced into using Blaze earlier than intended. This battle was proving far more intense than expected.
The Audience Reacts
"Qin Yun's Combusken is actually going toe-to-toe with Infernape!"
"Wait… why doesn't this Infernape seem as overwhelming as Master Wu's Machamp from before?"
"Is Master Wu going easy on him?"
Doubts spread through the audience, but members of Yongji Gym quickly dismissed such thoughts with amused laughter.
"Our Gym Leader would never hold back in battle. He takes every match seriously."
"And do you even know how powerful that Infernape is?"
"What do you mean?"
"It has High Potential!"
Gasps filled the room.
"Master Wu acquired this Infernape just six months ago and immediately began training it as part of his core competitive team. From the start, it was given an item to hold Charcoal to amplify its Fire-type attacks."
"Wait, what?!"
Shock rippled through the spectators. Not only was Infernape a key member of Wu's team, but it was also equipped with a stat-boosting item from the very beginning!
A Strategic Battle
Zhang Haochen, a seasoned trainer himself, furrowed his brows. Though often arrogant, he possessed keen observational skills.
"This isn't just about strength... Qin Yun is using tactics to level the playing field. This match isn't as one-sided as it looks."
A familiar voice suddenly spoke beside him one he greatly respected.
"Don't underestimate him."
"Headmaster?" Zhang Haochen turned, surprised.
"This young man is exceptional," the headmaster said, his tone filled with admiration. "Forcing Master Wu into such a difficult position… that's no ordinary feat."
"And his Pokémon—especially his Combusken is remarkable."
Zhang Haochen swallowed hard. He had never heard the headmaster praise another student like this before.
"You need to observe carefully and learn," the headmaster continued.
"I..."
"You've improved significantly, but you've lost sight of the fundamentals. Right now, you focus too much on raw power and not enough on actual combat application. If you don't correct this, even if you become a professional-level trainer, you'll still rank among the weakest."
"Never underestimate an opponent."
The headmaster's words struck deep, forcing Zhang Haochen into quiet reflection.
"Am I truly over-reliant on brute force? Have I ignored battle tactics? If I don't change, will I end up falling behind?"
Meanwhile, the battle had reached its climax.
Master Wu's original strategy had fallen apart. Pokémon battles weren't one-sided, and tactics had to adapt in real time. Even if a trainer had a well-laid plan, the opponent would never act like a scripted AI.
The same team, when used by different trainers, could lead to completely different results.
Wu had initially intended for Infernape to take out one of Qin Yun's Pokémon, then leverage the second opponent's entry for an opening to land a decisive Arm Thrust. Finally, he would use a combination of Slack Off + Blaze to recover and secure victory with a powerful Flare Blitz.
However, things had not gone as planned.
Forced to use Slack Off three times just to sustain itself, Infernape barely managed to defeat Combusken.
"Combusken is unable to battle! Infernape wins!"
The battle had lasted over 20 minutes, making it one of the longest and most intense fights of the day. The sheer energy and precision displayed by both trainers left the audience in awe.
Even those unfamiliar with Pokémon battles found themselves captivated by the fierce exchanges.
Fan Reactions
"This Qin Yun… he's on another level!"
"I can't believe he pushed Infernape this far! Who is this guy?!"
"Yeah! His strength is insane what school does he even go to?"
By now, they all knew one thing for certain: Qin Yun wasn't from their academy.
If he had been, there was no way a trainer of his caliber would have gone unnoticed.
Meanwhile, in the stands…
"Qin Yun… what a great name."
Douzi's eyes sparkled as she stared at the battlefield. To her, Qin Yun seemed to radiate an aura of brilliance.
"Douzi, I think I'm in love!" her best friend gushed.
"Handsome guys who fight seriously are the best!"
Douzi glanced at her friend skeptically.
"Didn't you say the same thing about Zhang Haochen before?"
But for some reason, Douzi suddenly felt a bit… irritated.
"It's different this time," she muttered.
"What's different?"
"Qin Yun is actually handsome!"
Hearing that, Douzi found herself nodding unconsciously.
"Yeah… really handsome."
Post-Battle Respect
Master Wu stepped forward, smiling.
"Qin Yun, your Combusken was outstanding! That was the best battle I've had today!"
Combusken had truly given it everything. Despite losing, there was no disappointment in Qin Yun's expression—only satisfaction.
"You fought well. Take a rest, Combusken," he said, returning his Pokémon to its Poké Ball.
Then, turning to Wu, he grinned.
"Your Infernape is amazing, especially with Flare Blitz still up your sleeve."
Master Wu laughed.
"I hear compliments all the time, but I have to say—I really enjoy hearing yours."
He was now thoroughly impressed with Qin Yun. Recently, he had heard whispers about a rising star project in the Pokémon world. If Qin Yun was interested, Wu was more than willing to recommend him.
Just then, the referee's voice cut in.
"The second match begins! Challenger, summon your next Pokémon within ten seconds!"
Qin Yun and Master Wu exchanged knowing looks.
"Haha! Let's talk after the battle—I'd love to have a few drinks with you after this!" Wu said with a hearty laugh.
Qin Yun chuckled.
"Master Wu, I'm still a student."
Despite being able to drink, he knew better than to challenge seasoned veterans.
Getting drunk and embarrassing himself? Not happening.
Still, a battle this intense definitely called for celebration.
And with that, the match continued.
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