Pokémon: Reborn as Lucario

Chapter 144: The Promised Battle

The Super Rank Pokémon Contest came to a perfect end.

Míng Rìzhào held Fengling's arm, commenting excitedly as they walked, "Oh my, this Pokémon Contest was really exciting! Did you know, besides the combination of Espeon, Umbreon, and Miss Doreena, I also liked that combination with the two long-eared rabbits. What were those two rabbit Pokémon called again..."

"Lopunny."

"Ah, right, right, right, it was Lopunny! It seems to be a Pokémon from the west. Its whole body and long ears being so fluffy is really cute."

"Mm..."

The quiet, spectacled girl, Fengling, agreed softly, though she was somewhat absent-minded.

Suddenly, Míng Rìzhào pulled Fengling with some excitement, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Hey, look! Over there is Mr. Ruby!"

Looking in the direction Míng Rìzhào was looking, they saw Ruby, wearing a white cotton hat and sunglasses, standing in a relatively secluded area of the Contest Hall.

However, standing in front of Ruby was also a tall woman wearing a headscarf and a mask.

Míng Rìzhào and Fengling, being quite far away, couldn't hear what they were saying, but just from the look on Ruby and the woman's faces as they spoke, one could tell that the two were very familiar.

"…"

After seeming to have discussed something, the two of them started moving together, walking outwards.

"What should we do? Should we follow them?"

Míng Rìzhào was a little conflicted.

"Since you're so conflicted, then let's all go together."

A teasing voice sounded from behind, startling Míng Rìzhào.

Turning her head, she saw that Ruby and the woman had at some unknown point come up behind them.

"Ehehe."

Míng Rìzhào also laughed foolishly and scratched her head, pulling her good friend along to follow behind Ruby and the woman.

"Iya, iya. (Pokémon Language) It's too late. Even Xiao Zhao has become silly recently. It seems I really need to make a soup for everyone to drink."

Ruru became even more worried.

Walking on the road, the woman proactively walked to Míng Rìzhào's side.

"Hello, you're Míng Rìzhào, right? I've heard Uncle Norman mention you."

"Uncle Norman?"

"Oh, right. First, let me introduce myself. My name is Sapphire. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The woman took off her mask, revealing a cheerful smile.

As if struck by lightning, Míng Rìzhào froze on the spot.

Seeing this scene, Ruby laughed with a hint of schadenfreude.

"I told you so. This little girl would definitely be dumbfounded."

Sapphire glared at Ruby.

"You-you-you-you-you... are-are-are-are-are... that, that, that..."

Míng Rìzhào was trembling so much she couldn't speak properly.

"Although I don't know which 'that one' you're trying to say, if you're referring to the Middel Champion, then that is indeed me."

As straightforward as her smile, Sapphire smiled and patted Míng Rìzhào's little head.

With trembling hands, she took out her phone, with trembling hands, she opened the phone's camera, with trembling hands, she took a selfie with Sapphire, and then with trembling hands, she posted it to her social media feed with the caption, "This is the closest I've ever been to a Champion!"

Míng Rìzhào completed this series of operations as smoothly as flowing water.

Sapphire: "?"

Steven, far away in who-knows-where: "?"

And Ruby was watching the interaction between Sapphire and Míng Rìzhào with great amusement. However, he also noticed two pairs of eyes looking at him.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

Fengling was a little flustered and quickly lowered her head, shaking it.

"N-no, it's nothing."

Ruby squatted down and sized up Snivy.

"This Pokémon of yours has a very good foundation. It's full of spirit, and its leaves have a bright luster. In a Contest, it could get quite a few points."

Snivy turned its head and hid behind Fengling, avoiding Ruby's gaze.

Ruby smiled, unconcerned, stood up, and led the group (and Pokémon) to a certain place.

Behind the Contest Hall, there was a small Pokémon Battle Hall. Inside, it was divided into a public battle area and a private battle area, specifically provided for those trainers who wanted to have Pokémon battles. The public battle area was open-style; as long as you paid an entry fee, you could find an opponent to battle here at any time. At the same time, the battles were open to everyone present. The private battle area, however, was different. It had its own independent battlefields. Battling here required paying a certain rental fee, but because it was not open to the public, many trainers who didn't want to be watched would choose the private battlefields to battle.

Ruby and Sapphire chose the latter.

After all, one was a famous Contest Master, and the other, needless to say, just the word "Champion" alone was enough to know her fame would absolutely not be low. And a battle between these two highly popular trainers was a scene that many people might not have the opportunity to witness even with a lot of money.

Míng Rìzhào and Fengling, who had followed them to the battle hall in a daze, only then belatedly reacted.

"Mr. Ruby, Miss Sapphire, are you... are you going to battle?"

Míng Rìzhào was extremely shocked.

"Yes, this is a promise Sapphire and I made since we were little. Every so often, we have to battle. This is our battle promise."

Ruby rolled his shoulders, then took out a Poké Ball.

"But, isn't Mr. Ruby a Coordinator? In a Pokémon battle, how..."

Compared to the shocked Míng Rìzhào, Fengling was more puzzled. After all, Ruby was facing the top trainer standing at the peak of Pokémon battling—a Champion trainer.

"You shouldn't underestimate that guy. His skill in Pokémon battling is very strong."

Sapphire's eyes shone brightly. Different from her cheerful big-sister-like appearance just now, in her battle state, her whole body exuded an extremely aggressive and wild temperament, making a rookie trainer like Míng Rìzhào not even have the courage to stand opposite her.

"No, no, no, Sapphire. What I pursue is the most ultimate beauty of Pokémon."

Taking off his sunglasses and putting on his glasses, Ruby similarly entered his battle state.

"Come out, Zuzu!"

Raging flames gushed from the Poké Ball. Wrapped in flames, Blaziken made a gorgeous entrance.

"Yo, long time no see, Zuzu."

Sapphire's Swampert and Ruby's Blaziken were also old acquaintances, so she raised a hand and greeted it.

Blaziken Zuzu also responded with a loud, clear cry.

"Since Zuzu is out, then I've decided on you, Zuzu!"

Cool water vapor dispersed the scorching air on the battlefield. As the water waves churned, a powerful and majestic Swampert landed in front of Ruby.

The big Swampert looked left and right, somewhat naive. When it saw the familiar Blaziken and Sapphire, it couldn't help but cry out with joy a couple of times.

Blaziken and Swampert had both lived together in Professor Odamaki's Pokémon lab when they were little, so their relationship was also quite good.

"Alright, stop being silly."

Ruby patted the big fellow in front of him.

"Let the battle begin!"

Blaziken and Swampert instantly entered their battle stances.

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