However, life is always full of surprises.
This kind of high school competition has strict limits on the number of participants due to considerations of human resources and time costs. After all, it's not like the college entrance exam; mobilizing students from the entire county would be too exhausting.
Zining High School only has 10 spots per grade.
In previous years, many students' Pokemon were still in the cultivation stage and not yet fully developed.
For example, students cultivating Caterpie might have just evolved their Caterpie into Metapod, which basically has no combat power. Therefore, the enthusiasm of second-year students to participate has always been low.
However, this year the situation was completely different. When Old Xu announced that students could sign up for the competition, the enthusiasm of Chen Kai's classmates to sign up was unusually high.
After all, this year, even the last batch of students to hatch Caterpie had already evolved their Caterpie into Butterfree.
Although this Butterfree's combat power might not be strong, it at least appeared to have some combat capability.
Old Xu felt that perhaps the feng shui of this classroom was good, and the students he taught this year were exceptionally smooth.
But according to Miraidon, it was because Chen Kai always slept in class, and when he slept, he would emit excess Taijing Energy. Over the past month or so, this energy was subtly absorbed by the Pokemon of the entire class, so their leveling speed greatly accelerated.
Anyway, regardless of the reason, almost all the students in Chen Kai's second-year class eagerly signed up, which left Old Xu a bit flustered.
Finally, Old Xu waved his hand and said,
“Alright! I am deeply gratified by your enthusiasm, students. But unfortunately, there are limited spots. How about this! When Wang Yi and Wang Tianxiang return next week, we'll hold a unified competition, and the top ten students will participate. What do you all think?”
“Okay!” the students shouted in excitement.
Only a few students, like Su Yuexi, looked bewildered. It took her a while to react, and she said,
“Huh! Do I have to participate in the competition too?”
But by then, this rule had already been set in the class, and anything she said was useless.
Thus, the afternoon Pokemon training class was exceptionally lively.
Under the influence of this enthusiastic atmosphere, Grovyle and Gloom trained exceptionally hard.
On the training ground, Gloom launched the first attack. An unusual light flickered within its petals, and then a large mass of pungent Acid sprayed out like a surging tide.
Wherever the Acid passed, the concrete ground was rapidly corroded, emitting a “sizzle” sound, and pungent smoke rose with it.
Facing the aggressive Acid, Grovyle did not flinch.
Its forearms instantly gleamed with sharp light, its body crouched slightly, and then it charged towards the Acid at an extremely fast speed.
The moment it got close, it leaped high, its elbow blades crossing and swinging, unleashing X-Scissor.
The sharp blades cut into the Acid like keen knives, actually splitting the seemingly indestructible Acid in half.
The Acid was cut into several streams, splashing in all directions and landing on the ground, corroding out bubbling pits.
After landing, Grovyle did not pause for a moment. Using its momentum and attack inertia, its arms still gleamed with cold light as it charged straight towards Gloom.
Seeing this, Su Yuexi hastily shouted,
“Gloom, quickly dodge!”
But two sharp, blade-like leaf shadows crossed and slashed fiercely towards Gloom, leaving Gloom nowhere to hide.
Grovyle's X-Scissor landed heavily on Gloom. The sharp blades cut across its petals, and several vibrant petals instantly fell. Gloom cried out in pain, its body trembling violently.
This X-Scissor was a move Grovyle learned through Memory after evolving. Chen Kai had cultivated Grovyle for a week, helping it successfully recall this move.
Although Bug-type moves have a narrow attack range, being resisted by seven types, they are only highly effective against Grass, Psychic, and Dark types.
But in an internal Grass-type battle, it was a good skill for Grovyle.
Gloom, in pain, swayed its body. Without waiting for Su Yuexi's command, it gathered strength again, preparing to launch a new round of Acid attacks.
After all, among its skills, only this move was somewhat effective against Grovyle. Its Grass-type moves were too weak, and its powder-type skills were completely ineffective against Grovyle.
Just then, Chen Kai and Grovyle simultaneously and keenly perceived Gloom's intention.
“Malicious Pursuit!”
Chen Kai decisively gave the command. Grovyle had just reached Normal Class (level 20) these past few days and learned this move.
At the same time, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in Grovyle's eyes. It launched Malicious Pursuit before Gloom was fully prepared.
It instantly flashed behind Gloom like a phantom, then quickly changed its elbow strike to a claw strike, its claws fiercely grabbing at Gloom's back.
Normally, Grovyle was quite friendly towards Gloom, but during training, it was merciless, always beating Gloom up, which made Gloom very angry.
It endured the pain, quickly turned around, and sprayed out another large mass of Acid.
Grovyle, being too close, could not dodge in time, and its arm was hit by the Acid, immediately causing a sharp pain.
Poison-type moves are highly effective against pure Grass-type Grovyle.
Seeing this, Gloom increased the force of its Acid spray, as if to completely engulf Grovyle.
However, Grovyle showed no fear. It concentrated its mind, and the light from its arms grew even more dazzling.
Chen Kai knew that only Grovyle's close-combat moves could deal significant damage to Gloom, so he commanded: “Grovyle, hold on! Keep using X-Scissor!”
Grovyle gathered all its strength into its arm blades, its arms swinging in a lightning-fast cross, slashing towards Gloom with an unstoppable momentum.
Although Gloom was in great pain, its Acid continued without pause, falling like a torrential downpour, forming a corrosive area around Grovyle.
Grovyle also did not hesitate in the slightest, its arms swinging non-stop, X-Scissor sweeping like a whirlwind.
Acid and X-Scissor collided, splashing countless drops of water and debris.
Both sides were in a stalemate, and the battle entered a heated phase.
Time passed by minute by minute, and both Grovyle and Gloom were utterly exhausted.
Grovyle had more and more wounds on its body, and blood stained its scales, but its eyes remained firm, without any intention of giving up.
Gloom was also panting, and the speed of its Acid spray gradually slowed, yet it still stubbornly held on.
At this point, this battle was no longer merely a competition of moves, but a contest of perseverance and will.
Finally, Gloom's body was the first to sway, unable to support itself any longer, and it fell heavily to the ground.
Every training session, it was beaten so hard by Grovyle, and it often brought Grovyle Su Yuexi's specially made food. Gloom cursed Grovyle countless times in its heart.
Grovyle stood beside Gloom, raising its head slightly. Despite its numerous injuries, its aura remained undiminished.