Pokemon: Hundredfold Power Surge

026: Battle Mankey! Ripple Watches From the Sidelines

When the head teacher heard the voice, a smile appeared on his face.

May was not only a member of the Rocket Class, but one of its strongest trainers. In the recent class battle, her Torchic had overwhelmed every opponent with its relentless power and tactical precision.

Moreover, May's identity carried weight she was the daughter of Norman, the Gym Leader of Petalburg City, renowned as the strongest trainer in the region.

"Teacher, do you need something from me?"

May's appearance was striking, and even Ripple, who was usually indifferent to such things, couldn't help but admire her well-balanced figure.

"This is about the joint entrance exam of the six schools," the head teacher explained. "They've invited our No. 1 High School to send a representative for an exhibition match against the reigning champion. I wanted to ask if you're interested."

May barely reacted. "Not interested."

To her, the six-school entrance exam was inconsequential. The strongest trainers from those schools were, at best, mid-tier compared to the Rocket Class elite. If it weren't for the principal of No. 2 Middle School personally extending the invitation, she wouldn't even acknowledge the event.

She had her sights set on something greater the Petalburg Contest. Unlike straightforward battles, Pokémon Contests required beauty, strategy, and performance, which she found far more engaging.

The head teacher sighed but wasn't surprised. May's interest had always leaned toward Contests rather than traditional battles.

"Fair enough."

As May turned to leave, the head teacher suddenly asked, "By the way, do you know Qin Yun?"

May stopped in her tracks.

"Qin Yun? If you're talking about Qin Yun from Jiang Cheng No. 3 Middle School, then yes, I know him."

Ripple and the head teacher exchanged glances. "Jiang Cheng No. 3 Middle School?"

That wasn't what they expected.

"What happened to him?" May asked, her voice calm, but a flicker of interest in her eyes.

She hadn't heard from Qin Yun since their last meeting and had been waiting for him to reach out. His silence unsettled her.

Ripple answered, "Yesterday, I encountered a high schooler in the suburbs. He single-handedly defeated two entry-level peak Houndooms. His strength was incredible even with some tricks involved, it's a feat few trainers could accomplish."

The head teacher nodded. "Not even May could take on two fully trained Houndooms alone."

May frowned slightly. Could that really be Qin Yun? She knew he was talented he had even caught a Ralts with moderate potential but that kind of battle prowess was something else entirely.

Ripple sighed. "The only way to confirm is to watch the six-school entrance exam. If he's there, we'll know for sure."

---

Group Stage Round-Robin Matches Begin

The semifinals had now entered a round-robin format.

The rules were simple: each trainer would battle twice, with a half-hour break between matches. A total of six matches per group would determine who advanced to the top 16.

Qin Yun's first opponent happened to be a Mankey user.

[Pokémon: Mankey]

[Type: Fighting]

[Ability: Defiant – If any of its stats are lowered, its Attack increases by two stages.]

[Strength: Entry-Level Peak]

[Potential: Medium]

[Moves: Scratch, Focus Energy, Cross Chop]

[Pokédex Entry: When Mankey gets enraged, it loses all sense of friend or foe. Approach with caution.]

Though its potential wasn't outstanding, this Mankey had clearly undergone excellent training.

Mankey was an aggressive and unpredictable Pokémon, often deemed unsuitable for beginner trainers. Its volatile temperament made it difficult to control. However, Zhang Can had successfully trained his Mankey to an entry-level peak state within just eight days, proving his ability as a trainer.

Qin Yun turned to his Fomantis. "This might be a tough fight. Are you ready?"

Fomantis chirped confidently, eyes sharp with determination.

Grass-types and Fighting-types had no inherent advantage over each other this battle would come down to raw strength, tactics, and trainer skill.

Novice-level battles often lacked the dynamic strategy of higher-tier fights, as trainers typically relied on a single strong move without counter-strategies. However, both Qin Yun and Zhang Can were exceptions.

The referee raised the flag. "Begin!"

The battlefield split into two sections, with battles occurring on both sides. But most of the spectators focused on Qin Yun and Zhang Can this was the highlight match of the bracket.

Meanwhile, Ripple entered the stadium, scanning the battle board.

"In the first match, Wang Qiu versus Ma Kun…" she murmured, barely paying attention.

She had heard of Wang Qiu he was the son of the No. 2 Middle School principal and was known for his talent. But that wasn't why she was here.

She quickly found what she was looking for.

"The sixth match… Qin Yun's duel…"

Her eyes widened. "So there is a Qin Yun here!"

She hurriedly bought a ticket and rushed to the sixth division.

---

Qin Yun vs. Zhang Can: Speed vs. Precision

"Mankey, use Scratch!" Zhang Can commanded.

Mankey dashed forward in an instant, claws gleaming as it aimed straight for Fomantis.

It was fast too fast for a typical entry-level Pokémon. If that attack landed, it would deal significant damage.

Qin Yun remained calm.

"So, it's a speed contest?"

"Fomantis, use Shave!"

Fomantis flickered out of sight just as Mankey's claws were about to connect.

The movement was slightly clumsy it had only recently learned this technique but it was enough to dodge.

Zhang Can smirked. "Mankey, keep up and use another Scratch!"

He had anticipated this. He had seen Fomantis fight before and knew that Qin Yun relied on agility. His strategy was simple: keep up the pressure with Close Combat and overwhelm Fomantis with Mankey's superior speed.

Qin Yun's eyes glinted.

"A battle of attrition? Let's see who tires first."

---