After Li Feiyong briefly introduced the Training Hall, Zhou Yuan found that it was pretty much as he expected. As time went on, more students gradually filled the training Ground, about thirty in total, but only five of them were girls.
Standing outside the training Ground, Li Feiyong introduced to Zhou Yuan:
"Our Training Hall has a total of forty-two students, but due to the summer vacation, a few are traveling, and a few are out training. Including myself, there are thirty-one people remaining in the Gym right now."
"Among these thirty-one people, only the Senior Disciple has a Pokémon that has reached the Senior Level. The Senior Disciple is taking the college entrance exam this year and got into Kyoto University. Of the remaining people, fifteen have normal-level Pokémon, most of whom have already finished their college entrance exams and almost all got into Pokémon universities. The others are recently enrolled apprentices, and their strength is generally lower."
"If you want to challenge, I recommend you challenge my dad's direct disciples. There are six people here in total: three are normal-level mid-stage, and three are normal-level late-stage."
After hearing the introduction, Zhou Yuan asked, "Can I challenge now?"
"Of course, you can. My dad knew you were coming to challenge yesterday evening and specifically told me to let you fight if you wanted to. If you really manage to defeat everyone, it means he hasn't taught well. If you really defeat everyone, the training volume will probably double next month, but it's a good thing. You can't break through without breaking down, right?"
After speaking, Li Feiyong walked into the training Ground and clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention. He then said loudly:
"Everyone, let me introduce you. The person standing outside the training Ground now is Zhou Yuan. He's here to challenge our Gym today. The challenge scope is limited to normal-level mid-stage and late-stage. Those weaker don't need to come up; it would just be a waste."
He beckoned to Zhou Yuan, "Come over here."
Zhou Yuan walked forward, and Li Feiyong grabbed him and led him onto the arena, saying to his fellow disciples:
"You can come up and challenge now. I'll be the referee."
As soon as he finished speaking, a burly student walked up and said to Zhou Yuan in a booming voice:
"My name is Tieda, and my Pokémon is normal-level late-stage. Do you dare to fight me?"
Zhou Yuan chuckled. This person was quite interesting, very straightforward.
"No need to talk about daring or not. Let's just battle."
Both sides took their positions on either side of the arena, and Li Feiyong raised his right hand and then lowered it.
"Battle start!"
"Go, Makuhita!"
After Li Feiyong gave the command to start the battle, Tieda sent out his Pokémon first.
"Hacha!"
【Makuhita】
【Level: Normal-Level Late-Stage】
【Ability: Guts】
【Skills: Tackle, Gathering Power, Sand Attack, Push, Fake Out, Force Palm, Whirlwind, Knock Off, Vital Throw, Belly Drum, Cross Chop, Revenge, Bullet Punch, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Knock Off】
"A normal-level late-stage Makuhita... He must be suppressing its evolution, preparing to evolve after breaking through to Elite Level? Quite a long-term vision."
Zhou Yuan thought to himself as he threw out a Cherish Ball.
"Go, Growlithe!"
"Woof!!!"
The two Pokémon faced each other on the field, both waiting for their Trainer's command.
"Growlithe, use Agility!" Zhou Yuan commanded first. I have to say, fast-attack tactics are always amazing.
Growlithe moved quickly under Zhou Yuan's command, causing Makuhita's Push to miss.
Seeing Growlithe's speed getting faster and faster, Makuhita found it difficult to keep up. Tieda commanded it to use Fake Out. Makuhita's hands were covered in black energy, and its speed instantly increased to extremely fast. It directly slapped the agile Growlithe, using this opportunity to close the distance with Growlithe.
"Makuhita, use Cross Chop!" / "Growlithe, use Play Rough!"
Both sides issued commands simultaneously. Makuhita's hands and Growlithe's claws both struck the opponent. Cross Chop had a 1.5x same-type attack bonus, but its attack power was lowered once by Intimidate. Play Rough had a direct 2x super effective bonus, and Makuhita's resistance was not as good as Growlithe's. After this damage exchange, Makuhita was clearly struggling much more.
Seizing this opportunity, Zhou Yuan commanded Growlithe to use Flare Blitz, attempting to end the battle with one blow.
Seeing Growlithe, enveloped in flames, charging straight at it, Makuhita remained calm, quietly awaiting its Trainer's command.
Just as Growlithe was about to collide with Makuhita, Tieda's command arrived:
"Makuhita, use Seismic Toss!"
Makuhita's eyes sharpened!
It half-crouched to reduce the impact it would receive. After slightly resisting Growlithe's charge, it grabbed Growlithe by the neck with one hand and by the tail with the other, using Growlithe's momentum to throw it out.
Watching this scene, the apprentices below, who had been worried for Tieda, all cheered.
Zhou Yuan's expression also became slightly serious. He hadn't expected such a large Pokémon to have such a delicate mind, thinking of using Growlithe's momentum to inflict damage on Growlithe itself.
At this moment, the dazed Growlithe also stood up from the Ground.
"Growlithe, how do you feel?"
"Woof woof! (I can handle it)"
"Good, let's use Morning Sun!"
"Damn it."
Seeing the opposing Growlithe rapidly recovering its energy while bathed in light, Tieda couldn't hold back anymore. The damage dealt after being intimidated was already low, and now it was even healing itself, which was just too frustrating.
But Tieda also knew he couldn't let Growlithe keep recovering, or he would definitely lose this battle.
Under his command, Makuhita used Bullet Punch, dealing extremely faint damage to Growlithe. Just by looking at Growlithe not even flinching, one could tell how weak this attack was.
However, this punch held significant strategic meaning; at the very least, it interrupted Growlithe's recovery. But that was fine, our Growlithe had just recovered a good amount of energy, enough to easily defeat this low-health Makuhita.
"Makuhita, use Thunder Punch with both hands!"
Tieda continued his command.
Watching Makuhita's hands gradually get covered in electricity, Zhou Yuan was a bit flustered. This Makuhita isn't legitimate; its ability must be Iron Fist, turning one punch into two. (Translator's Note: The Chinese term here literally means 'loving fists', likely a pun on Iron Fist, a common ability for fighting-type Pokémon that boosts punching moves. This is a common web novel trope of 'unconventional' abilities or moves.)
But Zhou Yuan wasn't idle either. He commanded Growlithe to use Agility combined with Flame Wheel to avoid the attack, and incidentally grazed Makuhita, further depleting some of its energy.
Using the burning damage from Flame Wheel, Tieda commanded Makuhita to use Revenge. Revenge deals double damage to the opponent when the user takes damage.
Although it did hit Growlithe, the force was truly lacking; it didn't even break Growlithe's Protect shield. Zhou Yuan's evaluation of it was that it was inferior to Gurdurr.
The following scene was simple. With inferior power, resistance, and Skill power, even though Tieda had commanded very well, Makuhita was still dazed by Growlithe's headbutt.
【Host battle victorious, Energy Points +100】
【Bystander's astonishment, Energy Points +50】
【Host remaining Energy Points: 5710】
The advantage of challenging a Gym was this: no need to buy Potions, pure profit in Energy Points.
Watching their first Pokémon be defeated by Zhou Yuan, the apprentices below felt a little disappointed. After all, it was one of their own who was defeated. At this moment, they wished they could go up and participate in the battle themselves, and then severely curb Zhou Yuan's arrogance.
Li Feiyong asked Zhou Yuan if he needed a break. After having Growlithe use Morning Sun one more time, Zhou Yuan indicated that Growlithe had rested enough and could start the next battle. Soon, the second Challenger walked up.
"My name is Wang Liu, and my Pokémon is normal-level late-stage. Please enlighten me."
This second person was more polite than the first. After Li Feiyong announced the start of the battle, he also sent out his Pokémon, a Pancham.
"Oh? You're from Sichuan Province?" Zhou Yuan was a bit curious. Pancham are relatively rare, mainly concentrated in Sichuan Province of the Yanhuang region. Their numbers are not very high in other regions. Although their distribution is concentrated, they are not particularly rare controlled Pokémon. In a Breeding House in Sichuan Province, you can buy one for about 100,000.
"My mother is from Sichuan Province." Wang Liu said no more after that, clearly unwilling to elaborate.
【Pancham】
【Level: Normal-Level Late-Stage】
【Ability: Scrappy】
【Skills: Foul Play, Mountain Gale Throw, Tackle, Glare, Push, Work Up, Karate Chop, Comet Punch, Slash, Seismic Toss, Vital Throw, Drain Punch, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Knock Off】
Looking at Pancham's Skill list, Zhou Yuan also felt a bit emotional. Why was it still called "Li's Training Hall"? It might as well be renamed Elemental Punch Training Hall. So far, the three Pokémon from this Training Hall that he had battled all knew Elemental Punch. Although they didn't do much damage to Growlithe, in battles against other Pokémon, these three Skills would be enough to inflict effective damage on many Pokémon.
"Battle start!"
At Li Feiyong's command, Wang Liu directed Pancham to use Work Up. There was no choice; it was intimidated at the start, so if it didn't use Work Up to raise its attack, it would just be scratching the opponent.
And Growlithe, under Zhou Yuan's command, used Agility to increase its own speed. Zhou Yuan also felt that Agility was truly useful, as it could both increase its own speed and effectively dodge the opponent's attacks.
"Pancham, use Karate Chop with both hands!"
Zhou Yuan almost choked on his words. So, your Training Hall also offers 'Iron Fist' ability training, huh? Karate Chop with both hands, isn't that just Cross Chop? The Skill isn't legitimate at all.
While grumbling internally, Zhou Yuan commanded Growlithe to use Flare Blitz as an offensive defense, directly charging into Pancham's big head.
Although Pancham also knew throwing moves, its arms were relatively short and thin, so it might not be able to withstand Flare Blitz. Thus, under Wang Liu's command, Pancham used Foul Play.
The two exchanged a wave of damage. Their resistances were actually similar, but Foul Play was not a same-type Skill and had no power bonus, and its base power was also inferior to Flare Blitz. On the surface, it seemed like Pancham took more damage, but Flare Blitz has a one-third recoil damage. After this exchange of damage, it could only be said that they were evenly matched.
But! Growlithe has Morning Sun! Under Zhou Yuan's command and Wang Liu's exasperated gaze, Growlithe became energetic again.
It was truly disgusting.
Wang Liu silently complained in his heart, then began to think about the next strategy. Zhou Yuan saw that the opposing Trainer seemed to be distracted and didn't miss this opportunity. He immediately commanded Growlithe, using its high mobility advantage, to charge directly at Pancham's face and use Play Rough!
Wang Liu reacted when Zhou Yuan gave the command, but he didn't choose to issue his own command immediately. Instead, he waited until Play Rough was about to hit Pancham before commanding:
"Pancham, take the hit! Grab its claws and use Seismic Toss to throw it in front of you, then follow up with Mountain Gale Throw!"
Just as Wang Liu commanded, although Pancham took a Play Rough, which left its HP critically low, Pancham also seized the opportunity to use its short arms to grab Growlithe.
A Seismic Toss slammed Growlithe hard onto the Ground, followed by a Mountain Gale Throw that forcefully hit a vital spot, dealing a large amount of damage.
Zhou Yuan also guessed how Wang Liu would command Pancham next. He immediately had Growlithe use Protect while still on the Ground, which indeed blocked Pancham's next Seismic Toss. Then, a Ember to the face took away Pancham's last bit of energy.
【Host battle victorious, Energy Points +100】
【Bystander's astonishment, Energy Points +50】
【Opponent's recognition, Energy Points +100】
【Host remaining Energy Points: 5960】
Wang Liu recalled his dazed Pancham, walked forward, and shook hands with Zhou Yuan.
"You are very strong."
"You fought well too. If your three-combo throw had landed solidly, it's hard to say who would have won."
It wasn't just polite flattery; Zhou Yuan genuinely felt that his opponent was strong. That three-combo throw, except for Pokémon with resistant types or naturally high energy or defense, would be very difficult to fully withstand. The attack rhythm was tight, the intensity was high, and the damage was also high, completely different from Tieda, who went first.
Since Growlithe had already fought two consecutive battles, especially the second one where it was thrown around, Zhou Yuan decided to rest for half an hour before continuing the battle.