Chapter 147: A Hard-Won Victory

From the very beginning of the match until this moment, Mudkip had always maintained the initiative through a skillful offensive routine and a confident boosting strategy.

Yet, in this fleeting instant, the tide had suddenly turned.

After a brief moment of utter bewilderment, Ye Yu woke up to what had happened, but it was already too late for regrets. He could no longer maintain his previous confidence as he shouted loudly, "Use Rock Slide! Don't try to get back up, use Rock Slide directly!"

How could Tang Yi easily give up an opportunity he had fought so hard to seize?

"Ralts, continue using Grass Knot! Target her hands!"

More Grass-type energy surged forth. This time, instead of tripping Mudkip, who was already lying prone on the battlefield, the energy bound the young girl's hands directly.

The Rock-type energy that had been gathering was consequently forced to abort.

Even though lying on the ground meant she wouldn't be tripped anymore, the binding Grass Knot still inflicted Grass-type damage, and this damage belonged to energy-based attacks.

Although the move Amnesia had raised her special defense, Grass-type moves super-effectively countered Water-type Pokémon, and compounded with the fact that the current Grass Knot's power had already multiplied several times over.

With every application of Grass Knot, the pain etched on Mudkip's face deepened visibly.

"Use Water Gun! Break the grass vines!" Ye Yu still refused to give up, but using a Water-type move to counter a Grass-type one was his absolute last resort. He could also see that Mudkip's Rock Slide was charging nowhere near as fast as Ralts's attacks.

Alas, it was too late.

The brief respite moments ago had allowed Ralts's depleted energy reserves to recover slightly. Now, casting aside all hesitation and ignoring energy consumption, she poured forth every ounce of remaining power, continuously casting Grass Knot.

For every single grass vine that Mudkip's Water Gun managed to snap, at least two new vines sprouted and spread in their place.

Mudkip was like a massive, clumsy giant possessing astonishing raw strength, yet she was bound in place by tiny ropes, unable to unleash her might.

The struggle did not last much longer. Having gained significant weight due to the Curse move, Mudkip was forced to endure even heavier damage.

A few minutes later, Mudkip crashed heavily onto the battlefield.

Ye Yu shouted in desperate frustration, but there was no way to make the physically exhausted girl stand back up.

The referee's whistle finally blew.

"Mudkip is unable to continue! Ralts wins!"

In utter disbelief, Ye Yu collapsed backward onto the ground, still struggling to accept the outcome.

"Great job!"

Without concealing the joy on his face, Tang Yi rushed onto the battlefield, swept Ralts up into his arms, and exclaimed happily, "We won! Ralts, we won!"

Although he had long known that every opponent in the third round of the tournament—being the elite representatives of their respective cities—would be formidable, the sheer strength of his first-round opponent still caught him by surprise.

His first-round opponent alone had taken up over three entire chapters of action, a standard that usually belonged to the final stages of the secondary selection tournament, perhaps even surpassing it.

The final outcome of the match must have shocked everyone, including Tang Yi himself.

Ralts was equally excited, though her inherent reticence made her unaccustomed to expressing it outwardly. After quietly enjoying the embrace for a brief dozens of seconds, the exhausted girl struggled gently and whispered.

"Let me go! It's being broadcast live on television!"

Tang Yi released her with a hint of reluctance. Naturally, the audience before their television screens, including his parents far away in Qingjiang City, would not find anything inappropriate about this gesture.

Having won such a grueling match, Tang Yi had every reason to celebrate properly with Ralts, and embracing after the victory was completely normal.

Only inside Fang Tianze's room did Eevee watch the tightly embracing pair on the screen and sneer with a rather excited tone, "True to form for a simp! He's finally dropping the act and exposing his true colors!"

Thwack!

Ouch!

Ninetales's tail always seemed to land at the most opportune moment.

"What does 'simp' mean?" asked Feebas, who had remained silent throughout the entire match.

"Eevee just means Ralts did a really pretty job, and 'simp' is just an acronym for that. Don't worry about it," Butterfree spoke nonsense with a completely straight face.

Feebas cast a peculiar glance at Butterfree, her eyes clearly communicating: *I do use the internet, you know. Do you take me for an idiot?*

Nevertheless, Feebas obediently replied, "Oh, is that so? Sister Eevee is so amazing!"

...

On the battlefield.

Tang Yi and Ye Yu shook hands in mutual sportsmanship, then each signed the match result document issued by the referee.

As a nationwide broadcasted college entrance examination selection tournament, to foster the athletic spirit of friendship first, these basic procedures had been explained to all participating students prior to the matches.

A dejected Ye Yu left with Mudkip to seek medical treatment.

Tang Yi, having advanced to the Top 16, headed to the main hall to wait. The Round of 32 to Top 16 matches would take place over two days—today and tomorrow—with eight matches per day, four in the morning and four in the afternoon.

A few minutes later, another simultaneous match concluded, with Wang Yangman and Kirlia also claiming victory.

Emerging from the competitor tunnel, Wang Yangman spotted Tang Yi from afar and waved.

"Looks like you won too. Very impressive! As expected, anyone who chooses Ralts is bound to be formidable!" the girl praised with a cheerful smile.

Tang Yi smiled back. "Even though your words sound suspiciously like self-praise, I'll take the compliment. Thank you."

The two exchanged a few brief words.

Both agreed that their opponents were stronger than those in the previous secondary selection rounds. Although both claimed their victories were somewhat lucky, Tang Yi's luck was genuinely just that—luck—and he wasn't simply being modest.

Leaving the venue, the two parted ways.

The matches for the Top 16 would be held on Wednesday. Since Tang Yi had finished his match the earliest, the upside was that he would have more time to rest, adjust, and incidentally study the live broadcasts of other opponents.

Upon returning to his hotel room, before he even had a chance to rest, his mother's video call came through.

With a glowing, beaming face, Tang Mother shouted, "Son! You were amazing! I knew it all along, you're going to achieve great things in the future!"

The video was being transmitted from home, but Tang Yi noticed other people in the background who looked like neighbors and relatives. He smiled helplessly and said, "Mom, you must be going around bragging again. This is only the first match; I need to reach at least the Top 8 to get extra college entrance examination points."

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter!" Tang Mother had cast aside all embarrassment at this point. "I'm happy today! I'm going out to have a great feast with your uncles and aunts later!"

Several relatives in the background of the video crowded over to greet Tang Yi one after another, showering him with flattery and praise that practically elevated him to the heavens.

Even though it was only the Top 16, this was the Top 16 of the entire province, enough to make anyone green with envy.

After finally hanging up that lengthy video call, Tang Yi let out a long sigh of relief. He looked at Ralts, who was sitting quietly and neatly on the edge of the bed, felt a softness well up in his heart, walked over, and once again gently embraced the young girl.

I'm sure you must be exhausted?"

During the match, the intensely focused concentration required allowed Ralts to constantly perceive Mudkip's attack vectors, execute evasive maneuvers in advance, and shoulder a massive mental burden through continuous teleportation.

Although this victory was won with a stroke of luck, it was inextricably tied to Ralts's own hard work.