Chapter Thirty-Three: The Competition Begins

Training for the Elf Princess was not merely a matter of skill acquisition; physical conditioning was equally vital. Tang Yi was well aware of this, yet for a newly born Elf Princess, rigorous exercise might not be beneficial so early on. Moreover, Tang Yi was increasingly reluctant to force Laroulas to do anything she disliked.

As for future plans, he decided to leave them until after tomorrow’s competition.

On their last evening, Tang Yi dismissed any notion of last-minute cramming, preferring instead to let Laroulas retire early for the night. Her bedroom had been converted from a storeroom—small, but cozy. Having grown up never entering a Poké Ball, Laroulas had gradually adapted to life outside, making such arrangements feel natural.

The competition was scheduled for ten o’clock the following morning.

After enjoying a sumptuous breakfast lovingly prepared by his parents, and once again declining their offer to accompany him, Tang Yi set out lightly with Laroulas.

“Shall we take a car?” Laroulas asked softly.

“Let’s walk—it’s not far,” Tang Yi replied, seeking her opinion.

Laroulas offered no objection.

The venue was the same battle pavilion as yesterday. The morning rush filled cars with people, and Tang Yi didn’t want Laroulas to suffer through that, especially since the walk was short and time was on their side. They strolled leisurely, retracing the road they’d returned on the previous evening. This time, bathed in morning sunlight, everything felt more invigorating. Vehicles and commuters hastened past, and their slow pace—trainer and Elf Princess together—seemed oddly out of place, almost like elderly men taking a stroll.

“If we lose today’s match, will you feel upset?” Laroulas initiated conversation, an uncommon occurrence.

“Yes, I will,” Tang Yi nodded.

Laroulas paused briefly, but soon her small hand slipped naturally into his.

Tang Yi smiled and continued, “I’ll feel upset because if we lose, you’ll blame yourself and feel guilty. If you’re unhappy, I can’t be happy.”

Laroulas’s face flickered between delight and frustration; she shot him a glance. Her trainer was admirable in many ways, except his refusal to speak straightforwardly.

“I think I’m rather lucky,” Laroulas said, choosing her words carefully.

“Why?” Tang Yi was curious; the girl seemed more talkative today.

“That Squirtle yesterday—I could sense her pain. She must be very unhappy most of the time,” Laroulas said earnestly, head lifted.

Tang Yi fell silent for a moment. Qin Donghai certainly put Squirtle under tremendous pressure; happiness was likely a stranger to her. But it was someone else’s family matter, and he had no right to interfere.

“You must have secretly sensed others’ emotions again, haven’t you?” Tang Yi half-joked to shift the heavy topic.

The girl touched the two red horns on her forehead, which had grown longer with her rapid development.

“It’s not on purpose!” Laroulas protested, a little dissatisfied. “Sometimes I just can’t help sensing others’ emotions. Yesterday, it happened with your telepathy, too—when I want to feel it, I do.”

“Do you still have telepathy now?” he asked.

She shook her head, helpless. “I... I can’t control it.”

Last night, Tang Yi had actually done some research online. The red horns atop Laroulas’s head granted her special abilities; this species was naturally sensitive to emotions, and when that emotional perception reached an intense level, telepathy could occur. Only a rare few Laroulas possessed such a gift.

Hidden traits were a popular field among biologists and trainers, but there were still no definitive answers. Tang Yi had no idea how to guide her.

“No matter the outcome, I can accept it,” Tang Yi repeated what he’d said the day before.

“Mm, I believe you,” Laroulas nodded more earnestly than yesterday.

They arrived at the pavilion a bit after nine.

As the final preliminary round for Tianying High School, the school leaders and class teachers were all present. By tradition, there would be a speech before the match.

The nearly sixty-year-old principal held a script, delivering a grand speech, though few in the audience listened attentively.

Today’s participants numbered only eight—the top students from each senior class. Well, except for a certain someone.

“You must be Tang Yi. I’m Lin Tian, and this is my partner, Maiden Mightyena. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

During the principal’s address, everyone took the opportunity to introduce themselves to their opponents.

Tang Yi and Laroulas greeted him.

“I’m actually quite curious about you,” Lin Tian said.

“But I’m not interested in men,” Tang Yi replied.

“I spent all last night gathering your information from various sources. Guess what? Everyone who knows you relayed the same message: you’re a total slacker,” Lin Tian ignored Tang Yi’s joke.

“Your intel’s very accurate,” Tang Yi admitted with a smile.

“No, that’s exactly why I take you seriously. I’ll give my all in today’s match. Qin Donghai underestimated you and paid the price; I won’t make the same mistake,” Lin Tian said with utmost seriousness.

Maiden Mightyena was a lively girl, her gray canine ears twitching, a fluffy tail swaying behind her. Her hands bore traces of fur, and her limbs appeared sturdy—a stark contrast to Laroulas’s delicate arms and legs.

The girl chatted with Laroulas from time to time: “Your skin looks so pale—do you rarely go out in the sun?”

“Hehe, let me touch it—wow, so smooth!”

“I’m envious! Touch mine—it’s so rough.”

Tang Yi could hardly bear it; Laroulas wasn’t someone to be touched so casually, even by another Elf Princess.

“I think we ought to show the principal some respect; he’s getting on in years, and it’s not easy for him,” Tang Yi gestured toward the elderly principal still passionately giving his speech.

Lin Tian smiled and patted the girl beside him. “Alright, quiet down for a bit. Sorry, she’s always restless.”

After a quarter-hour, the speech ended and everyone refocused—the real event was about to begin.

Tang Yi and Lin Tian proceeded to the fourth arena, just as yesterday. The rules were recited, and then the referee blew the whistle to start the match.

“Mightyena, go for it!”

“Laroulas, just do your best. No pressure.”

Both Elf Princesses entered the arena. The Mightyena girl bent slightly, adopting a runner’s stance; her back foot pressed the ground, and she shot forward like an arrow.

Such speed!

Lin Tian issued no commands, but Tang Yi guessed this was the Tackle skill—not to strike, but to use its ordinary-speed boost to close the distance as quickly as possible.

“Laroulas, I believe in you!”

Tang Yi, too, needed no instructions. The strategy for Mightyena had been discussed with Laroulas last night—there was only one possible approach.