"Sandshrew is unable to battle! The winner is Riolu and Roy!"
The referee announced the match results.
Only then did the audience calm down from the "Protect couldn't hold it" jokes, surprised to discover that the battle had ended so quickly.
Aside from the setup time, the actual combat lasted less than ten seconds.
It was completely one-sided.
In his previous match, Roy had struggled against Chloe, but this time he dominated?
"He crushed a recommended student so easily. Something doesn't add up. Does he really have a chance at winning the championship?"
"I'm honestly speechless. This kid is terrifying!"
"Still speechless? Global warming is caused by people who talk too much like you."
Casual viewers watched for excitement, while experts analyzed techniques.
Roy's difficult battle against Chloe was partly strategic—he had deliberately hidden his trump cards.
If they were to face each other again, and Riolu used his "Thunder Body Forging + Agility" burst combo from the start, the match would end swiftly.
Roy and Riolu's skill level already exceeded that of typical recommended students.
Chloe recognized this, which was why she accepted her defeat.
But new questions emerged.
The trainers present wondered:
Riolu's explosive power is incredible—you can't match it head-on. Unlike Chloe's direct approach, Axel's weather tactics were perfect for a war of attrition. By delaying until after Riolu's burst period, he should have had a decent chance at winning.
Axel was clearly planning for a battle of endurance, but here's the problem...
How did Roy locate Sandshrew in that sandstorm?
Everyone had theories, but none guessed correctly.
The answer was aura-sensing.
This psychic seed, after being tempered by Roy's Calm Mind, had grown into a small sapling.
Aura was naturally strong in terms of "sensing." Although Roy's psychic abilities weren't powerful, they were sufficient at the novice level.
Sandshrew's weather camouflage couldn't hide from aura detection.
At the VIP table, Principal Finn laughed. "This kid... how did he find Sandshrew? So many secrets. I'm starting to wonder if he is Sebastian's illegitimate son."
Professor Christian nodded sympathetically before asking, "By the way, Elite Carter, what surprised you earlier?"
"...Just something unusual," Carter didn't conceal anything. "Didn't you notice that Riolu's 'Agility' seems highly proficient? He was able to use it simultaneously with that custom move."
"That's..." Principal Finn frowned thoughtfully.
Skill proficiency determined release speed, accuracy, control, and energy conversion efficiency.
For instance, Sandshrew's Protect failed because its release speed was too slow and proficiency too low.
The simplest way to improve proficiency was through repeated use.
Principal Finn remarked, "This Agility must be an egg move."
If it wasn't an inherited move, Riolu wouldn't naturally learn 'Agility'—it would have to be taught by its Trainer...
This possibility seemed unlikely.
Developing 'Agility' proficiency to such a high level in just one week would be unreasonable—it would require practicing non-stop, 24 hours a day.
"Perhaps," Elite Carter replied noncommittally.
The Elite still sensed something amiss.
He wasn't familiar with Roy's Riolu, but he knew Elite Sebastian's Lucario well.
That Lucario could also use Agility, but it wasn't particularly skilled with Psychic-type moves. Its training focused purely on Fighting-type techniques, supplemented with Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, and other moves to expand its type coverage.
If Riolu had inherited moves, he would expect it to inherit Thunder Punch since that was part of Lucario's strongest genetic traits.
Remarkable talent, numerous secrets, and limitless potential. For the first time in years, Elite Carter couldn't fully gauge a novice trainer other than his own daughter.
Perhaps he should be added to the Pokémon League watchlist...
Carter hesitated with this thought.
As soon as Roy returned to the lounge, he sat down and saw Axel returning.
Without his Poké Ball—evidently Sandshrew had been sent for treatment.
Just as Roy was about to greet him, he heard someone tease, "Professor Axel, why couldn't Protect protect?"
"It's so strange! Is your Protect defective?"
"That's impossible, right? No one's Protect should fail like that!"
"Hahahaha, you guys are terrible—I love it!"
"..."
Seeing Axel's dead-fish eyes and gloomy expression, Roy immediately fell silent.
Better not to provoke him further.
Protect was a remarkably versatile and practical move.
When first activated, as long as the opponent's power didn't exceed the user's by several levels, it offered nearly 100% protection.
However, using Protect multiple times in quick succession dramatically reduced its success rate.
Having Protect fail completely was as absurd as playing a no-defense Garen in League of Legends.
...Though if Garen's resurrection condition was active, it might work.
Not recommended to try it here, though.
The quarterfinals concluded by noon.
The school cafeteria staff delivered nutritious lunches to all contestants, including those who had been eliminated.
One cafeteria worker seemed puzzled by the students' exceptional appetites.
Had something exciting happened?
...Wait.
This tall, strong young man wasn't eating at all.
The cafeteria worker thoughtfully ladled an extra spoonful of gravy onto Axel's meal.
Meeting his confused gaze, she offered a simple smile:
"Food tastes better this way. Eat up!"
"...Th-thank you," Axel forced an awkward smile.
He felt obligated to express gratitude, which only annoyed him further.
Roy ate while scrolling through his phone. The "Protect couldn't hold it" meme had spread throughout the school forum. Everyone was joking about it, and the trend seemed poised to break into wider circulation. Some people had even started asking legitimate Pokémon Professors online "why Protect couldn't hold," prompting experts to issue official clarifications...
These people are taking it too far...
Roy condemned them internally, definitely not secretly pleased about the popularity of the meme.
Well, maybe a little pleased. If this meme translated into popularity points, it would be worth at least a million.
However, considering what those popularity points would cost him, Roy sobered quickly.
Popularity?
It would change his life!
In exchange for giving up his freedom to choose relationships for four years of college!
Roy focused on his meal and helped himself to a second bowl of rice after finishing the first.