-143- Provoking the Opponent (Please subscribe!)

Tong Si looked toward the fighting-type battle arena, where the two battling Pokémon were a Machamp and a Marowak.
Judging by the situation, the Machamp seemed to have a firm upper hand?
What was somewhat strange, however, was that this Machamp was actually wearing a little pink skirt!
Tong Si could understand the pink part; after all, it was a macho color.
But the little skirt?
Could it really be a female Machamp?!
Tong Si glanced at the female Machamp's trainer and couldn't help but feel that it was somewhat... indescribable!
"I'd like to have my Electivire step up and give it a try."
Tong Si answered the bandana-wearing guy's question from just a moment ago.
Anyway, since his opponent wasn't him, there was no harm in telling him which Pokémon he would use.
"Electivire?"
Hearing Tong Si's words, the bandana guy's expression turned somewhat peculiar.
"Little brother, did you come to the wrong place? The Electric arena is over there."
The bandana guy pointed to the Electric arena not far away and said.
"Huh? But I want to have a fighting-type battle."
Tong Si said.
"A fighting battle? Little brother, don't tell me you don't know the meaning of the various battle arenas in the Battle Center?"
The bandana guy looked at Tong Si with some puzzlement, while Tong Si glanced back at him with a blank expression.
"The Pokémon Battle Center is divided into two different battle formats. One is... see, look over there."
Following the direction pointed out by the bandana guy, Tong Si saw that on the left side, quite a few trainers were battling, and the battle area was just an ordinary, standard battle field.
"The battle arena over there does not restrict the types of Pokémon used by either side. But these attribute-specific battle arenas here are restricted. If the Pokémon you use does not possess the attribute corresponding to that arena, you are not allowed to step onto it to battle."
Hearing the bandana guy's words, Tong Si frowned. There was such a rule?
"Otherwise, if you brought a Flying-type, Psychic-type, or Fairy-type Pokémon into the Fighting-type arena, how would you expect trainers using Fighting-type Pokémon to battle?"
The bandana guy continued.
This time, Tong Si finally understood.
Type advantage!
To prevent both sides from being countered by type matchups, the Pokémon used in each attribute-specific arena had to possess the corresponding type.
"I understand."
Tong Si nodded. It was a good thing he ran into this enthusiastic bandana guy, otherwise he would have waited in that long line for nothing.
After waving goodbye to the bandana guy, Tong Si walked over to the Electric arena.
After taking a ticket, he found that there were slightly fewer people on the Electric arena side.
His number tag was fifty-eight.
And the electronic screen showed 002 and 035.
"A thirty-three-win streak?"
After understanding what the numbers above represented, Tong Si realized that contestant number 002 had already fought thirty-three consecutive matches.
Contestant 035 before his eyes was his thirty-fourth opponent.
Tong Si glanced at the battle arena, where a Luxray was fighting a Magneton.
This battle between Electric-type Pokémon did not last long before ending with Luxray's victory.
"Thirty-four consecutive wins!"
On the electronic screen, contestant number 002's thirty-four-win streak flashed brilliantly.
This practically refreshed the entire Battle Center's winning streak leaderboard for the day.
Of course, the all-time historical winning streak record holder had established a record of one hundred and sixty-six consecutive wins.
One had to know that this one-hundred-and-sixty-six-win streak was achieved in a single day using the exact same Pokémon for continuous battles, which was an extremely difficult feat to accomplish.
The Battle Center's winning streak leaderboard was refreshed every single day.
In other words, wins could not be accumulated across multiple days; only single-day records counted.
As for today's highest winning streak, it currently stood at thirty-four wins, held by this trainer using Luxray.
Through his scanning eye, Tong Si saw the specific stats of this Luxray on the data panel.
Luxray
Level: 36
Potential: Gym Leader level
...
"Gym Leader level potential and a level thirty-six Luxray, huh? That's quite an opponent!"
When Tong Si said this, he deliberately glanced around to make sure the sharp-eared bandana guy wasn't nearby.
Tong Si breathed a sigh of relief, terrified of being overheard by the bandana guy.
Next, Tong Si sat in the spectator stands and carefully observed contestant number 002's battling style.
This included some of the subtle habits and movements of this Luxray.
Tong Si couldn't help but feel surprised; this Luxray was exceptionally skilled at high-speed combat.
On many occasions, it would catch its opponent off guard and defeat them with a single strike.
This allowed it to secure victory with minimal resource expenditure.
You could say it was an exceptionally effective strategy for consecutive battles.
Until contestant number 057 was defeated, contestant number 002 had accumulated a total of fifty-six consecutive wins.
Tong Si stood up and slowly walked toward the battle arena.
At that exact moment, contestant number 002 actually recalled his Luxray, preparing to call it a day and end the battles.
"What's the meaning of this?"
Tong Si had just arrived at the Electric arena, and this contestant number 002 was already recalling his Pokémon?
"I've fought enough for today. My Luxray has been in fifty-six consecutive battles and is a bit tired. I'm planning to take it to rest."
Contestant number 002 said.
Hearing this, Tong Si furrowed his brows deeply. Don't do that! It was finally his turn, and you're telling him you're tired? You want to rest?
Trying to create drama for the audience, are we?
"It won't hurt to go rest after you finish battling me."
Tong Si gave a slight smile, a rather provocative grin that seemed to mock contestant number 002 right before him.
Seeing this, contestant number 002 suddenly became somewhat displeased. "Don't tell me you actually think you'll still be standing in this Electric arena after battling me?"
"And why wouldn't I?"
Tong Si shrugged, exaggerating his mocking expression even further.
"Did you see today's winning streak leaderboard on the big screen? The person with the most consecutive wins today is me!"
Contestant number 002 proudly pointed his thumb at his own nose.
Quite a few onlookers at the scene nodded in agreement.
Even the trainers waiting in line thought the same, wondering if things could move along a bit faster.
The guy was number one on the winning streak leaderboard; isn't it completely normal for him to be tired and want to rest? And you're actually blocking him and refusing to let him rest? Is there any logic in that?
"Hmph, that's just because you haven't run into me yet. If you met me, your winning streak would have ended long ago. Don't believe me? Let's give it a try."
Tong Si continued.
Hearing these words, contestant number 002 clearly grew somewhat impatient.
As a somewhat proud individual, he simply couldn't tolerate being humiliated like this by Tong Si.
"Fine! Then I'll defeat you before I go rest!"
As soon as he finished speaking, contestant number 002 strode directly onto the battle arena.
Tong Si chuckled softly; his reverse psychology tactic had worked.
Had circumstances not called for it, he wouldn't have provoked him like that.
Since he had finally encountered such a strong opponent, wouldn't it be a shame not to have a match?
When Tong Si stepped onto the battle platform, the audience broke out into a chorus of murmurs and sighs.
One by one, they were cursing Tong Si for not knowing what was good for him.
The guy was number one on the win-streak leaderboard, yet you insisted on throwing a pebble against a boulder?
If he wanted to rest, just let him rest! Otherwise, with this Electric arena never changing its occupant, they, as spectators, were getting tired just watching.
"If both sides are ready, please send out your respective Pokémon. Contestant number 002 has already used Luxray, so he must continue using Luxray."
The referee glanced at contestant number 002.
Contestant number 002 indicated that he understood.
Meanwhile, Tong Si took out a red-and-white Poké Ball and tossed it upward.
The moment Luxray appeared, a bolt of lightning struck down.
Electivire made a dashing and heroic entrance!
... (To be continued)