-043- Battle with the Thunderfall Beast

The next day.

The Sunday Club was, as ever, packed to the brim. Today, most of the audience had come for a single reason: yesterday’s match had left a deep impression on many. The awe-inspiring Thunderbolt displayed by Tong Si’s Elekid had won over countless fans, and now everyone wanted to witness that overwhelming power with their own eyes. Some even paid exorbitant prices for scalped tickets, making the Sunday Club the most sought-after venue in Jiayuan City.

Tong Si, meanwhile, entered through the back entrance—a privilege reserved for competitors. Before arriving, he’d stopped by the Friday Club to recharge Elekid’s energy reserves. As long as its stored electricity was sufficient, Elekid’s electric attacks were devastating.

“Tong Si, after I got home yesterday, I watched your battle video repeatedly and studied your Elekid carefully,” a voice called out. It was Lei Yu, Tong Si’s opponent for today.

This was the first time Tong Si had spoken to Lei Yu. The man’s skin was deeply tanned, as if he’d just returned from vacation on some tropical island.

“Is that so? And what did your research yield?”

“The move your Elekid used yesterday wasn’t Thunderbolt at all. It was definitely Thunder!” Lei Yu declared.

Tong Si was momentarily taken aback. Was this really the conclusion of his research? How absurd.

“I don’t know how your Elekid learned Thunder, but against my Thunderbeast, electric moves are useless!” With supreme confidence, Lei Yu strode toward his side of the arena.

Tong Si then noticed that the previous match, between Lin Jintong and Song Xuyang, had already concluded. Lin Jintong’s Fire Fox had evolved into a Long-Tailed Fire Fox, and the type and level advantage made for an easy victory over Song Xuyang’s Woodland Turtle. Lin Jintong’s score now rose to three, taking a temporary lead.

As Tong Si stepped onto the platform, Lin Jintong shot him a provocative gesture. Tong Si pretended not to notice.

Both competitors took their positions. Despite a match having just taken place, the arena bore no signs of damage—a testament to how uneventful the previous battle must have been.

“If both contestants are ready, please send out your Pokémon,” the referee intoned, still bleary-eyed as if he’d barely slept.

Lei Yu, impatient as ever, threw his Poké Ball the moment the referee finished speaking, releasing his Pokémon: a vigorous Thunderbeast.

Tong Si wasted no time either, sending out Elekid. As Elekid appeared, the entire venue erupted in cheers.

“Go, Elekid! Mommy will always support you!”

“Oh, you naughty thing, why are you shocking me, Elekid?”

“Elekid, my Smoochum wants to have a baby with you!”

Tong Si was speechless at the fervent cries from his female fans. Who would have thought Elekid would gain such popularity overnight?

In contrast, Thunderbeast received only a smattering of cheers, barely worth mentioning. However, a whole row of people sat neatly behind Lei Yu’s platform. At their head was a burly man—none other than Lei Ming, the head of the Electric-type Gym in Jiayuan City. On either side of him, Gym trainers and apprentices cheered Lei Yu on, brandishing empty cola bottles.

Tong Si hadn’t known much about Lei Yu before, but after chatting with Song Xin yesterday, he learned that Lei Yu’s family was one of the four great clans of Jiayuan City, and they ran the local Electric-type Gym. The other three were the Jiang family, in charge of the seafood market and adept with Water-types; the Song family, overseeing construction and skilled with Grass-types; and the Qin family, dominating the mining industry and specializing in Rock-types. Incidentally, Song Xin and Song Xuyang both belonged to the Song family, though Song Xin had left the family for reasons unknown. Tong Si’s close friend Jiang Tao was the notorious black sheep of the Jiang family.

Returning to the match, Tong Si used his scanning device to examine Thunderbeast’s details:

Thunderbeast
Level: 19
Ability: Lightning Rod
Potential: Gym Leader Class

Upon seeing its ability, Tong Si glanced at Lei Yu. This guy was refreshingly straightforward—he’d even warned Tong Si before the battle that electric moves wouldn’t work on his Thunderbeast. So it was because of the Lightning Rod ability.

But Elekid’s strengths weren’t limited to electric moves alone.

“Begin!” the referee declared.

Both Pokémon sprang into action. Electricity crackled around Elekid as it tapped into its reserves to boost its speed. In a flash, Elekid darted toward Thunderbeast.

“Thunderbeast, use Bite!” Lei Yu commanded. He’d originally planned to have Thunderbeast howl to raise its attack, but Elekid’s quick assault forced him to change tactics.

“Use Brick Break!” Tong Si answered, deciding to meet the attack head-on.

Elekid’s powerful Brick Break struck Thunderbeast directly in the jaws.

“What?!” Lei Yu was stunned. Wasn’t Elekid supposed to be using Quick Attack? How could it switch moves so abruptly?

“Thunderbeast, shake it off!”

Thunderbeast roared, but Elekid clung to it relentlessly. Even after Thunderbeast released its grip, Elekid continued to pursue, hammering it with Brick Break again and again.

“What kind of speed is this?” Lei Yu wondered aloud. Was Brick Break really supposed to be this fast?

On the field, Elekid’s Brick Break came down in a flurry, striking Thunderbeast over and over.

“Thunderbeast, fall back!” Lei Yu had no choice but to order a retreat. Thunderbeast now found itself backed against the edge of the arena, with nowhere left to go.

“Keep using Brick Break!” Tong Si commanded. He had absolute confidence in Elekid’s Brick Break—it was the move Elekid had trained the most.

“Damn it! Thunderbeast, counterattack with Fire Fang!” Lei Yu finally resorted to his trump card. It had cost him dearly to teach Thunderbeast Fire Fang, and Thunderbeast had endured much pain and rigorous training for it.

Thunderbeast’s jaws erupted in flame, the fiery attack threatening to engulf Elekid.

Thunderbeast’s speed was not great, so Elekid responded by leaping high into the air.

“Dodge with Quick Attack, then finish it with a decisive Brick Break!”

Elekid instantly understood. As Thunderbeast lunged, Elekid shot away like lightning, maintaining the distance.

“So fast!” Lei Yu and the audience alike marveled at Elekid’s speed.

Thunderbeast kept running, but the flames in its mouth were already diminishing. At that moment, Elekid reached the edge of the arena, planted a foot on the wall, and with a mighty push, launched itself back toward Thunderbeast.

… (To be continued)