Get Stronger by Pleasing Pokémon? Who Needs to Be a Trainer!

The Grassy Terrain left behind by Serperior still radiated lingering warmth. It did not just affect Meowscarada, it also influenced Lucario, who possessed aura.

The more complex the environment, the greater the advantage for Pokémon that could sense aura.

Because of that ability, they could clearly perceive even the slightest changes in their surroundings.

The moment both Pokémon entered the dense grass, it was like two drops of water falling into the ocean. Not a ripple remained.

In a battle like this, trainers standing on the ground could see nothing inside.

And the official league would not provide any additional assistance.

If you could not see, then you could not see. That was part of the challenge. It tested a trainer’s understanding and judgment.

Only after reaching the top 32 would trainers be allowed to gain a full view of the battlefield. If they had a Flying-type or Psychic-type Pokémon, they could either ride into the air or be lifted up to observe the match from above.

Of course, that Pokémon was not allowed to interfere with the battle in any way.

Right now, only the spectators in the stands could vaguely make out the shifting movement within the grass.

The two trainers on the field could hear nothing but the soft rustling.

The bespectacled young man took a deep breath.

”Lucario… this environment gives you an edge. This is your domain now.”

He gave no specific command.

When the situation was unclear, giving no command was the best command.

Any random instruction might disrupt the Pokémon’s own judgment.

Rustle… rustle…

The sound of grass brushing against movement.

Within the field, Lucario moved swiftly, circling Meowscarada with a bone staff in hand. It was clearly preparing to strike with Bone Rush.

Meanwhile, after entering the grass, Meowscarada stayed still.

It crouched low, fur standing on end, every muscle tense and alert.

This alone left the audience stunned.

After all, this Grassy Terrain had been created by Serperior.

It did not mean that a Grass-type Pokémon could sense every subtle movement within it.

And the grass was thick. Dense. Almost forest-like.

What confused them even more was this:

Why had Lin Feng switched Serperior out for Meowscarada?

And if he did switch, shouldn’t he have removed the terrain?

Otherwise, wasn’t he handing the advantage directly to Lucario?

The benefits this field gave Meowscarada were nowhere near what it gave Lucario.

”Look… look! He even closed his eyes!”

After witnessing Serperior’s overwhelming performance, many people had already begun focusing on Lin Feng himself.

And now they noticed something strange.

The moment Meowscarada entered the field, Lin Feng closed his eyes completely.

Not even a hint of opening them.

How could someone fight like that?

Even if Meowscarada was inside the grass and hard to command, he should at least show some tension, right?

”He looks like one of those young prodigies who got successful too early and think they’re unbeatable.”

A fan who had been defending Sally earlier leaned over and whispered to the person beside him.

That person was the same spectator who had confidently claimed Lin Feng would win the championship.

After hearing this, he said nothing.

He simply kept watching.

He did not believe Lin Feng would just stand there and let his Pokémon fight alone.

Just like when he raised his Treecko, how it had grown to trust him completely. Someone like that could never neglect their Pokémon.

As Lucario drew closer and closer to Meowscarada…

Under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands, Lin Feng remained unmoved.

Calm. Focused.

Every ounce of his attention was immersed in the battle.

Just like before.

Back when Floragato had faced the aerial challenge against the Pidgeot flock.

Back then, it had fought alone.

But this time was different.

Lin Feng extended his aura into the grass, shifting his perspective into the field itself.

Through that connection, he could see.

Lucario, wielding its bone staff, circled Meowscarada at high speed, constantly shifting its position.

The grass around Meowscarada rustled endlessly.

”Meow!”

Meowscarada grew even more alert.

It could sense Lucario nearby, deliberately disturbing the surrounding grass to conceal its exact position.

But it was not nervous.

Despite the opponent’s experience…

This felt familiar.

All those days participating in aerial challenges had not been in vain.

And more importantly…

It had Lin Feng.

It trusted him completely.

Its trainer had never lied to it, and always understood what it truly wanted.

”Left side. Now, use Grass Knot.”

Lin Feng’s voice echoed almost simultaneously in Meowscarada’s mind and in reality.

In that instant, Meowscarada pushed up from the ground, exposing its back.

At the same time, Lucario burst out of the grass, bone staff raised, striking toward Meowscarada.

But in the next moment

A knot of grass surged upward from the ground, as if it had locked onto its target.

It wrapped tightly around Lucario’s legs.

”Lu ?!”

With a startled cry, Lucario was violently tripped and slammed to the ground.

Bang!

Its body hit the earth with a heavy thud.

”Now, use Flower Trick!”

Lin Feng did not hesitate for a second.

Meowscarada’s signature move.

In games, Flower Trick always hit and always landed a critical strike.

But in reality, it required preparation.

A precise sequence of hand movements.

And now, the brief moment while Lucario was falling… was exactly the time Meowscarada needed.

It plucked a flower bud, held it in its hand, performed a swift, subtle motion…

Then flicked it forward.

The bud landed on Lucario like an invisible bomb.

In that instant, Lucario looked at the seemingly ordinary bud…

And saw a blinding light.

Grassy Terrain.

Both the preparation and the blooming of the flower had been accelerated by the lingering power of the terrain left behind by Serperior.

Boom!

A violent explosion erupted.

The surrounding sea of grass was torn apart, shredded into fragments that dissolved into energy and scattered into the air.

At that very moment, the Grassy Terrain finally faded.

The entire field cleared.

And before everyone’s eyes

Lucario, a Pokémon resistant to Grass-type attacks, lay on the ground…

After enduring two Grass-type moves and a devastating Flower Trick, it had completely lost the ability to fight.