HPDBC Chapter 598 Semi-finals, VS Dan Di!
Chapter 598 Semi-finals, VS Dan Di!
Chapter 598 Semi-finals, VS Dan Di!
The four intense battles between the eight masters in one day finally came to an end.
By this time, Gongmen City was already shrouded in night.
As the audience gradually left, even though nearly an hour had passed since the match ended, most of them were still full of passion, enthusiastically discussing the battle with their companions.
"Teacher Yu is amazing! He plays like a fish in water when he's playing against champions. The champion of this Masters tournament is basically a foregone conclusion!"
"It's hard to say. Mr. Leon is fighting on home soil, so he has a morale boost. Besides, he should be considered the best Dynamax Trainer in the world."
"When he faces off against Teacher Yu, his Gigantamax Charizard might just dominate the battlefield!"
"Hehe, Teacher Yu is an officially certified legendary Pokémon master. When he sends a legendary Pokémon to solo-kill Charizard, you'll know what the word 'strength' really means!"
"You're all right, but—"
"Does nobody think those two kids from Kanto are anything special? Surely no one can handle a little monster that suddenly appears?"
"It's very difficult. I heard that they were both taught by Teacher Yu, especially Qinglu. Every move he makes has Teacher Yu's style."
"So many people imitate Teacher Yu, but I've never seen anyone beat him even once!"
"Thinking about it carefully—more than half of the eight masters this year seem to be Yu Laoshi's fans, and the top four consist of one main character and two outer disciples?"
"Teacher Yu, you're terrifying!"
The most discussed topic among viewers is naturally Qingyu.
In fact, if this Masters Championship had not been held in the city of Palace Gate in Galar, the cheers from the audience would probably have been even more pronounced.
In the next semi-final, the Dante champion, who carries the hopes of the Galar people to win the championship, will face off against Qingyu, who is leading the online community in popularity, in a fierce battle.
"Speaking of which, haven't we seen Teacher Yu since the draw?"
As they left the venue, Da Ye, who was looking around curiously, suddenly asked a question.
"Do you intend to disturb Teacher Yu and Sister Zhulan's private time?"
Ah Liu reached out and placed her hand on the back of Da Ye's neck, using a chokehold to forcefully turn his gaze towards her.
"You shouldn't be a third wheel at a time like this!"
"—I don't believe you're not curious!"
After struggling to break free, Da Ye looked around with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Don't you want to see who's really making the move after this confession—Teacher Yu or Sister Zhulan?"
His devilish whisper silenced Denji, who had initially wanted to fan the flames.
The group exchanged bewildered glances, and even A-Liu, who had just stopped Da-Ye, began to waver.
But just then, Gosho spoke up.
"Don't mess around, I don't want to keep working overtime after I go back to Sinnoh."
"If Teacher Yu comes to work in the Sinnoh League in the future, there will be plenty of opportunities to witness their love, so there's no need to take the risk."
Wu Song's two sentences completely killed the game.
Da Ye, who had initially held onto a sliver of hope, nodded, acknowledging his statement.
"really----"
"If I'm assigned too much work, the time I have to prepare for the next match will be greatly reduced, which is counterproductive!"
Da Ye quickly came to terms with it.
However, there was one small question he didn't ask.
Miss Cattleya, who was like a princess, seems to have disappeared after the lottery.
I'm probably overthinking it!
Outside the Rondo Rose Hotel in Gongmen City.
"Luckily I ran away early, otherwise I'd probably be stared at strangely by every acquaintance I run into now."
Qingyu looked up at the sky, gazing at the boundless sea of stars, her tone tinged with a mixture of relief and amusement.
"To make a confession on the stage of the Masters Championship, this must be unprecedented in history."
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"Our names might be on the front page for the next few days, so in a way, it's quite a success?"
"We're probably the only ones who would act this way—"
Zhu Lan's smile was full of helplessness, her bright eyes curving into crescent moons as she looked at Qing Yu meaningfully.
"However, I like it very much."
She didn't say much, but the unconscious rubbing of the ring on her middle finger with her left hand said it all.
"If I win the match today, I've also prepared a special gift. Perhaps we really can be considered..."
A meeting of minds?
"What is it?!"
Qingyu raised an eyebrow, immediately becoming interested.
The gift she carefully prepared was an engagement ring, so what would Zhu Lan say?
Is she planning to propose to me too?
It's rare for a girl to propose to a boy, but it's surprisingly fitting for Zhu Lan, who is usually a cool and capable woman who attracts countless female fans!
Thinking of this, Qingyu suddenly felt a little lost.
It seems like I've missed out on that once-in-a-lifetime special CG!
Damn it, why doesn't life have a save/load system?!
Is it too late for me to reload my save file now?
"Keep it a secret for now~"
Having seen through Qingyu's thoughts, Zhulan simply shook her head playfully at him, adopting a mysterious and unpredictable demeanor.
"No matter what, you defeated my enemy head-on. It's too much to ask a gift from a loser."
"So, carrying my resentment, fight your way through all the challenges and claim your first Masters title!"
""
Zhu Lan's expression seemed teasing, but her tone was somewhat serious.
Before Qingyu could reply, she mimicked his earlier gesture, looked up at the starry sky, tapped her chin with her finger, and feigned ignorance, saying, "If you can really do that, then—"
"Presenting a heartfelt gift to the ultimate victor doesn't seem like a bad idea, does it?"
"It's a deal!"
After hearing this, Qingyu nodded emphatically and then extended her little finger to Zhulan.
The little actions we would do with our friends after making a promise in childhood don’t have any special meaning in themselves, but they are given a special “contract” under the impetus of emotions.
Pinky promise, a hundred years from now!
This is an "encouragement of love" from my own adorable little one. If I can't do it, what face do I have to come back to life?
The two lightly interlocked their little fingers, making a pinky promise as they smiled at each other.
The atmosphere should have been wonderful, and Qingyu was even ready to take advantage of the moment to reach out and hold Zhulan's hand as they returned to the inn.
But just then, a "cough cough!!"
A girl's deliberate cough disrupted the atmosphere.
Qingyu turned her head and met the gaze of Cattleya, who was glaring at her angrily.
Qingyu: ?
"Cadelia?"
Even Zhu Lan was somewhat surprised by her appearance.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to be a third wheel!"
With her hands on her hips, Cattleya looked like she was in the wrong but still had a strong sense of self-righteousness, managing to project the imposing presence of someone who was only 1.4 meters tall.
Facing Qingyu's complex gaze, she simply raised a finger and pointed at him, then said, "Qingyu, you win this time!"
"If you're so capable, keep winning. And don't let me hear any more of your bad deeds from Zhu Lan!"
"besides----"
Halfway through her sentence, Gadriya, who had been full of confidence just moments before, suddenly turned her head, her face inexplicably turning red, and her tone noticeably softer.
"Now that even Zhu Lan has won, let's live up to everyone's expectations and take that coveted championship trophy!"
"That's it, I'm leaving!"
Under the somewhat bewildered gazes of Qingyu and Zhulan, Gadriya, her cheeks already flushed red, turned around and stiffly and awkwardly walked away.
Qingyu blinked, met Zhulan's gaze, and still didn't understand what was going on.
"That must have been her special way of cheering you on—"
Zhu Lan's tone was somewhat uncertain, but when she looked at Jia Deli's back again, her eyes showed a clear sense of relief.
"She would never have said such a thing before. It seems that she has grown a lot in terms of mentality during the past six months at United Nations."
"Maybe."
Qingyu remained noncommittal, raising an eyebrow as she looked in the direction where Gadriya had left.
This arrogant tsundere, actually has a day when he'll be straightforward?
Moreover, the target wasn't Zhu Lan, but rather himself, whom he had never gotten along with.
This is truly—
Overwhelmed with gratitude?
Qingyu scratched his head and accepted the heartfelt wishes from Cattleya for the time being.
First came Zhu Lan, and then suddenly there was Cattleya.
After gulping down several mouthfuls of chicken soup, it's impossible for me not to give it my all from now on!
Qingyu sighed and set a small goal in her heart—
I've had my fill of this Masters tournament. I'll win two more matches and then go home and slack off!
Time quickly moved to the next day.
The battle between Qingyu and Dandi unsurprisingly attracted many local spectators, and the Palace Arena was packed with people early on.
It wasn't until half an hour before the match began that the audience was finally mostly seated, ready to prepare for the upcoming heavyweight showdown.
"Mr. Leon's favorite Gigantamax Charizard-class marble soda, only 1000 yen a bottle~"
"Highly recommended by consultant Yu-sensei: Meowth Sandwich Meowth is as cute as Sylveon!"
Dressed in suits and perfectly blending into the local Galar atmosphere, the Rockets trio pushed a food cart through the stands.
"Marble soda? Mr. Dante doesn't seem to have endorsed any drinks like that before, does he?"
"Don't worry about those unimportant details, give us a dozen!"
"Here too~"
"Okay, thank you for your patronage~"
"By the way, if you cheer for Teacher Yu today, you can get a free Sylveon dessert!"
"No need, we're all here to support Mr. Dan!"
'
'
After a busy period, the Rocket Team trio finally finished their work and collapsed in a secluded corner.
"Damn it, these Galatians have no taste whatsoever!"
"That's right, meow! I never expected our defection plan to completely fail, meow!"
"The advisors are so amazing, even if they cheer for Dan-di, it won't make any difference!"
After each of the three grumbled a little, they suddenly looked up at the sky, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Speaking of which, have you heard about that rumor about the Pill Emperor—"
Kojiro suddenly spoke up for no apparent reason, followed by an eerie silence for a few seconds.
"Is it about charity?"
Musashi sighed and shook his head with a complicated expression.
"The local newspapers in Galar have all published the news that the champion Dante promised a seriously ill child that he would use his title to encourage the sick child."
"Honestly, at a time like this, just stick to being the villain and don't try to pull this kind of 'feel guilty' act."
"That's right, meow—"
Even Meow Meow looked at the Galar Champion on the big screen with his hands supporting his chin in distress, and gave the screen a clear smile as he pointed to it.
"Even if we're the villains, we'd feel awkward being opponents with someone like that!"
"However, the advisors certainly won't go easy on them because of something like this; no matter how you look at it, it's an arrogant choice that disrespects the opponent —"
Kojiro shook his head and stood up first.
"So all we can do is continue to support our consultants!"
"Even if Advisor Qingyu defeats Pill Emperor, he will surely carry on this hope and continue fighting!"
"That's right, meow!"
Meow Meow and Musashi quickly stood up, their eyes no longer hesitant.
The trio stood in a row and simultaneously shouted at the top of their lungs as the commentator's voice rang out—
"Go for it, Teacher Yu!!!"
The competition is about to begin.
Thanks to the commentators' efforts, the atmosphere in the arena was already ignited, and the big screen began to show highlights of the two teams' previous quarter-final matches.
A brilliant performance.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our two finalists to the stage!"
"They are"
"Mr. Dante, carrying the hopes of the Galar audience, is charging towards the defending champion!!!"
As soon as the commentator finished speaking, a deafening roar erupted from the audience.
"Go for it, Mr. Leon!!!"
"For everyone's sake, we must defeat Teacher Yu!"
"Alchemy Emperor! Alchemy Emperor! Alchemy Emperor!"
Amid cheers from the Galar audience, Leon's trainer name card appeared on the big screen first.
At the same time, a purple-haired man with a resolute gaze, wearing a burgundy-trimmed cloak, walked out from the left-hand contestant passage, his cloak fluttering in the wind and waves behind him.
Today, he looked more serious and was more restrained when waving to the audience, walking into the venue step by step with almost metronome-like precision.
"As for the other contestant, it is..."
"Aoba, who has already defeated the champion of the Bamboo Orchid Tournament and whose strength is by no means inferior to any champion!"
"Teacher Yu, fly high! Your fans will always be your strongest support!"
"After winning the Bamboo Orchid Championship, Teacher Yu has no weaknesses left, she'll definitely win!"
"Teacher Yu! Teacher Yu!"
On the other side, the roar from the audience was no less than before, and even seemed to be suppressing the momentum of Dan, who was playing on his home turf.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Qingyu quickly walked out from the other side of the contestant passage.
Today, he did not choose to continue with the outfit he wore in the last quarterfinals. This time, his white final outfit and black and gold cape created a stark contrast with Dan's.
After exiting the passage, he did not rush to the stage. Instead, he stopped in place, waved enthusiastically and interacted with the fans a few times before leisurely walking onto the stage and meeting the gaze of Dan Di, who was staring intently at him.
"You seem... a little nervous?"
Qingyu narrowed her eyes and immediately noticed that Dan Di's expression today was a little different from usual.
"nervous----?"
Emperor Dan paused for a moment, then quickly revealed a restrained smile.
"Maybe a little, after all, I've been waiting for this moment for so long—finally, I get to have a head-to-head competition with you!"
"And today's victor will definitely be me!"
Hearing Dan Di's bold declaration before the match, Qing Yu frowned.
Sure enough, the Pill Emperor is acting very strangely today.
Is it because they were carrying too much on their shoulders, so they had no intention of enjoying the upcoming battles and were only thinking about winning?
There's nothing wrong with this mindset itself, but the problem is—
He's the Pill Emperor.
The only king of Galar, the young champion of the previous Masters Tournament, and the current world number one.
Logically speaking, I should be the one challenging the champion.
Why was it that he was the one who broke down under pressure first?
Qingyu sighed and didn't say anything more.
If I were to point it out at this point, it would only make his burden even heavier!
As a league champion, he certainly carried a heavy burden, especially the promise he made to critically ill children in the small theater.
But sometimes, carrying too much on your mind can actually make things worse.
Lulina serves as a cautionary tale.
Hopefully, he can get into the zone soon and stop being so tense.
After walking to the center of the battlefield and giving Dan a brief handshake, Qingyu turned around and walked back to the sideline, quietly waiting for the referee to blow the whistle.
"Beat"
"It's me again, the ever-fair and brilliant referee, Lotom!"
Referee Rotom began announcing the rules.
"This match will still be a 6v6 all-player battle under the Master Rules. The first team to defeat all of the opponent's Pokémon will win!"
"Next, both players, please take your positions, Loto!"
Qingyu took a Poké Ball out of his pocket and waited quietly for Rotom's next instructions.
"Bewildering"
"Battle begins!"
After a crisp whistle, Qingyu and Dandi simultaneously gripped their Poké Balls and tossed them out.
"I choose you, Aegislash!"
A red light shot out from the Poké Ball, and soon a ghostly creature with a body made of a sword and shield, holding its shield up and looking on alert, appeared on one side of the field.
The starting lineup chosen by Dan Di was not surprising and was within Qing Yu's calculations.
Based on the game replays, it's easy to see that in most of his serious games, the Shielded Swordsman is his most common and safest choice.
With its excellent command abilities, Aegislash can perfectly balance offense and defense from the start by using its unique battle switching characteristics to create a formidable wall of despair.
but----
Since I had already calculated it, I naturally prepared the corresponding solution in advance.
"Go, you wretch!"
"Bonnieyo~"
Another flash of red light appeared, and the Evil Lan, with a fire stove mask on its head, made a dazzling appearance, holding a thorny vine club and looking up at the iron creature floating in the air.
"Evil Creature, Thorny Vine Club!"
Qingyu chose to take the initiative and took the lead in an offensive stance, intending to launch a fierce attack on her opponent.
"Bonnie!"
Because of the fire stove mask he wore, the mask's power affected the energy of the Evil Spirit Barrier to some extent.
When it gripped the thorny vine tightly with both hands and exerted all its strength on the thorny vine, flames immediately erupted from the vine-covered shaft, quickly covering the thorny vine with a layer of "fire enchantment".
"Aegislash, King's Shield!"
Dan Di immediately made a prudent decision, intending to first stop the first wave of attacks from the Evil Spirits before making further plans.
"Clang!"
Without hesitation, Aegislash carried out its trainer's command, immediately inserting its blade behind the sturdy shield to form an impenetrable steel defense!
In most cases, the King's Shield can quickly deter the opponent, thus giving the Shielded Swordsman another chance to perform.
but----
Qingyu doesn't play by the rules!
"That's exactly what I've been waiting for!"
As soon as the Aegislash got into a defensive stance, he immediately revealed a triumphant smile and decisively chose to switch commands.
"Now, Ooze!"
"Try it again!"
Upon seeing this, Dan Di immediately revealed a look of great alarm. Something was wrong; E Gui's attack just now was a feint!
Is the goal to lure out Aegislash's King's Shield, thus keeping it in a defensive stance?
The King's Shield is very powerful. While defending against close-range attacks from opponents, it can also use the shield's magical power to tire out opponents and temporarily weaken their combat power.
However, powerful moves often come with side effects.
for example-
The King's Shield is one of the few defensive moves that cannot be blocked by changing attack patterns.
"Solid Shield and Sword One," Dan Di subconsciously wanted to change commands on the spot like Qing Yu.
But clearly, the Evil Spirit, which had already reached him, would not give him any chance.
"Bonnieyo~"
After taking a step forward, Evil Spirit deftly raised the Thorn Vine Staff with one hand to avoid direct contact with its opponent's King's Shield, while its other free hand stretched forward and slapped the hilt of the Shielded Swordsman's sword.
Affected by the "One More Time" move, Aegislash seems to be somewhat out of it.
As Aegislash was about to unleash its King's Shield again, a move that was unlikely to succeed, Leon's expression clearly betrayed his inner thoughts—
At this point, decisively withdrawing the funds is clearly the better way to minimize losses.
Switching in other Pokémon that can better counter Grimmsnarl not only conserves Aegislash's HP but also depletes Grimmsnarl's HP, giving other Pokémon a chance to come in and finish it off.
But if I actually did that—
That's not my usual fighting style.
After some thought, Dan Di chose to trust his partner.
"Hold on, Aegislash!"
Given the sheer toughness of the Aegislash in its shield form, even a Grimm could never instantly kill it.
Those few seconds of hesitation gave Qingyu the perfect opportunity: "Evil Phantom, swat it down and then continue with the Thorn Vine Staff!"
"Bonnieyo~"
Under Dan Di's serious gaze, the ultimate battle of offense and defense began.
The Evil Spirit struck first, but its attack was immediately anticipated by the Shielded Sword Monster, which tried its best to defend against it.
However----
The Aegislash is so slow that the Evil Spirit can adjust its movements at any time, while the Aegislash cannot.
So, after once again using a small trick to break through the Aegislash's defense, the Evil Creeper simply raised its little hand—
"Snapped!"
The crisp sound of a slap landed on the metal, instantly exposing the weak point hidden on the Aegislash monster's body.
Then, a second thorny vine was fired.
Under the relentless onslaught of fire, even the Shielded Swordsman quickly succumbed. After barely managing to block the final attack, it collapsed, its eyes rolling back in its head.
The audience fell silent for a moment until the commentator's voice rang out, and many people finally snapped out of their daze.
"Leon's Aegislash is unable to battle!"
"Score 1-0, Qingyu is currently in the lead!"
As the sound faded, the first Poké Ball under Leon's image on the big screen quickly dimmed.
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