The Hundred Schools League officially began on October 10, with the draw held oh.
The tour was he Hundred Schools League because only 100 uies could participate, even though the number of uies in Drakoria far exceeded that.
(T/N: I know it's named school even though it's about uies and all but school's meaning at the end of the day is, an institution where you study, so yeah)
If a college couldn't even make it into the top 100, there was no point in participating—they'd just get eliminated in the first round anyway.
The 100 uies were divided into ten groups, beled A through J, with each group taining ten schools. The top two schools in each group would advao the stage.
Imperial Uy ced in Group B. Among the other nine schools in their group, none posed a real challenge, making their adva almost certain.
Their archrival, Shu Uy, ended up in Group A.
Iingly, this time, the top five uies in Drakoria were all in separate groups. This disappointed many other colleges.
They had hoped that Imperial and Shu would face off early, possibly knog one of them out, creating opportunities for the other schools to capitalize on.
The group stage followed a 2v2 format. And winning against a team earwo points, a draw earned one, and losing earned none.
To speed up the group matches, four battles occurred simultaneously.
Eaiversity team sisted of 8 members, divided into 4 pairs, each pair fag a different Uy in their group.
While the group stage didn't draw as much attention as the main tour, the stands were still packed with spectators, and the livestreams had even more viewers.
Julian and his cousin Thea were paired together. Their oppos?, tally Students from Haitian City's Water-Type Trainer Academy.
One of them was the same guy Thea had rejected, calling him ugly and refusing to share her taformation.
The guy's expression riceless—he never imagihat the woman who called him ugly would turn out to be from Imperial Uy and now his oppo.
This 2v2 format marked Julian's first time participating in a doubles match.
The most critical aspect of doubles battles was the synergy betweewo trainers and their Pokémon. With good coordination, a team could achieve results far greater than the sum of 1+1. However, poor teamwork could have the opposite effect.
That said, there was one golden rule in doubles: if one person was strong enough, they could single-handedly take down both oppos, rendering synergy irrelevant.
---
"I've got this, Little Julia. Just leave it to me," Thea said fidently.
Julian g the Rotom h above them, livestreaming the match. He wasn't sure if Thea's words had been captured.
"Alright"
Julian nodded expressionlessly.
The two students from Water-Type Trainer Academy sent out a Vaporeon and a Tentacruel.
Although both were 4th-year students, their Pokémon were still at the Advanced level. In trast, most 4th-year students from Imperial Uy had Pokémon at Pseudo-Elite level.
At this point, the gap betweewo colleges became painfully clear.
"Akazam"
Thea released her Pokémon.
Julian followed suit, releasing his Growlithe.
Fire against Water—cssic Ash style, bold and unbothered.
"Grow!~"
Growlithe was in high spirits and couldn't wait to bite its oppos.
---
"Akazam, Psychic!"
"Psybeam!"
"fusion!"
One mier, the opposing Vaporeon aacruel were lying on the ground, defeated.
Thea's Akazam, a te stage pseudo-Elite, made quick work of the two Advanced-level Pokémon. Just one Psychic attack left them uo escape its trol.
Watg the fight end just like that, Growlithe turo look at Julian, tilting its head in fusion.
Growlithe: So, I'm just here as a mascot?
"You'll get your turn, soon" Julian said nontly.
Thea recalled Akazam, fshing Julian a smug look as if to say, 'How impressive am I?'
The two Water-Type trainers were stuhey had never expected their stro Pokémon to be defeated so effortlessly.
They didn't even have a ce to fight back.
Looking around at the other uy teams in their group, they saw the same story unfold—everyone being easily defeated by Imperial Uy. Somehow, this realization lighteheir mood.
'If everyone's struggling the same, then it's fine.'*
---
In uhree minutes, Imperial Uy defeated four colleges in their group and quickly moved on to battle the remaining.
"This time, let Growlithe take the lead," Julian said.
He knew Growlithe wasn't happy about missing the earlier match. If it didn't get its turn now, Julian could almost guarantee he'd e back to his vil to find his bed torn to shreds.
Their oppos were from a Poison-Type specialty academy.
The trainers sent out a Vileplume and a Seviper.
Both he peak of Advanced level.
Julian once agai out Growlithe, while Thea stuck with Akazam.
Growlithe eyed Akazam, clearly doubting whether it would get a ce to shine. Resigned, it flopped onto the ground, ready to wait until Akazam ed up the match.
"Growlithe, use Fme Wheel!"
Hearing Julian's and, Growlithe blinked in surprise. It quickly sprang to its feet, bzing forward with Fme Wheel.
Even at level 35, Growlithe's power was parable to a peak Advanced-level Pokémon. Thanks to the energy from the Fire Crystal it had partially absorbed, Growlithe had boosted stamina and durability.
"Seviper, Venom Drench!"
"Vileplume, Acid!"
The two Poison-Type trainers realized that Akazam wasn't making a move. They immediately uood Imperial Uy's strategy—they inteo let a single Pokémo both oppos.
Just as they had done in the previous four matches.
Despite the match being officially a 2v2, for Imperial Uy, it had practically turned into a 1v2. Even with numerical advaheir oppos still couldn't win, leaving them no room to pin.
Growlithe's fmes burned fiercely, so intehat Seviper's Venom and Vileplume's Acid were evaporated on tact with the heat of Fme Wheel.
This ued turn pletely disrupted the rhythm of the two Poison-Type trainers.
"Boom!!"
Fme Wheel sent Vileplume flying, and Growlithe immediately followed up with a powerful Fire Bst, chasing after its airborarget.
Attribute restraint, coupled with the terrifying temperature radiating from Growlithe's fmes, even if Vileplume had a 20-level lead it would have meant nothing.
The Fire Bst hit, leaving Vileplume uo battle.
However, at the same time Growlithe was struck by Seviper's Iron Tail, sliding back four or five meters from the impact.
"Seviper, use Poison Fang!"
The Iron Tail caused only mild pain frowlithe, but the sight of Seviper lunging with glowing, venomous purple fangs triggered its instincts. Growlithe crouched low, coiling its powerful hind legs like a spring.
"Fre Blitz!" Julian anded.
Moments ter, two purple fangs flew high into the air, apanied by Seviper's pained screech.
Growlithe nded gracefully, its striking red fur shimmering against the faint embers left behind by Fre Blitz.
If there okémon test, Growlithe would be a guaranteed winner.
"Not bad, as expected from my cousin"
Thea said, recalling Akazam. She gave Julian a pyful pat on the shoulder, her expression brimming with pride.
"Grow!~"
Growlithe: That wasn't even my full power, and they're already down.
