As the group stages ed up for the day, the 20 advang uies were regrouped that evening into five groups—A, B, C, D, ah four uies in each group.

  Imperial Uy ced in Group D, alongside the Modu Academy, Si Uy, and Harbiype Academy.

  Group D was quickly dubbed as the "Death Group." Not only did it feature two elite uies, but Si Uy was also a strong tender, just a little behind the elite status.

  Harbiype Academy, however, was sidered the underdog in this lineup.

  With only one college advang from each group, the petition this time was far more inte was nothing like the earlier group stage, where Imperial Uy breezed through without breaking a sweat.

  Of the oppos, only Harbin Academy seemed like a easy matchup. The other two colleges were formidable challengers.

  When the groupings were annouhe public's i iqued.

  Only battles between equally strong teams could deliver exg matches. One-sided blowouts might be eaining on a while, but too many of them became predictable and dull, leaving little room for suspense.

  The five group matches were scheduled simultaneously for the day at 8 a.m., with audience capacity increasing from 30,000 in the earlier rounds to 80,000 now.

  The matchups froup D were:

  Imperial Uy vs. Harbin Academy

  Modu Academy vs. Si Uy

  The petition format was a ring battle system.

  Eaiversity will send out orainer for a 1v1 match, with no mid-match substitutions. The loser will leave the field, while the winner could choose to tinue fighting or switch with a teammate. And trainers who switched out could still return for subsequent rounds.

  "Little Julia, you better not be the first to battle," Thea said to Julian.

  Julian raised an eyebrow, fused, as she tinued;

  "I'm worried your Metagross will knock out all eight of their trainers."

  During the previous exge match with Shu, Julian's Metagross had singlehandedly swept their entire lineup.

  "I'll see how Coach Wade arrahings," Julian replied calmly.

  The lineup was entirely up to Coach Wade. Against Harbin Academy, Julian wasn't particurly ied, so it was better if he got pced ter in the order.

  The match began soon after, with both teams entering the field.

  Imperial Uy's first trainer aul, a 4th-year Fire-Type specialist. Harbin Academy also sent out a 4th-year student.

  "Typhlosion!"

  Paul's Pokémon was a Level 67 pseudo-Elite Typhlosion. The fmes erupting from its back showed it was in a highly excited state.

  "Glie!"

  Harbin Academy naturally recruited Ice-Type trainers exclusively.

  Coach Wade's decision to send out a Fire-Type specialist first clearly factored iype advantage.

  Glie, outmatched both in type and level, couldn't st long. Within a few minutes, it was defeated.

  Typhlosion stood proudly on the field, with high momentum. For it, the fight hadn't even been a proper warm-up.

  Paul tinued challenging Harbin Academy's sed, third, fourth, and fifth trainers in quick succession.

  By the time Typhlosioed the fifth Pokémon, it was showing signs of exhaustion. Its energy was nearly spent, and it bore a few visible injuries.

  When Harbin Academy sent out their sixth trainer, Paul decided to recall Typhlosion and step down.

  Though Typhlosion still had enough strength for one more battle, Paul saw no reason to push it further. After all, he still had seven teammates ready to fight.

  The decisio Harbin's sixth traiunned.

  'You've just steamrolled five of us like we were nothing, and now that you're a bit worn out, you're stepping down? Where's your pride as ae uy student? Your honor? Shouldn't you insist on fighting to the bitter end with your Typhlosion?'

  The sed trainer from Imperial Uy was Faye, a Fairy-Type specialist and Thea's best friend.

  "Fles!"

  Faye's Pokémon was a Fles with a white flower. Like Fbébé, Fles has flowers of five different colors: red, e, blue, white, and yellow.

  While there's no funal differeween the flower colors, white flowers were the rarest, and blue flowers were sidered the most beautiful.

  Despite its pnt-like appearance, Fles is not a Grass-Type Pokémon. However, it does know a variety of Grass-Type moves and is often hired to tend gardens.

  In fact, many national parks and luxurious private gardens employ Fles for their maintenance.

  Faye's Fles was Level 68, nearing the peak of the pseudo-Elite.

  Harbin Academy tered with a Level 65 Walrein.

  "Fles, use Attract!"

  A few alluris resonated from Fles. Walrein, pletely entranced, seemed to melt uhe spell of her charm, its face betraying an expression of pure bliss.

  "Fles, Magical Leaf!"

  Walrein's Trainer was at a loss, how could his Pokémon's willpower crumble so easily in the face of beauty?

  Shimmering leaves swirled around Walrein, striking it repeatedly. The attaot only inflicted signifit damage but also s out of its trance.

  "Walrein, Ice Beam!"

  Walrein opes mouth, quickly charging and firing an icy beam, but Fles swiftly dodged it.

  "Keep using Ice Beam!"

  Walrein, with its heavy body, was clearly not built for speed.

  "Moonbst," Faye anded.

  The moonlight gathered, f into a ge luminous beam of energy. It radiated a serey—until the moment it abruptly exploded.

  Walrein's bulky body was directly blown away.

  "Fles, Energy Ball!"

  Before Walrein even hit the ground, it was struck mid-air by a glowing green sphere, sealing its fate pletely.

  Harbin Academy's sixth trainer, who also happeo be their team captain, was eliminated.

  The seventh trainer sent out a Dewgong.

  A few mier, Dewgong also fell in battle.

  The st traiered the field, sending out Jynx as their Pokémon.

  Jynx, like Fles, is a Pokémon 100% female by species. However, their appearances couldn't be more different.

  In a society where beauty often dictates first impressions, Jynx's presenadvertently boosted Fles' popurity even further.

  "Holy, Jynx isn't that bad-looking"

  "Low-budget Gardevoir"

  "My Jynx is very g; she's a fantastion"

  "Yeah, Jynx is amazing! I don't get the hate"

  "But I'm still team Fles because I like white flowers"

  Three mier, Jynx fell, defeated. Fles stood tall like a queen with a proud expression.

  With that, all eight trainers from Harbin Academy were elimiheir team swept by Imperial Uy.

  At least, they could sole themselves with the fact that it wasn't a one-person sweep, sparing them a total loss of face.

  "How's that? My performance wasn't any worse than your sister's, right?"

  Faye walked up to Julian, with a slightly smug face.

  "My sister's still better"

  With Thea standing right o him, there was no way he would admit to Faye's boasting.

  "Little Julia always likes to tell the truth, don't mind him, Faye."

  Thea was very satisfied with Julian's answer.

  After all, what are best friends for, if not a little friendly petition?