Xia Huanao took two steps back upon hearing the sound, then saw a fairy float out, clutching its own soft hair. As soon as it emerged, the fairy pointed at Xia Huanao’s nose indignantly, "I'm telling you, you can't poke my face anymore, heard me!"
Xia Huanao quickly apologized, "Yes, it was my fault, I shouldn't have poked your face like that. But Dedee, your face feels really good."
Cottonee blushed and turned its head away, "Alright, aren't you looking for me to assess your Z-Move? I've finished the assessment. If it's the Z-Crystal she wants, then it's still a little short. I'm leaving now."
Xia Huanao quickly reached out and grabbed Cottonee’s hair as it was about to float away, pulling Cottonee back. Cottonee looked at Xia Huanao with displeasure, "What are you doing? I just managed to style my hair like this, and you're still doing this. If you continue, I won't let you call me anymore. Not even with Mew's favor!"
Xia Huanao offered profuse apologies and even took out a large pile of Poké Puffs from his backpack as a bribe, only then did Cottonee ask him, "Do you need anything else?"
Xia Huanao pointed at Chu Xiaodie, "I invited you here for her. Who were you assessing just now?"
Chu Xiaodie heard Xia Huanao mention her and walked up, saying, "Hello Cottonee, I'm Chu Xiaodie. You were indeed summoned for me."
Cottonee was startled, then pointed at the cocoon that hadn't yet dissipated behind it, "Isn't your friend in there?"
Xia Huanao didn't know, "No, who is in there?"
As they were speaking, the large cocoon slowly dissipated, and a figure stood up, "It's me. If Sister Xiaoxiao could find Chu Xiaodie, I naturally could too. I just didn't expect to encounter this."
Upon seeing that it was Mu Zhishui who had been in the cocoon with Cottonee, Xia Huanao breathed a sigh of relief, "So it was you. In that case, you should want that, right?"
"Otherwise, after finally encountering Cottonee, of course I'd want this."
Chu Xiaodie asked in confusion, "What are you two mumbling about?"
Xia Huanao decided to gloss over the matter, "Why are you asking? Cottonee is here now. Why don't you ask her for a Z-Crystal? You're both 'die' characters, you should get along well."
With Xia Huanao saying this, Chu Xiaodie refocused her attention on Cottonee. Cottonee gave Xia Huanao a displeased look and then said, "If that's the case, then you battle her. As long as she wins, I'll give her the Crystal. How about it? This condition is quite generous."
Indeed, compared to passing Cottonee's test, obtaining the Z-Crystal from Xia Huanao would undoubtedly be easier. However, the problem was that Xia Huanao was not allowed to throw the match under Cottonee's witness. In the theoretically best-case scenario, Xia Huanao could directly use Breloom against Chu Xiaodie's Pokémon. With a few well-placed Flying-type moves, the battle could be over due to the quadruple super-effective damage. However, Cottonee would absolutely not approve of such a match.
If Xia Huanao were to fight seriously, Chu Xiaodie would have a very difficult time winning against him.
Xia Huanao glanced at Chu Xiaodie, who shrugged and gave up the idea of battling, "Forget it, I give up. With Coach Xia's abilities, it's very difficult for me to win a single match. In that case, I won't make it difficult for Coach Xia."
Chu Xiaodie's understanding nature earned her praise from Xia Huanao, and even Cottonee floated over and pecked her on the cheek.
Cottonee waved goodbye to everyone and then disappeared. Xia Huanao looked at the sky and said, "Everyone go back. Although this is the tropics, the deeper the night, the worse it is for your health."
The group dispersed and returned to the temporary structures. Xia Huanao sat by the bed, looking at his backpack, which contained a box holding all the Z-Crystals. After a long while, Xia Huanao smiled and then collapsed onto the bed to catch up on sleep.
More than a day later, on the competition grounds.
Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui watched their Rockruffs being thoroughly outmatched by their opponents, their brows furrowed. Although they had discussed with everyone that the last match would be played casually, since they had already qualified, letting other Pokémon experience the atmosphere of the tournament was fine. However, seeing the match unfold like this was still displeasing.
Xia Huanao scanned the two Rockruffs on the field with the system. Mu Zhishui's Rockruff and Xia Huanao's Rockruff were trained similarly, both aiming for speed and offense. Mu Zhishui's Rockruff was level twenty-seven, while Xia Huanao's Rockruff was level twenty-six. Both were holding an Everstone, likely to suppress evolution for a rarer evolutionary path.
Xia Huanao blinked and turned off the system's detection, then commanded his Rockruff to continue fighting. However, he and Mu Zhishui were facing strong members of the Lixing Kingdom, who had a perfect winning record in previous matches, winning 2-0 every time. Even though Amir Khan of Duhe used a Z-Move, it did not stop the Lixing Kingdom's winning streak.
In this match, the two students from the Lixing Kingdom had also sent out Water-type Pokémon, which made Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui very uncomfortable.
Xia Huanao glanced at Mu Zhishui's Rockruff and commanded, "Rockruff, transfer to Rockruff's position!"
Although it sounded awkward, Rockruff understood what Xia Huanao was saying and ran towards Mu Zhishui's Rockruff. Mu Zhishui's Rockruff stomped its paws on the ground, causing a rock to protrude. Xia Huanao's Rockruff agilely leaped onto the rock and then used a double jump to pounce at the two Lixing Kingdom Pokémon.
The two Lixing Kingdom Pokémon quickly aimed at Xia Huanao's Rockruff. Just then, Mu Zhishui's Rockruff also began to accelerate from the ground, stepped onto its own protruding rock, and performed a double jump, stomping on the Rockruff that was mid-air and performing another triple jump.
Xia Huanao's Rockruff was stomped to the ground and immediately dug a hole with its claws, disappearing from the field. Mu Zhishui's Rockruff used Rock Tomb in mid-air, hitting the Lixing Kingdom Pokémon squarely on the head.
The field was suddenly left with only one Rockruff, so the Lixing Kingdom's attacks all targeted Mu Zhishui's Rockruff. However, this Rockruff rolled on the ground and also hid in the previously dug hole.
Since there were no school-level competition rules in this tournament, as long as Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui wanted to, the two Rockruffs could stay hidden for a while longer. The two members of the Lixing Kingdom, feeling they had the advantage, approached the hole dug by the Rockruffs, intending to use a tactic of "flooding the enemy's camp." The Lixing Kingdom also sent out only one Pokémon for this tactic, while the other Pokémon watched in the direction of the Lixing Kingdom, waiting to deliver a fatal blow when the two Rockruffs were forced to emerge.
However, Xia Huanao's Rockruff was very much like Xia Huanao's temperament. The hole it dug underground did not extend forward towards the Lixing Kingdom's side, meaning behind the two Pokémon, but rather returned towards Xia Huanao's side. This exposed the back of the Pokémon that was guarding against a sneak attack.
As the Lixing Kingdom's flooding tactic was just beginning, Xia Huanao saw the earth loosen. He nodded at Mu Zhishui, and they both launched an attack simultaneously:
"Rockruff, use Slash!"
"Rockruff, use Bite!"
The two Rockruffs attacked the Pokémon with their backs turned. The Azumarill lunged forward and fell to the ground. As its teammate Slowking, it delivered a Water Pulse…
After the match ended, Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui recalled their Pokémon. The Minglong Kingdom's final group stage match ultimately did not end in victory. Xia Huanao looked at the Poké Ball in his hand and said, "Perhaps it's time to train Rockruff next?"
Mu Zhishui nodded, "Yes, if it had been two Lycanroc just now, we probably would have won."
Despite their words, they both instinctively patted their Poké Balls, conveying to their Rockruffs that they had performed admirably.
After the Minglong Kingdom's group stage concluded, Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui went to Meng Tianya. Xia Huanao got straight to the point, "Old Meng, if I remember correctly, there's a few days' break period coming up, right?"
Meng Tianya looked at the tablet computer he had just finished calculating, "Yes, before the second stage of the competition, there is indeed a week-long break. And during this week, reporters and broadcasters from various countries will be coming to the island. Is there something you need?"
Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui smiled, "We're going off the island."
Hearing Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui say this, Meng Tianya frowned. Although everyone could do as they pleased during this week, it was still a bit troublesome for the two of them to leave the island.
Mu Zhishui said, "I can't help it. Although I don't usually get involved in management, I'm still a member of Rainbow Star Group. When there's a major issue, I have to go back and handle things. But don't worry, a week is enough time."
Meng Tianya nodded and agreed to Mu Zhishui's request, as the Rainbow Star Group was currently cooperating with the Minglong Kingdom and couldn't completely refuse. But Xia Huanao, what were you up to? You weren't planning to go back with Mu Zhishui, were you?
Xia Huanao pointed at a dejected-looking team nearby, "Do you see that team from Fenxue? I promised them I'd visit them for a few days. If I don't go now, it'll be March, and I'll have to go back to work after the competition ends."