Early Wednesday morning, a courier delivered a beautifully packaged Everstone to Natsu's ho.
This ti, the delivery was made by a Pelipper, its pouch-like beak holding a delivery box wrapped in a waterproof film.
After unwrapping the layers of packaging, all that was left was an ordinary-looking stone, which made Natsu feel like he had been scamd.
"Gastly?" Gastly instinctively stuck out its tongue and licked the Everstone.
Whatever it is, just lick it first and get it over with!
Due to the Piplup Cup, the school had granted Natsu a day off.
Although Natsu preferred studying over watching matches.
But the Academic advisor disagreed and sternly said, "Alright, observing matches is also a required course for Trainers, I understand that!"
"But..."
"No buts! If you want to be a Trainer, I fully support you!"
The Academic advisor coughed forcefully, "I've already approved your leave, so go ahead and watch the matches!"
Natsu sighed deeply and had no choice but to take Gastly to the Arena.
Natsu's match was scheduled for late evening, with the other quarterfinal matches taking place in the afternoon.
Since Natsu was a participating contestant, he could sit courtside and watch the matches up close, almost like a VIP treatnt.
The sumr heat was intense.
Natsu, wearing sunglasses, sat in the audience stands, one hand resting on the back of the chair, the other holding a cold drink.
Gastly also occupied a seat, with an Everstone tied to its forehead with a string.
As for why the Everstone wasn't hung around Gastly's neck...
Because Gastly doesn't have a neck.
"Gastly!!"
Gastly leaned forward and took a big sip of iced cola from a cup through a straw, letting out a contented moan.
Then, Gastly nodded vigorously, causing the sunglasses on its forehead to slide down and rest in front of its eyes.
"Gastly!"
In front of Gastly floated the [Evolution Materials] provided by Green, which Gastly was controlling with black mist.
With sunglasses on, Gastly looked like a big shot, carefully inspecting the [Evolution Materials], nodding from ti to ti.
"Gastly~~" (So that's how it is~~)
Natsu glanced at Gastly: "You really are a genius, aren't you?"
"Gastly!"
"Excuse !"
Just then, soone from the back row cautiously tapped Natsu, sounding excited.
"Is that Natsu-sensei... you're Natsu-sensei, right?"
Natsu turned around, cautious: "First, tell what you're here for."
"I'm your fan, I want your autograph!"
Natsu relaxed: "Then that's , hand the pen."
For safety reasons, Natsu usually didn't admit his identity.
After all, his strategies were too dirty, and sotis he was afraid of being recognized when going out.
Seeing Natsu sign the autograph, the young girl was so excited she could barely speak.
"I'm your junior... from Tokyo tropolitan University's affiliated high school, I'll be competing soon, can you cheer for ?"
Natsu lowered his sunglasses and looked her up and down.
Suddenly rembering what Yuuichi had ntioned before, about the well-developed junior from the affiliated high school.
"Reina, right?" Natsu smiled, "Good luck in your match!"
Reina's eyes widened, and she imdiately stood up, bowing deeply: "I'll do my best to advance to the semifinals!"
At that mont, a wave of exclamations erupted.
The comntator loudly announced: "Both sides have shown incredible skill!"
In the battle arena, Tokyo tropolitan University's Sakurako was facing off against Osaka University's Ryosuke.
Facing Granbull's bite, Magneton instantly disassembled, dodging the Fire Fang while firing three magnetic pulses!
The powerful Mirror Shot left Granbull stiff and kneeling awkwardly on the ground.
"Granbull is unable to battle!" The referee blew the whistle, "Osaka University's Ryosuke wins!"
"That was really well fought," Natsu praised.
This Ryosuke was the heir to the Electric-type gym and was said to have the strength of a full-fledged Trainer.
He had also beco the first contestant to advance to the semifinals in this tournant.
The next match was Reina's, facing a Graveler.
Right from the start, her Breloom used a rapid Bullet Seed barrage to take down Graveler.
"She really is a fan," Natsu muttered, "She actually raised a Breloom."
On the judges' panel, Tokyo's Psychic-type Gym Leader Takuya was whispering with the city's Pokémon Association President.
"There are a lot of Grass-type rookie Trainers this year."
President Shoya pondered: "It might be related to the popularity of the SubProtect Toxic strategy."
Takuya was surprised: "Isn't that strategy hard to master?"
"You're just out of touch," Shoya laughed, "My granddaughter says it's the hottest strategy on Nico Dou right now!"
Takuya shook his head: "I don't know about that... but the next contestant is Yuta from Tokyo's Yokohama National University."
"His Swellow has a significant advantage in this tournant."
"Huh? His opponent is Natsu?" Shoya looked at the list in his hand, surprised.
"This is quite a disadvantage!"
Swellow is naturally immune to Ghost-type moves, and with its Guts ability, Gastly's proud Will-O-Wisp would have little effect.
It was clear that this would be a brutal duel!
"Such a pity, I thought he could create a miracle," Shoya lanted.
"A non-specialized contestant making it to the quarterfinals is already a record," Takuya smiled.
"I think the Ivysaur Trainer, Kazuki, is more worth watching."
The sun gradually tilted, and dusk approached.
Sakurako hadn't left yet, hesitating near the contestant seats.
"You lost, why aren't you leaving?" Natsu asked, surprised.
"To... to cheer for you," Sakurako whispered.
Aside from Reina, Natsu was the last remaining Tokyo tropolitan University contestant.
This showed just how intense the competition was in this year's Piplup Cup.
Although Natsu didn't feel much, since Gastly had carried him through the preliminary rounds and group stages...
Natsu stood up, putting his sunglasses back in his pocket: "Let's go, it's our turn."
"Gastly!"
Gastly, wearing sunglasses, slurped down the cup of cola and stuffed a burger into its mouth, nodding indistinctly.
This scene left Sakurako dumbfounded.
They even brought cola and burgers...
Are you here to compete or to have a picnic!?
"The next duel will be between Yuta from Tokyo's Yokohama National University and Natsu from Tokyo tropolitan University!"
The comntator announced loudly: "It's worth noting that Natsu is the only non-Battle Departnt contestant in this tournant and has already set a new record in the tournant's history!"
"Will he stop here or climb even higher? Let's wait and see!"
Yuta was a lean, dark-skinned man who nodded at Natsu, appearing sowhat reserved.
For a serious contestant like this, Natsu wouldn't choose to provoke with trash talk.
After all, the Pokémon in this battle was Swellow, known as the "Bug Swallow," and if it went all out, it was no joke.
"Gastly!"
Gastly floated nacingly in the arena, stylishly tossing its sunglasses aside.
Yuta also took out a Poké Ball and muttered, "Go, Swellow!"
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