A water-type trainer who specializes in dragon-type water.

Xiao Gang's expression turned serious, and he immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhang Heng again: "It was my sister and I who were impolite and disturbed the champion's territory."

He then turned towards the Dream Eater and bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you for the reminder, Secretary Kang. We will now proceed to the combat readiness zone."

Zhang Heng nodded in agreement.

Xiao Ning forgot about being angry at this moment, snuggled up to her brother, clenched her little fist, and whispered, "Brother! Go for it! You have to win!"

After saying that, she couldn't help but glare at Zhang Heng secretly, clearly blaming Zhang Heng for "stealing" her brother's first seed title.

"I'll settle the score with you when we get back," Xiao Gang said to his sister in a low voice, then gestured for the Dream Eater to lead the way.

Without making any unnecessary movements, the Dream Eater turned and floated away.

Zhang Heng and Xiao Gang each retrieved their Pokémon and followed behind.

Xiao Ning hesitated for a moment, then followed curiously.

The Alliance's combat readiness area is located on the west side of the headquarters building. It is a closed training and simulated combat zone constructed of high-strength materials and is not open to the public under normal circumstances. It can only be used by those with specific permissions or with the approval of high-ranking officials.

With Secretary Kang's permission, Zhang Heng and Xiao Gang were led to one of the standard single-player battle areas.

The venue is spacious and bright, with a specially made cushioning material on the ground and energy barrier generators around it.

A modified drone, equipped with Rotom, was already hovering above the referee's position in the center of the field.

"Rotom~!" The Rotom drone emitted a mechanical and standard electronic voice.

"Both sides have been authorized to enter the arena. The rules are now announced, Loto!"

"This match will be a one-on-one singles contest, Loto!"

"Neither player may substitute their Pokémon during the match, Roto!"

"The Mega Evolution System, the Z-Power Bracelet, and other special battle systems are limited to one per battle, and can only be used once per battle, Loto!"

"Trains, please take your positions and prepare to send out your Pokémon, Roto!"

The rules are simple and clear.

Zhang Heng and Xiao Gang each walked to the trainer's command seat and stood there, dozens of meters apart, their eyes meeting.

“Then, please guide me, Zhang,” Xiao Gang said loudly, his eyes sharp.

“Each other.” Zhang Heng replied briefly.

Two Poké Balls spun out of his hands, tracing graceful arcs, and collided in the center of the field, bursting into dazzling white light!

"Boom! Boom!"

The white light landed and dissipated, and two incredibly powerful Pokémon appeared at opposite ends of the field!

On one side was Emperor Naboo, clad in black and blue armor, wearing a three-pronged crown, and with gleaming wing blades!

Its feet gripped the ground firmly, its beak was slightly open, and it exhaled a chilling breath filled with icy crystals. Its eyes were disdainful, displaying the majesty of an emperor.

On the other side was the shimmering giant swamp monster, its body entirely pink, its muscles bulging like mountains, and its eyes fierce and domineering!

"bump…"

It clashed its fists together, producing a thunderous roar. A faint mist of moisture and heavy earth energy flowed around it, and its ferocious aura spread out without any concealment.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment when the two Pokémon's eyes met.

"Battle begins, Rotom!" The electronic voice of the Rotom drone sounded like a starting gun.

"Emperor Napoleon!"

Xiao Gang issued the command almost at the same moment the voice rang out, his voice steady yet carrying a strong sense of aggression.

"Strike first, then unleash a three-pronged attack!"

A burst of blue light flashed in Emperor Naboo's eyes, and his long, strong legs suddenly exerted force, his massive body displaying an astonishing starting speed!

It charged forward, the metal blade on its right wing flashing with a chilling, icy blue light, and with a precise and ruthless angle, it swiftly slashed upwards towards the Swamp Monster's chest and abdomen!

The first strike arrives, cutting through the wind!

Faced with the swift ice-based combo, Zhang Heng simply stood quietly, without offering any instructions.

He crossed his arms and calmly observed the Swamp Monster on the field.

The Swamp Monster roared, its fighting instincts driving it to react.

Instead of taking the fierce blow head-on, it relied on its agility, which was disproportionate to its massive size!

His heavy body suddenly slid to the side and back, narrowly avoiding the first icy blade strike!

However, Xiao Lan noticed something unusual, because a swamp had formed around the Swamp Monster at some point.

That's how he narrowly "slipped" past.

Meanwhile, the Swampert's thick right arm was covered with hard rock.

"Shhhhhh..."

A powerful Rock Blockade was hurled towards the path of Emperor Naboo, attempting to block his attack route.

"Not enough!" Xiao Gang smirked.

"Left flank, peck and drill forward!"

Emperor Napoleon's charge continued unabated. Facing the oncoming boulder, his left wing blade was instantly enveloped by a spiraling, sharp airflow. With his body slightly tilted to the side, the wing blade resembled the sharpest drill bit.

"Sizzle..."

With a single sound, it pierced through the rock and shattered it!

Amidst the flying debris, its second attack—a wing blade infused with the penetrating power of [Drill Peek]—gained even greater speed with the boost from its Flying-type power, piercing straight at Swampert's exposed side flank as it dodged!

Swampert was clearly caught off guard by the opponent's continuous and sharp attacks, and in its haste, it could only hold its left arm, which was formed from rock energy, horizontally in front of it to block the attack.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, Swampert was knocked back two steps, leaving a faint white mark and ripples of dissipated rock-type energy on its left arm.

Emperor Naboo's wing blade attack was blocked, but it did not stop. Using the recoil, it spun around, and its right wing was once again filled with the power of ice, carrying an even more fierce momentum.

The third strike, the final move of the "Triple Spin Strike," is a powerful slash that comes down with the force of splitting a mountain!

"Roar!"

Swampert was in pain, its ferocity was fully unleashed, and it stopped dodging. Its arms were instantly covered with violent Fighting-type energy, crossed above its head, and it actually intended to break through the Ice-type heavy attack head-on!

"Emperor Naboo, transform!" Xiao Gang's command was as if he had predicted it.

The icy light on the blades of Emperor Naboo's downward slash suddenly vanished, replaced by a surging, azure water!

It was the water that broke it!

The power of water combined perfectly, transforming the chopping into a piercing strike, like the tip of a high-pressure water gun, precisely piercing through the gap in the Swampert's arms as it blocked, and slamming into its chest!

"Oh!"

Swampert was forced back by the Water Slash, a sharp pain shooting through its chest, and obvious bruises and water stains appeared on its pink skin.

It roared angrily, but because it lacked precise tactical command from its trainer at the beginning, it was completely suppressed by Empoleon's exquisite combos and type switching, and fell into a passive and defensive situation.

Xiao Gang's command fully utilized the characteristic of Emperor Nabo becoming stronger with each battle, with smooth skill transitions and a combination of feints and real attacks, completely controlling the rhythm of the attack.

Emperor Nabo, having gained the upper hand, was relentless. Under Xiao Gang's concise and powerful commands, he sometimes launched a strong attack with [Steel Wings] and sometimes a surprise attack with [Water Jet].

They even seized the moment when the Swampert was slightly slowed down by the pain, and splashed it with [Salt Water], exacerbating the pain caused by its injury.

The Swampert roared repeatedly, unleashing powerful attacks like Earthquake and Rock Slide, but to little avail.

It was like a ferocious beast trapped in a net, possessing the strength to shake mountains but having nowhere to exert its strength. Instead, it was constantly worn down and wounded by the hunter's exquisite skills.

Zhang Heng remained silent, simply watching quietly with his brows slightly furrowed.

It wasn't that Zhang Heng was faking it; the main problem was that Emperor Naboo's skill pool simply didn't have any skills that could defeat Swampert in a single head-on attack.

Instead of wasting time, we might as well observe and learn about Guai's growth and situation.

He witnessed the Swampert's formidable fighting instincts, but also the chaos and inefficiency resulting from a lack of command. This validated some of his ideas and exposed the problems.

"It's time to end this! Emperor Naboo, give it your final respect!" Xiao Gang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, ready to launch the decisive blow.

"Water cannon!!"

Emperor Naboo took a deep breath, his chest bulging high, and endless, surging water energy gathered and compressed wildly in his mouth, forming a huge water sphere that became increasingly dazzling and emitted terrifying fluctuations!

The Swampert sensed a deadly threat and roared angrily, but it had just been hit in the shoulder by a [Steel Wing] and staggered, seemingly unable to mount an effective defense or dodge in time.

At this crucial moment, Zhang Heng, who had been silently observing the battle, finally made his move.

He didn't utter any complicated instructions; he simply raised his right hand, brought his index and middle fingers together, and gently pointed forward, while simultaneously uttering two clear words.

"Waterfall climbing".

The sound wasn't loud, but it possessed a strange penetrating power, clearly reaching the Swamp Monster's ears.

The Swamp Monster, which was already somewhat agitated and enraged due to its predicament, suddenly shuddered upon hearing those two words!

"Roar--!!!!"

A roar more powerful and ferocious than ever before erupted from the depths of the Swamp Monster's throat!

This roar seemed to have drawn upon some kind of power of heaven and earth, and the sound of rushing water suddenly rang out in the battle area!

Suddenly, the Swamp Monster spread its arms wide, not to block, but to swing them forcefully to the sides as if embracing the heavens and earth!

"Boom——!!!"

As its arms swung, the space on both sides of the arena suddenly twisted, revealing two enormous waterfalls, each over three meters in diameter and composed entirely of pure, raging water energy.

Like a river appearing out of nowhere and hanging upside down, it roared out of the void with a powerful momentum that could crush everything!

They didn't fall vertically, but rather seemed to be pulled by Swampert's arms, charging headlong towards Emerald Naboo, who was charging up its Hydro Cannon!

The deafening roar of the water was already disrupting the momentum of Emperor Naboo's buildup, even before the waterfall arrived. The enormous water sphere in its mouth trembled slightly!

This is not over yet!

Beneath the Swampert's feet, an even thicker and more violent waterfall shot skyward!

It instantly lifted the Swamp Monster's incredibly heavy body into the air!

Its gaze was like lightning, locking onto the slightly flustered Emperor Nabo below, sandwiched between the waterfalls on the left and right!

"boom--!"

Xiao Gang's pupils suddenly contracted, and the confidence and control on his face froze instantly, but he did not give up!

He rolled up his black sleeves, revealing the Z bracelet in his hand!