Pokémon Heart Journey

Chapter 305 Final, Xiaozhi vs. Xiaomao (1)

"Can't sleep?"

Xiaoyang, with half-closed eyes, glanced at Xiaozhi who had just stood up. Pikachu beside the pillow was rubbing his sleepy eyes and looking at Xiaozhi, who was dressed neatly, with some confusion.

"Well, tomorrow is the battle between Xiao Mao and I."

Xiaozhi pulled the brim of his hat even lower, and spoke softly as if he was afraid of waking the night.

Pikachu poked its head out of his arms, its ears moving slightly. The moonlight from the window fell right on the tip of its nose, like a small silver badge.

"Pica..."

Pikachu swiped the back of Xiaozhi's hand with his tail

"Honestly, a little too excited to sleep?" Ash smiled and rubbed the back of Pikachu's ears with his fingertips.

"So you're planning on going out for a walk?"

"Well, let's go take a look at the competition venue tomorrow."

"Then let's go together."

Xiaoyang turned over and got out of bed, his bare feet stepping on the cold wooden floor, making a very slight "creaking" sound.

He casually picked up the coat on the back of the chair and put it on his shoulders, then raised his chin towards Xiaozhi.

Pikachu blinked, slid down Ash's arm to the ground, and his tail swung in a golden arc.

The corridor was dark, with only the emergency lights casting circles of dim light in the corners of the walls.

The two walked side by side, their footsteps absorbed by the thick carpet, like a cat stalking in the night.

After leaving the dormitory building, the night wind blew in my face, carrying the salty smell of the sea tide outside the camp.

The stone road under the moonlight glowed with a faint white light, like a silver belt leading to an unknown battlefield.

Pikachu ran in front, his ears constantly moving to catch the occasional chirping of insects in the grass.

As the two of them approached the stadium, Xiao Yang couldn't help but chuckle: "Ha! Looks like you're not the only one who can't sleep!"

There was a figure sitting on the grass in front, and the moonlight made his back clearly visible.

Xiaozhi narrowed his eyes, lowered his voice and said with a smile, "It's Xiaomao."

"Hey! Xiao Mao!"

"Who is making so much noise so late at night? It turns out that you are my defeated opponent tomorrow." Xiao Mao didn't look back, but just waved his hands behind him.

The moonlight outlined his slightly tired but still upright silhouette. Beside him was Blastoise's Poké Ball, the shell of which glowed faintly in the night, with a few tiny scratches faintly visible.

Xiaozhi and Xiaoyang walked over and sat down casually on the grass next to him.

Pikachu said "Pikachu" and rubbed Blastoise's Poké Ball in a friendly manner.

"What are you looking at?" Xiaozhi looked in the direction Xiaomao had just stared at. That was the huge main arena for tomorrow's battle. In the moonlight, it looked like a dormant giant beast, its outline silent and majestic.

"Nothing much," Xiao Mao's voice was emotionless, just a little less aggressive than usual. "Just checking the venue and letting this guy get some fresh air."

He patted the Poké Ball beside him. "That fierce battle this afternoon must have consumed a lot of it."

"Xiao Yuan is very difficult to deal with, right?" Xiao Yang asked, with a hint of pride in his eyes.

Xiao Mao softly hummed a response. In the brief silence, the only sounds were the rustling of grass in the night wind and the faint sobbing of the tide.

Xiaomao paused for a moment, and finally looked up at Xiaozhi.

"Tomorrow's battle with you will probably be different," he finally said, his tone complicated, "more unpredictable, more... troublesome."

After hearing what the other party said, Xiaozhi and Xiaoyang couldn't help but be stunned. They really didn't expect that the other party would say such words that were inconsistent with their character.

But after coming back to his senses, Xiaozhi still responded: "Do you think my fighting style is chaotic?"

"It's stupid and inefficient," Xiao Mao said bluntly, but his next words once again surprised them. "But it's this kind of stupidity of yours that creates miracles time and time again. It makes me angry, but I can't help but want to keep watching, wondering how far you can go."

Xiaomao took a deep breath of the salty night air. "So, tomorrow... don't let me down, Xiaozhi. Let me see how much strength you and your Pokémon can push out of me."

Xiaozhi looked at Xiaomao's profile and suddenly laughed. It was a smile without any gloom and full of fighting spirit: "Don't worry, Xiaomao! Pikachu and I will definitely win! We will use all our strength to defeat you in your prime! This is a real battle!"

"Pikachu!" Pikachu also jumped onto Ash's shoulder, and tiny arcs of electricity emerged from the electric sacs on his cheeks, crackling in the night, as if declaring war.

Xiao Mao looked at the man and his pet for a long moment, then scoffed and shook his head, but didn't say anything more mocking. He simply patted Blastoise's Poké Ball again and muttered to himself, "...Looks like I'll have to try a different strategy tomorrow."

The three of them sat side by side on the grass in silence, gazing at the moonlit arena. A strange calm descended, a mixture of pre-battle tension, mutual respect between rivals, and a certain unspoken anticipation.

The night wind blows, and the grass waves.

"Let's go." Xiao Mao suddenly stood up and picked up Blastoise's Poké Ball. "Go back to sleep. If you lose to me tomorrow with a pair of black circles under your eyes, I won't accept such an ugly victory."

He turned and walked towards the dormitory building, waving at them with his back turned.

Xiaozhi and Xiaoyang watched his departing figure until he merged into the night.

"Let's go, it's time for us to go back." Xiaoyang also stood up and patted the grass debris on his pants.

Ash took one last look at the massive arena, his eyes burning with a light brighter than the moonlight.

"Yeah! Let's go back, Pikachu! Get some rest and prepare for tomorrow's battle!"

"Pickup!"

The moonlight shone on their return path, cold and bright, as if paving a silver path for the impending battle. In the silence, only the sound of the rising tide remained, like the drums of war ready to be launched.

.........

The next day, before the morning light had completely dispelled the night's chill, the Quartz Plateau's main arena was already engulfed in a clamorous, throbbing heat. The vast circular arena was packed, countless flags and banners waved above the bustling crowd, and the air was thick with an almost tangible sense of anticipation and excitement.

Today will be the final chapter of this year's Pokémon League Quartz Conference, a highly anticipated peak showdown.

The atmosphere in the contestant channel was completely different from the hustle and bustle outside. A calm and tense fighting spirit flowed here.

Xiaozhi pressed down the brim of his hat. Under the red brim, his eyes were burning and focused, as if there were two flames burning.

Pikachu squatted quietly on his shoulder, "Pikachu..." It called softly, and occasionally a tiny arc of electricity ran through the electric sac on its cheek, showing that its heart was also restless.

On the other side of the passage, Xiao Mao folded his arms and leaned against the wall. He looked relaxed, but his slightly pursed lips and sharp eyes revealed his seriousness.

He was wearing a well-tailored combat uniform that highlighted his tall and straight figure, forming a sharp contrast with the wild and vigorous temperament of Xiaozhi opposite him.

"We've finally made it this far, Xiaozhi." Xiaomao spoke first, his voice carrying his unique mixture of pride and scrutiny. "Please don't make this long-awaited finals too boring for me."

Xiaozhi raised his head, a fighting smile on his face: "Don't worry, Xiaomao! Pikachu, I, and everyone else will show you our full strength! This will be a battle with no regrets!"

"Hmph, that's better." Xiao Mao snorted, his eyes sweeping over the Pikachu on Xiaozhi's shoulder, "Let me personally guide your reckless energy back on track."

A brief silence stretched between the two, a tacit understanding born of years of friendship and rivalry, and the final confirmation that a major battle was about to begin. From the end of the corridor, the host's impassioned introduction echoed, the spotlight's light practically overflowing.

"Come on, Pikachu, let's go!"

"Pickup!"

The two of them took steps almost at the same time, heading towards the door leading to the light and battlefield.