Chapter 109: Tactics
When Arthur's results came out, another circle of people were left with their jaws dropped.
"100 meters... 8.06 seconds."
Announcing this result, the registration clerk himself was swallowing nervously.
After finishing the run, Arthur walked slowly for a while, then came back, jumped around a bit continuing his warm-up, and muttered quietly to himself, "Been a bit tiring coming down today, my condition doesn't seem too good."
"..."
In that moment, the registration clerk almost felt the urge to smash his stopwatch.
Your condition isn't good and you already broke the ten-second barrier?! If your condition were good, wouldn't you basically fly?!
Originally, he had been worried about whether Arthur could even pass this physical fitness test.
But now, he was only thinking whether having this kid come here as a volunteer was perhaps too much of a waste of his talent...
Seeing the registration clerk delaying proceeding to the next item, Arthur kindly offered a reminder, "Shouldn't it be the next item now?"
"Oh, right, yes. Come over here."
Subsequently, Arthur rested for a short while, then tested the 3000 meters and the 10m x 5 shuttle run. His results in all were dauntingly terrifying.
Following that were the push-up and sit-up tests.
In fact, by this point, nobody doubted that Arthur would fail to qualify anymore.
But when he took off his shirt for convenience during the test, revealing those solid muscles with hard lines and distinct contours, quite a few people present still couldn't help but collectively swallow hard.
This young man clearly had such a refined face, and looked so gentle and scholarly in his clothes, almost like a study pageboy. Who would have known that revealing his upper body would possess such impact?
Could this be the legendary 'gentle beast'?
They also wondered how someone so young had managed to train like this.
Subsequently, after completing the entire round of conventional test items, Arthur, with extremely astonishing results, repeatedly broke the historical records of this camp.
It reached the point where, in the end, the registration clerk had to step forward and discuss with him, asking if he could perhaps lower the scores a bit when reporting them, otherwise it would easily give the reviewers the impression that they were cheating...
Arthur very indifferently indicated that it was fine.
After that, only the final test item remained—
Coordinated practical combat with a Pokémon.
This was one of the required courses included in almost all police academies and military academies in this world.
In the earliest days, this was no different from Pokémon battles; the two were virtually the same gameplay. But later, with the arrival of peace, the two gradually developed very clear distinctions.
Pokémon battles, meaning the current Pokémon competitions, lean more towards entertainment and competitiveness; confrontation must adhere more strictly to rules.
Whereas coordinated practical combat is a more realistic duel. The difference between the two is roughly analogous to that between a fencing competition and a no-rules weapon fight.
With war long gone, it was evident that competitive matches, being higher in spectatorship and having a lower entry threshold, were somewhat more popular.
The registration clerk, afraid that young people nowadays might only have experience with Pokémon competitions and not understand practical combat, specifically explained the rules and scoring standards of this test set to Arthur before starting.
However, Arthur just calmly nodded, "No problem. I understand this. Let's start directly."
Honestly speaking, this was actually the field he was truly most skilled in throughout his entire life.
After all, he had played this game for over ten years; back then, he had even obtained the highest honorary title in this domain.
However, this time entering the field, he chose not to bring Frogadier. Limited to only one Pokémon, he opted for the newly captured Honedge.
But the ranger standing opposite him, responsible for conducting this test, didn't recognize it initially.
"Young lad, this is coordinated practical combat with a Pokémon. What are you doing bringing a sword up here?"
"This is a Pokémon." Arthur lifted Honedge to display it for him to see. "A Steel and Ghost type Honedge."
The man wore an expression that clearly said, 'Are you kidding me?'
"No, I haven't read many books, so don't try to fool me, okay? Is Honedge the kind of Pokémon you can just safely hold in your hand?"
Arthur immediately released the hilt, commanded Honedge to fly in a circle around him, and then had it obediently return to his hand.
If fate makes resistance futile, then perhaps it's better to just enjoy it—This had now become Honedge's truest inner voice. Hence, after flying the circle, it didn't even need Arthur to speak before proactively handing its hilt back into his hand again.
Although only a day had passed, it was now drastically different from when it was first captured—like two different swords entirely.
This all originated from fate's grasp (physical), ah...
Seeing Honedge fly a circle, the ranger opposite wore an expression as if he had seen a ghost.
He suddenly began to feel a bit of regret.
Was my earlier decision to volunteer and actively request to come down and test this newcomer perhaps overly rash...
Yet, at this moment, the arrow was already nocked on the string and had to be fired.
He took a deep breath to steady his mind, then released his own Pokémon partner first: a Rhydon.
Its common name was also Iron Armor Tyrannosaurus.
Type: Ground + Rock.
A burly Pokémon resembling an upright dinosaur, standing over two meters tall, its entire body covered in thick, heavy grey armor plating, giving off an exceptionally sturdy impression at first glance. With arms spread wide, it seemed filled with power!
The appearance of Rhydon couldn't help but give this ranger a much greater sense of security.
No matter how ridiculous the opponent is, my old partner is very reliable.
Immediately, the registration clerk announced the start.
The edge of the field also immediately erupted with loud cheers and shouts of encouragement.
Opening the test, the ranger and his Rhydon positioned themselves one to the left and one to the right, forming an angle flanking Arthur, temporarily choosing not to move rashly.
On one hand, as a senior, he felt embarrassed to bully a newcomer in such a non-honor based test.
On the other hand, it was also because Arthur's counter-common sense action of holding a Honedge truly made his scalp tingle somewhat, making him hesitant to act rashly.
However, he hadn't expected that Arthur had precisely seized upon this psychological state.
At the beginning, Arthur actually first placed the sword behind his back, standing with hands clasped behind him.
In reality, he had already used their mental connection to give Honedge a command—
Use "Autotomize."
Autotomize is a Steel-type buff move. Its effect, as the name implies, is to make the body lighter.
If Honedge were fighting alone, then becoming lighter would help it greatly accelerate its flight speed.
However, right now Arthur didn't need this effect; he only needed its body to become lighter to reduce the load, that was sufficient.
This was also in preparation for using Fury Cutter later.
Initially, his action of hiding the sword behind his back confused the opponent somewhat, making him momentarily become even more cautious.
Until the man saw the sword behind Arthur's back actually begin to emit light!
Only then did he realize he had been tricked!
Damn it!
I didn't expect you, such a physically explosive fierce person, to actually also play these kinds of mystifying, bluffing tactics, secretly applying buffs to yourself!
Damn, I misjudged you!
Regarding this, Arthur of course only offered a knowing smile.
He had always been a pragmatic person; when it truly came to a confrontation, he would use whatever method worked best.
Who said strong-looking guys can't play tactics?
Even Ash knew how to use strategy~
By the time the opponent finally noticed his true intentions and wanted to step forward and interrupt, it was already too late.
Honedge's buff had already been applied, and it had even smoothly passed the recovery period after the skill's release.
Then next... it was time to truly reveal the sword!
The next moment, Arthur charged straight towards the advancing Rhydon, neither dodging nor evading. The broadsword in his hand suddenly erupted with another color of bright splendor!
He took a large stride forward—
Simultaneously commanding Honedge to use the skill: Fury Cutter!!
(End of Chapter)
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