Chapter 31: Ice King Kona
Seven Island, an archipelago nestled in the southeastern part of Kanto, is renowned as the hometown of Lorelei, the Ice-type Elite Four member.
Inside the Frozen Falls Cave on Icefall Island, a majestic Lapras let out a resonant cry. A beam of icy blue light shot horizontally along the roaring waterfall, freezing everything it touched into solid ice.
"Crack!"
Large ice pillars crashed to the ground, shattering loudly. As the frozen waterfall resumed its flow, the echo of splashing water filled the air with a chilling resonance.
A tall, slender woman with red hair stood there. She was dressed in a short black uniform skirt, thigh-high glossy black stockings, and high heels. A pair of non-prescription glasses rested on her nose. Smiling faintly, she patted Lapras's sturdy shell.
"Well done, Lapras!"
"Laa~!" Lapras affectionately nuzzled the woman's fair cheek.
In the dimly lit cave, the faint glow of ice reflected in her surroundings. Suddenly, her communicator buzzed to life.
"This is Lorelei."
From the other end came the cheerful voice of a young girl. "Lorelei! You have to check out the video I just reposted on YouTube!"
"Misty?" Lorelei chuckled, crossing her arms and holding her phone in one hand. "Is this another series you're obsessed with lately?"
"No, no! It's a tutorial video on the Perish Song strategy!"
Lorelei blinked. "Perish Song strategy?"
"I thought it was just a gimmick at first, but the content is super insightful!"
With a resigned smile, Lorelei replied, "I can't imagine anything too groundbreaking. Even I wouldn't risk using that in a Master-level match."
"It's not built around Lapras—it's centered on Gengar!"
Lorelei froze for a moment.
A Perish Song strategy… with Gengar?
Considering Gengar's frail body, could it even endure long enough to sap the opponent's will to fight? Curious, Lorelei returned Lapras to its Poké Ball and headed back to her residence on the "Fourth Island."
Lorelei's home was surprisingly girlish in its decor. Pink wallpaper adorned the walls, and the fluffy carpet was covered with plushies and pillows. Movie star posters hung prominently. Though cold and stoic on the outside, Lorelei shared common interests with Misty, especially in shojo manga and romantic dramas.
Sitting at her desk, Lorelei opened the link Misty had sent her: "Teacher Lu Teaches You Battle, Episode 05: The Perish Song Team."
"An East Unova-region Trainer?" Lorelei muttered in surprise. In her experience, no East Unova Trainer had made waves using Perish Song strategies. Even the Ghost-type Gym Leader in Fengdu City was more known for Destiny Bond tactics.
But as the battle unfolded on screen, Lorelei's attention was immediately captured. Gengar vs. Garchomp. These two Pokémon were staples in Master-level matches, and both Trainers demonstrated impeccable skill. The Garchomp in particular seemed familiar to Lorelei. Her eyes widened.
"Cynthia?"
As the match progressed, Lorelei grew increasingly convinced. She had faced Cynthia numerous times in Master-level battles, and this Trainer's aggressive yet calculated style was unmistakable. The large, sweeping tactics—so uncharacteristic of most female Trainers—were hallmarks of Cynthia's Garchomp.
What truly shocked Lorelei, however, was that Gengar was holding its own, controlling the pace against Cynthia's powerhouse.
"Who is this Trainer?" Lorelei mused, her curiosity piqued.
With growing intrigue, Lorelei analyzed the match. Sacrificing offense, the Trainer had Gengar deploy Perish Song in the first round, forcing Cynthia into aggressive maneuvers. Utilizing Protect to stall for time, the strategy relied heavily on exploiting any slight misstep from the opponent. Against anyone less composed than Cynthia, the mental pressure alone could cause critical errors.
Lorelei couldn't help but smirk. "What an intriguing Trainer…"
Even Cynthia, despite her skill, was constrained by game mechanics. When she attempted to recall Garchomp, it was trapped by Gengar's Mean Look. The match ended with the Perish Song taking effect, though the lack of a live demonstration left Lorelei wanting more.
"This strategy might work in real battles," she muttered, stretching lazily. "But the conditions are way too specific. Definitely the work of someone with too much time on their hands."
She gave a wry laugh. "Also, isn't this a bit… dirty?"
The video garnered widespread praise, though many viewers lamented the impracticality of implementing the strategy due to team limitations. Others sought insights from Ghost-type experts. Lorelei scrolled through the comments, chuckling.
"This is already Teacher Lu's third tactical tutorial!"
"When will we see some real battles? Enough with just the games!"
"Real battles would reveal too much personal info. It's not feasible."
"@Clairvoyant Morty, we need a detailed breakdown!"
Even Morty, the Ghost-type Gym Leader of Johto's Ecruteak City, weighed in. Lorelei had met him once, but Perish Song strategies weren't her forte.
[Clairvoyant Morty]: "Excellent tutorial! To make it more accessible, it's presented with gameplay and commentary. I've optimized this strategy for doubles using 'Gengar + Gothitelle.' Come watch the Type Specialist Tournament for more!"
"Dirty! Dirty!"
"All Ghost-types are dirty players!"
"Wait, I thought Teacher Lu was a Grass/Poison specialist? Now it's Ghosts, too?!"
"Master of all types?! I'm impressed!"
Lorelei burst into laughter. Despite the skepticism, she found herself intrigued by "Teacher Lu." Clicking into his profile, she noted detailed instructions for joining various fan groups. Using her main account, she joined a chat group without hesitation.
The chat fell silent.
"Fake account?"
"No way someone thinks the Elite Four's Lorelei is actually a fan!"
"Kanto's Ice-type Elite? Yeah, right!"
Lorelei adjusted her glasses, bemused. "Is there a problem?"
Soon, a notification popped up.
[Battle Legend] invites you to join the Master Trainer Chat Group.
[Accept/Decline]
"Red?" Lorelei chuckled. "He's everywhere, isn't he?"
Another notification followed:
[User 'Ice Queen Lorelei' has joined the chat!]