Chapter 82: Probability is Also Part of the Battle
Cynthia sat outside the field, holding a very unwilling Eevee in her arms while watching the battle. Haunter earnestly massaged Cynthia's shoulders, completely ignoring the murderous glare from Garchomp.
Clair, unable to hold back her curiosity, coughed lightly and asked, "Miss Cynthia, how did you invite... um, Teacher Lu?"
"I stayed at his place this morning, and we just came here together."
"Huh? ∑(っ°Д°;)っ"
Somewhat oblivious to these matters, Cynthia asked, confused, "Is there a problem?"
Clair shook her head like a rattle, stammering, "L-Let's just watch the match!"
Cynthia nodded gently, frowning as she observed the two Trainers on the field. Teacher Lu's strength... maybe this match will give me an idea.
On the field, Lance, having just finished a battle, squinted his eyes, fully focused. This was a Trainer whom Red held in high regard. Even though this was a lease battle, it tested both sides' ability to adapt on the spot.
Lance, born into the Dragon Clan, was naturally familiar with Clair's Dragon-type Pokémon, handling them with ease. But Teacher Lu... could he really get Cynthia's Pokémon to follow his commands? These were a Champion's Pokémon, after all! If he couldn't command the Pokémon, it would indicate his lack of skill as a Trainer, making the match pointless.
Lance narrowed his eyes, growing concerned.
Lu Ye, however, was more worried about Spiritomb getting hurt. He whispered to it, "If you can't hold on, just play dead. I can lose face, but you can't get hurt!"
"Fssss..." Spiritomb's pattern subtly glowed red, swaying lightly.
Clair, acting as the referee, cracked a black leather whip with a sharp "snap" against the ground.
"Begin the battle!"
Lance swept his cloak aside and threw a Poké Ball. "Go, Druddigon!"
"Rooar!!"
A Shiny Druddigon with dark green scales and a bright red head stood on its hind legs, waving its powerful arms and letting out a ferocious roar.
Seeing this green Druddigon, Lu Ye's expression turned peculiar. Although it was indeed one of Clair's aces... Druddigon was the shame of Dragon-types! Even Garchomp could fly, yet a winged Druddigon couldn't. How did that make any sense?
But jokes aside, with its Sheer Force ability, Druddigon's damage output was formidable. Judging by its listed moveset, it focused on maximum physical attack. If Spiritomb's Foul Play landed, there was a chance to win.
Seeing Spiritomb obediently following commands, Lance nodded. "A Ghost-type... are you demonstrating future tactics for your Haunter?"
"Hauunter?" Upon hearing this, Haunter's eyes sparkled, concentrating intensely.
Lu Ye: ... I'm not, stop making things up!
Even though he'd defeated Cynthia in the game, this wasn't a game. This was a real match with a Champion-level Trainer. Lu Ye took a deep breath, calming his emotions and sharpening his focus.
Finally taking things seriously? Lance smirked, his voice stern. "Druddigon, Dragon Claw!"
"Rooar!!"
With a ferocious roar, Druddigon charged forward like a tank, its dark green claws ready to strike Spiritomb. Spiritomb had almost no mobility, but it had been trained as a physical wall.
"Spiritomb, defend in place!"
Spiritomb's faceplate suddenly closed. As Druddigon closed in, Lu Ye shouted, "Foul Play!"
The faceplate snapped open, eerie green eyes flashing with a sinister glow. Foul Play was an attack that used the opponent's strength, dealing more damage the higher the opponent's Attack stat.
But just as the light flashed, Druddigon slammed its foot down, kicking up a cloud of dust and stone! The screen allowed it to evade, causing Foul Play to miss!
Lance's lips curled into a smile. "Grab and throw! Earthquake!"
Boom!
With the dust cloud as cover, Druddigon lunged forward, slamming into Spiritomb and using its momentum to hurl it toward the ground.
"Looks like Lance anticipated Spiritomb's Foul Play..." Clair murmured.
Cynthia rested her chin on her hand. "Once you make a mistake, Lance's attacks rarely let up. Unless..." Cynthia narrowed her eyes.
As Druddigon and Spiritomb hurtled toward the ground, Lu Ye said coldly, "Now, Sucker Punch!"
If the opponent uses an attacking move, Sucker Punch lets you strike first. "Get out of the Earthquake's center!"
Just before hitting the ground, Spiritomb escaped Druddigon's grasp, flickering a meter away.
Lance commanded immediately, "Druddigon, Earthquake!"
"Rooar!!"
Boom! Druddigon stomped, cracking the ground, the shockwave launching Spiritomb into the air.
Not giving Lu Ye a moment to breathe, Lance clenched his fist. "Gunk Shot!"
A ball of poisonous energy formed in Druddigon's claws. With Sheer Force, this 120-power Poison move now packed a punch of over 150! If it hit, Spiritomb, already weakened, would be out.
Lu Ye suddenly understood the true strength of these Trainers. In real battles, Elite Trainers never gave their opponents a chance to recover. Every second demanded tactical decisions. Lu Ye had no time to think. In less than two minutes, Spiritomb's stamina was a flickering candle in the wind.
But Lu Ye took a gamble. A gamble that Lance wouldn't settle for a tie!
"Spiritomb, Destiny Bond!"
Lance squinted. "Druddigon, get some distance!"
This gave Lu Ye a precious moment to breathe. The light of Destiny Bond ignited just as Gunk Shot approached. Lu Ye quickly changed his command: "Dodge it! Pain Split!"
Gunk Shot had only 80% accuracy, and Druddigon hadn't aimed carefully. Spiritomb dodged mid-air, landed, and a ghostly hand extended from it, locking onto Druddigon's neck, transferring energy back to Spiritomb. Pain Split equalized the HP of both Pokémon.
"Rooar!!" Druddigon roared in pain, the ghostly hand fading away.
In a dire situation, Lu Ye forced Lance into a mistake. Clair frowned, nodding in approval. "You have to admit, with reactions like that, he's got the skills of a master."
"A risky gamble," Cynthia muttered. "But... he's still at a disadvantage."
Though Pain Split landed, Lu Ye couldn't relax. Druddigon's flaming fist sent Spiritomb flying three meters back.
Lance raised his arm. "Druddigon, Earthquake!"
Lance's relentless assault gave no room to breathe. Lu Ye gritted his teeth. "Hypnosis!"
To everyone's shock, Spiritomb managed Hypnosis even in its battered state, putting Druddigon to sleep.
Even Lu Ye blurted, "Holy sh*t." Others used luck in battles. I'm gambling my life!
Cynthia smiled. "Spiritomb really trusts him."
Lance immediately reacted. "Druddigon, Sleep Talk!"
Druddigon's random Sleep Talk resulted in Dragon Claw. If Spiritomb used Dream Eater, it'd be knocked out first. But Druddigon also couldn't dodge Destiny Bond.
Lu Ye frowned. "Spiritomb, Destiny Bond!"
Druddigon's claws tore through Spiritomb. A sinister glow flared; both Pokémon collapsed.
Lu Ye vs. Lance. A tie!
In just a few rounds, barely 5 minutes, Lu Ye was drenched in sweat. This cemented his decision not to become a Trainer. Constant gambling, strategizing, and heart-pounding tactics... it was a heart attack waiting to happen!
Wiping his sweat, Lu Ye muttered, "Phew... good thing I'm just that skilled!"