Chapter 190: Teacher Lu's First Wild Battle
Battling in the wild is a true test of a Trainer's reflexes and ability to assess the environment. Weather, terrain, moves—every factor can become a key to victory, including the Trainer themselves. And for Pokédex Holders, exceptional wild battle instincts are something to take pride in. Gold wanted to use a wild battle to test himself against Teacher Lu for the first time!
"This guy! He's way too reckless!" Crystal stomped her foot in frustration. Wanting to challenge Teacher Lu was understandable… but he was a guest! Who ambushes someone the moment they meet?!
"Well, it's Gold, after all." Lu Ye nodded with a complicated expression. This guy even dared to challenge Professor Oak—recklessness was in his nature…
Since it was just a sparring match, both sides would consciously hold back their moves. In that case, the real key to a wild battle was the psychological warfare between Trainers.
"Tch!" Crystal huffed and pulled out a Poké Ball. "Teacher Lu, I'll help you teach this guy a lesson!"
"Watch out!" Before she could react, Lu Ye yanked Crystal back. A Sudowoodo, camouflaged as a tree behind her, swung a powerful punch—missing its target.
At the same moment, a Wartortle launched from behind Lu Ye. "Wartortle!" A surge of water blasted Sudowoodo, forcing it to huddle up in defense.
"Teacher Lu… how did you know—" Crystal's question died on her lips when she saw the serious look on Lu Ye's face. That look… she had only ever seen it on Red and Green!
Lu Ye was indeed serious. But truthfully, it was just tension—he didn't have time to put on any expression. Regardless, Gold's wild battle skills were no joke. However… a wild battle was very similar to a battle between Stand users. And Lu Ye had the most crucial advantage—information.
Leaves rustled as an Ambipom leaped from the trees, pouncing toward Lu Ye. "Aipom, Fake Out!"
At the same time, a Poké Ball bounced off Lu Ye's side, having been launched like a billiard shot. Thud! A Sunflora emerged from the Poké Ball, releasing a dazzling Flash!
"Phew~~!" A dark-haired boy in a baseball cap and goggles rested a pool cue on his shoulder, blowing his bangs away excitedly. "Got him, huh?"
Leaping nimbly from the tree, Gold's excitement suddenly turned to alarm as he dodged to the side. A spinning turtle shell whizzed past, slicing through the air with a powerful gust. CRACK! The shell embedded itself into a tree stump, nearly splitting it in half!
Gold swallowed hard. That Flash was supposed to blind him! "Damn… Teacher Lu is wearing sunglasses!" Gold blurted out, just as a streak of white came barreling toward him.
"Buii!" Sylveon's Quick Attack was aimed straight at Gold, but Sudowoodo blocked it just in time.
Crystal called out, "Hitmonchan, Mach Punch!" Hitmonchan dashed toward Gold—victory was within reach.
But Gold… smirked. "You fell for it, Class Rep!"
Ambipom grabbed a tree branch with its tail and lifted Gold off the ground, dodging Hitmonchan's strike. At the same moment, while Crystal was distracted, the Sunflora beside her was recalled, replaced by a roaring Typhlosion! Baton Pass!
"He used his own body to lure out an attack…" Crystal was stunned. "That's so Gold!" If he had sent out Typhlosion first, her Pokémon would've intercepted it. But by using Sunflora to close the distance, Baton Pass allowed him to break into enemy lines. Even the Flash was a fake-out—the real final play was Gold's ace, Typhlosion!
"This is it!" Balancing on a tree branch, Gold wiped his nose with a grin. "Typhlosion, use—"
SMACK! Just then, Lu Ye snapped his fingers.
"Huh?" Gold froze for a moment, suddenly feeling dizzy as he struggled to focus on the tree beside him.
"Garrr!" A grinning ghostly face slowly emerged from the tree stump, its eerie blue eyes glowing. Hypnosis!
"But I was on guard!" A flicker of shock crossed Gold's eyes before his eyelids unwillingly shut. "Why..."
Gold's body slumped forward, but Ambipom quickly caught him, his cap slipping off in the process. Watching Gold snoozing away on the treetop, Crystal let out a relieved sigh and patted Typhlosion's head. "Roooar!" Typhlosion affectionately nuzzled her hand. If Gold hadn't begged so much, it wouldn't have agreed to this whole battle in the first place!
(By the way, Gold's Togekiss had zero interest in this "training session" and was currently holed up at home playing video games…)
As expected… in the end, it all came down to Teacher Lu! Crystal glanced at him with admiration—only to find Lu Ye looking completely unfazed. She blinked, then muttered with a blush, "Well… it's not like beating this idiot is something to brag about…"
Looking back at the battle, even though it had ended in an instant, Crystal realized she had been completely unable to follow the mental chess match between them. She had thought Sunflora's Flash was Gold's trump card… but no—the real plan was using the pool cue to launch the Poké Ball, setting up for the Baton Pass strategy.
"I have a question!" Crystal mustered her courage and asked, "Teacher Lu, how did Haunter get there?" Long-range Hypnosis was notoriously unreliable. But somehow, Haunter had ended up right next to Gold—Crystal just couldn't figure out how.
Lu Ye pondered for a moment before nodding. "It happened when Sunflora used Flash. I had Wartortle hold Haunter's Poké Ball… and deliberately crash into a tree. That way, Haunter could use the tree as cover to sneak up on Gold, who was standing on the branch."
Lu Ye glanced at the tree, which still had a Wartortle-shaped dent, nearly snapped in half from the impact. He shuddered. Wild battles really were full of unpredictable variables… If his plan had failed, Typhlosion's Flamethrower would've roasted him on the spot!
Crystal stared, mouth agape, utterly stunned. Wartortle's crash was intentional?! It had retracted into its shell first to hide the Poké Ball?! Was this really a strategy that could be devised in mere seconds?!
"Teacher Lu…" Crystal swallowed hard. "You're way too strong!"
"Ahem!" Lu Ye coughed. "Let's check on Gold first!" To be honest, if this had been a proper 3v3 singles match, Lu Ye would've been crushed by Gold ages ago. But the fool had chosen a Trainer-focused wild battle instead. And no matter how strong you were, if Hypnosis landed, you were going down. (Excluding inhuman Trainers like Ash, Sabrina, and Caitlin.)
"Good thing I had the information advantage..." Lu Ye muttered. "After all, this guy Gold… only ever uses Baton Pass strategies."
This had been Lu Ye's first true wild battle. His palms were a little sweaty, but the system rewarded him with an Achievement: First Victory (Wild Battle). The prize? A Defense Booster—perfect for fixing up Wartortle's scuffed shell…
Lu Ye shook his head and walked toward the shade. Gold had been laid down under the tree, now using Crystal's lap as a pillow… Lu Ye was instantly filled with jealousy. Why the hell does he get a lap pillow after losing?! This is bullshit!
But Crystal… was not your typical gentle girlfriend. "Ambipom," Crystal said sweetly. "Wake him up, please!"
Ambipom grinned, then slapped Gold's face back and forth with its tail-hands. Smack! Smack! Smack!
"GAH!" Gold sat up, red handprints on both cheeks, groggily muttering, "Is it noon already?"
"It's almost afternoon!" Crystal giggled. "If we don't head back soon, the Day Care Lady will chew you out!"
"CRAP!" Gold sprang up, then glanced at Lu Ye, scratching his head awkwardly. "Teacher Lu, I lost this time… but!" Swinging his pool cue over his shoulder, Gold arrogantly blew his bangs aside. "I'll definitely beat you one day!"
Lu Ye chuckled and nodded. "Keep at it. The future is yours!"
"Oh, right…" Gold rubbed his hands together, his previous cockiness instantly vanishing into a fawning smile. "Uh, so, Teacher Lu… any chance I could get Moderator privileges?"
Lu Ye's eyes narrowed. "In your dreams!"
"Argh! Damn it!" Gold raged, ruffling his hair. "One day, I'll definitely become a Moderator!!" His vow startled an entire flock of Pidgey, sending them scattering into the sky.
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