Chapter 292: You Really Pulled Through, Togepi!
Blistering heat surged forward—Ariados’s razor-thin webbing melted instantly under the scorching flames.
“Awooo!!” Arcanine snapped the web apart with a crack, charging through the fire with overwhelming momentum.
“Hisss!” Ariados took the hit like it had just been rammed by a tank, crashing hard to the ground.
In the nearby bushes, Team Rocket’s trio all gawked in unison.
“Isn’t… isn’t that the Gym Leader from Fuchsia?”
James flipped through his Pokédex, swallowing hard.
“We’ve definitely run into her before…”
Meowth and Jessie stood frozen, feeling their throats go dry.
If she’s a Gym Leader… that puts her on the same level as Executive Sabrina, right?
And Teacher Lu just one-shotted her Pokémon!?
In that instant, a lightbulb lit up over their heads.
Following Teacher Lu… now that’s a promising future! Aya looked at the handsome man before her, a strange fear rising in her heart.
“He predicted I’d use Acid Armor…”
Aya muttered, “Or maybe he capitalized on my mistake?”
Either way, it was terrifying.
Now she finally understood why, whenever other Gym Leaders brought up Teacher Lu, their faces were full of admiration.
With command skills like that…
Even being a League Champion wouldn’t be exaggerating!
Even though he just KO’d Ariados, Lu Ye’s expression stayed serious.
Between the poison and the Flare Blitz recoil, Arcanine had burned through a lot of stamina.
Looking at the sweat-soaked Arcanine, Lu Ye gave a nod and smiled.
“Leave the rest to me.”
“Awoo!” Arcanine bared its fangs and vanished into a beam of red light as it returned to its Luxury Ball.
The battle was still going.
Aya sent out Weezing, and a thick smog spread across the entire field.
Meanwhile, Muk continued to Minimize somewhere in the invisible haze.
“Quack!” Farfetch’d smirked, twirling its leek once more.
Defog—a perfect move to counter evasion boosts and clear the battlefield of smoke.
Aya, who’d already suffered once from that, gritted her teeth in frustration.
This Farfetch’d… is way too annoying!
“If I attack rashly, Farfetch’d will just use Detect and block it, wasting my shot.”
Aya muttered, “So that’s what Teacher Lu meant…”
On the other side, as Arcanine returned, Sylveon gracefully took the field.
A type disadvantage!?
Is he letting his guard down?
Aya hesitated, but then saw Sylveon glowing with a Calm Mind aura.
“Stop it now!” Aya snapped. “Weezing, Muk—Sludge Bomb!”
Against a Fairy-type like Sylveon, that would be devastating.
But if her “double tap” failed, in doubles, it could be a fatal setback.
The black sludge surged toward Sylveon like a tidal wave.
Watching from the treetop, Poison-type Elite Koga let out a soft sigh.
Silly girl… compared to Lu Ye, you’re still too green.
Lu Ye smirked just slightly.
“Sylveon, Baton Pass!”
In a flash of white light, Sylveon returned to her Poké Ball—replaced by a grinning Gengar.
“Gengarrr~!”
It took both Sludge Bombs head-on. But with its quadruple resistance to Poison, it barely flinched.
A bead of sweat formed on Aya’s forehead.
This… this is Lu Ye’s switch technique?
Lu Ye snapped his fingers.
“Gengar, Shadow Ball!”
“Gengaaa! (ૢ˃ꌂ˂⁎)”
Boom!!
With Helping Hand support from earlier, and the power passed on by Baton Pass, Gengar’s Shadow Ball exploded with devastating force.
Weezing got blasted off the field without even having a chance to self-destruct.
Nearby, Team Rocket’s mouths were hanging open. They were practically numb to Teacher Lu’s power by now.
Aya took a deep breath.
It wasn’t just Pokémon training—
Her timing, prediction, and reads were all still far behind…
Her final Pokémon: Crobat, her ace.
With two pairs of wings, the deep-purple Crobat rose into the air and sliced with a sharp Air Slash.
Farfetch’d raised its shield and rushed in rather than backing off.
The Air Slash left shallow and deep gashes across the shield.
Farfetch’d’s eyes narrowed. With a flick of its wrist, it hurled its leek like a javelin!
Aya blinked in surprise.
That Farfetch’d… has ranged attacks!?
Farfetch’d’s Knock Off turned its leek into a blazing spear of light.
“Kraa!” Crobat twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding a direct hit. It glanced back at the leek embedded in the ground, visibly shaken.
That’s terrifying!
Lu Ye coughed lightly.
Farfetch’d weighs about 117kg.
That leek alone probably weighs 80kg.
As a thrown weapon… yeah, “one-hit kill” isn’t an exaggeration.
Without the burden of the leek, Farfetch’d moved more nimbly.
“Quack!” It sprinted toward the grounded leek, shield in hand.
Muk tried to block its path, but got nailed by a black Shadow Ball before it could react.
“Quack!” Farfetch’d picked up its leek and launched into a Thrash, swinging it down on Muk!
Lu Ye’s eye twitched.
Can’t do anything else right, but KOs like a champ!?
“Roooaaar!!” Muk howled in pain, grabbing Farfetch’d with a massive hand.
Even as its white fur turned a deep purple from the poison, Farfetch’d didn’t flinch.
Gengar shimmered into view, eyes glowing blue with Psychic, locking down Muk.
Farfetch’d took the chance to drive its leek deep into Muk’s body.
When a Pokémon is already damaged this turn, Pursuit hits for double damage.
It even struck a critical hit.
“Quack!? (ﾟДﾟ#)”
Staring at the now-fainted Muk, Farfetch’d froze.
Did… did I really do it?
Seeing Farfetch’d’s calm face, Gengar grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
“Gengaa!” (“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”)
“Crobat, X-Scissor!”
Aya’s last Pokémon swooped in, wings crossing like blades to slash at Gengar.
Gengar’s low defense meant one clean hit could knock it out instantly!
Lu Ye chuckled.
Little ninja… time for you to witness the dark arts of a tactician!
“Gengar, Ally Switch!”
Lu Ye snapped his fingers.
“Farfetch’d, Detect!”
“Gengaa!” The grinning Gengar flickered and swapped places with Farfetch’d.
“Quack!” With a scowl, Farfetch’d slashed its leek in a beautiful arc.
Even a slacker...
Has things only I can do!
Clang!
The leek collided with Crobat’s wings, sending sparks flying.
“Detect” is sometimes translated as “Mikiri”—a sharp, cutting read of your opponent.
Farfetch’d raised its shield and slammed it into Crobat’s forehead.
Lu Ye’s forehead twitched.
A parry followed by shield bash!?
With a good parry mechanic, even legendaries would be toast!
After the switch, Gengar appeared behind Crobat, gathering a dark ball of energy.
He pressed it to Crobat’s back, unleashing a chilling wave of energy—
BOOM!!
Aya clenched her teeth. “Crobat, X-Scissor again!”
As a ninja, she refused to give up until the very end.
Crobat took to the air, wings glowing white with a crit boost!
Watching from the treetop, Koga narrowed his eyes.
“She and that Crobat… really share a strong bond…”
Lu Ye nodded thoughtfully.
After all, Crobat evolves through high friendship.
And Pokémon, in turn, respond to their Trainer’s feelings.
But unfortunately…
Today, she’s facing the dirtiest player around—Lu Ye.
“Substitute!” Lu Ye shouted. “Farfetch’d, Pursuit!”
Farfetch’d, already poisoned and at its limit, gritted its beak and charged Crobat one last time.
This is my final desperate strike!
Crobat managed to destroy Gengar’s Substitute, but with a double battle setup, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
Farfetch’d’s final blow brought Crobat crashing down.
Battle over.
Gengar rushed to the weakened Farfetch’d’s side and patted its wing.
“Gengaa! (ノ￣▽￣)”
Farfetch’d gave a goofy grin… then collapsed with a thud.
“Gengaa!? Σ(っ°Д°;)っ”
Just before fainting, Farfetch’d had one last thought—
Fighting together with everyone like this...
Actually… feels kinda nice~~
“You guys did great.”
Lu Ye returned Farfetch’d to its Poké Ball with a gentle smile.
“I’ll make you something tasty tonight.”
“Gengaa~ (¯﹃¯)”
Aya returned Crobat, letting out a deep breath.
Still lost, huh…
But then again, my opponent was Teacher Lu.
Aya walked over and bowed deeply to Lu Ye.
“Thank you so much for your guidance!”
“It’s nothing.”
Lu Ye grinned, pulling out a QR code from who-knows-where.
“Here’s a little group chat for my stream viewers. Wanna check it out?”
Aya blinked.
Teacher Lu’s fan group?
“I’d be honored!” Aya bowed again.
Ding! Group Owner ‘Teacher Lu’ invites new member ‘Fuchsia Aya’ to join the chat!
Gold was about to send his usual greeting, but Lorelei instantly muted him.
Lorelei: Welcome, newcomer~~
Lance: Koga’s daughter?
Red: Welcome.
…
Aya stared blankly for a while, then looked up.
“T-They’re all real?”
“What else?” Lu Ye shrugged.
Aya swallowed.
She now had a whole new understanding of Teacher Lu’s… background.
Gold, who hadn’t done anything wrong, looked totally lost.
Scratching his head, he opened a private chat.
Gold: Why’d you mute me! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
“I’m protecting you, you dummy.”
Lorelei sipped her black tea with a long sigh.
“If you said the wrong thing, you might’ve been assassinated!”
Thinking of the ever-elusive ninja Koga, Gold froze.
“Thanks, Auntie Lorelei!” he said, eyes teary.
Lorelei: DIE!! （╯‵□′）╯︵┴─┴
…
Another newcomer recruited.
Lu Ye nodded, satisfied.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading out!”
If I don’t run now…
It might be too late!
Watching Lu Ye hurry away, Aya gave a small nod and didn’t stop him.
After all, the fact that he accepted her challenge at all—was already an incredible stroke of luck.
Recalling the battle, Aya fell into thought.
That adaptability and calm under pressure…
Even my father… couldn’t do better.
I still have a long way to go.
“Huh?” Suddenly, Aya looked down in surprise.
“Chagi-togi~(´▽`)ﾉ”
Togepi tugged at her pants, palm outstretched.
“You want something?”
Aya knelt down and smiled. “Your trainer’s already way over there.”
Togepi hopped in place and gestured wildly.
Aya still looked confused.
Togepi paused, then pointed sneakily to a glimmering object not far away.
Following its gesture—she spotted a shiny coin!
“It wants the coin,” James realized.
“Meowth, quick! Take off the coin and give it to Togepi!” Jessie barked.
“Don’t just make stuff up, nya!” Meowth yelled, clutching his head.
“It clearly wants the badge!”
“Tooogiii~(❁´◡`❁)✲ﾟ” Togepi nodded enthusiastically.
“I thought Teacher Lu didn’t need one of these.”
Aya chuckled, placing a Fuchsia Badge in Togepi’s little hand.
“Hold on tight—don’t lose it, okay?”
“Tooogi!” Togepi beamed and nodded.
…
Lu Ye hadn’t gone far.
Gengar licked his cheek with its long tongue.
“What?” Lu Ye’s face twitched. “My tongue went numb.”
“Gengaa!” Gengar made an egg-shell shape with its hands.
“Huh?” Lu Ye blinked.
“You mean… Togepi didn’t come with us?”
Gengar nodded.
Lu Ye smacked his forehead.
“It’s probably still back there on the slide.”
“Chagi-togi~~ヾ(◍°∇°◍)ﾉﾞ”
Lu Ye and Gengar turned toward the park.
Under the setting sun, Togepi ran over excitedly, a shiny object clutched in its hands.
Something its Trainer forgot.
I brought it back for you~
When Lu Ye finally got a good look—
His face changed.
Ding! Quest Progress Updated!
Badge Collection: (5/8)
Halfway there—good luck with the rest of your challenge!
Teacher Lu: What “good luck”!? （╯‵□′）╯︵┴─┴
Why’s Togepi collecting badges on my behalf!?
Lu Ye shuddered.
But… he couldn’t bring himself to scold Togepi.
Feeling conflicted, he crouched down and patted its little head.
“Thanks for the help~” Lu Ye sighed.
“Toooogi!”
Togepi smiled and patted its own eggshell.
You really pulled through, Togepi!
…
Not far away—
Koga stood atop a tree branch, a cold smirk tugging at his lips.
My foolish daughter…
If you want to challenge the strong, be ready to be crushed, to be laughed at.
Let that bitterness toward me fuel your growth, Aya!
Just as he turned to leave, something crossed his mind.
“To thank Teacher Lu… for guiding that silly girl…”
“Maybe I should prepare something for him too.”
Thinking of that white-furred, majestic Farfetch’d…
Koga nodded thoughtfully.
“That move… might be a good choice.”