I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

February 7th, Sunday. No wind.

The Indigo League Tournament Semifinals.

The commentators in the official livestream room were already in place.

“Welcome everyone to the semifinals of the Indigo League Tournament!”

In the fully packed circular stadium, thunderous cheers surged like waves.

At the top of the platform, in the silver brazier, the Sacred Flame roared brightly.

Chairman Damalanji, short and white-bearded, wore a gentle smile.

“I hereby declare, the Indigo League Semifinals… officially begin!”

The atmosphere peaked with a roar.

Outside the livestream screen— A blonde beauty glanced curiously toward the aerial drone camera, watching the elegant, handsome young man with dark hair and an extraordinary aura.

“Let’s welcome the Trainer from Donghuang—Lu Ye!” the commentator shouted.

“Go, Teacher Lu!!”

In the spectator stands, Professor Oak sat in casual wear, glancing back at the banner behind him.

“Hoho, Lu Ye really is popular!”

“Well, his videos and games have a wide fan base,” Blue said, smiling beside him.

“Maybe it’s just the looks,” Brock said, arms folded.

“Hmm…” For once, Blue had no retort.

“It’s great,” Professor Oak said, listening to the crowd and smiling toward the center of the field. “Reminds me of my younger days.”

At the end of the entrance tunnel, blinding sunlight poured in.

Lu Ye stepped into the arena, lifting a hand to shield his eyes slightly.

In an instant, deafening cheers erupted from every direction.

“Go, Commander!!” Jessie, James, and Meowth waved frantically.

“We saved enough to buy front-row tickets, meow!”

“No mercy!” James shouted with cupped hands.

“That’s right—show him what you're made of!” Jessie cracked her knuckles.

“Sooonanssss~!”

Nearby, people looked puzzled at the strange trio.

At the center of the field, the two Trainers exchanged a handshake.

“Teacher Lu, I’ll give it everything I’ve got!” said Xianping, burning with fighting spirit.

He wore frameless glasses and deeply admired Steven the Champion.

He hoped to win the championship for Hoenn with this match.

Last year, he had already taken second place in the Celestic Tournament and had been training ever since.

A 6v6 full battle—this was the perfect time to prove himself!

“Do your best.” Lu Ye nodded kindly.

Giving Steven’s junior a lesson—Teacher Lu was more than willing.

Xianping instantly felt a pressure he couldn't explain. As he walked back to his command post, sweat silently beaded on his forehead.

That tone… it felt like standing before Champion Steven.

But how could a contestant at the Indigo League possibly be a League Champion?

Xianping clutched his chest and forced himself to stay calm.

Don’t panic. He’d already carefully analyzed Teacher Lu’s lineup before the match.

That high-speed style…

All he had to do was set up defenses and wear him down—then finish things off using a Trick Room strategy!

“That kid looks under a lot of pressure,” Professor Oak said, watching the giant screen.

Facing Teacher Lu… who wouldn’t be? Blue thought awkwardly.

“A full battle might actually highlight the field where Teacher Lu excels most,” Brock suddenly said.

“Hmm…” Professor Oak nodded thoughtfully.

More rotations meant more room for tactics and plays.

However… Lu Ye’s lineup was too well-known. His opponent might have prepared counters.

Just as Professor Oak pondered this, the referee’s whistle blew.

“Battle, begin!”

Xianping adjusted his glasses and tossed out a Poké Ball. A beam of white light struck the ground.

“Go, Lileep!”

A grayish-green plant Pokémon, suction cups rooted firmly to the ground, its pink tentacles extending from its head and yellow eyes glowing eerily.

As a fossil Pokémon revived through modern science, Lileep was one of Steven’s beloved partners.

“Lileep is one stubborn Pokémon,” Professor Oak nodded knowingly.

“Leech Seed, Recover…” Brock furrowed his brow. “It’ll be a real pain to deal with.”

Meanwhile, another beam of light hit the field—and an elegant, snow-white figure took shape.

The moment Sylveon entered the field, her graceful presence instantly captivated the entire stadium.

“So beautiful…”

“They say only Trainers truly trusted by their Pokémon can have a Sylveon.”

Veteran fans swallowed hard, recalling the brutal beatdowns this Sylveon had delivered.

Graceful? Lovely? …Honestly, those didn’t even begin to describe Teacher Lu’s Sylveon.

She was cute, deadly, and terrifyingly strong!

“Sylveon, huh.” Xianping adjusted his glasses and scoffed.

What can it even do against Lileep?

With Recover, it would bounce back in no time!

“Lileep, Stealth Rock!”

In a 6v6 match, whoever lays down hazards first gains the upper hand in switch-ins.

Just as Xianping smirked at his own plan—

The snow-white figure darted forward like lightning, ribbons glowing with razor-sharp white light!

Why is she closing the distance?!

Xianping was stunned. Wasn’t Sylveon supposed to use Hyper Voice from afar?

He’d already calculated everything—

Lileep could totally tank it!

The plant Pokémon lifted its haunting gaze, canceling its Stealth Rock to instead extend its strong, suction-cup tentacles to bind Sylveon.

But before the tentacles even reached out—

WHAM!

Sylveon’s ribbons slammed down hard on Lileep’s head!

CRACK!

The ground where Lileep clung shattered with a loud snap. Its tentacles flailed weakly around its head.

Before it could even cast Leech Seed, the so-called “Cash God Flower” was taken out—

Crushed by a full-power Return!

In the dead-silent stadium, the audience couldn’t process what just happened.

“Sylveon! (▼ヘ▼#)”

Sylveon stood tall, ribbons fluttering arrogantly—commanding the whole arena’s attention.

Steven was watching too and chuckled.

“Using max-power Return from the start… Guess Teacher Lu’s going all in.”

Xianping fell silent.

He withdrew the unconscious Lileep.

I get it now… A physical attacker, fast assault style. My assessment wasn’t wrong.

Losing one to gather vital info… not a bad trade!

“Go, Dusclops!”

A chilling aura spread from the Dusk Ball he threw. A ghostly one-eyed doll emerged from the void.

The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily over the arena, causing the crowd to shiver.

“So someone really brought that ability,” Lu Ye muttered.

The suffocating pressure crashed down on Sylveon like gravity.

“Sylveon!” she huffed, unfurling her ribbons defiantly.

That’s it? Even Blastoise has more presence than this guy!

“Not affected?”

Xianping’s brow furrowed. How?!

Even if it didn’t faint, shouldn’t its movements be restricted?

“Whatever! Dusclops, use Imprison!”

Dusclops raised its arms. Its glowing eye flashed blue—and Sylveon’s movements slowed slightly.

Xianping followed up immediately:

“Trick Room!”

Dark mist spiraled across the field, weaving a bowl-shaped dome of warped space around Trainers and Pokémon alike.

On the big screen, you could see inside the swirling shadows—a ghostly Dusclops, almost impossible to lock onto.

In the audience, fans looked conflicted.

“Trick Room against Teacher Lu, huh.”

“Good luck with that…”

Xianping smirked slightly—then suddenly froze.

“Dusclops, dodge it!”

“Sylveon!”

From her ribbons, a Shadow Ball surged to life—hidden perfectly within the dark mist.

It wasn’t until the black sphere stirred up gusts of wind and shredded the surrounding fog—

That Xianping realized.

D* it! Lu Ye’s Sylveon is a dual-attacker!**

BOOOOM!!

The Shadow Ball exploded. Dusclops barely tumbled away from the blast, scorched and gasping for breath.

“Return!” Xianping recalled it, face pale.

One more second and I would’ve been two-rounded!

“Dusclops is heavily injured!” shouted the commentator.

“This is only Lu Ye’s first Pokémon—and Xianping is already on his third!”

“And the next one won’t fare any better!” someone murmured.

Xianping was shaken.

“But he achieved his goal, right?” Blue tilted her head.

Professor Oak nodded.

“Lu Ye didn’t send in a Taunt user… He probably has his own plan.”

“Here it comes,” Lu Ye said, eyes narrowing as a thunderous roar echoed through the field.

Dust burst skyward. A monstrous metallic beast appeared.

Aggron, with its massive tail slamming into the ground, roared with rage.

“RAWR—!!”

Armored in silver, the steel beast looked like a war machine—its presence overpowering and fierce.

In the stands, there was a collective gulp.

“That’s gotta be his ace, right?”

“He’s trying to use Trick Room to bulldoze Teacher Lu’s entire team!”

Professor Oak gave a “hoh!” of approval.

“It’s been raised quite well!”

“Well, as a baby it was gifted by Steven,” Brock added, though his brow creased.

Under Trick Room, Aggron was a near-unstoppable tank.

Maybe… only Teacher Lu’s Flare Blitz Arcanine could stand up to it.

Suddenly, a wave of gasps swept the crowd.

“What’s Teacher Lu doing?!”

“Why isn’t he switching out Sylveon?!”

“He’s going to challenge Aggron head-on under Trick Room?!”

This brutal behemoth—could Sylveon really take it?

Everyone held their breath.

“I’ll grant your wish!” Xianping barked. “Aggron, Iron Head!”

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Aggron stomped forward, its three sharp horns gleaming menacingly, ready to pierce through anything.

The sight of it charging made the crowd’s faces pale.

This was insane. Lu Ye had gone too far.

“Protect!”

A shimmering green shield formed before Sylveon—but it wouldn’t be enough to block Aggron’s raw force.

BOOM!

“RAWR!!”

Aggron smashed into the barrier like a cannonball, shattering it. Sylveon leapt upward, landing lightly as the ground behind her crumbled.

“Sylveon! (▼ヘ▼#)”

She licked the scratches on her paw, shook her ribbons, unfazed.

Protected it. Only minor injuries.

Lu Ye felt a twinge of guilt.

But to recall her now—would be a sign of no trust.

After seeing everyone else give their all—

How could Sylveon not want to fight with everything she had for Lu Ye?

“Don’t stop! Another Iron Head!” Xianping yelled.

Trick Room. Type disadvantage. Three rounds of continuous battle…

Fear began to well up in Xianping.

If even his ace couldn’t stop this—

What then?!

Aggron charged again. In Trick Room, its slowness became blinding speed.

Sylveon fired a Shadow Ball, locking it in place just long enough to dodge.

She was panting now, baring her fangs fiercely.

“Sylveon! (`皿´)”

Three rounds in already.

If they rotated, Lu Ye could’ve easily swept with someone else.

But suddenly—he understood her intention.

She wanted to one-vs-six the semifinals.

Lu Ye chuckled softly.

At her current level… No, even Blastoise couldn’t pull that off.

But if she was his Pokémon—

Lu Ye’s eyes hardened.

Then he would make it happen.

“Sylveon, do you trust me?”

“Sylveon!”

“Then… take a round off!”

Lu Ye pulled out her Poké Ball and withdrew her.

Just a few seconds left on Trick Room.

In this field, the slower Pokémon moved faster.

In Lu Ye’s lineup, even Sirfetch’d was quicker than Aggron.

But there was one slower…

“Togepi!” Lu Ye shouted. “Use Nasty Plot!”

“Togeee!! (#｀皿´)”

The entire stadium erupted.

He sent out Togepi in the semifinals?!

“Under Trick Room, Togepi moves first!”

“Look! He’s already withdrawing it again!”

Xianping’s expression turned to shock.

He still had that Togepi on his team?!

What was Lu Ye planning?

“Earthquake!!” Xianping shouted, spine chilled.

Aggron slammed its steel tail into the ground. A massive tremor tore through the stage—

But Togepi’s fierce gaze flared.

Nasty Plot pushed its stats to the limit.

Then, in a flash of white, Togepi returned to its Poké Ball—Baton Pass!

The earthquake struck—but the rotation was already complete.

Sylveon returned to the field!

“Sylveon! (▼皿▼#)”

Togepi’s Baton Pass transferred the Nasty Plot boost to Sylveon.

An overwhelming aura surged from her—

Even more terrifying than Dusclops’s earlier pressure!

Trick Room dissipated.

Aggron’s speed slowed again.

“Let’s go, Sylveon.”

Lu Ye clenched his fist.

In that instant—the entire stadium fell silent.

“This is your one-vs-six moment.”

“Sylveon!”

Noon has struck!

BOOOOM!!!

A Shadow Ball exploded from Sylveon’s ribbons, its energy terrifyingly immense.

Xianping shut his eyes in despair.

Even an iron-plated war machine like Aggron—

With that miserable Special Defense, couldn’t hope to endure!

RRRRRRUUUUMMMMMBBBLLLLLEEEE!!!

The blast rocked the entire stadium.

As the smoke cleared, the audience gasped in disbelief.

No way…

Did she actually… win?!

THUD!

The massive beast collapsed.

Sunlight bathed Sylveon’s snow-white form in golden brilliance.

She stood tall before the fallen Aggron.

Then slowly turned—

Like the sharpest blade, in the hand of her dark-haired Trainer.

“Sylveon,” she called softly.

“Next.”

The young man’s calm voice echoed through the entire stadium.