I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

Lu Ye stood frozen for a while.

So the final boss of Kanto... was Ash?!

Then again, Ash had challenged the Battle Frontier.

Some of his main Pokémon had already reached near-Master level.

Sure, Pikachu would be reset for the next region.

But the Thunder God Pikachu who had mastered Volt Tackle had literally slain a legend during the Shindai battle.

Besides, being called “Professor” came with responsibilities.

Lu Ye looked at Ash and Pikachu in front of him.

That red-capped, reckless boy—his eyes burned with the hunger to win, a love for Pokémon, and the dream of becoming a Master...

Lu Ye smiled softly.

This moment was one to witness the boy’s path toward the future.

“Just so you know, this isn’t a Baby Cup match.”

“I know!”

Ash grinned. “This is guidance from Professor Lu!”

Lu Ye checked his watch and confirmed the flight time was still okay, then looked up.

“Rotom, navigate to the nearest battle arena!”

“Roger that, Loto~!” In a world where everyone was obsessed with Pokémon battles—

Even the Pokémon Centers at airports had pro-level battle arenas.

Though the area wasn’t huge, it could fit two Trainers for a match.

When Lu Ye and Ash arrived at the Pokémon Center,

The arena was already packed with a tight crowd on both sides.

“Everyone’s here to watch a battle.” Ash glanced around.

Lu Ye looked toward the center of the arena.

Two Trainers were battling fiercely under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

“Let’s battle here,” Lu Ye said to Ash.

“But there’s so many people…”

Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.

The more the merrier!

Cheers erupted as the current battle ended.

The strikingly handsome Trainer, with a grinning Gengar floating beside him, stepped forward:

“Add one more set—we’re just doing a small match!”

The spectators turned curious. Two pretty girls whispered:

“He’s so handsome…”

“You go ask for his contact… but don’t say I sent you!”

Suddenly, someone shouted:

“Kanto League Champion—Professor Lu!!”

“He’s here to wreck newbies again?!”

“You call this a small match?!”

Lu Ye scratched his cheek.

What, friendly matches don’t count?

Ash had beaten a Battle Frontier Brain…

This wasn’t a Baby Cup—it was at least the Junior Cup!

The Trainers on the field froze. One of them shouted:

“Holy sh*t! Professor Lu! I’ve got VIP in your stream!”

Lu Ye: ???

Friends everywhere, huh?

The two Trainers exchanged looks and stepped aside: “Go ahead. You too, little bro.”

Watching a League Champion battle would easily cost over a thousand bucks.

It was like bumping into a celebrity at a neighborhood pickup game. The crowd went wild.

“That kid looks familiar too…”

“Wait, isn’t that the kid who challenged the Battle Frontier yesterday?!”

Thanks to Ahida’s broadcast strategy, many had seen Ash’s challenge match.

It wasn’t just great for revenue—it made “Ash from Pallet Town” a household name.

“A clash of titans—and free? What a steal.”

“Is this airport running some promo? Even Professor Lu showed up!”

A battle between celebrity Trainers had everyone fired up.

Ash, experiencing this kind of attention for the first time, looked a little smug.

But when he turned to face Professor Lu,

He instantly calmed down and took a deep breath.

Remember what Green and Professor Lu said…

Don’t get cocky, Ash!

Professor Lu, with his impressive presence, asked somewhat nervously:

“What format?”

If it was an unrestricted match… he’d have to rely on Gengar’s Hypnosis.

But seriously, would that even work?!

“Let’s go with the Frontier’s singles format, Professor Lu.”

Lu Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

The Battle Frontier used a 6-choose-4 singles format—the most standardized, closest to Master-level battles.

In Sinnoh, strategies got even more layered. Paul and Ash were both tactical beasts.

Looking at the former “type disadvantage master,”

The boy had truly grown.

Lu Ye nodded:

“Let’s settle it, Ash—and find your next goal!”

Ash turned his cap backward.

At the Frontier, he’d experienced the thrill and brutality of battle.

This was the next stage in his growth as a Trainer.

“Go, Charizard!” Ash flung out his Poké Ball.

“Roooaaar!!” Charizard flared its wings, creating a gust of wind with its haughty glare.

The crowd gasped.

Even from its aura, it was clear—this Charizard was no ordinary Pokémon!

The wild “Old Flame” folded its wings and landed, locking eyes with Lu Ye.

“Let’s go all out,” Lu Ye greeted with a smile. “Charizard!”

“ROOOAAAR!!”

Charizard’s tail flame surged meters high in an instant.

As it settled, its eyes burned with fiery desire to battle.

This was a Charizard that obeyed commands and had Champion-level strength.

Even Ash had earned its trust.

Lu Ye felt a stir inside.

In his time in Kanto, had he grown stronger too?

Maybe… it happened without realizing.

That’s the magic of the bond between Trainer and Pokémon.

“Go, Arcanine!”

“Awooo~! (｀0´)”

With Moltres’ power, Arcanine’s mane shimmered with a radiant glow.

Its majestic aura silenced the crowd.

A little girl’s voice piped up in the crowd:

“Daddy, we’re gonna miss our flight…”

“It’s fine. We’ll just buy another ticket after this battle!”

“Intimidate may lower Charizard’s fighting spirit—but it’ll only make its flames burn hotter!”

Ash clenched his fists and shouted: “Charizard, Flamethrower!”

Lu Ye responded firmly:

“Arcanine, Flare Blitz!”

Double resistance or not—

This battle demanded a clash of flames!

“Awooo!!”

Engulfed in fire, Arcanine charged with blinding speed, like a flaming war chariot.

BOOM!!

Flamethrower exploded on Arcanine, lighting up the arena and scattering against the Light Screen walls.

“Awoo!”

Arcanine pushed through the flames head-on. The fire split on its blazing body.

Then it leapt—smashing toward Charizard’s open jaws!

“Charizard, dodge and use Wing Attack!”

“Rooaar!!” Old Flame roared and flapped upward to evade.

Arcanine hit the ground hard—CRACK—shattering the floor.

It pivoted to face the swooping, blade-winged Charizard.

“Crunch!”

Lu Ye even read ahead to Ash’s next move:

“Pull it down!”

Arcanine bit into the glowing white wing and yanked Charizard down with force.

“Roar!” Charizard’s eyes reddened with battle frenzy, tail flame surging.

The crowd gasped in awe.

Ash shouted: “Now—Seismic Toss!”

Ash’s classic: using a Fighting move while in Blaze mode!

“You’re too young, Ash!”

Lu Ye called out at the same time:

“Wild Charge!!”

Just as Charizard grappled Arcanine—

Sparks exploded! Thunder raged from the center of the field and then faded.

THUD!!

“Charizard is unable to battle, Loto!”

The crowd held its breath. The flight announcements faded from everyone’s minds.

“So strong…”

“Perfect counter. Perfect prediction!”

Charizard, burned and smoking, grit its teeth before collapsing.

Ash recalled it, eyes steady—like he’d found his path again.

“You’ve grown, Ash,” Lu Ye said sincerely.

“Don’t celebrate just yet, Professor Lu!”

Ash gave a grin he only showed during battles.

“I won’t let you 4-0 me that easily!”

“Go ahead and try,” Lu Ye chuckled.

“Let’s go, Pikachu!”

Ash pointed, and Pikachu leapt onto the battlefield.

“Pika-chu~!!”

Ash’s ace—Pikachu.

Lu Ye crossed his arms and looked at Rotom, currently acting as judge.

“Beep beep! I don’t get it, Loto! Σ(°△°|||)︴”

“Time to shine, Rotom.” Lu Ye said calmly.

Didn’t expect to save on my electric bill this match. What a bonus.

Lu Ye pointed:

“Gengar, bring out the microwave!”

“Geh-heh!” Gengar grinned and—under stunned gazes—pulled a microwave from its 4D Pocket.

“Pika?” Pikachu stood on two feet and tilted its head, a question mark appearing above.

“Rotom, Microwave Form, transform!”

“Don’t understand, Loto! o(TヘTo)”

Saying no, but doing yes—Rotom flew into the microwave.

“Geh-heh?”

Gengar caught the dropped Pokédex and gave the buzzing microwave a pat.

Then—Microwave Rotom blinked awake.

“Feeling great, Loto!”

Ash blinked, then scanned with his Pokédex:

[Rotom: An Electric/Ghost-type Pokémon with multiple forms. Heating is one of its battle modes.]

“I see now!”

Ash shouted: “When it comes to electricity, we’re not losing to anyone, Pikachu!”

“Pika—” Pikachu’s eyes turned sharp, sparks flickering in its cheeks.

“Quick Attack, Pikachu!”

Ash’s signature dual-blade Pikachu turned into a white blur.

Quick Attack may be weak…

But when it’s Pikachu using it, even Lu Ye got a bit nervous.

“Rotom, Protect!”

A green shield popped in front of Microwave Rotom, snap—Pikachu bounced off.

“Now—Thunderbolt!”

“Pika—” Pikachu flipped in midair, tapped its cheek pouches, and released lightning:

“CHUUU!!”

Electricity lit up the entire arena. The crowd was blown away.

How could Thunderbolt be this powerful?!

Rotom, engulfed in lightning, twitched—then glowed faintly with its own charge.

“No effect?!”

Ash’s eyes widened as he saw Rotom unharmed, grinning.

“It’s because of Rotom’s Charge move,”

Lu Ye explained. “Boosts Sp. Def and powers up the next Electric move.”

Double Electric resistance, plus Rotom’s 107 base Sp. Def, and boosted stats?

If that didn’t survive, then Pikachu really would be cheating.

Ash gritted his teeth:

“D*mn… such deep strategy!”

Lu Ye sighed: “...You’re the one being reckless.”

In the blink of an eye, he still made the right call.

Ash once again felt the menace of a tactical Trainer and shouted:

“Don’t lose, Pikachu—use Volt Tackle!!”

“Pika…” Pikachu crouched, but looked strained.

Its burn marks… they were from Will-O-Wisp!

While chatting, Lu Ye had used Aura Power to silently issue commands…

He really had gone all-out to teach Ash a lesson!

“Push through, Pikachu!”

Ash clenched his fists: “Believe in us—Volt Tackle!!”

“Pika—”

A blinding blue lightning streak illuminated the arena!

“PIKACHUUUU!!”

Everyone held their breath as Pikachu rocketed forward and slammed into Rotom!

“Don’t understand, Loto! o(TヘTo)”

Rotom lost nearly half its HP.

Lu Ye was stunned.

Ash! That move’s not legal!!

Did Pikachu just gain the Guts ability mid-battle?!

“Quick Attack, Pikachu!”

“Use Volt Switch!”

As Pikachu pressed the attack, it was blasted by Rotom’s powerful current.

Spectators whispered:

“Professor Lu’s single battle rotations are artful.”

“He said it on stream—battles are all about switching, covering, and prediction!”

Rotom became a beam of light and returned to its Poké Ball.

“Chagi Dooyi~! ヾ(◍°∇°◍)ﾉﾞ”

Togepi popped out like a wrapped gift.

Ash grew cautious: “Pikachu, use Iron Tail!”

Lu Ye wiped the corner of his eye, feeling proud.

The kid finally gets it—use Steel moves against Fairy-types!

“Togepi, use Metronome!”

Start with a waggle—if that fails, just yell “dodge!”

Just as he was thinking that, Lu Ye paused.

The crowd gasped in shock.

“Dooyi! (`皿´)” Togepi slammed both hands down—

The arena began to tremble!

CRACK!

“Pika?”

Cracks spread across the ground—Pikachu lost its balance.

Next moment—

The ground quaked violently, fissures swallowing Pikachu whole!

“Holy sh*t, Earthquake?!”

“Wait—is that Fissure or something?! That was a one-hit KO!”

The crowd was in a sweat. Ash wiped his brow.

Your Togepi... isn’t cheating, right, Professor Lu?!

“You did great, Pikachu.”

Ash picked Pikachu up.

“Pika pi…” Pikachu lay in his arms, breathing evenly, eyes closed.

Lu Ye rubbed his chin.

Pikachu wasn’t KO’d—it had fallen asleep.

Was it just pretending, mesmerized by Togepi’s cuteness?!

Since it was 6v4 singles,

Ash sent out Bulbasaur next.

Lu Ye tossed out a Luxury Ball.

“Awooo!” Arcanine returned, still in good shape after beating Charizard.

“Bulba…” Bulbasaur flinched and shrank back.

“Use Leech Seed!” Ash shouted, showing off that signature type disadvantage again.

“Flare Blitz!” Lu Ye commanded mercilessly.

Blazing fire swept across the field.

“Bulba!” Bulbasaur’s eyes went wide—

It barely saw the flaming tank before being blasted away in a fireball!

Super effective. Instant KO.

Didn’t expect a one-shot… Lu Ye murmured:

“Bulbasaur just walked into Mickey’s Clubhouse—it’s Bulba-rific!”

Cheers echoed from the crowd.

Ash lowered his hat.

He looked a bit down as he recalled Bulbasaur.

But when he looked up again—

His eyes burned with that fierce spark of a fighter.

“I’m not giving up yet, Professor Lu!” Ash grinned.

“Bring it on, Bonded One,” Lu Ye teased.

“Then go, Squirtle!” Ash raised his hand, sending out his star performer.

“Squirtle!” Squirtle landed with hands on hips, sparkling with energy.

Ash’s gaze sharpened.

He was determined to beat at least one of Professor Lu’s Pokémon!

The crowd fell silent in anticipation.

Suddenly, Lu Ye heard the boarding announcement.

“Rotom, is our flight ready?” he asked quietly.

“Boarding now, Loto!”

“Professor Lu?” Ash asked, confused.

Something seemed off…

“It’s nothing.”

Lu Ye gave a warm, kind smile.

“Ash, I’m on a tight schedule.”

“Eh?”

Lu Ye tossed a Dive Ball.

“For my last one—go, Blastoise!”

“Kame!ヾ(⌐■_■)”

Aura surged—whipping up a fierce and powerful storm!