I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

“Gengaaa! ヽ(￣▽￣)ﾉ”

With everyone watching, Gengar stuffed its stubby hands into its pockets and pulled out a perfectly square object.

Then it gave the microwave a pat, flashing a mischievous grin at Rotom Dex. “Gengaa!”

Hop in—activate it yourself!

Rotom Dex froze for a second, then declared with full flair:

“Time for the referee to take the stage, Roto!”

Who says a Pokédex can’t fight?

Today is the day to restore the glory of household appliances!

The electric-ion-based Rotom emerged from the Pokédex, shot out as a red streak, and flew into the microwave.

A faint red glow rose around the appliance.

Soon, Heat Rotom floated midair, stretching its electric arms and grinning broadly:

“Heat Rotom, reporting in!”

For a moment, even Mizuki and the others spectating were dumbfounded.

“He really… pulled out a microwave.”

Mizuki adjusted his glasses.

Fire-type Heat Rotom naturally countered Candice, the Ice-type specialist.

Clearly, Mr. Lu came prepared.

Ash took out his Pokédex, eyes full of curiosity, and scanned Rotom.

【Beep beep… Heat Rotom! A Rotom that hides inside a special microwave, it’s great at manipulating fire!】

The room’s temperature kept rising, and the icy battlefield began to steam.

Mr. Lu’s control of the Fire-type form of Rotom was way beyond what Candice had expected.

“Even if it’s a tough type match…”

Candice looked at the floating Heat Rotom with caution.

“I won’t back down!”

She threw out a Poké Ball—red light flashed.

On the ice field appeared a graceful, kimono-dancer-like Froslass.

Froslass raised its icy sleeves to cover its face, revealing just one eye that locked onto Heat Rotom. “Rotom, Will-O-Wisp!”

Hovering in the air, Heat Rotom launched a burst of searing orange-red flames.

The fiery Will-O-Wisp swept across the ice.

Froslass danced, scattering ice crystals and summoning a howling chill wind in an attempt to freeze the Will-O-Wisp.

Boom!!

An explosion echoed, and steam blanketed the battlefield.

Through the mist, Froslass flickered, multiplying into shadowy afterimages that encircled Heat Rotom.

“Does not compute… (O_o)??”

Rotom couldn’t tell which was real and looked around in confusion—

Suddenly, a cold gleam came from behind!

Froslass lowered its icy sleeve and spat out a razor-sharp blast of ice—

Ice Beam, aimed right at the weak spot!

Crack!

Electric blue sparks rippled through Rotom’s back.

The freezing breath seeped into the damage, frost crawling across Rotom’s body.

“Even Fire-types can be frozen.”

Candice smiled confidently.

“That’s the overwhelming pressure of Ice-types!”

On the sidelines, Mizuki frowned. “Candice’s whole strategy hinges on freezing.”

“But isn’t freezing hard to trigger?” Ash asked.

Mizuki nodded.

“First, as an Ice specialist, she has precise timing.”

“Second…” he hesitated, “she’s up against Mr. Lu.”

Mr. Lu, a.k.a. the Heaven-Cursed One.

But when you have skill, why rely on luck?

“Looks like I’ve pulled ahead, Mr. Lu.” Candice’s eyes sharpened with a smile.

“The first rule of being a teacher is to always stay humble.”

Lu Ye smiled too, his gaze intense. “Rotom, Electric Terrain—”

“Use Charge!”

Bzzzt—

A surge of electricity sparked around Rotom, forming crackling blue rings that instantly covered the field.

But at that moment, Rotom was also frozen solid and crashed to the ice with a thud.

“It’s frozen… how can it use moves?”

Candice began to sense danger, unease rising in her chest. She pointed and commanded:

“Froslass, now—Blizzard!!”

Froslass twirled like a graceful dancer, summoning a fierce snowstorm behind her.

Ice crystals whirled into a deadly cyclone, the gusts howling menacingly.

“Fallen Rotom… can better utilize the terrain.”

Mizuki’s glasses flashed.

If Froslass steps into Electric Terrain… “Charge” will double the damage!

“This is baiting her in!”

The Blizzard howled, chunks of sharp hail smashed down, even the spectators felt the chill.

Ash held his breath.

This is Candice’s true strength!

Suddenly, the electrical field surged—

The entire arena lit up with blue bolts.

The terrain, once harmless, became alive with violent currents.

Hail from above, lightning from below—

Froslass’s illusions shattered, leaving her injured and exposed.

“Wait a sec!”

Ash suddenly shouted, “Since Rotom’s frozen, shouldn’t Blizzard’s damage be reduced too?”

Mizuki blinked.

Technically, Heat Rotom is 2x resistant to Ice.

Now that it’s frozen—Fire + Ice type—4x resistance to Ice?!

“…You might be onto something.”

Even the Psychic Elite Four was convinced.

Lu Ye’s expression twitched.

You think I wanted to be frozen?!

The Blizzard began to die down, but hail kept falling.

Within the whiteout, Froslass became impossible to spot—

That’s her ability, Snow Cloak!

In hail, her evasion increases, becoming ghostly and elusive.

“Now!”

Candice shouted, “Use Ice Beam!!”

A beam of icy light pierced through the fog, freezing flower-like crystals onto the ice, aiming straight for Rotom!

Crack—

The ice sealing Rotom began to fall away.

Underneath, Heat Rotom glowed red hot, golden electricity surged from the terrain into its body.

After charging, its moves became stronger, and special defense rose!

“Will-O-Wisp!”

Fiery flames met Ice Beam—

Boom!!

The frost beam tore through the flames, steam surged, and it pierced straight for Rotom.

Lu Ye calmly ordered, “Discharge.”

Candice’s pupils shrank.

The entire field was engulfed in light—

Electric Terrain and Charge all converted into a wild storm of electricity.

“Rotooooom!!”

Waves of energy exploded outward, swallowing Froslass whole!

The brilliance reflected in Ash’s eyes.

“Mr. Lu… is so strong.”

“He predicted and countered everything.”

Mizuki crossed his legs and smirked while flipping through a book.

“And he wasn’t even going all out.”

On the battlefield, Candice withdrew her fainted Froslass with a heavy heart.

Mr. Lu’s pressure… was overwhelming.

She hadn’t felt this since glimpsing that old man with a Swinub at the Ice Specialist Cup.

Taking a deep breath, Candice threw another Poké Ball.

With a loud thud, the ice cracked.

“Roar!!”

Ice rained down—her ace, Abomasnow, returned!

Candice smiled confidently.

“Mr. Lu, I’ll give it everything I’ve got!”

Lu Ye held up two fingers.

“Whenever you feel like you’ve got it all figured out… stay cautious.”

“Huh?” Candice blinked.

Then she saw Heat Rotom glowing red again—

Even the nearby ice began to melt.

Steam rose, warping the field in a veil of white mist.

Lu Ye grinned.

“Because whenever you think you’re good to go… something always goes wrong.”

Snap—

Lu Ye snapped his fingers.

“Rotom, Overheat!”

Scorching waves blasted forward—Candice shielded her face, her braids flying from the blast.

“No way…”

Her eyes widened, breath caught in her throat.

At that moment, her vision was consumed by flame.

The ice field melted beneath, Heat Rotom bathed in blazing orange flames—

It looked like a meteor crashing down on Abomasnow.

Rotom’s ultimate Fire-type move, Overheat, turned it into a fiery warhead.

Candice was stunned by the sheer intensity.

Lu Ye rubbed his chin and nodded thoughtfully.

Maybe next time, I’ll try something trickier in oven mode.

BOOOOM!!!

Steam exploded.

Abomasnow stood motionless, its frosty branches shattered.

Then—thud!

The massive Pokémon collapsed, smashing a crater in the ground.

“A one-hit KO?” Ash stammered.

Mizuki adjusted his glasses.

“That’s Heat Rotom’s strongest Fire move.”

“…This flame rivals even Fire-type specialists.”

Silence.

Candice stood dazed for a while, wiping sweat from her forehead—

Only now did she realize she was drenched in sweat.

She glanced at the field.

From the crater floated a wobbly little ‘microwave.’

Rotom crackled with static as it looked at Lu Ye and said:

“Judged fair and square, Roto! (✪ω✪)”

“Good job.”

Lu Ye smiled, already calculating the extra electricity bill he’d owe.

“Time for a break.”

Rotom swayed back into the Pokédex, now flashing a low battery warning.

“Gengaa~!”

Gengar scurried over, stuffed the microwave back into its pocket, bowed to Candice, and trotted off.

Candice smiled faintly. “You must still have more to teach, don’t you?”

Lu Ye nodded.

“I think the third lesson is—”

“To enjoy the journey of companionship, battling, and growth with your Pokémon.”

Candice was stunned for a long while, then nodded instinctively.

She slapped her cheeks and declared with full spirit:

“Mr. Lu, I haven’t given up yet!”

She threw a Poké Ball—red light flashed and the ground rumbled.

Thud!!

A massive beast landed, cracking the ice.

It roared with tusks like a woolly mammoth—

Mamoswine had arrived.

With its Thick Fat ability, even fire could barely scratch it!

Lu Ye tossed a Luxury Ball:

“Let’s go, Arcanine!”

“Awooo!! (｀0´)”

The majestic and burly Arcanine howled, brimming with power.

Its glossy, flowing coat shimmered with strength and grace.

Mizuki admired from the sidelines.

“Mr. Lu’s Arcanine is impeccably trained.”

“But… isn’t it a bit too bulky?” Ash tilted his head.

“A stand-by type Arcanine needs serious stamina,” Mizuki chuckled.

“This one is definitely one of Mr. Lu’s aces.”

Ash started counting on his fingers, staring at the sky in thought.

“What are you doing?” Mizuki asked.

“Trying to figure out how many ‘aces’ he has…”

Thud!!

A violent clash drew everyone’s eyes to the field.

The mammoth-like Mamoswine crushed the ice beneath it, tusks gleaming.

“Mamoswine, High Horsepower!”

“Rooar!!”

It charged like a tank, red energy pulsing along its tusks.

Boom!!

The distance closed rapidly—just before the clash—

Lu Ye shouted: “Arcanine, Iron Tail!”

Metallic light coated Arcanine’s tail—it spun, lashing out with overwhelming force.

CLANG!!

“Roar!!” Mamoswine staggered backward, cracking pillars as it crashed!

High Horsepower was fierce.

Even without direct contact, its tusks left a scar on Arcanine’s flank.

“Arrrooo!!” Arcanine bared its teeth, flames erupting in its mane.

“Arcanine, Flare Blitz!!”

Wreathed in golden fire, it charged like a rocket—

The ice vaporized beneath its paws.

“So fast…”

Candice’s pupils shrank at the blazing storm headed her way.

Arcanine leapt, crashing into Mamoswine and burying it in shattered ice!

Sensing danger, Candice shouted:

“Mamoswine, knock it away!”

But the sharp shards dug deep into Mamoswine’s hide.

“Rooar!!” It roared, head-butting with tusks, trying to push Arcanine off.

But to Mamoswine’s horror—

It couldn’t move Arcanine at all!

“Awwooo!” Arcanine pinned it down, eyes blazing, preparing a massive Fire Blast.

“Now, Earthquake!” Candice cried.

But she watched in shock—

Mamoswine couldn’t break free!

“Roaar!!”

It slammed the ground, sending shockwaves.

But Arcanine had vanished.

Looking up, Mamoswine saw a blazing red comet—

Lu Ye called out: “Burn it all!”

BOOOM!!!

Candice stared at the fiery explosion.

Once again, Mr. Lu had shown her the peak of Fire-type power.

Flames lit up Mizuki’s glasses.

He adjusted them and sighed,

“It’s over.”

Thud!!

Flames swept across the ice, leaving a massive crater.

Arcanine, flaming claws gleaming, stood tall like a lion king before the fallen Mamoswine.

Steam billowed, the battlefield was wrecked.

“Awwooo…”

The fire on Arcanine’s mane faded.

It turned, gave Lu Ye a wise look, and barked:

“Awwooo!” ᕦ(･ㅂ･)ᕤ