I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

The dazzling light of evolution bloomed inside the arena.

Haunter stuck out its tongue, with an evolution stone shimmering at the tip, a big smile spreading across its face.

"Gengarrr~ヽ(≧∀≦)ﾉ"

A brilliant white light enveloped Haunter, waves of energy spreading outwards, and Mega Gallade’s cloak fluttered in response.

The audience was either thrilled or in disbelief.

"It’s happening, Haunter’s Mega Evolution!"

"Teacher Lu’s Haunter has also mastered Mega Evolution!"

"This is... the ace of a champion!!"

Bruno’s sharp gaze fixed on Haunter, wrapped in the evolution light, as if trying to probe its current strength.

Near the floor-to-ceiling windows on the second floor, Flint and Aru’s expressions froze. If I were in Lucian’s position... how would I deal with Teacher Lu’s Mega Haunter?

Cynthia lifted a faint smile, her gray eyes watching the white cocoon of light gradually dissipate.

That was the Mega Haunter that once stood before its Trainer, fighting against gods!

In the trembling arena,

The evolution light faded, revealing a snarling Mega Haunter covered in sharp spikes, with dark red mist rising from its base.

"Gengarrr!"

Mega Haunter’s limbs were immersed in shadows, connected to another dimension. A yellow single eye opened at its forehead, and the rainbow emblem of Mega Evolution glowed atop its head!

Lucian’s expression turned serious as he slid one hand into his suit pocket and gently pushed up his glasses.

"A Mega Haunter with champion-level power," Lucian murmured. "It’s no less formidable than Cynthia’s Garchomp..."

Haunter absorbed energy from the Platinum Orb fragments and had perfected its control over antimatter. After Mega Evolution, both gravity and the other dimension could be used as offensive tools.

This was Teacher Lu’s strongest Pokémon after the Sinnoh region experience—Mega Haunter who had once solo defeated the llama!

The camera shifted to a close-up of Teacher Lu.

Lu Ye stood with one hand in his pocket, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he nodded lightly at the camera.

The arena erupted with enthusiastic cheers, fans erupting with exclamations.

"Damn, Teacher Lu is really showing off!"

"Mega Haunter is seriously cool!"

"A clash of titans, the pinnacle battle of the Sinnoh Elite Four League!"

"Gengarrr!"

Mega Haunter bared its teeth in a ferocious grin. The evolution stone on its tongue had been hidden in the shadows as it flicked its long tongue, taunting Mega Gallade.

"Gallade..."

Mega Gallade opened its red and white dual-arm blades, its gaze calm, the snowy white cloak fluttering briskly behind it.

"Both sides have chosen Mega Evolution!" the commentator hoarsely announced. "This could be the battle that decides the outcome!"

The battle was about to ignite. Lu Ye and Lucian gave their commands simultaneously.

"Haunter, Dark Void!"

"Gallade, Psycho Cut!"

The battlefield was still under the effect of Gravity, which could trigger Dark Void’s sleep effect.

However, Gallade was bolstered by the previous 'relay' state, its entire body as sharp as a drawn blade, the cold gleam on its arm blades shining fiercely!

These were two tactical masters, creating opportunities for their Mega Pokémon through different means.

If Gallade could cut down Haunter, victory would be inevitable.

Conversely, Lucian might suffer a complete shutout by Teacher Lu on the Champion League stage!

The audience’s expressions were intense. The commentator shouted, "The battle begins! Haunter strikes first!!"

"Gengarrr!"

Mega Haunter’s limbs soaked in black-red mist, the yellow single eye on its forehead gathering wild black energy, which condensed into a surging black sphere and surged forward!

"Gallade!"

Mega Gallade’s ability, Psychic Power, greatly enhanced its mental strength. The heart-shaped protrusion on its chest burned with heat.

Buzz—

Gallade’s dual blades suddenly surged with nearly a meter of pink light, slicing rapidly in a crossed slash against the incoming miniature black hole!

Boom!!

An explosion roared, black smoke billowing.

Gallade stood at the center as the smoke cleared, its cloak fluttering, eyes sharp and unscathed!

The audience gasped.

The Dark Void that nearly instantly defeated Girafarig was countered with such ease!

"It—It slashed through the Dark Void!?"

"Psycho Cut was a critical hit!"

"Lucian is still the strongest Elite Four of Sinnoh!"

"That’s the effect of the earlier Swords Dance buff," Bruno said gravely. "If it’s a critical strike... even Mega Haunter would have a hard time defending."

Ami placed her hands on her white dress, speaking softly, "But Teacher Lu’s Haunter has a speed advantage... and Haunter’s moves haven’t been fully revealed yet."

Bruno folded his muscular arms and remained silent.

Teacher Lu’s trickiness lay in his unpredictable tactics.

In other words, tricky moves were this champion’s key reliance.

Even I know Teacher Lu’s Haunter must be carrying tricky moves...

Lucian, famed for his knowledge, how could he not anticipate this?

"Next," Bruno narrowed his eyes, "is the real mind game!"

Shing—

Under Lucian’s command, Mega Gallade strode forward, its red and white dual-arm blades gathering dazzling psychic power as they swung down!

A cold gleam flashed.

The audience’s expressions tightened;

with Haunter’s small frame, this strike could cause serious damage!

"Gengarrr!" Mega Haunter grinned fiercely, swimming through the shadows like a freestyle swimmer, even mimicking a breathing action, swiftly dodging to the side!

Lu Ye’s mood was complicated.

Usually, the little purple chubby one liked swimming in shadows... after Mega Evolution, dodging became even easier!

Clack!

Psycho Cut slashed the ground like cutting tofu, leaving a blade mark!

The audience swallowed nervously.

Between Haunter and Gallade, both restrained each other, waiting for an opening where either could deliver a decisive blow.

The agile and cunning Mega Haunter and the balanced Mega Gallade danced on the edge of a knife, sweat beads dotting the audience’s foreheads!

"Gengarrr~" Mega Haunter dodged the Psycho Cut, gliding to the other side of the arena.

At the same moment, the shadow beneath it seemed alive, striking like a venomous snake from behind toward Gallade!

Mega Haunter’s ability—Shadow Tag!

"Gallade!?"

Gallade suddenly twisted its head.

Two elongated shadows shot swiftly from behind, firmly grasping Gallade’s ankles.

Gallade’s expression tightened as it looked up, just catching Mega Haunter’s wide-open mouth, flicking its tongue mockingly.

"Gengarrr Gengarrr~(≧∀≦)♪"

"Mega Haunter’s Shadow Tag has successfully taken effect!" the commentator said. "The distance between them has widened again!"

Unlike the Shadow Tag in the game that activates immediately upon entering the field, this extended shadow Shadow Tag even had a brief binding effect.

Though fleeting, it gave Teacher Lu precious time to issue commands.

‘Haunter, Perish Song!’

Lu Ye’s Power of Transcendence echoed in Haunter’s heart.

Lucian closed his eyes slightly, a sense of crisis rising the moment Shadow Tag took effect.

Is it coming... the tactic I’ve been guarding against since before the match?

In this situation, Teacher Lu’s command could only be one—

"Shadow Tag, Perish Song..."

Lucian successfully predicted the command first, eyes narrowing as he extended his arm and shouted:

"Gallade, Taunt!!"

[Taunt: Causes the target to enter a taunted state, unable to use tricky moves for a short time]!

The audience was stunned. "Lucian blindly read Teacher Lu’s command?"

"No way, looks like Lucian guessed right!?"

"You tactic players have dirty minds!!"

"Gengarrr~♪"

Mega Haunter happily opened its big mouth, ready to sing, but suddenly caught the contemptuous gaze of Gallade from the corner of its eye.

"Gallade—"

Gallade arrogantly shook its head, suddenly flicked off its cloak, then crouched low, wielding its sharp dual blades.

"Gallade! (σ｀д′)σ"

"Gengarrr…(。•ˇˍˇ•。)"

Mega Haunter pouted and glared.

Last time at dinner it wouldn’t let me sing, now it still won’t let me sing—

"Gengarrr! (#｀皿´)" Haunter’s eyes glowed blood red, radiating a crimson light.

Then no Perish Song... I’ll just take you down with a punch!

"I guess I have to solve it with offense..."

Lu Ye originally planned a safer Perish Song, then a just three-on-one to take out the nearly defeated Girafarig.

But Lucian’s preemptive read was truly unexpected.

Near the second-floor windows, Flint scratched his afro, dumbfounded:

"Lucian actually predicted Teacher Lu!"

"Seems like reading more books really pays off~" Aru sat cross-legged on the carpet, resting his chin on his hand.

"Taunt almost shut down most of Mega Haunter’s moves," Cynthia said.

Only after Cynthia’s reminder did Flint and Aru come back to their senses.

Perish Song, Gravity, Dark Void—all unusable under the Taunt state!

Flint’s expression turned strange:

"But I think that Dark Void was already a damaging move..."

Lu Ye stared at the Taunted Mega Haunter.

Darkrai can fake a god Pokémon with the red and white ball, Ash can break sleep with Howl—

So it makes sense my Dark Void can deal damage, right?

However,

Gallade’s attack wouldn’t end so easily.

Lucian looked at Mega Haunter on the field, preparing his final move:

"Gallade, use Earthquake!!"

Under Taunt, Gravity couldn’t be activated, and Mega Haunter had no way to dodge!

"Gallade!"

Gallade’s elbow blade slammed heavily onto the ground, the violent shock stirring up gravel and shaking the entire arena like a roaring beast rushing at Haunter!

The audience’s eyes widened in shock at the overwhelming Earthquake.

"Gengarrr!" Mega Haunter grinned against the rushing Earthquake. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽

Thanks to antimatter power, even if Haunter’s control over another dimension wasn’t as refined as Giratina’s, it still grasped the essence.

Just like Giratina’s exclusive move, Shadow Sneak, Haunter mastered a simplified version named Phantom Force.

After using Phantom Force, Haunter entered a ‘Shadow Sneak’ state, immune to all moves.

In other words, it’s like Master Yi’s Q skill, unable to be targeted by any move—

The Earthquake thundered forward, and Lu Ye commanded:

"Haunter, Phantom Force!"

Mega Haunter’s lower body was already hidden in another dimension, making it even more adept at Phantom Force!

Lucian was stunned.

At the moment the command was given, Mega Haunter’s figure vanished from its original spot.

The seemingly guaranteed Earthquake missed, leaving only a dangerously damaged arena!

The next moment,

Mega Haunter appeared from the shadows behind the alert Gallade, its spiked purple fist suddenly swinging!

"Gengarrr! (งᵒ̌皿ᵒ̌)ง⁼³₌₃"

Bang!!

The fist slammed into Gallade’s back, causing it to stagger and quickly turn to face the attacker.

But Mega Haunter’s hand had already gathered a furious black hole, smashing it close to Gallade’s face!

Boom!!!

The arena fell silent, only the sound of a throat rolling could be heard.

"Haunter, you hit with your fists?"

"Gallade’s poor physical defense means Phantom Force might really be more effective..."

"Taunt or not... it might be better to let Haunter sing Perish Song!"

"Gallade..."

As the thick black smoke cleared, Gallade, holding onto the last thread of consciousness, supported itself with its elbow blade, kneeling on one knee.

"Gengarrr~"

Haunter tugged on Gallade’s cloak from behind, baring its teeth in a friendly grin, the Dark Void swirling in its hand continuously.

"Gallade..." Gallade’s expression was complicated, a dim white light glowing on its body as Mega Evolution faded.

Thud!

Then, wisely, Gallade collapsed to the ground, eyes spiraling.

Lucian: "..."

To avoid further damage to the arena, this was probably the most reasonable choice!

"Gallade has lost the ability to fight!" the referee waved the flag.

Buzz—

On the big screen, Lucian’s three Poké Balls dimmed.

The arena instantly erupted in cheers, united in support!

Lucian was left with only a sliver of health on his last Girafarig;

the outcome was no longer in doubt!

"Let’s congratulate in advance—"

While the commentator spoke,

Lucian sent out his last Girafarig, and Teacher Lu quickly commanded: "Dark Void!"

Haunter raised its small hand without hesitation, unleashing a violent black vortex.

Like a high ground already pushed over, Teacher Lu frantically tapped the main crystal!

"Champion Lu Ye wins this Champion League match!!"

Amid a loud roar,

"Girafarig has lost the ability to fight," the referee waved the flag.

"The winner of this match is Champion Lu Ye!!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The arena’s cheers could no longer be contained, brilliant fireworks rose.

This celebrated the winner of the Champion League.

He had earned the right to be the Sinnoh Elite Four Champion and was undoubtedly the strongest among the Elite Four!

The entire livestream’s comment section briefly stalled, then flooded with "Congratulations."

"Teacher Lu is amazing!!!"

"Haunter is insane!!"

Amidst the roaring arena, A-Jin wiped his nose, grinning:

"I told you so!"

Everyone ignored A-Jin, discussing: "Will Teacher Lu continue to challenge the champion position?"

"Should know by tonight..."

Cheers surged like tides from all directions.

Lucian slipped one hand into his pocket, sighed helplessly, then showed a tired yet relieved smile.

It wasn’t that Lucian was powerless... Teacher Lu was just too cunning!

He stepped forward slowly, shook hands with Lu Ye, sighing: "Congratulations, Teacher Lu."

"After this match, you should be able to rest for a while, right?" Lu Ye asked.

Lucian gave a bitter smile: "Hopefully."

This battle was just too tough... too tough! Impossible to win!

The entire arena’s audience cheered for the victor.

The livestream’s popularity soared beyond ten million, old fans tearfully celebrating.

"So long, Teacher Lu finally showed dominance at the Elite Four Cup!"

"Haunter one versus three, shut out Sinnoh’s strongest Elite Four member?"

"Isn’t this just beating babies? (laughs)"

"Back again, this is the Piplup Cup, my youth has returned!"

...