Su Bai gave Wang Tao a strange look.
Wang Tao shot him a knowing glance, then turned back to Liu Yunlan with exaggerated fiery enthusiasm plastered across his face.
Wang Tao's goofy, innocent exterior was extremely deceptive.
In truth, the guy was sharp as a tack.
The fact that he'd already figured out the knack to Pokémon training said it all.
Anyone who mistook him for a clueless oaf… was just asking to get played.
Liu Yunlan, with her straightforward nature, was instantly baited by the phrase "legendary trainer."
She struck a dramatic pose and shouted:
"Very well! I admire your courage to challenge me again and again!"
"Chimchar, come! Let us face the challenge of fate together!"
"A true legendary trainer never refuses a Pokémon battle!"
"Your Turtwig shall be the stepping stone on Chimchar's path to greatness!"
"Forward! March!"
Without even looking at Su Bai's deadpan expression, she flung open the back door of the shop and strode into the backyard like a heroine on a quest.
Murong Nan stood up with a sigh.
"There it is… Her chūnibyō mode has fully awakened thanks to that Pokémon."
Still, curiosity got the better of her.
After all, who would say no to a Pokémon battle?
Especially one where Chimchar, who had been training just as hard as her Piplup, was about to show the results.
_____________________________________
In the backyard, fired up by Wang Tao's provocations, Liu Yunlan was hyping up her Pokémon with passionate flair.
"Chimchar, brave warrior of the storm! Ignite your will to win!"
"This Turtwig is nothing more than a minor test on your journey to become the strongest!"
"If you've beaten it once, you can beat it again—and again!"
"Prove your power, Chimchar!"
Chimchar let out a couple of excited cries and somersaulted into the battlefield, its flame flickering proudly.
Liu Yunlan nodded, satisfied with her Pokémon's spirit.
"Tao, you must still be upset about your loss last time."
"But my Chimchar has been through hellish training these past few days!"
"He's even learned a powerful new move—you're just digging your own grave here!"
Wang Tao grinned. Having already achieved his goal, he suddenly lowered his voice and said theatrically:
"Hell, huh?"
"My Turtwig… has seen the abyss far too many times already."
"Come forth, Grotle!"
"The time for revenge has come!"
"Show them what a heart of vengeance forged in darkness looks like!"
With an equally dramatic shout, he tossed out his Poké Ball.
A heavy thud hit the ground.
The massive form of Grotle emerged from the ball, casting a shadow over the battlefield.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Chimchar's confident expression faltered the moment it saw the towering figure of Grotle.
Even Liu Yunlan's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"What?! Your Turtwig evolved already?!"
"But didn't we buy Chimchar even earlier than you got your Turtwig?!"
"Did you scam me?!"
At that moment, all traces of her dramatic flair disappeared.
She was beginning to suspect that the oafish Wang Tao had outsmarted her.
If she'd known Turtwig had evolved, she never would've agreed to a battle she couldn't win—even with a type advantage!
Wang Tao chuckled.
"You're a legendary trainer, right? A little evolution shouldn't scare you!"
"Grotle, use Growth!"
Grotle raised its head and let out a thunderous roar that made everyone's scalp tingle.
Its already large frame swelled even larger.
Su Bai couldn't help but mutter:
"Oh, wow. He's seriously afraid of losing."
After all, this wasn't a turn-based game.
Chimchar might've had a type advantage against the Grass-type Grotle, but Wang Tao had sneakily used his opening move to boost Grotle's stats.
Growth not only increased the user's Attack but also came with a subtle visual bonus—it made Grotle appear even more formidable.
"You cheater!" Liu Yunlan stomped her foot. "That's not fair!"
But it was too late.
Wang Tao had already taken the lead with a buff.
"I don't care!" Liu Yunlan huffed. "Even if your Turtwig evolved, I haven't been slacking off!"
"Chimchar, use Flame Wheel!"
With a fierce cry, Chimchar leapt into the air.
The flame on its tail surged and wrapped around its entire body as it spun like a fiery comet toward Grotle.
Flame Wheel—a fiery upgrade from Ember that sometimes inflicted burn status.
Wang Tao smirked.
"I figured you had something new up your sleeve."
"But that's not enough!"
"Grotle, Withdraw!"
With an earnest grunt, Grotle retracted all four limbs into its thick shell with surprising speed for something its size.
Chimchar crashed into the shell full-force, flame blazing.
Fire was strong against Grass—yes—but this was an evolved Grotle with naturally high defense.
Plus, it had just used Withdraw for a further boost to its defense stat.
The flames licked the shell, but it wasn't enough.
If Grotle had an HP bar, it probably barely dipped.
Meanwhile, the recoil from the impact left Chimchar dizzy and disoriented!
"Heh! That's what I was waiting for!"
"Bite!"
Grotle's head shot out of its shell like a spring-loaded trap.
With a loud snap, it chomped down on Chimchar mid-recovery.
It was a direct hit!
Bite may have been a Dark-type move—not super effective—but with Growth's Attack boost, it still packed a punch.
If this were a game, Chimchar's HP would've turned red instantly!
Worse still, Bite had a chance to cause flinching—and it triggered.
Chimchar was stunned, its fur bristling and tail-flame flickering wildly.
Liu Yunlan's voice couldn't reach it anymore.
"And now…"
"Razor Leaf!"
Wang Tao's hand sliced through the air as if orchestrating a symphony.
Blades of glowing green leaves began swirling around Grotle.
Like a leafy tornado, they surged toward Chimchar—still too dazed to dodge.
The leaves struck, only to burn up in Chimchar's intense flame.
Grass moves were not very effective against Fire-types.
But the sheer volume of Razor Leaves made up for it.
Over and over, new blades formed and struck, whittling down Chimchar's strength.
Eventually, the exhausted Chimchar's flames died down, and a final barrage of leaves blasted it backward.
Liu Yunlan's heart clenched.
Eyes brimming with tears, she hastily called Chimchar back into its ball.
"Su Bai! Help! Chimchar's hurt bad!"
Su Bai sighed as he took the Poké Ball from her.
Then he gave Wang Tao—who was now basking in the glory of his trap—a look that said, You little gremlin.
Well.
So much for the "legendary trainer" Liu Yunlan.
She got absolutely wrecked.