Chapter 248: The Marsh Badge! I Won't Forget This Grudge!
The overhead spotlights flickered on. Under the beam of light, Sabrina stood with waist-length black hair and an icy expression. She held a bent spoon, which emitted a faint glow as it pointed at a Poké Ball. "This is the Spoon of Fate. It will choose which Pokémon I use."
Lu Ye crossed his arms. On top of her psychic powers, Sylveon was back home on the treadmill, and he hadn't brought Wartortle's Dive Ball. His options were… "Arf? (O_o)??"
Lu Ye sighed. "Stop looking around. It's you."
Growlithe's tail wagged excitedly as it strutted onto the battlefield. Facing off against a powerful opponent, and being chosen first—this is absolute trust! I can't embarrass my Trainer!
Lu Ye sighed again. Losing to a psychic was understandable. The goal now was to last as long as possible. The referee blew the whistle. "This will be a 2v2 Gym Challenge with a 'Four-Move Limit' rule." Trainers, take your positions!"
Sabrina narrowed her eyes. A Poké Ball opened. "Bari!" With a flash of white light, Mr. Mime appeared, striking a comical pose.
[Mr. Mime | Psychic/Fairy]
[Ability: Filter]
[Moves: Encore, Light Screen, Barrier, Psybeam]
"Bite," Lu Ye commanded. The burly Growlithe lunged, but Mr. Mime effortlessly blocked with a conjured Barrier. Sabrina's eyes glowed faintly blue, and Mr. Mime moved as if it had received silent instructions, erecting another Barrier before Growlithe could break through. "Flamethrower!"
BOOM! A fiery explosion illuminated the apprentices' stunned faces. As the heatwave surged and the smoke cleared, they gaped at the sight—Mr. Mime, lying on the ground, injured. What… just happened?!
Lu Ye, however, grew more serious. "Move away from that spot!"
"Hmph, you caught on quick," Sabrina smirked. "But the cage is already set."
Withstanding the attack, Mr. Mime had constructed a transparent prison around Growlithe. No matter how hard it rammed the walls, there was no exit. Inside, Mr. Mime stood on an invisible staircase, grinning wickedly. "Bari!" A Psybeam shot forward, slamming Growlithe into the walls.
"Use Roar," Lu Ye's voice was firm. "The exit is directly beneath Mr. Mime."
A powerful sound wave erupted, amplified by the walls. "Bari!" Mr. Mime clutched its ears in discomfort. The apprentices looked on in disbelief. "He was at a disadvantage… but he turned her strategy against her?!"
Sabrina was startled. What shocked her wasn't that he had found the exit, but whether he had a follow-up. She had two choices: attack or reinforce. Her eyes shimmered. "Bari!" Mr. Mime fired a Psybeam straight at the exit! But Growlithe didn't immediately run. It hesitated for half a beat. "Roar," Lu Ye commanded, intentionally delaying. Against a psychic, the key was to disrupt their decision-making. Draining Mr. Mime's HP was the real goal.
BAM! Growlithe took another Psybeam, struggling to stand. Lu Ye reached for its Poké Ball, but the red recall beam was blocked by the transparent prison. Crap! I forgot about that! For the first time, Sabrina caught a flaw. "Psybeam." Light gathered in Mr. Mime's hands—but before it could fire, Growlithe opened its mouth wide. "Roar!" Mr. Mime flinched, its body glowing white as it was forcibly recalled.
Sabrina caught the ball, her icy gaze fixed on Lu Ye. So he kept Roar hidden for this? A deep, calculated move. Lu Ye recalled his battered Growlithe as both Trainers sent out their next Pokémon.
"Go, Gengar!"
On the other side, Sabrina's Poké Ball opened, revealing—the Saffron Gym's signature Pokémon, Alakazam!
Seeing Lu Ye's expression, Sabrina spoke up. "My father's Alakazam. Not mine."
Lu Ye let out a small breath of relief. Her personal Alakazam was near Elite Four level. But then a realization struck. If this is her father's… isn't it an ancestral powerhouse?!
The apprentices gasped. Sabrina wasn't holding back! Gengar vs. Alakazam—whoever moved first could one-shot the other. Turn priority was life or death. And in terms of Speed… Gengar was slightly slower.
Alakazam moved first. "Gengar!" Lu Ye shouted. "Imprison!" At the last moment, Gengar tapped its forehead—both Pokémon fell under Imprison! Alakazam's Psychic attack was neutralized, but it instantly converted the energy into Psyshock! That one-second gap was all Gengar needed to dodge as ghostly black energy gathered in its claws.
"You think my Alakazam doesn't have Shadow Ball?" Sabrina smirked coldly. "Imprisoned or not, you can't use it either."
Lu Ye didn't respond. Instead, he looked up. "Shadow Claw."
That was the real move. Even though it was a physical attack, Alakazam's pathetic physical Defense made it a lethal hit! For the first time, a flicker of shock crossed Sabrina's face. In just a few turns, Lu Ye had broken multiple battle norms. This is… a true tactical genius?!
BAM! Alakazam was recalled—only for Mr. Mime to be sent out again, taking the brunt of Shadow Claw! Lu Ye frowned. Psychics swapping Pokémon without a command is so annoying! The apprentices were speechless.
The effects of Imprison faded. Gengar immediately fired off a Psychic attack, knocking Mr. Mime out. As Alakazam reappeared, it used Teleport to dodge the predicted Shadow Claw and appeared behind Gengar. A Psyshock fired at lightning speed! It was over.
The crowd fell silent. At that moment, Sabrina's gaze flickered. Gengar grinned as a dark shadow crept out from beneath it, linking both Pokémon! Lu Ye's eyes remained firm. "Destiny Bond!" This was Gengar's final trump card!
BOOM! The damage from Psyshock was reflected through the shadow. THUD! Alakazam and Gengar collapsed simultaneously!
The referee waved his flag. "Both Pokémon are unable to battle! Since Lu Ye still has one remaining Pokémon, the victor is—Lu Ye!"
The entire stadium fell silent. "He… he actually defeated Sabrina?!" "This rookie Trainer… is he a freaking monster?"
Amidst the murmuring, Sabrina sighed. Not even her psychic abilities could secure a win. "You did more than enough," Lu Ye said to his battered Gengar with a gentle smile. "You wanted this victory, and I brought it back for you."
"Gengarrr…" Gengar let out a tired chuckle, raising a trembling hand to give a thumbs-up.
Ten minutes later, Gengar, revitalized after a Max Revive, tilted its head. "I said one was enough! Save some for Wartortle!" Lu Ye sighed, massaging his forehead. "Forget it… just eat."
The apprentices looked at him with deep reverence. Sabrina walked over, a faint scent of shampoo in her hair. "I approve of Gengar as a coach," she said.
"Gengar! (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ" Looking at its new boss, Gengar reached into its stomach, pulled out a large gift box, and handed it to Sabrina.
She blinked. "For me?" "Gengar!" it nodded eagerly.
[Present: Delivers a "gift" attack. The package may also restore HP.]
Lu Ye failed to realize the grave mistake. He should've known—Gengar's luck was cursed.
BOOM! The gift box exploded, covering both of them in soot.
"Gengar…" it scratched its head awkwardly. Oops. Wrong box—that was Togepi's!
Sabrina froze, then, unexpectedly, started laughing. "Pfft… AHAHAHAHA~!"
The apprentices broke into a cold sweat. This… this can't get out. If anyone talks, they'll die.
Click! A camera flash. The apprentices turned in terror. Lu Ye. Did this guy… really just take a picture?!
"Haha, look at this! Isn't it hilarious?"
Sabrina's laughter instantly vanished. Her face went ice-cold. "You sure about that?"
"Come on, isn't Gengar looking cute in this shot?"
Sabrina paused. Next to her, Gengar was grinning, showing its soot-covered teeth. Admittedly, it did look kinda adorable. Her ears turned red. "Just… don't post it in the group chat."
Buzz—
Lu Ye: Look at my Gengar! Isn't it adorable?
Sabrina: ???
Gold: Pfft…
Sabrina: I'm going to kill you. (smiley emoji)
[Group Admin has deleted a message.]
Yellow: What just happened?
Lorelei: Damn, too fast—I didn't even see it!
Gold: Don't worry, I screen-recorded it!
Sabrina smiled coldly. The magnet train to Johto isn't far…
Sensing the danger, Lu Ye coughed. "If there's nothing else, I'll get going."
Sabrina's tone remained indifferent. "Your badge." She flicked her fingers—a crisp metallic sound rang out as a badge landed in Lu Ye's hand.
Lu Ye instinctively looked down at it.
[Marsh Badge: A circular golden badge. A slightly rare replica. (Made of pure gold—if you ever quit being a Trainer, you can sell it for cash.)]
…Why does this description feel like it's hinting at something?! Wait—hold on! Lu Ye's expression changed. Since he had officially received a badge… Doesn't this mean—SHE TECHNICALLY HANDED IT TO ME?! SYSTEM, LET ME EXPLAIN!!
[Ding! Mission Progress Updated]
[Mission Progress: Badge Collection (1/8)]
[Mission Reward: Key Stone]
Lu Ye's body tensed. If I get the Key Stone… I'll have to grind for Mega Stones! That will push me closer to my inevitable fate—crippling debt!
"You don't need to thank me," Sabrina chuckled.
Lu Ye nearly choked. Silently, he pulled out his notebook.
November 13th, Clear Skies.
Sabrina gave me a badge.
I'll remember this grudge.
[Inorin Note:
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