Chapter 237: The Inexplicably Strong Piplup
When Lapras entered the field, everyone, including Sunflower, couldn't help but stare.
In this day and age, Lapras was no longer a critically endangered species. The reason everyone was looking wasn't because she was rare, but because her strength was visible from her appearance alone.
This Lapras was 2.5 meters long, matching the Pokédex average. But Lorelei's Lapras was a female. The average size for a female Lapras was perhaps only 2.4 meters, or even smaller, while a male might be 2.6 meters or taller.
Lorelei's Lapras had already exceeded the average, her talent written in her size.
Of course, this small difference was impossible for humans to see, especially while Lapras was in the water. The reason they could tell she was strong was because of her eyes. They were steady and calm, already having the look of a "seasoned veteran."
The Shellder, by contrast, still had the eyes of a "fresh-from-the-factory" Pokémon.
As for Will... his eyes were the most experienced of the three, with a worldly weariness that never quite faded.
The problem was... he was only 0.3 meters tall.
Even if his eyes were world-weary, to humans, he was just an adorable little penguin. He didn't look like he had any fighting power at all.
Furthermore, Piplup's evolution isn't conditional. They evolve when they reach the right level. Very few trainers would bother using an Everstone on one. Since Will was still in his first stage, everyone naturally assumed his level was low.
The battle with Lapras began.
People quickly discovered that Staryu's Water-type moves had zero effect on Lapras.
This was precisely why Will had thought Lapras could take on two of them.
Her ability was Water Absorb!
Simply put, not only was she immune to Water-type damage, but getting hit by a Water-type move actually healed her.
Right now, all three of Sunflower's Pokémon were Water-types, and the battlefield was a water field. It was impossible to overstate how advantageous this was for Lapras.
Against this Lapras, her opponent had no advantage in level or typing.
The only thing that could make a difference was the skill of the trainers.
For instance, Lorelei was still rigidly commanding Lapras to just chase and attack.
Sunflower, however, had already realized Lapras's ability and was directing Staryu to use its other-typed moves to maneuver and fight.
But it was going to be incredibly difficult for Sunflower to win. Lapras was already a "tank" by nature, and this one had Water Absorb. The outcome of fighting her with three Water-type Pokémon was predictable.
The final result was just as Will expected.
Lorelei's Lapras took on two opponents, managing to defeat Sunflower's Staryu and Dewgong.
Although in Will's eyes, Lorelei's performance was terrible—despite having a 10+ level advantage and a massive type advantage, she had only managed to take out two—she was, after all, facing an instructor from the Indigo League's Battle Department, and most likely the future Cerulean Gym Leader.
To get this result was still worthy of praise.
"Piplup! This last battle is all up to you!"
Lorelei looked at Will and nodded.
Even though they had rarely battled together as a team, and she didn't even really know Will's true strength, Lorelei trusted her Piplup the most!
'Don't talk. I'll handle the battle. You just pretend to command, wave your arms around or something.'
Will leaped lightly into the water.
He used his Aura Power to send the message directly to Lorelei's mind.
He couldn't afford to "play-act" with her in this final battle.
Because Sunflower's third Pokémon... was a Vaporeon.
Vaporeon could literally dissolve into the water.
Not just turn invisible. Dissolve.
It was completely invisible to the naked eye; you could only track it by watching the flow of the water.
If he let Lorelei command, she'd just look like a headless chicken.
But if Will handled it himself...
'You have nowhere to hide.'
Will stared quietly into the water. Though his eyes couldn't see it, his Aura could "see" his opponent perfectly.
"Vaporeon, use Quick Attack!"
Sunflower's voice rang out.
In Will's "vision," the Vaporeon charged him like a mindless boar.
He casually dodged to the side. As Vaporeon brushed past him, he swung a flipper like a hand-chop.
SMACK!
It hit!
The feeling was strange, but Will knew he'd made contact. He could sense the jolt of pain from Vaporeon's Aura.
"How is that possible?!"
Sunflower's eyes went wide. She simply could not understand what had just happened!
How had the Piplup tracked Vaporeon's movements?
She refused to believe it was luck. Dodging the Quick Attack might have been luck. But to instantly counter-attack with Brick Break in the split-second Vaporeon passed by... that couldn't be luck, could it?
And Lorelei... Lorelei hadn't said a single word!
Was the Piplup battling on its own? Or... was their bond already so perfect that they didn't need words?
Sunflower rubbed her fingers together.
Winning or losing this match didn't matter to her. But she had seen far too many surprises from Lorelei today. First, a highly talented Lapras with Water Absorb, and now this mysterious Piplup.
Originally, Sunflower hadn't paid Will any mind. She'd assumed Lapras was Lorelei's strongest and most in-sync Pokémon.
It turned out this cute little penguin was the one giving her the most pressure.
The one saved for last really was the most unpredictable.
"Vaporeon, be careful. That Piplup's senses seem to be very sharp."
"Vreeh."
The submerged Vaporeon nodded. It understood this better than anyone. That penguin... it was as if it could see him.
No matter where Vaporeon moved, the penguin's gaze was locked onto it. The feeling was terrifying.
"Muddy Water!"
As Sunflower gave the command, Vaporeon unleashed a dark, murky current toward Will.
Will pursed his beak. He paddled his webbed feet rapidly, dodging the current and closing in on Vaporeon from the side, cutting a sharp arc through the water.
Both Sunflower and Vaporeon were startled.
Before they could react, Will had already slammed his beak into Vaporeon's head.
An attack with the speed of Extreme Speed and the unmissable accuracy of Aerial Ace.
If Vaporeon could have reacted to that, Will would have been shocked.
"Vreeh!"
SMACK!
Hit squarely again, Vaporeon was sent tumbling backward, slamming into the glass wall of the pool and becoming visible.
"That fast?!"
Sunflower's opinion of Will had completely changed. This Piplup's swimming speed was faster than almost any Pokémon she had ever seen, at least within this level range.
"Hey, hey! Is that little pipsqueak really that strong?"
"It's been a long time since I've seen anyone leave Sunflower so helpless!"
"That Piplup's level must be high, too. And its reaction time is insane."
"Hey, is it just me, or can that little girl and her Piplup communicate telepathically? I haven't seen her say a word."
"Maybe! I remember hearing about trainers on the tournament circuit who can command their Pokémon just with their thoughts!"
The museum suddenly became rowdy.
The crowd wasn't surprised that the high-leveled Lapras could brute-force its way through two of Sunflower's Pokémon.
But seeing a tiny Piplup run circles around Sunflower and her Vaporeon... that was a rare sight indeed.
"Vaporeon, use Bite!"
"Oh?"
Will had been about to unleash another wave of attacks. But when he heard Sunflower's command, he decided to let Vaporeon take a bite.
He wanted to see if his Dread Plate actually worked.
"Vreeh!"
Seeing a chance to finally hit Will, Vaporeon was thrilled. It lunged forward and bit down hard on Will's tail.
The next second...
"AAGGGHHH!!"
Will's shriek echoed through the entire museum.
Pek-pek-pek-pek!
The moment he was bitten, Will, without a second thought, unleashed a frenzied flurry of pecks behind him. Almost every peck was a critical hit.
"Vreeh!"
Vaporeon, hit in a vital spot by the Fury Attack, couldn't take the damage. Its eyes turned to swirls, and it floated to the surface.
"Vaporeon, return."
Sunflower recalled her Vaporeon. She hadn't expected this third round to be over so quickly.
She looked into the water.
That Piplup was holding its short, fat little tail, blowing on it.
"You win, Lorelei. Your Piplup is... quite amazing."
"Hehe, of course he is! Piplup is... um..."
Lorelei, in her excitement, almost blurted out that Will had Aura Power. But at the last second, she remembered he had told her not to. She quickly clamped her hands over her mouth.
"Hm?"
Sunflower's eyes narrowed. She sensed something was off. But she was an adult. If Lorelei didn't want to say, she wouldn't force her.
"You should go wait backstage, or find a seat in the audience. I'll find you after the ballet performance."
"Okay!"
Lorelei nodded, and as Will jumped out of the water, she picked him up and headed for the audience seats.
The moment she sat down, the surrounding kids immediately crowded her, all saying, "Wow, Lorelei, you're so strong!"
Lorelei's grin was so wide it almost split her face.
Will, on the other hand, was sulking.
The Dread Platehad worked. It had blocked 99% of Vaporeon's Bite.
Why 99%?
Because the Plate had nullified the move's Dark-type energy, but it couldn't stop Vaporeon's physical jaw strength.
When Vaporeon had clamped down on his tail... it hurt.
Will twisted his head to look at his tail. There were faint teeth marks. He was speechless.
But, in the end, it was a good outcome. He had won the battle and confirmed the Dread Plate's effect.
Once Sunflower's performance was over, Lorelei would get the Water Stone, and Shellder could evolve. Their little team would be that much stronger.
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