"Go, Larvitar!"
Pokémon: Lapras
Ability: Hydration
Gender: Male
Potential: Master-tier
Level: 28
Moves: Growl, Sing, Water Gun, Mist, Confuse Ray, Ice Shard, Water Pulse, Rain Dance, Ice Beam, Safeguard
A Level 28 Lapras was exceptional for someone her age—Misty was clearly a gifted Trainer.
This battle was going to be an uphill fight for Lin Yu.
Larvitar had stuffed itself with Energy Cubes nonstop for days, yet it was still only Level 24.
To make things worse, there was a massive gap in their base stats.
Food Supply Station Buff: Attack & Sp. Atk +20% | Time Remaining: 29 min
Great. The buff had rolled a useless effect. A resistance boost would've been far better.
At least this was just a practice match.
"Larvi!" (My first real fight! Let's see who my opponent is!)
Its expression dropped the second it spotted Lapras across the field.
You've got to be kidding me. Throwing me into a tough matchup right out the gate?
As a Rock/Ground-type, Larvitar's weakness to Water was only natural. The little guy gave Lin Yu a pitiful look, silently begging to switch opponents.
"All she has are Water-types. C'mon—are the future Desert Tyrant already scared?"
Lin Yu narrowed his eyes, using reverse psychology.
It worked.
Larvitar puffed out its chest and nodded fiercely, its gaze turning sharp and determined.
"Lap…"
Lapras stared down at the tiny Larvitar, clearly skeptical.
Water super effective against Rock/Ground, plus a level advantage—this should be a walkover.
"Don't get cocky, Lapras! That opponent is stronger than it looks!"
"Lapras, use Ice Beam on the ground!"
Misty didn't let her guard down for a second, even when Lin Yu sent out Larvitar first.
Lapras, however, was distracted. In its eyes, such a weak opponent couldn't possibly threaten it.
Ice Beam crashed into the earth, freezing the entire arena within a dozen meters into a solid sheet of ice.
Lin Yu's eyes lit up.
Clever. Changing the terrain to boost Lapras's mobility while trapping Larvitar on the slippery ice.
"Sandstorm!"
A swirling sandstorm kicked up around them, not targeting Lapras directly, but dusting the icy field with thick grit.
Larvitar could manipulate terrain too.
"Dig!"
Lin Yu's command came instantly.
Larvitar grinned, channeling energy into its claws and burrowing underground. On Lin Yu's silent order, it first dug a deep vertical tunnel, then carved horizontal paths outward.
Misty's eyes sparkled. She'd been worried about Lin Yu countering her terrain play—but now he'd ordered Dig?
That just gave Lapras a clear target.
"Water Gun, straight into the hole!"
A sharp, piercing Water Gun blasted into the tunnel.
The current was fierce, but it barely harmed Larvitar.
The vertical buffer tunnel had done its job—completely dissipating the force of the attack.
"Huh?" Misty frowned as Larvitar stayed underground.
Lin Yu, however, could see everything through his Wave Guiding Aura.
Larvitar was gathering energy for Stone Edge right beneath Lapras.
The ground trembled, and Lapras grew anxious, glancing around nervously. Misty could only warn it to stay alert.
BOOM!
Jagged stones erupted from the earth.
Lapras couldn't dodge in time and was grazed, letting out a pained cry.
The Food Supply Station buff made the hit surprisingly effective. Even so, type disadvantages and the level gap kept it from dealing serious damage.
Larvitar burst out of the tunnel, looking utterly smug.
"Water Pulse, quick!" Misty shouted.
But before Lapras could lash out in frustration, Larvitar dove right back underground.
"Lap!"
"Alright, Lapras—use Surf!"
Thick, surging Water-type energy pooled beneath Lapras, unleashing a massive tidal wave.
If Larvitar wanted to hide underground, it would flood every tunnel. No place left to run.
"Larvi?!" (That's cheating! No fair!)
Larvitar panicked inside its burrow.
"Well, it's still at a disadvantage," Lin Yu muttered, leaping onto a tall tree.
Base stats, type matchup, energy level—Larvitar was outclassed in every way.
Holding on this long was already impressive.
As the wave crashed over Larvitar, Lapras tilted its head in confusion.
Why did it feel like it was getting pummeled by the current too?
Thorn Armor had activated.
But it didn't matter. Larvitar had been washed out into the open, flailing helplessly in the water.
"Lap…" Lapras panted heavily. That Surf had drained a huge chunk of its stamina.
"Confuse Ray!" Misty ordered immediately.
Purple light shot from Lapras's mouth, striking Larvitar dead-on. A faint purple haze wrapped around its body.
"Larvi?"
For a split second, it looked dazed.
Then its fighting spirit blazed even brighter.
Ability: Guts — When inflicted with a status condition, Attack sharply rises.
"Perfect! Rock Slide!" Lin Yu commanded at once, telepathically telling Larvitar to shape the rocks into wide, flat slabs—footholds.
Chunk after chunk of rock crashed onto the water, giving Larvitar stable, temporary platforms to stand on.
It darted across the stones toward Lapras at full speed, then unleashed everything it had into Payback!
Payback — Power doubles if the user was hit by an attack earlier.
BOOM!
A deafening crash echoed, and the tide receded.
Both Pokémon collapsed, fully fainted.
"Wha—?!" Misty stared in shock.
She'd held the clear advantage moments ago—how had it ended in a draw?
"Great battle," Lin Yu praised.
He channeled his Aura of Viridian, enhanced by Forest Friend, and Larvitar stirred back to life in seconds.
"Larvi~" (Told you I was awesome!)
Larvitar preened proudly, thrilled with the result.
Achievement unlocked: Type-Underdog Master.
"Your Larvitar heals super fast…" Misty gushed, returning Lapras to its Poké Ball and hurrying over.
"I have the Aura of Viridian. Bring Lapras back out—I'll heal it too."
"Really? Awesome!"
Misty's eyes lit up, and she called Lapras back onto the field.
Once fully restored, Lapras stared at Larvitar with a complicated expression.
It had actually lost to this tiny little guy…