Get Stronger by Pleasing Pokémon? Who Needs to Be a Trainer!

”Darkrai, use Shadow Ball!”

”Gardevoir, use Moonblast!”

Since Darkrai was immune to Psychic-type moves, Lin Feng immediately went with Moonblast.

What he found interesting was that, just as the Nightmare Pokémon was known for, Dark Void had a terrifying effect on most Pokémon. Even Champion-level Pokémon could be forced into sleep under its influence. But against Darkrai itself, the effect only caused a brief hesitation before it recovered instantly.

Darkrai condensed a pitch-black sphere of energy in its hands.

This was a standard move among Ghost-type Pokémon. Most Ghost Pokémon could use it, and as the Nightmare Pokémon, Darkrai had mastered it as well.

However, on the opposite side, Gardevoir calmly raised its right hand.

A full moon seemed to appear in the sky, its pale light spilling across the entire arena as if it had enveloped everything.

That moonlight then gathered into a spherical energy orb before shooting toward Darkrai at even greater speed.

This was a difference in pure energy level.

The moment Darkrai’s Shadow Ball had just formed, Gardevoir’s Moonblast had already arrived in front of it.

Forced into a hasty response, Darkrai had no choice but to collide its Shadow Ball directly against it.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion erupted, and the violent energy shockwave kicked up a dense fog that spread across dozens of meters, swallowing everything in sight.

Before the smoke even dispersed, Gardevoir lowered its hand and floated quietly in midair.

Within the haze, a figure slowly descended, its eyes already unfocused.

It was clear. That single exchange had already taken Darkrai out of the fight.

”One-hit finish… another one-hit finish?”

Li Bing stared blankly at the battlefield. He looked at the crowd, then back at the arena. After a few seconds of silence, confirming that Darkrai was truly unable to recover, he said with a trembling voice:

”Darkrai is unable to battle. Gardevoir wins. Tobias, please choose your second Pokémon…”

”Darkrai…?”

”Darkrai…?”

On the other side, Tobias stared at his fallen partner, unwilling to accept what he was seeing. But after calling out several times without any response, he finally confirmed it.

Darkrai had truly lost its ability to fight.

Tobias slowly raised his head and looked toward Lin Feng.

Lin Feng’s expression was still calm, but beneath that calmness was a faint sense of anticipation.

But… Tobias felt like he should have been able to stand against him.

He stood frozen, memories flashing through his mind.

His first encounter with Darkrai. Their battles together. Then capturing Latios and other powerful Pokémon.

Since then, he had never lost a match.

In fact, no trainer had ever truly matched him.

But in this Horizon League, overconfidence had cost him. First Feng Yin countered him with Destiny Bond, taking down his Latios. And now, Gardevoir had defeated Darkrai in a single blow.

He could not accept it for a moment.

”Tobias, Tobias?”

Li Bing’s voice snapped him back to reality.

Gardevoir still floated calmly above the field, while fresh grass had begun to sprout below, carrying a faint, refreshing scent.

Subconsciously, Tobias loosened his jacket. The cameras clearly captured four Poké Balls hanging at his waist.

He recalled Darkrai, then slowly reached for another Poké Ball, but stopped halfway.

Now he finally understood what Feng Yin and Li Xuan must have felt.

Feng Yin had forced his Gengar to use Destiny Bond immediately, exchanging it for Latios.

So how was he supposed to switch out against this Gardevoir?

Countless thoughts flooded his mind.

This was the first time since becoming a trainer that he felt such despair.

But after a long silence, he reached a conclusion.

There was no answer.

None.

Ever since forming a bond with Darkrai, every Pokémon he had captured had been a Legendary.

He had traveled across regions, from Unova to others, and now to this region, all in search of Legendary Pokémon.

And yet, even with that, facing this Gardevoir, he felt no hope at all.

”Go, Latios…”

At Li Bing’s urging, Tobias finally released his second Pokémon.

”Gardevoir, use Dark Void!”

”Light Screen!”

Lin Feng immediately gave his command the moment Latios appeared.

The outcome was almost instant.

The Dark Void landed, but the shimmering golden barrier of Light Screen barely had any effect.

Dark Void combined with Dream Eater.

Two moves, and Latios collapsed.

Watching Tobias reach for another Poké Ball, Lin Feng’s eyes lit up slightly.

”Come on. Let’s see it.”

Would it be Magikarp? Or another Legendary Pokémon?

But just as he was anticipating the next reveal, Tobias raised a hand.

”I forfeit.”

”…Forfeit?”

Li Bing nearly fell off his sword as he rushed down to the field. ”Tobias, are you confirming your surrender?”

”Yes.”

Tobias nodded.

The confident smile he once had was gone, replaced by calm acceptance.

One defeat meant nothing.

He would use this loss as motivation to climb higher.

As for Lin Feng, he took one long look before turning away.

”I’ll come back.”

With that, Tobias walked off the battlefield without looking back.

Leaving only Lin Feng standing alone on the field.

”…Huh?”

That’s it?

He just gave up?

Lin Feng felt a strange sense of frustration, like something had scratched at his chest and then vanished.

He had clearly seen four Poké Balls earlier. That meant Tobias still had two unknown Pokémon left.

And that only made him more curious.

But now… the match was over.

Just like that.

”Gardevoir…”

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