The newly evolved Gyarados was rather short-tempered.
Strangely enough, it could fly straight into the sky — something ordinary Gyarados could not do.
Light gathered in its mouth, a blinding white glow that felt ready to destroy everything in its path.
Hyper Beam!
Lin Yu frowned. "Gardevoir!"
Gardev!
Powerful psychic energy instantly dragged Gyarados down from the air.
At the same time, Silence activated. The energy in Gyarados's mouth fizzled away into nothing.
ROAR!
Despite the massive size difference, to Gardevoir, this was just a little brute.
Even after being restrained, Gyarados thrashed and roared angrily.
It wouldn't calm down even when Misty stepped in front of it.
It bared its fangs at her.
"What's wrong, Gyarados? It's me, Misty!"
Misty stepped forward in disbelief.
Gyarados turned its head away, refusing to look at her.
"Return it for now. The shock from evolution must be overwhelming it."
Lin Yu sighed.
This Gyarados seemed to have developed some personality issues after evolving.
"Okay…"
Misty looked downcast.
A poor bond between Pokémon and Trainer was every Trainer's failure.
Only now did Lin Yu have time to look at the little Ralts that had snuck up beside them.
It looked nothing like Gardevoir had as a Ralts.
It giggled behind its hand every few seconds, bold and lively.
Gardev?
Everyone stared curiously at the little one, but it wasn't shy at all — it even lifted its skirt and danced.
Ralts! (Okay okay, what happens next?!)
Lin Yu felt helpless.
He'd only made up the story to provoke Magikarp.
But all his Pokémon seemed eager to hear more…
"Fine, I'll continue. But after this, everyone gets back to training!"
All the Pokémon lit up with anticipation.
Stories like this were child's play for Lin Yu, who'd once been a web novelist in his past life.
"After being picked on so much, this Magikarp decided it had to get stronger and defeat them all.
But it was just a Magikarp — what good would hard work do if it couldn't figure out how to evolve?
Then one day, a human Trainer found it."
As Lin Yu spoke softly, all the Pokémon were drawn back into the tale.
Only this time, the story's original hero was missing.
"With the Trainer's help, the evolved Gyarados felt like it had been reborn. Its first stop? Finding the Pidgeot that had once captured it…"
Ralts! Ralts! (Beat the mean Pidgeot already!!)
Mew could barely wait for the ending.
Lin Yu clapped his hands. "Alright, that's enough for today. Time to train and challenge Gyms!"
Ralts?
Mew froze.
You're stopping now?
Many Pokémon had listened in, but only Charizard truly related, thinking back to its own past.
Misty, too, seemed distracted, clearly worried about Gyarados.
Lin Yu patted her shoulder. "You'll have to fix things with Gyarados on your own.
For now, we keep training."
Misty's expression hardened, her voice firm.
"I will! I'll build a good bond with Gyarados!"
She'd thought hard.
She couldn't rely on Lin Yu for everything. She already owed him so much.
What if she couldn't pay him back?
"Ralts, you should head home."
After packing up to leave, Lin Yu looked at the little Ralts following close behind.
He had a headache.
Ralts! (Then keep telling the story!)
Mew's childlike curiosity was completely hooked.
"Gardevoir, please! Teleport!"
With no other choice, Lin Yu had Gardevoir teleport them away,
leaving the Ralts standing alone.
Ralts… (Don't go…)
Mew!
Mew shifted back to its true form, pouted, closed its eyes to sense their location, and vanished instantly.
Mew~ (Hehe, found you, Aura user.)
As for Ralts…
Lin Yu already had Gardevoir. If he caught another Ralts, Gardevoir would surely feel uneasy.
But the place they'd teleported to didn't seem very welcoming.
[Pokémon: Pangoro]
Ability: Iron Fist
Gender: Female
Potential: Lord-tier
Level: 33
Moves: Tackle, Leer, Arm Thrust, Play Nice, Work Up, Karate Chop, Comet Punch, Body Slam, Low Kick, Dark Pulse…
A Pangoro chewed on bamboo, with a Pancham at her side.
They looked fierce and easy to provoke.
But deep down, Pangoro hated picking on the weak — the classic "I look mean, but I'm gentle inside."
The leaf in its mouth was its source of courage.
A mother and son, it seemed.
Pan?
Pangoro didn't get angry at their sudden arrival. It just waved for them to leave.
"Level 33… perfect opponent."
"Pangoro, let's make a deal!"
Lin Yu held out a box of Fighting-type Energy Cubes.
The Pangoro and Pancham, who'd been eating, lit up immediately.
Lin Yu smiled inwardly.
Energy cubes with rosemary — how could they resist?
"One-on-one battle. Win, and these are all yours."
Pancham was practically drooling. Pan! (Mommy, I want those!)
Pangoro thumped its chest — it was on.
"I'll go first, Lin Yu."
Misty stepped forward and called out Gyarados.
Lin Yu's eyes flickered. He told Gardevoir to stay ready to restrain Gyarados at any moment.
ROAR!
The battle began.
"Gyarados, Aqua Tail!"
ROAR!
Gyarados ignored Misty's command. Water-type energy surged, forming a massive Whirlpool over ten meters wide, hurtling toward Pangoro.
Pangoro panicked, quickly gathering energy for Dark Pulse.
But the attack vanished uselessly, like mud into the ocean.
In that one move, it could see the gap in power.
After defeating Pangoro in a single strike, Gyarados wasn't satisfied. Flying in the air, it turned its gaze to the Pancham beside it.
Energy built in its mouth, and a white Hyper Beam warped the very air.