Chapter 380: Chapter 380

The Indigo Plateau was bathed in the gentle light of early spring, the stone steps coated in a warm golden glow.

The sacred flame blazed fiercely at the main venue, awaiting the final four to battle for the championship.

And at the sub-venue’s final match—

Teacher Lu was facing off against Haidou, a Water-type expert from Sinnoh’s Wetland City.

Inside the Water Arena—

Cheers rang out endlessly, thunderous applause echoing through the space.

“Ladies and gentlemen!”

The commentator’s voice once again pushed the atmosphere to its peak.

Aerial Rotom’s camera followed a stunningly handsome young man as it gently panned forward.

When Lu Ye’s signature “nuclear-kind” smile appeared on the screen, the crowd erupted again.

“It’s over—Teacher Lu’s about to get serious!” said a veteran viewer.

“He had that same smile when he fought Leon last time…”

“Teacher Lu, crush him!!”

Haidou was a tall and athletic young man with rugged features. He gave Lu Ye a respectful nod.

“Teacher Lu, it’s an honor!”

“Same to you,” Lu Ye nodded back.

Haidou let out a breath of relief. He hadn’t expected the legendary Teacher Lu to be so approachable.

He had no other thoughts—

Just being able to go all-out in a match and witness the gap in strength would be enough for him.

The Water Arena had only two floating platforms on the rippling surface—designed for Pokémon to stand on.

Most Trainers would choose Pokémon that could fight in the water.

Otherwise, standing dumbly on the float was basically asking to be target practice.

For Haidou, a Water-type expert, this field was practically a dream come true.

“He drew the Water Arena… Is Teacher Lu sending out Blastoise?”

“Ooh! The one that’s about as strong as Sirfetch’d?”

“It’s not that Haidou got lucky—Teacher Lu just got unlucky!”

The audience buzzed with discussion. But as soon as the whistle blew, the stadium fell silent.

As the referee’s flag dropped—

Haidou drew a Dive Ball and threw it into the water:

A jellyfish-like creature with a sinister look and numerous tendrils emerged, the gems on its head glinting coldly.

With its Water/Poison typing, Tentacruel was the kind of sea creature every sailor feared.

One sting from its toxic tentacles could mean paralysis—or worse.

This Tentacruel lashed its tentacles as it entered the water with a splash.

“Haidou sends out his Tentacruel, and on Lu Ye’s side…”

The commentator’s eyes suddenly went wide.

“Lu Ye has sent out Arcanine?!”

Arcanine stood majestically on the float, barely supported, its fur gleaming with oil-like shine—radiating power.

The audience looked on in disbelief.

“A Water Arena… and he sent out Arcanine?”

“Does Teacher Lu even know what Pokémon is?!”

“This is psychological warfare! Now he’s countering types on purpose!”

Even Haidou blinked in surprise before realizing this was his shot.

“Tentacruel, use Sludge Wave!”

Tentacruel, lurking under the surface, raised its glowing gem—launching a jet of corrosive sludge from the shadows.

“Wait—Tentacruel’s Sludge Wave missed?” the commentator froze, then yelled, “No! It’s targeting Arcanine’s platform! Haidou’s trying to drag him into underwater combat!”

No matter how many tricks you’ve got—

Underwater, Tentacruel’s tentacles could crush Arcanine with ease!

Sludge Wave struck the float beneath Arcanine with a sickening hiss.

But Arcanine leapt into the air, soaring above the water’s surface—directly diving at Tentacruel.

“What?” Haidou was stunned.

This guy just charged in?!

Lu Ye had no intention of holding back. He snapped his fingers.

Opening with a heavy hitter!

Flames erupted in a brilliant orange, engulfing Arcanine mid-air like a meteor crashing from the sky.

Burning fiercely, Arcanine smashed toward Tentacruel, the blazing inferno lighting up the entire arena!

A geyser of water exploded skyward, steam hissing, quickly shrouding the stadium in mist.

Spectators gulped in awe.

This… this Burn Up—was it trying to evaporate the whole battlefield?!

That Arcanine… it was this strong too?

Steam filled the air. The surface bubbled violently.

Arcanine, now resembling a golden war chariot, crashed directly into the water—Tentacruel didn’t stand a chance.

A bead of sweat rolled down Haidou’s temple.

No, this guy was a brute! A full-blown brute!

But in the next moment—Haidou’s pupils shrank.

From the bubbling water, Tentacruel floated to the surface—unconscious!

“Tentacruel is unable to battle!”

The referee’s voice cracked.

Arcanine poked its head up, dog-paddled across to the other float, and shook off the water.

The entire stadium exploded.

“He one-shotted it?!”

“What the h***—he just nuked Tentacruel with a type disadvantage!”

“Even with double resistance to Fire? Must’ve been like getting hit by a semi-truck!”

With Tentacruel’s poor physical defense, even the special-based Burn Up—used physically by Arcanine—knocked it clean out.

Lu Ye’s expression was complicated.

Technically, Burn Up was a special move…

But when his dumb mutt used it—it somehow hit harder than Flare Blitz.

And now that its Fire typing was gone, Arcanine was fine in the water.

“Awoo~” Arcanine dipped its head, peering into the water with a wise little glint in its eyes.

Not afraid at all… maybe even eager to take a bath!

That Arcanine from the heavens… was about to become his worst nightmare.

But—he took a deep breath.

Even if your Arcanine is strong… you won’t one-shot my next two Pokémon too, right!?

In a Water Arena, Sharpedo was the ultimate predator.

Its dorsal fin sliced through the water, then it burst upward—jaws wide—lunging at Arcanine!

The crowd held their breath.

But Arcanine didn’t dodge.

Instead, it opened its jaws, gathering a glowing beam of light.

Sharpedo’s fangs snapped shut—only to feel like it had bitten into solid steel.

His Arcanine… had just boosted its defense thanks to eating a Star Peach Pokéblock.

Crunch… barely left a scratch?

Forget it, what’s the point anymore?

He reached for his Dive Ball to recall Sharpedo—

But the beam in Arcanine’s mouth had already fully charged.

A searing beam of light exploded forward!

“Knew it…” Misty chuckled awkwardly. “Teacher Lu was going to use that move.”

Brock looked at Haidou’s pale face and suddenly felt bad.

“Poor guy… and there’s still one more round to go.”

Solar Beam, direct hit!!

Sharpedo was engulfed by the blazing light.

Not even time to scream—it flopped belly-up, floating like a salted fish.

Back in the stands, viewers’ eyelids twitched.

No textbook ever taught you to battle .

Two straight one-shots?!

“He’s the master of type disadvantage?!”

“Holy s***, Teacher Lu is the textbook!”

The commentator kept explaining how type disadvantages could still be overcome with strategy—

While internally panicking.

Didn’t Haidou know that already?

But Water-types were Haidou’s specialty—even against strong opponents.

And so, his final trump card—

Gyarados bellowed, its upright armored body towering over Arcanine.

Haidou already knew what move was coming—

But still clung to hope:

“Gyarados, Aqua Tail!”

The swirling water exploded as Gyarados’s tail smashed down—splitting the float in half.

But Arcanine didn’t need it anymore.

It lunged straight at Gyarados, wearing its signature “brilliant but dumb” grin.

A violent surge of electricity exploded forth.

On the second floor, behind the glass—

Dragon Master Lance covered his face, unable to keep watching.

No one knew Gyarados better than he did.

Water/Flying type… quadruple weak to Electric.

No matter how fierce it was, Gyarados couldn’t survive a single Wild Charge!

Thunder lit up the field.

Before the stunned eyes of the crowd—this beast-like Gyarados was swallowed whole by the lightning.

Then, its mighty frame fell backward into the water, sending up another towering geyser.

“Even the ace Gyarados… one-shot again…”

“Three straight one-shots… that’s just cruel.”

Haidou was on the verge of tears.

This guy isn’t a brute…

Even when countering types, he plans everything out!

This guy—he’s on the fifth layer!

“Gyarados is unable to battle!”

The referee raised his flag.

“Victory goes to Lu Ye from Donghuang!”

“Teacher Lu is insane!!”

“The master of type disadvantage—LOVE IT!!”

“I’m gonna copy this team and challenge the Gym!”

Arcanine paddled across the water, casually swimming toward Lu Ye.

It leapt out, shook its large body—and soaked Lu Ye in water droplets.

Lu Ye wiped his face.

Looking at Arcanine’s goofy, toothy grin, he couldn’t help but smile too.

“Alright, you’ve earned it this time,” Lu Ye said, rubbing Arcanine’s head. The two laughed together.

“I’ll get you an extra meal when we’re back!”

A reporter snapped the heartwarming scene and uploaded it with the caption:

[Three Straight One-Shots! Beloved Teacher Lu Advances to the Final Four!]