บท 98: There's Something Off About My Pokémon [98]
"Grrraaargh!" The Geodude let out an odd cry.
"You've got a Geodude too?" Spiky raised an eyebrow, then sneered. "But you haven't evolved yours yet? And you've got the nerve to teach others?"
"I'm choosing to keep it unevolved. Unlike you, who tries but just can't get there."
"You—!" Spiky barked, then roared, "Geodude, show him who's boss with Tackle!"
Ah, Tackle. Lu Cheng hadn't seen such a low-level move in ages. Even at the U20 Tournament, Quick Attack was preferred over Tackle. This Spiky character clearly wasn't the most diligent trainer. Lu Cheng stifled a chuckle, then gave his command.
"Geodude, use Harden!"
This Geodude—actually a Ditto—had refined its Harden technique to perfection. Spiky's Geodude slammed into it, and not a scratch appeared.
"What?!" Spiky gaped, gritting his teeth. "Alright, Geodude, use Defense Curl!"
Lu Cheng's eyes sparkled. Defense Curl and Harden—both moves to boost defense. This was the perfect opportunity for Ditto to learn something new.
"Defense Curl, Geodude!" Lu Cheng ordered, mirroring Spiky's move. Over the next couple of turns, Lu Cheng continued having Ditto mimic Spiky's Geodude, copying Sand Attack and Tackle as well. Spiky's frustration grew by the second.
"Why are you copying all my moves?!"
"This is all part of helping your Geodude evolve!" Lu Cheng replied with a straight face.
"You're asking for it! Geodude, use Take Down!"
Spiky's Geodude hurled itself forward, executing a move much stronger than Tackle, although it clearly struggled with it. It charged into Ditto, colliding hard and scattering bits of stone. Seeing a brief glint on Geodude's body, Lu Cheng's eyes lit up as he gave his next order.
"Now, Geodude, hit it with your own Take Down!"
Ditto's offensive power might not be great, but with Harden's boosts, its Take Down was solid. Spiky's Geodude let out a pained grunt as a small, unassuming crystal flew from its chest and shattered.
This should do it, Lu Cheng thought, an idea flashing in his mind.
In an instant, he doubled down on the drama, letting out a gasp and wailing, "Geodude! Oh no, Geodude, you're down!"
Ditto-Geodude, Spiky's Geodude, and Spiky himself all blinked in confusion. Ditto didn't look remotely close to fainting!
But Ditto seemed to catch on to Lu Cheng's plan, letting out a loud "Graaaargh!" and, with an exaggerated spin, it stuck its tongue out and collapsed dramatically.
Geodude—uh, Ditto—was down!
"Argh!" Lu Cheng stomped, scowling. "I totally forgot Take Down has recoil damage. Your Geodude's Sturdy, right?"
"W-What?!" Spiky stammered, caught off-guard.
"Yes, I saw through your plans, Spiky!" Lu Cheng snarled.
Spiky blinked, finally collecting himself. "H-Ha! I knew you'd copy me, and I was one step ahead. This was all part of my master plan!"
His laughter sounded forced, but before he could finish, his Geodude's body began to glow.
"Whoa!" Spiky and Mohawk gasped in unison.
Lu Cheng let out a sigh of relief. Good thing Ditto took the fall. Otherwise, with Spiky's Geodude, there was no guarantee it would've evolved!
---
"Thank you so much! If it weren't for you, my Geodude wouldn't have evolved!" Spiky's brother, Mohawk, cried as he grabbed Lu Cheng's hand, his gratitude overflowing. Mohawk, feeling proud, boasted, "See, big bro, I wasn't lying. This guy—"
Before he could finish, Spiky slapped him upside the head, growling, "What guy? Call him teacher!"
"Right, right, teacher!"
Lu Cheng grinned. "You know, your effort played a big part in all of this."
Then he pulled out a small badge and handed it over. "This is the Isshin Badge, awarded to students whose Pokémon have evolved while training here at Isshin Dojo. Take good care of it."
Just as Mohawk was about to take it, Lu Cheng held up a hand. "Hold on—there's a fee of five thousand per student. Oh, and if you bring in new members, there's a referral discount!" He flashed a wide grin.
Ding—Congratulations to the host for acquiring a new skill: Bluffing!
Bluffing LV1: Others are deeply convinced by your brilliant acting skills and persuasive words, increasing your success rate in convincing (bluffing) others by 10%.
Skill Description: Bluff on, Bluff Master!
With these two satisfied customers, the word about Isshin Dojo's "evolution mastery" spread far and wide. Over the next month, skeptical trainers came to put it to the test. While most were turned away for "insufficient talent," a select few saw their Tyrogue evolve into Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan, leaving them beaming with pride. "See? It's not that the dojo can't help—it's that you can't make the cut!" The dojo's reputation grew rapidly, and Isshin Dojo became the hottest topic among trainers in Jiang City.
Lu Cheng's task was soon completed.
Ding—Mission "Revitalize Isshin Dojo" accomplished!
Mission Rewards: 5 potential points, ¥100,000 cash, title system unlocked!
Looking at the clean-shaven, sharper, and more confident Gao Minglang, Lu Cheng couldn't help but think, This uncle sure was a looker in his youth!
"Lu Cheng, I really don't know how to thank you," Gao Minglang said, his eyes lighting up as he looked at the bustling dojo. "Honestly, I thought I'd be a part-time coach for the rest of my days. Now that the dojo's doing well again, I can actually move back in and live here with Gao Chi and Lulu."
"It's nothing, Uncle Gao." Lu Cheng gave his shoulder a firm pat and chuckled. "You're the evolution master of Jiang City now! People are practically lining up for a chance to meet you."
"You brat!" Gao Minglang laughed and gave him a playful punch.
In just a month, with Lu Cheng's help, Gao Minglang had regained his old confidence as a dojo master. He even went back to practicing karate, teaching moves like "High Jump Kick" and "Mach Punch" to the Tyrogue trainees.
Watching the bustling dojo and Gao Chi handling his classes, Gao Minglang suddenly turned to Lu Cheng. "In a month, I'm going to reapply with the association," he said with resolve.
Lu Cheng looked at him, surprised.
"I'm applying to take the dojo master assessment," Gao Minglang explained with a wide smile. "Once I pass, Isshin Dojo will be officially licensed again, able to accept challenges and award badges."
He grinned and added, "When that happens, I want you as my vice dojo master."
Lu Cheng opened his mouth to refuse, but Gao Minglang raised a hand, saying, "Don't turn me down. A formal dojo position will be great for your trainer journey."
"It's just a ceremonial title anyway. Besides, I might not even pass the assessment." Gao Minglang gave him a firm clap on the shoulder, laughing, "So let's work hard together!"
Lu Cheng blinked, then broke into a smile and shook his head with a sigh.
A breeze drifted through the dojo's corridor, bringing with it the sound of the system's notifications.
Ding—Mission "Challenge the Big Brother" accomplished.
Mission Rewards: ¥50,000 cash, 3 potential points, TM "Foul Play"
Ding—Mission "Isshin Karate Training" accomplished.
Mission Rewards: 2 Attack points, 2 Speed points, Choice Band, Ability "Supreme Punch."
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
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