Medali, the Paldea Region.
In the late autumn of November, the chill arrived a bit earlier than usual.
The streets of Medali were brilliantly lit, overshadowing the sunset's remaining glow at the edge of the sky.
Customers came and went at the famous Paldean restaurant, the Treasure Eatery.
"Extremely delicious, thank you for the meal."
Wearing a signature suit with a few striking white streaks at the front of his slicked-back hair, a middle-aged man sat in the corner, pressing his hands together with a satisfied look on his face.
"As expected, simple things are truly the best. There is no dish with a richer flavor than this restaurant's roasted rice balls."
Larry let out a long sigh, brushed a few stray grains of rice from his clothes, and quietly placed a banknote in the corner of his plate, picking up his briefcase to turn and leave.
As an ordinary employee in the League's business department, although his performance was abysmal, fortunately his attitude was earnest enough and he was always the last one to leave work every day, allowing him to keep this job.
Of course, the roasted rice balls at right on time after getting off work every Sunday were indispensable.
This was the elixir that sublimated the soul after a week of work.
Without it, he might still be alive, but he should also be a little dead inside.
Returning to the Medali Gym, Larry sat on the couch in a daze.
After a whole week of high-intensity work, suddenly having a night to relax left him not knowing what he should do instead.
Aside from performance targets that were completely impossible to meet, were there any other tasks?
The League work documents sent by Geeta had all been processed;
The Gym had also reached closing time.
Clearly this should be a happy, leisurely time, so why did it feel so empty instead?
Larry looked up speechlessly at the ceiling, trying to think of the answer with a blank, lifeless gaze.
Speaking of which, Geeta seemed to tell me to change my style...
He suddenly remembered an important matter that he hadn't dealt with yet.
Because he simultaneously held the positions of Gym Leader and Elite Four member, the Top Champion of Paldea, Geeta, insisted that he had to change his style.
How troublesome...
Larry liked Normal-type Pokémon.
Ever since he was a child, he had realized the truth of this world-
Plain and simple is the most authentic.
Therefore, he craved ordinariness.
Rather than an Elite Four member, perhaps he hoped even more to be a completely ordinary corporate drone.
It was precisely because he always maintained this original intention and persistence that he was eventually scouted by the League as a Normal-type specialist, earning his current dual status.
However, just as the Top Champion Geeta had said.
"If you want to seek a breakthrough, you must first change your style..."
Larry muttered.
"But other than the Normal type, I don't seem to have any interest in other types..."
"How about I try Staraptor's Flying type."
Many Flying-type bird Pokémon were paired with the Normal type, while purely Flying types were actually a tiny minority.
If it were Staraptor and Braviary, he should be relatively familiar with them as well.
With this thought in mind, Larry sat up from the sofa and used the controller to open Pokémon Champions.
Although he didn't usually have much time to play games, at Geeta's request, all three of them in the Elite Four had quickly grinded their way up to the Great Ball rank.
After all, Naranja Academy intended to use this game as their battle class assignment and needed to set an example for the students.
That was true; they had to set an example for Paldea's future...
Larry sighed.
If that was the case, he would just have to put in a little more effort.
However, why was he still dealing with work matters even after getting off work?
[Isn't that Gym Leader Larry himself on the opposite side! I didn't expect the streamer's promotion match to run into a tough boss again...]
[Nothing to be done, we got sanctioned by the system. You can't blame you for losing this match, Teacher Qingyu!]
[It's not disgraceful for a Gym Leader to beat an Elite Four member, yo!]
Noticing the official verification on the opposite side, the chat instantly filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
Along with it, Qingyu was also a bit puzzled.
Even if he had been matched against Geeta, he would have felt it was acceptable, but facing Larry in particular just felt weird.
Big Boss, don't you need to work overtime?
However, since they had already been matched, he could only accept it.
"My sword is also unfermented; the haters who started crying doom for the streamer before the battle is even over can wait!"
After Qingyu pressed the confirmation button, the opponent's lineup list emerged:
Tropius, Oricorio, Altaria, Staraptor, Flamigo, Braviary.
"The Flying brigade?"
Qingyu couldn't help clicking his tongue in amazement.
Aside from his corporate drone form, Larry possessed two other identities: a Normal-type Gym Leader and a Flying-type Elite Four member.
So was he running into Elite Four Larry this match?
"It doesn't matter, though. The streamer specializes in beating elites!"
Qingyu smiled, confirming Talonflame as his lead for today's protagonist.
Aside from the Electric-type Oricorio, none of Larry's other Pokémon posed much of a threat to Talonflame.
It was precisely the right stage for it to shine.
Entering the battle, Larry sent out his lead, Staraptor.
Hovering high in the air, Staraptor let out a sharp, imposing cry that made Qingyu's Talonflame involuntarily shudder.
It looked to be the Intimidate Ability.
Qingyu nodded inwardly; although Talonflame's attack might take a heavy hit due to the Ability, he had no intention of switching out.
In battles between Flying-type Pokémon, the right to move first was extremely important.
Therefore, after the Pokémon on both sides took the field, both parties simultaneously made their commands without missing a beat-
"Talonflame, Bulk Up!"
"Staraptor, Thief!"
The commands issued almost simultaneously caused the two bird Pokémon to act one after another.
Yet Talonflame's speed was clearly a step faster, and before Staraptor's attack arrived, it had already prepared its posture, spreading its dual wings for a stat boost.
Bulk Up, raising its own attack and defense by tensing its muscles.
Staraptor's aggressiveness was extremely high, but when its attack landed on Talonflame's muscular chest, it didn't deal much respectable damage.
Instead, taking advantage of the gap in the attack, it casually snatched the item Talonflame was holding right out of its mouth.
Regarding this, Qingyu actually felt a little like laughing...
Items were indeed an important part of Pokémon battles, but for Talonflame, having no item might actually turn out to be a good thing.
He could just treat this Flying Gem as a welcoming gift for Uncle Larry.
[Why is it starting off with a boost? Isn't Talonflame supposed to be launched like a battering ram, using Brave Bird from start to finish?]
[Actually, there's nothing wrong with it, right? Its attack is kind of hard to push with after being Intimidated 2333]
[Don't tell me anyone actually thinks the streamer can beat an Elite Four member? Right now it's just going through the motions, get the superior-subordinate relationship straight first!]
Qingyu pulled off an unconventional play right at the start, sparking heated discussions in the chat.
Generally speaking, the most common tactic for Talonflame was the kind the chat mentioned: max out output and directly transform into a suicide truck to explode with the opponent.
In fact, one could tell from the opening Bulk Up that his usage of Talonflame wasn't all that extreme.
After all, overly monotonous tactics were easily countered.
So he planned to play a few tricks this match.
"Staraptor, Whirlwind!"
In front of the television screen, Larry vaguely sensed that his opponent seemed a bit abnormal, and decisively changed the rhythm.
However...
"Taunt!"
Before Staraptor could use Whirlwind to blow him off the field, Talonflame flicked its finger, forcibly interrupting its movement.
[Holy crap? Teacher Qingyu predicted Larry's command?]
The chat was collectively shocked.
Regarding the Talonflame, everyone's deepest impression should probably be mindless Brave Bird, but in Single Battles, slow boosting relying on Roosting to stall was also pretty disgusting. The Roost with +1 priority before it got nerfed was truly outrageous!
(PS: Larry's Staraptor in the game really does carry Thief, don't ask me how I know...)
Before you continue