Lurina collapsed to the ground like a Disney princess betrayed by her stepmother, questioning her life choices.
The battle had dealt her an overwhelming blow.
Although Saitou was naturally stronger than her, this time her opponent was fighting blindfolded.
Not just Saitou as a trainer, but her Pokémon as well.
After setting down Saitou, who had been clinging to him like a koala, Sun Wuming scratched his head and walked up to Lurina, inviting:
"Want to grab lunch together?"
While Saitou was happy, it came at the cost of Lurina's suffering.
Sun Wuming could understand how devastating this battle was for Lurina - to use an example from his past life, it felt like the national soccer team losing to Vietnam, and their disabled team at that...
Though if he was being honest with himself, Sun Wuming was only willing to comfort her because she was a beauty.
If it had been Dande or Duraludon instead, he couldn't care less whether they lived or died.
Yeah... that's just how it was.
To be frank, Lurina wanted nothing more than to run away crying right now.
But she managed to hold herself together, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
...
...
Half an hour later.
In Saitou's room behind the gym.
Seeing the pile of dishes stacked almost a meter high in front of Saitou, and over five meters high on Sun Wuming's side, Lurina, with just a plate of salad in front of her, couldn't help but comment:
"I feel like since following you, Saitou's appetite has become even more outrageous..."
Although Lurina wasn't particularly close with Saitou,
They had attended Galar League's female gym leader gatherings together.
Back then, while Saitou's appetite was notably larger than most women's, it wasn't nearly this extreme.
As she said this, Lurina couldn't help but glance repeatedly at Sun Wuming and Saitou's flat, muscular stomachs.
Where did all that food even go?
"Ah ya~ ya ya~"
At this moment, the bear disciple, having finished eating, jumped between them, waving its little fists before pointing at Saitou and Lurina's Pokémon who were still eating.
"You want to battle too?"
Sun Wuming tried to interpret.
"Ya ee!"
The bear disciple's determined eyes held a trace of excitement as it nodded vigorously.
"That's true, we've been focusing on basic training these past two months without letting you experience actual combat."
Sun Wuming stroked his chin, then turned to Lurina:
"Want another match after lunch?"
"Eh? With this little one?"
Lurina looked over the bear disciple again.
Though she wasn't a professional Pokémon breeder, this little one couldn't be more than two years old, right?
"What's wrong? Scared after losing to Saitou?"
Seeing Lurina's hesitation, Sun Wuming pressed.
"Who's scared? Bring it on!"
Lurina snapped back angrily.
Did they really think she was a pushover that anyone could mess with?
"But haven't you practiced with Saitou?"
Lurina asked after calming down a bit.
"This girl's not that strong, but her level's still too high for bear disciple."
Sun Wuming habitually ruffled Saitou's silver hair, making her react like a spoiled kitten.
He then looked at Lurina, "Your level is just right."
Though in Sun Wuming's eyes, Saitou's Elite Four candidate level wasn't particularly impressive.
But for the newly born bear disciple just starting its hellish training, the level gap was indeed too large.
In comparison, a mediocre gym leader like Lurina was perfect.
Lurina's coffee-colored face turned red with anger.
She had some choice words she wasn't sure whether to voice.
Wasn't this just mocking her weakness?
...
...
After lunch.
Saitou sat at the edge of the field, excitedly muttering to herself:
"This is the first time I'll see Master's Pokémon battle, I'm so excited~"
Sun Wuming felt the same way.
Though there was no audience, it wasn't like playing games through a screen - standing at the command platform felt different.
He felt inexplicably excited.
"I'm counting on you, Golisopod!"
Lurina sent out her second strongest Pokémon—
Golisopod.
A large bug-like creature with armor-like shells and an imposing presence.
"Another Pokémon I haven't seen before, did it come out after the XY arc?"
Sun Wuming muttered to himself.
"Do your best in your first battle, bear disciple."
Sun Wuming then looked at the little one standing before him.
"Ah ya!"
The bear disciple imitated Bruce Lee with a kick, responding like a child trying to act grown-up.
"Golisopod! Razor Shell!"
Lurina wasn't planning to hold back.
She would make this man who looked down on her realize that she wasn't someone to be trifled with!
Golisopod made a Japanese samurai sword-drawing motion, forming a blade of water at its waist.
In the next instant, Golisopod rushed forward, swinging its water blade at bear disciple.
"Go."
Sun Wuming smiled.
***
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