Chapter 182
Over the next several matches, Mike continued testing the beginner-friendly rain team and won every single game.
As the streak grew, more and more viewers began changing their minds about the team he had put together.
Compared with the already mature rain-team systems used by experienced competitive Trainers, Mike’s version was clearly designed for a different purpose.
It was cheaper to raise, most of its Pokémon were relatively easy to obtain, and the overall structure was much more practical for new Trainers whose immediate goal was challenging Gyms rather than competing at the highest level.
"This is basically the complete version of an ordinary rain team," Mike explained while Glameow remained comfortably settled in his arms.
"Kingdra and Poliwrath can replace each other, so you don’t need to bring both like I did. Kingdra in particular is harder for a beginner to obtain, so there’s no reason to force it into your team if you don’t have one."
He continued while bringing up several possible substitutions on screen.
"You don’t even have to build everything around Pelipper. Poliwrath can set Rain Dance manually, then you can use Swellow, Raichu, Staraptor, Floatzel, or something similar as an attacker. Blastoise works, Swampert works—the point is to adapt based on what you actually have."
"Don’t become like the opponent from my first match and lock yourself into one rigid sequence. If all you know how to do is repeat a preset strategy regardless of what’s happening in front of you, you’re never going to improve."
Mike tapped Poliwrath and Raichu on the team screen.
"Poliwrath isn’t difficult to obtain, and Raichu only requires a Thunder Stone once you have Pikachu. Even if you can’t evolve it right away, Pikachu itself can still fill the role while you’re building the team."
He smiled toward the camera.
"At the end of the day, as long as you put real effort into raising them, I believe your Pokémon will become stronger. Hopefully some of the things I regretted not understanding sooner can help all of you. Anyway, that should be it for today’s—"
"Gar?"
[Isn’t there still more?]
Mike stopped.
He slowly turned toward Gengar.
"More what?"
The viewers reacted before Gengar could answer.
[Jordan D’souza: You were about to end the stream, weren’t you?]
[Akabara: Wow. He almost slipped that past us.]
[hector lyng: That was only the standard team. Where’s the advanced version? I want Mega Evolution!]
Mike watched the messages race across the screen and glared at Gengar.
That damned Gengar!
If he hadn’t interrupted, Mike could already have ended the stream.
"GAR!"
Gengar planted his hands on his hips and looked completely righteous.
[You can’t do that! Grandma said if you promise someone something, you have to do it!]
Mike stared at him and once again found himself wondering how one Pokémon could somehow be both genuinely kindhearted and an absolute menace at the same time.
"My mistake. It slipped my mind."
He gave the camera his most honest, harmless smile.
[Mat_tokki: Heh.]
{Mat_tokki gifted Dragapult Rockets ×2.}
Mike’s expression transformed instantly.
"Oh! Thank you, boss! We’re starting the next match right now!"
[Mimikyu_DCX: The speed at which this man changes his attitude is genuinely impressive.]
{Gholdengo Is Number One gifted Poké Galas ×12.}
"Gholdengo Bro is generous as always!"
Mike immediately straightened his back.
"That settles it. I’m not hiding anything anymore!"
He began rebuilding the team.
This time, the lineup consisted of Swampert holding its Mega Stone, Dragonite, Pelipper, Staraptor, Archaludon, and Ferrothorn.
Once everything was ready, Mike entered the matchmaking queue specifically for battles where Mega Evolution was permitted.
Mega Swampert on a rain team.
Just thinking about what he was about to do made Mike want to laugh.
Left fist hits hard, right fist hits harder.
As long as he didn’t run into that damned gorilla, Mega Swampert could bulldoze an absurd number of Pokémon.
Matchmaking found an opponent quickly.
The other player was also ranked in Master Ball tier.
Both sides selected their leads.
Mike opened with Swampert.
His opponent opened with Garchomp.
Seeing Garchomp on the other side, Mike didn’t hesitate for even a second.
"Answer my heart, Swampert! Mega Evolve!"
He had wanted an excuse to shout those words himself for ages.
Today, even if it was only through a game, he was finally getting his chance.
Swampert’s Mega Stone resonated with the Key Stone, brilliant energy surrounding its body until it transformed into Mega Swampert.
Across the field, Garchomp began Mega Evolving as well.
"Double Mega leads and you’re transforming immediately? Fine by me. Take an Ice Punch!"
Mega Garchomp willingly traded away some of its Speed upon Mega Evolution?
Then it could worry about surviving Ice Punch first.
Mega Swampert’s fist crashed into Garchomp and erased almost its entire HP bar, leaving only the thinnest possible sliver.
Mike stared at the screen.
"???"
Mega Garchomp was somehow still standing.
"Wait. Is that actually right?"
The chat had barely begun laughing when ice suddenly spread across Mega Garchomp’s body.
It froze solid.
Mike’s confusion instantly turned into a huge grin.
"HAHAHA! Never mind. That’s completely right."
[Mimikyu_DCX: ???]
[Genie_Unshackled: DOG-LUCK.]
[Siamus_404: Mods, check his account. He turned hacks on!]
Mike had Mega Swampert finish the frozen Garchomp with a pivoting move, knocking it out while returning safely to the team.
The opponent’s second Pokémon was Dragonite.
Mike used the opportunity to send in Pelipper.
Rain immediately began falling.
The opposing Dragonite unleashed Draco Meteor.
"A special-attacking Dragonite?"
Mike watched Pelipper take the hit.
"As long as it isn’t Thunderbolt, I don’t care. One Draco Meteor is manageable. Pelipper can take that, then use U-turn to break Multiscale and bring our lord and savior Swampert back onto the field."
Pelipper struck Dragonite with U-turn and returned to its Poké Ball.
Mega Swampert came charging back in under the rain.
One Ice Punch was enough to knock Dragonite out.
Mike grinned broadly.
"You’re a Dragonite. What exactly are you supposed to do when I start throwing Ice Punches at you? You like Dragon-types? Have you not heard that Lord Swampert is the natural enemy of dragons?"
He pointed at Mega Swampert’s enormous arms on screen.
"Look at those biceps. One punch and you’re going straight home."
Anyone capable of playing Mega Swampert in a matchup like this without smiling had forgotten how to enjoy life.
The opponent’s final Pokémon was Charizard.
"Charizard? Shame it isn’t actually a Dragon-type, but that doesn’t matter. Eat a Waterfall!"
Mega Swampert surged forward and smashed Charizard straight in the forehead, emptying its HP bar in one blow.
The victory message appeared.
Mike calmly picked up his water, took a sip, and said, "Easy."
The chat went silent for a moment.
[...]
[ZhourongHephaestus: Isn’t this less ’rain team is strong’ and more ’Mega Swampert is ridiculous’?]
Mike had already gotten addicted.
He immediately queued for another battle!
...
The second opponent led with Pidgeot.
Mike opened with Pelipper.
He immediately had Pelipper use U-turn and brought out the team’s promising young dragon—Archaludon.
Meanwhile, the opposing Pidgeot Mega Evolved into Mega Pidgeot and took advantage of the rain to fire off Hurricane.
The attack struck Archaludon, triggering its Ability and raising its Defense.
Mike stared at the screen.
"Hurricane? Who said this rain was for you to use?"
He selected his move.
"Eat a Thunder!"
Dark thunderclouds gathered above Mega Pidgeot, and a tremendous bolt of lightning crashed down, wiping out its HP in one shot.
"Second Pokémon is Salamence? I don’t care what you are. Eat another Thunder!"
Boom!
Salamence barely survived, then retaliated with Draco Meteor and pushed Archaludon deep into the red.
Archaludon answered with a second Thunder and knocked it out.
Mike was already laughing when the opponent revealed their final Pokémon.
"Another Charizard? Why does everyone love Charizard this much? Whatever. Thunder!"
Another bolt fell.
Another victory followed.
Mike queued again.
The online battles were beginning to remind him of playing Pokémon in his previous life, although the overall level here was noticeably lower than what he remembered from battling other people on a Switch.
Unlike real-world move-based battles, turn-based matches gave both sides plenty of time to consider every action, calculate possibilities, and predict switches.
For the next stretch of the stream, the audience watched Mike send Mega Swampert and Archaludon through team after team.
Then one particular opponent appeared.
Mike stared at the Pokémon on the field.
"Oh? Rillaboom?"
His smile disappeared.
"...Well, that’s bad."
One Grassy Glide from Rillaboom and his Swampert wouldn’t merely faint—it would probably owe the game three extra lives.
Mike immediately recalled Swampert and sent out Pelipper.
Rain began falling.
The opposing Rillaboom used U-turn and retreated, bringing Charizard onto the field.
Its Mega Stone resonated with the Trainer’s Key Stone, and Charizard transformed into Mega Charizard Y.
Drought immediately replaced the rain with harsh sunlight.
Mike had Pelipper use U-turn and sent Dragonite into battle.
Mega Charizard Y greeted Dragonite with Thunder Punch, dropping Dragonite deep into the red. Dragonite retaliated with its own Thunder Punch and knocked Charizard Y’s HP down as well.
Mike stared at the opposing Charizard.
"You’re running Thunder Punch on Mega Charizard Y? Are you even human?"
He couldn’t resist complaining before recalling Dragonite.
Mike sent Pelipper back out, while his opponent simultaneously withdrew Charizard Y and revealed their third Pokémon.
A beautiful Primarina appeared and began singing across the battlefield.
Mike looked at the camera and scratched his head.
"Am I allowed to surrender?"
The chat instantly rebelled.
[Propht: ???]
[EaCalibur: What happened to all that confidence from five minutes ago?]
[Shadow_Dragon_9805: FINISH THE MATCH PROPERLY, YOU BASTARD.]
Mike sighed.
"How am I supposed to play this? That Rillaboom is sitting in the back staring at my Swampert like dinner."
Still, after studying the field for a moment, he began thinking aloud.
"If I’m reading him correctly, he’ll assume I want to bring Swampert in this turn, which means he’ll probably answer with Rillaboom. So instead, Pelipper—use Hurricane!"
The opponent withdrew Primarina.
Mega Charizard Y came back out.
Drought once again replaced the weather.
Pelipper’s Hurricane missed.
Mike stared at the word MISS on screen.
"..."
[Creasent_slayer161: HAHAHAHAHA! YOU’RE LOSING.]
[Zayne_Ishikawa: So? What’s the plan now, genius?]
Mike looked at the blazing sunlight covering the field and fell into thought.
"This Mega Charizard Y probably has Solar Beam and Thunder Punch, plus two STAB moves—or maybe a Flying-type move mixed in. Against my Pelipper, he knows I don’t want to simply throw Pelipper away. Swampert is my Mega slot, and there’s no way I willingly switch it into a Charizard Y that may have Solar Beam."
Mike’s eyes narrowed as he followed the opponent’s likely thought process.
"So from his perspective, I’m probably sacrificing my weakened Dragonite."
He paused.
"Which means... go, Swampert!"
Red light flashed as Swampert appeared.
Charizard Y used Thunder Punch.
Nothing happened.
The Electric-type attack had no effect on the Ground-type Swampert.
The chat exploded.
Mike immediately recalled Swampert again and brought Pelipper back onto the field.
Rain returned.
[Reminiscing: WHAT THE HELL, YOU ACTUALLY CALLED IT?!]
[TheSuperiorLuxray: That was nasty.]
[Ivan_C_4233: I don’t know whether his nerves are actually that good, but I do know my clothes would smell awful after this match. Rain, scorching sun, rain again, scorching sun again...]
The opponent used the free switch to have Charizard Y throw another Thunder Punch as Pelipper entered.
This time, the attack landed cleanly and erased Pelipper’s remaining HP.
Mike saw Pelipper faint and immediately grinned.
"You’re finished now."
He selected Swampert.
"Go!"
Swampert entered the battlefield, and the Mega Stone resonated with the Key Stone once more.
Mega Swampert appeared under the newly established rain.
Mike didn’t hesitate.
"I don’t care what you’re planning. Eat an Ice Punch!"
The opponent immediately withdrew Charizard Y and sent Rillaboom onto the field.
The Rillaboom that had just entered was struck directly by Mega Swampert’s Ice Punch.
Its HP bar vanished and Mike’s grin widened.
Mega Charizard Y returned next.
Mike selected Waterfall.
Charizard Y tried Thunder Punch.
It had no effect.
Mike laughed.
"No child cries every single day, and no gambler loses every single bet."
He pointed at the screen.
"Take this—Waterfall!"
Mega Swampert surged forward and smashed Charizard Y directly in the face, knocking it out.
With Rillaboom and Charizard Y both gone, the remaining Primarina could no longer stop Mega Swampert from closing out the battle.
Mike had somehow preserved his winning streak.
When the victory screen finally appeared, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
His shoulders, which had been tense throughout the final sequence, finally relaxed.
He set the controller down on the blanket, rolled his neck, and switched the stream from the game interface back to the main camera.