Chapter 349: Rival

Chapter 349: Chapter 349: Rival

Magikarp was not picking on the weak.

In all of Veilstone Gym, who had Magikarp not provoked before?

Even if he was beaten black and blue, it never stopped him from causing trouble again next time.

Today, he was going to let Corphish know who the true ruler of Veilstone Gym’s reservoir was!

Corphish’s actions showed far too little respect for the reservoir and far too little respect for him, the ruler of the reservoir!

The other Pokémon at Veilstone Gym often went into the water to swim too, but none of them wasted water like Corphish did.

In truth, Corphish was not really wasting water.

As a Corphish who lived in the Great Marsh, how would he know what "wasting water" even meant?

This was simply part of his daily life back in the Great Marsh.

After being rammed by Magikarp, Corphish fell back into the water.

He waved his pincers angrily, questioning why Magikarp had knocked him flying.

"Corphish!"

Julian smiled slightly and stopped Kai, who wanted to go over and comfort Corphish.

"If you go over now, Corphish will only feel worse."

"With us watching from the side, even if they fight, it won’t cause any trouble."

"Once they’ve vented their anger, then you can teach Corphish that the Gym is different from the Great Marsh. He can’t play with water however he likes here."

If water was splashed everywhere, it would affect everyone’s activities in the back garden.

From the conflict between Magikarp and Corphish, Julian saw a slight possibility of Magikarp beginning to improve himself.

This conflict was a win-win for both Magikarp and Corphish.

Magikarp stared with dead fish eyes, looking at Corphish with disdain.

A tiny Corphish.

What could he possibly do to him?

Seeing that reasoning would not work, Corphish directly opened his pincers and fired Bubble Beam.

"Corphish!"

Magikarp flicked his tail, exploding a splash of water that shot two metres away.

Corphish’s Bubble Beam could not even hit his splashes.

Julian raised an eyebrow.

"I didn’t expect Magikarp’s speed to increase again after only two days in the Great Marsh."

"Kai, who do you think will win between Corphish and Magikarp?"

Kai hesitated.

"Although I really want to support Corphish, but..."

Before he could finish speaking, Julian patted Kai’s shoulder.

"Then go cheer for Corphish."

Kai nodded and ran to the edge of the reservoir.

"Corphish, don’t let our burning youth down!"

Corphish raised his pincers and fired Bubble Beam again.

Magikarp kept moving through the reservoir in a zigzag pattern, while Corphish continuously adjusted the angle of his Bubble Beam.

Still could not hit!

Annihilape and Blaziken both raised their arms and cheered for Corphish.

Gengar also floated up and down, waving his arms to cheer for Magikarp.

Julian smiled and shook his head.

These guys were all here to enjoy the show.

After realising that Bubble Beam could not hit Magikarp, Corphish decisively raised his pincers and charged forward to fight Magikarp up close.

But Corphish had underestimated Magikarp.

Magikarp, who had spent years rolling, crashing, and surviving rough play, was not like the Magikarp Corphish had met in the Great Marsh.

Consistent swimming-speed training had made Magikarp’s tail muscles very strong, and it had made his forehead especially hard.

Although Magikarp did not want it to happen, when he charged too quickly, he always ended up hitting something.

Julian had originally placed two floating platforms in the reservoir.

Now those platforms were gone, because Magikarp had used them as sandbags to train his iron forehead.

Aside from his swimming speed, Magikarp’s Tackle was also quite powerful.

Corphish wanted to attack with his pincers, but he did not expect Magikarp to take the initiative and rush forward.

Magikarp rammed headfirst into Corphish’s chest and sent him flying.

Kai was somewhat surprised.

"Corphish, hold on!"

Corphish was very tenacious and would not fall from a single collision.

A white light lit up around Corphish’s body.

He chose to use Harden to raise his defence.

Once was not enough.

Corphish wanted to use it a second time.

Magikarp’s eyes showed surprise.

He had not expected that this newcomer Corphish had already grasped the essence of Veilstone Gym.

Boost whenever you can!

But Magikarp would not give Corphish the chance to strengthen himself peacefully.

He swung his tail and rushed towards Corphish, but the sly Magikarp did not charge straight in. He moved in a zigzag pattern.

Then he suddenly rushed up from below and struck Corphish’s abdomen, knocking Corphish flying again.

Kai clenched his fist and shouted excitedly, "Corphish, believe in our youth!"

Corphish’s gaze instantly sharpened, and his right pincer lit up with blue light.

He smashed it heavily onto the surface of the water, and the violent shockwave directly blasted Magikarp out from below.

Kai wildly waved his fists.

"Corphish, you learned Crabhammer!"

Corphish fell back into the water and also waved his pincers excitedly.

"Corphish!"

Magikarp’s eyes became resolute.

He had not fallen either.

At that moment, Magikarp only hated that when Julian had once mentioned a move where he would leap up, spin seven and a half times in the air, then use Tackle, he had not trained it seriously.

Now, one Crabhammer from Corphish could hit him hard.

But his own Tackle hit Corphish’s armoured shell, which had even been strengthened with Harden, and could not deal much damage.

For the first time, a small desire to become stronger grew in Magikarp’s heart.

A Corphish that had only just been caught by Kai could push him this far.

Was his ability, as a dignified golden Magikarp, limited to running away?

Magikarp made his decision and leapt out of the water.

After spinning seven and a half times in the air, he crashed towards Corphish.

Corphish’s pincer lit up with blue light. He leapt out of the water, swung his pincer, and collided with Magikarp’s iron forehead.

Both sides fell into the water.

When they surfaced, both were panting heavily.

Only then did Julian step forward.

"That’s enough fighting for today. We’ll call this match a draw. If you two still aren’t satisfied..."

"Then use this chance to get stronger. In one week, I’ll arrange another match between you."

Kai hugged Corphish, and both of them were so moved that they burst into tears.

"Corphish, you didn’t let youth down!"

"Corphish!"

Julian walked to Magikarp’s side.

"I’ll adjust your Pokémon food recipe and supplement your body with more calcium and protein."

"In exchange, you’ll need to increase your exercise. Otherwise, you’ll get fat and affect your swimming speed."

"Do you want the original recipe?"

"Or the new one?"

Magikarp surfaced.

"Magikarp~"

Julian nodded.

"Looks like you’ve decided to see Corphish as your rival."

Mega Gyarados was also Water and Dark type, so Crawdaunt really would make a good rival.

Most importantly, both of them could learn Dragon Dance.

Magikarp looked at Corphish.

Corphish looked back at Magikarp.

After this fight, the two Pokémon had come to understand each other, and fighting spirit burned in both their eyes.

Gengar immediately flew over, waving his fists to show that he could act as Magikarp’s sparring partner.

Julian smiled and rubbed the purple fatty’s big head.

"Alright. I’ll arrange suitable training for Magikarp."

Magikarp was still a little hesitant, somewhat resistant to training that would be too difficult.

Julian saw his concern.

"Don’t worry. It’ll definitely be within what you can endure."

-----------------------

A/N: Up to 150 advance Chapters available on: Patreon.com/wardentranslations

If you’re enjoying the story, add it to your collection, leave a review, comment and drop some power stones to support the novel!