Larvitar vs. Torkoal?
To the audience, this matchup looked... kind of unfair.
After all, this wasn't just any Torkoal—it was Raihan's Torkoal.
But to Johan and Larvitar?
Both Ground and Rock-types beat Fire.
So even though it was Larvitar's first time stepping into the battlefield, it showed no fear—only excitement. No—hype!
That turtle's shell? Clearly forged in volcanic flames. Rich in nutrients. Crunchy.
Larvitar clenched its tiny fists. The presence it gave off? Not weak at all.
Steam jetted from Torkoal's nostrils and back vents. Its eyes narrowed at Larvitar, sensing... danger. Or rather—
Why did it feel like it was being eyed as food?
"Solar Beam!" Raihan attacked without hesitation.
Torkoal may be a Fire-type, but that didn't mean it couldn't learn other types of moves—especially Grass-type moves that counter Water, Rock, and Ground-types.
With Drought active, Solar Beam required no charging—instant fire.
And Larvitar? Ground + Rock. Quadruple weak to Grass.
Even though Solar Beam isn't STAB for Torkoal, it was strong enough that it could potentially one-shot Larvitar.
Raihan wasn't underestimating Johan's Larvitar at all.
He opened with a nuke.
But just as Torkoal prepared to absorb sunlight, its vision suddenly blurred. Small swirling grains of sand appeared...
In that moment of distraction, the particles thickened.
Torkoal suddenly realized—
Its weather was being overridden?!
Taste the storm of the Desert Tyrant's cub!
Larvitar's fists tightened as brownish energy surged from the ground, kicking up swirling sand—
Raihan blinked—then quickly understood.
Johan's Larvitar was interfering with Torkoal's move by changing the weather.
If Torkoal stopped Solar Beam to fight for weather control, he'd be pulled into Johan's tempo.
But if it didn't—Solar Beam would need to charge, giving Larvitar a free turn.
Raihan made his decision immediately.
"Torkoal, forget Solar Beam—Sunny Day!"
They couldn't afford to lose control of the weather!
As the "Weather Child," Raihan knew better than anyone: Sandstorm boosted Rock-type special defense by 1.5×, and halved the power of Solar Beam and Solar Blade.
Even if Torkoal managed to fire the beam—it wouldn't do enough.
"Johan is forcing Raihan into a weather duel—because Sandstorm..." Cynthia broke it down from the commentary booth.
The audience began to understand.
So that's why he sent out Larvitar first—it was a weather match!
Even if Torkoal won the weather war—wasn't Larvitar still in trouble?
See, in the Pokémon world, weather dominance doesn't rely solely on who used the move first—it's about strength and mastery.
Larvitar might be tough, but compared to Torkoal?
Torkoal's Drought was an innate trait. Larvitar had to use a move. Big difference.
Torkoal raised its head and bellowed. The flames in its shell blazed, syncing with the sun.
It came to reclaim the weather!
Larvitar felt it instantly. Pressure.
"Larvitar." Johan called calmly.
Larvitar raised its head and roared.
Even though the battlefield was grassy terrain, sand began to seep from beneath Larvitar's feet, pooling into swirling streams.
Raihan and Torkoal looked at it in surprise.
This little guy... was seriously cocky.
But as "Weather Child," Raihan and Torkoal had their own pride.
Lose a weather war to a cub?
But Larvitar wasn't backing down.
Sure, Drought is natural for Torkoal.
But I—am the cub of the Desert Tyrant. Sandstorms are in my blood.
The sandy aura around Larvitar erupted into a fierce golden storm, like a gilded fortress.
This is my territory!
Eyes blazing, Larvitar pointed to the ground and roared at Torkoal—
"As long as I stand on this ground—I am INVINCIBLE!"
The Earth-type energy surged through it.
The Desert Tyrant's cub... revealed its true might.
"Didn't win the weather battle." Cynthia gaped. "Torkoal... couldn't take it back."
Larvitar stole the weather with Sandstorm, then held it—even when Torkoal tried to reclaim it.
"No way—that's just a cub?!"
"That Larvitar... is a monster!"
Even Team Rocket—disguised as vendors—were stunned.
"No wonder Professor Johan's Larvitar is so hyped," James muttered.
"The real shocker is what it said," Meowth translated. "As long as I stand on this ground—I'm invincible."
Musashi's eyes sparkled. "Should we get a Larvitar too?!"
Now that weather control was secure, Johan took command.
"Larvitar, Dragon Dance!"
Larvitar stomped, energy swirling—a Dragon-type buff.
Dragon Dance? On Larvitar?
Cynthia's Pokéball wiggled at her waist.
"I get it!" a fan shouted. "Johan gave Larvitar an Everstone—it's pretending to be weak!"
"You cracked the code, bro!"
"Yo this is genius—Johan's dirty as heck!"
Not just that—flames ignited around Larvitar.
Larvitar's ability: Guts. Burn halves Attack—but Guts ignores that and boosts it by 50%!
Once it evolves into Tyranitar, Weakness Policy becomes optimal due to its many type weaknesses.
Guts + Flame Orb = offensive freedom now.
Johan had fed it "The Secrets of the Earth," a fragment of the Earth Plate, the "Land Stone" from Landorus, and tons of rare minerals.
This Larvitar was no joke.
"Time to strike—Stomp!" Johan pointed forward.
A dainty foot stomped—
The ground cracked, shockwaves racing toward Torkoal.
"Torkoal, smoke cover!" Raihan commanded.
Truth be told, Raihan's head hurt.
Not only did his Torkoal lose the weather war, but Johan's Larvitar burned itself on purpose to trigger Guts?
Flame attacks meant nothing now!
Thick smoke spewed from Torkoal's shell, shrouding it completely.
Torkoal was salty too. Losing that weather fight? Not cool.
But the battle went on.
The smoke and evasive maneuvers dodged Larvitar's attack.
"Yoji!" Larvitar fumed.
The smoke was spreading—fast.
Johan raised an eyebrow. "Blow it away with Sandstorm."
A new wave of golden sand swept the smoke aside.
When the smoke cleared—
Torkoal was right in front of Larvitar.
"A chance! Body Slam!" Raihan yelled.
In Sandstorm, Rock-types gain Sp. Def, but Body Slam is physical.
Johan's voice remained as calm as ever.
A crack split the field. Rocks flew.
"That's not Stomp—that's Earthquake!"
"No way—Johan's trolling us again!"
"If that's a stomp, I'll eat—"
Cynthia explained: "Stomp doubles in power if the previous move missed."
She brushed her hair back, eyes sparkling.
"Still... yeah, that was a lot for Stomp."
So that first missed attack?
Just bait for Stomp's double damage?
Torkoal took the full hit—but didn't go down.
Torkoal's Defense was insane. Even with all Larvitar's buffs, it was still a baby.
But Torkoal lunged anyway.
Larvitar opened its mouth way wide—then bit into Torkoal's shell.
"Tastes like chicken? Crunchy?!"
Crunch crunch crunch—
The "indestructible" shell cracked under Larvitar's jaws.
Larvitar took damage from the Body Slam—but it also got a snack.
Premium Turtle Jelly.
Johan rubbed his forehead and turned slightly away.
Red light flashed—Torkoal was withdrawn.
Raihan's eye twitched.
If this kept up—Larvitar might lose, but Torkoal would definitely lose its shell first.
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates