The Legend of Magikarp

After a person fills out the form and passes the selection process, their names are listened on a paper and shown at the storefront. The people on the list can then receive a pokemon at a particular date.

This system has been going on smoothly for the past week.

Today, a unique and interesting person arrived at the Pokemon Studio after being selected.

Beidou.

Unlike the ordinary people who received a pokemon through the Gacha, she was invited into the lounge by Loki.

Beidou entered the lounge with a confident gait and directly walked upto the table where Loki sat.

"I didn't think I would be able to enter the meet the illusory owner of the Pokemon Studio." Beidou laughed boisterously.

"How could I not entertain the renowned Captain of the Crux Fleet?" Loki grinned.

After their crude introductions were over, Beidou directly jumped onto the main topic.

"So, what sort of pokemon are you going to give me? Let me remind you. Unless the pokemon is domineering like me, I am not going to take it."

Loki could not help but laugh in amusement. Beidou was the first person daring enough to make such a demand with him. Fortunately, he already had the perfect pokemon ready for her.

"Of course. I have already chosen the perfect pokemon for you."

He opened his drawer and took out a pokeball. Beidou took the pokeball and pressed the button without any fanfare.

With a flash of red, a majestic pokemon with a golden crown appeared on the floor and began to flop around.

Beidou was speechless. Loki laughed when he saw her shocked and amazed.

"Isn't Magikarp majestic? Look at his shiny scales, the golden crown, the cool whiskers. He is the epitome of awesomeness."

Hearing the praise, Magikarp leaped into the air and made a dramatic pose with pride and confidence.

On the other hand, Beidou didn't share their enthusiasm and looked at them with a deadpan expression.

"Is this a joke?" She asked in an emotionless voice.

Facing her 'scary' glare, Loki laughed. He explained with an amused tone.

"Beidou, you should not judge a book by its cover. Haven't you heard of this legend, 'A carp leaping over a dragon gate'. Magikarp here is the very carp from the legend."

Beidou did not seem to believe his words at all. "So you mean, this carp can transform into a dragon?"

Her voice was filled with skeptism. Loki didn't intend to argue with her so he turned to his trusty partner.

"Charge, show that video."

With his shout, the TV screen turned on. Beidou turned to the TV with a questioning look.

She had travelled the ocean for several years. Those adventure has taught her a valuable lesson. Even a seemingly ordinary thing can threaten your life. She was not going to judge Magikarp based on his looks alone.

The TV soon flashed and a vast ocean was shown.

A dozen Magikarp regularly jumped out of the water. This repeated for a while until one of the Magikarp suddenly glowed with a bright (evolutionary) light. Soon after, 2 other Magikarp also began to glow.

Their glowing form enlarged and enlongated. When the evolutionary light disappeared a few seconds later, 3 serpent-like flood dragon 6 to 7 meter long were revealed.

The 3 Gyarados roared and leaped high into the air, as if they were trying to ascend to the heaven.

The video ended here and the TV turned off.

Loki looked at Beidou and he could feel the excitement in her heart. He nodded with an amused smile. The video seemed to have done its job.

"What do you think? You still don't want to keep Magikarp?"

Beidou was no longer skeptical. She turned to him with an curious look.

"What do I have to do for this Carp to transform into a dragon?"

"Of course. You will have to train Magikarp. It will be difficult but if you devote yourself to his training wholeheartedly, he will reciprocate your feelings and evolve into Gyarados."

Beidou looked at the flopping Magikarp in contemplation. When she thought of the evolved form of Magikarp, his current appearance began to seem endearing to her.

Loki secretly grinned as he thought of a brilliant plan to push her furthur. He then sighed in disappointment.

"Looks like you don't want Magikarp. No worries. I know he is not the best pokemon out there so I will find a different pokemon for you."

Hearing his words, Magikarp immediately became depressed. He even stopped flopping around. Loki gently picked him from the ground and patted him in a reassuring manner.

"I am sorry, buddy. Maybe you will be chosen next time."

Beidou watched the interaction with a somewhat alarmed look. She hurriedly raised her voice.

"Boss, please wait. Let me have this pokemon. I will help him transform into a powerful dragon."

Hearing her words, Loki smiled brightly. He handed Magikarp to Beidou and nodded his head in approval.

"You have made the right decision."

Beidou was confused at his sudden change in attitude but she didn't delve further. She raised her pokemon to her eye level and addressed him.

"Let's dominate the ocean together, little guy."

Magikarp was also a bit confused at the sudden change. After realizing what happened, happiness surged in his heart and he unknowingly used Splash to show his joy.

Unfortunately, his tail fin happened to slap Beidou right across her cheeks as he leaped from her arms onto the floor. When he turned to look at his owner, he saw a red mark on her left cheek and a scary look in her eyes.

"Haha." She laughed ominously. "You are daring. I like it."

Magikarp suddenly felt a chill spread throughout his body. On the side, Loki quitely offered a prayer for him.

'Rest in peace, my friend.'

_____

In a span of an hour, Loki tried to teach Beidou all the basics of pokemon. He specifically explained the nature of Magikarp and Gyarados, along with the various conditions that can trigger the evolution process of Magikarp.

After leaving the Studio, Beidou arrived at the waterfall at Mount Tianheng. She let Magikarp out in the pond under the waterfall.

"Magikarp. We are training here until you can swim up this waterfall." She declared with a finality.

Hearing her absolute words, Magikarp splashed in the small pond in horror. A weak Magikarp like him will be lucky to survive the onslaught of the waterfall. How can he even swim upstreams?

"First we will temper our body under the waterfall."

Saying that, she took off all of her clothes until only her undergarments remained. She then jumped onto a rock directly under the waterfall.

The waterfall began to strike her body with an immense force but she remained unfazed. Seeing this, Magikarp was once again shocked.

"Hurry up. What are you gawking at?"

Beidou shouted when she saw Magikarp still hesitating in the pond. Facing her intense glare, Magikarp had no choice but to swim forward until the waterfall also began to strike his body.

He had no choice but to endure the pain, with fish tears coming out of his eyes.

"Good. Keep this up and you will evolve into a Gyarados. Then we can dominate the sea together."

Thus, the hellish training arc of the main character (Magikarp) began.

_____

Beidou knew one thing very well. Magikarp was weak. He was the lowest of the food chain, no matter the world. He had no offensive or defensive capabilities.

The only move he knew right now was Splash. A move so useless that every fish could instinctly do. Not only fish, even land animal could use that move by instinct.

But so what?

Beidou didn't know why Splash was considered as a move. But she could tell, there must be a very good reason it was listed as a skill.

If there wasn't a good reason, she will create that reason with her Magikarp.

She had a plan, a brilliant one. She will first train Magikarp under the waterfall to increase his endurance. After he is able to withstand the pressure, she will make him use Splash 1000 times under the waterfall each day.

If Magikarp continues this routine, he will surely be able to use Splash to climb the waterfall, right? If Splash was not still enough, there was still another move that Magikarp could learn. Bounce.

At that point, even if Magikarp didn't evolve into a Gyarados, he can simply use Splash or Bounce to jump tens of meter into the air and dive towards his enemy with great momentum.

Beidou was confident in her own skills. She will train her Magikarp, the weakest pokemon, into the most powerful pokemon in the world.

_____

(During nighttime)

Beidou and Magikarp trained under the waterfall for the whole day. No matter how brutal it seemed, Beidou was still holding back.

With the training today, she was able to know the limits of her pokemon and she intended to change the intensity of the training accordingly.

It was currently night. Beidou took Magikarp into the best spa in Liyue Harbor. She wanted to reward Magikarp for his hard work. Of course, she also intended to relax herself.

The masseur was surprised to say the least, when Beidou told her to massage Magikarp. It was her first time massaging a fish (pokemon) so she was a bit clumsy.

When the masseur looked at the exhausted pokemon lying on the table without any movement, she could imagine the brutal training the pokemon went through under Beidou.

She could not help but pity Magikarp.

As for Magikarp, he only had one thought in his head as he relaxed under the gentle massage.

'Just you wait. I will have my vengeance when I evolve into a Gyarados.'