Chapter 26: The Battlefield Covered in Scales!
Chapter 26: The Battlefield Covered in Scales!
Hikaru nodded, initially wanting to say "my little sister," but eventually settled on "childhood friend."
The opening ceremony concluded, and standing before Hikaru was a young man in a brown trench coat and a red baseball cap.
His name was Haruto, a cheerful and confident trainer radiating energy.
"Let's have an exhilarating Pokémon battle!" Haruto declared, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
Though his words were boastful, they ignited a spark of competitive heat in Hikaru.
After all, a battle between trainers was the purest form of competition, especially when facing a formidable opponent like this.
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Pokémon Information
Butterfree
Ability: Compound Eyes
Gender: Male
Talent: Gym-level
Level: 21
Moves: Tackle, Solar Beam, String Shot, Stun Spore, Poison Powder, Sleep Powder, Gust, Electroweb
Machop
Ability: Guts
Gender: Male
Talent: Gym-level
Level: 23
Moves: Karate Chop, Cross Chop, Low Kick, Bulk Up, Brick Break
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Haruto spoke confidently, "You're strong. To be honest, if you had one more year to train, I wouldn't stand a chance against you!"
"Maybe that's true… or maybe it isn't," Hikaru replied, smiling warmly but without a hint of backing down.
"Good! I like that confidence!" Haruto grinned, his fighting spirit ignited.
As the match began, Machop locked eyes with Charmeleon, while Butterfree squared off against Ralts in the air.
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"The Battle Begins!"
"Machop, Bulk Up!"
"Butterfree, start with Electroweb!"
Haruto wasted no time issuing commands, showcasing his expertise as a trainer.
Machop struck a pose, its muscles rippling as its attack and defense stats surged.
Butterfree, meanwhile, quickly spun an electrified web, aiming it at Ralts.
"Ralts, dodge it!" Hikaru commanded.
"Charmeleon, interrupt with Fire Punch!"
Hikaru's commands came swiftly, and Charmeleon launched forward, its flaming fist aimed at Machop.
The attack landed squarely, leaving a scorched mark on Machop's chest, its previously bulging muscles dented inward.
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[Gourmet Supply Station]:
Power surges by 50%.
Remaining time: 28 minutes.
This was the second time Hikaru had activated this trait, and its effectiveness was clear.
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"Machop!"
Machop staggered, disbelief etched on its face. It hadn't expected such strength from Charmeleon's punch.
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Meanwhile, Butterfree's Electroweb closed in on Ralts. Just as it seemed to trap its target, Ralts vanished, leaving behind an illusionary clone that dissipated upon impact.
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"Substitute," Hikaru muttered with satisfaction. It had proven its value once again.
Now Ralts's task was clear: keep Butterfree occupied. With its diverse move pool, Butterfree was the real threat on Haruto's team.
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"Machop, Low Kick!"
Despite its injuries, Machop retaliated with a swift kick aimed at Charmeleon's legs.
Low Kick's effectiveness increased based on the opponent's weight, and Charmeleon felt the full brunt of the attack, momentarily staggering.
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"Butterfree, Electroweb again! Follow up with Sleep Powder and Gust!"
Butterfree spun another web and released a cloud of Sleep Powder, its wings flapping to spread the powder across the battlefield.
"Charmeleon, Fire Spin!" Hikaru countered.
A vortex of flames erupted around Charmeleon, burning away the approaching Electroweb. At the same time, Hikaru silently directed Ralts to strike with Confusion.
The psychic energy hit Butterfree directly, causing it to flinch momentarily. Despite the pain, it continued to scatter scales and powders across the battlefield using Gust.
"Ralts, teleport upward!"
With a flash, Ralts vanished and reappeared in the sky, showcasing its newfound Teleport ability—a skill it had just learned during the battle.
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Hikaru smirked. "Spreading powder across the field? Are you hoping Charmeleon will succumb to status conditions? Did you forget that Charmeleon is immune to those effects?"
Haruto frowned. He hadn't expected Ralts to be so slippery or Charmeleon to be so resilient.
"Machop, Karate Chop!"
Machop, having recovered slightly, unleashed a glowing hand strike aimed at Charmeleon.
"Charmeleon, Fire Punch!"
The two attacks clashed, producing a burst of light and heat.
Despite Machop's expertise in hand-to-hand combat, Charmeleon's superior strength began to turn the tide. Hikaru's use of [Battle Drain] further tilted the scales, allowing Charmeleon to recover energy with every physical blow.
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"Machop, retreat! Butterfree, switch focus! Use Poison Powder and Electroweb together!"
Haruto's voice carried a note of urgency as he directed Butterfree to target Charmeleon instead.
Butterfree summoned a purple cloud of poison dust and launched a massive Electroweb to ensnare its fiery opponent.
"Good timing," Hikaru murmured, his eyes gleaming with determination.
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"Charmeleon, show them what you've got!"
Hikaru switched Charmeleon's equipped trait to its hidden ace: Splatter Effect.
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Next Chapter: Charmeleon Unleashes Its Hidden Potential!