Ch.88 Pancham Evolves

Darkrai wasn't the only one with similar thoughts.

For instance, Nishimiya Momo and Zen'in Mai.

These people shared a common trait: they didn't understand close combat and didn't realize how terrifying it could be when a small creature possessed great strength.

In combat sports, a higher weight class—pardon me—heavier fighters dominate, because everyone is human, and under similar experience, training, and body structure, more weight means a better physique, more strength, and greater basic abilities.

Pokemon don't have such limitations. They range in size from ten meters tall to just ten centimeters.

Size and mass do not determine a Pokemon's strength; it is the overall evaluated base stats (like the six stats in games or compendiums) and a reasonable combination of moves that determine strength.

The Pokemon world is full of cases where smaller opponents defeat larger ones. In fact, at similar base stat levels, the smaller ones often have an advantage.

Smaller size means a smaller contact area, making attacks and defenses more focused.

Take Todo Aoi and Pancham as an example.

Todo Aoi is 190 cm tall, all muscles, and without considering cursed energy or Heavenly Restriction, should be at the top level of martial artists.

But Pancham is only 60 cm tall.

Imagine how hard it would be for an average person to catch a small dog without using any tools.

Now imagine if that small dog had strength and speed comparable to a human.

From the moment he saw Pancham, Todo Aoi was fully aware of how size disparity could affect combat.

Pancham had an easy time hitting him, but it was difficult for him to land a hit on Pancham.

His fists couldn't reach it, and if he tried to kick, there was a good chance he'd lose his balance and be overwhelmed in a flurry of blows.

That initial body slam from Pancham had already demonstrated a striking force surpassing Darkrai.

Todo Aoi had no choice but to avoid direct confrontation, seeking opportunities to counter.

In his fight with Darkrai, Todo Aoi came to a conclusion.

Pokemon, like cursed spirits, lacked battle experience. If he kept calm, there would eventually be an opening—as long as he only faced Pancham.

But neither Akira nor Pancham was the type to fight honorably.

After realizing it couldn't land a hit after a while, Pancham simply beckoned to Darkrai, signaling it to join the fight.

Darkrai, lacking a sense of honor as well, immediately joined the battle.

Now Todo Aoi was in trouble.

A one-on-one fight and a two-on-one beatdown were completely different scenarios.

Even with all his experience, Todo Aoi struggled against four arms attacking him.

Not to mention that one Pokemon could fly, while the other attacked from below. In the blink of an eye, Todo Aoi was overwhelmed and brought down by the two Pokemon.

Pancham, in this regard, had thoroughly learned from Akira and Panda—beating an enemy when they were down, hitting harder the more disadvantaged they became.

Move: Karate Chop.

Move: Slash.

Move: Comet Punch.

Move: Low Kick.

Fighting-type moves were straightforward and… easy to understand.

Of course, the power of these moves wasn't diminished by their simple names. It made those who once considered Pancham a mere showpiece break out in cold sweats.

Especially Nishimiya Momo, who was thankful she surrendered quickly yesterday. Otherwise, her fate—

Todo Aoi, subjected to the mixed assault, wasn't faring well either, taking multiple hits.

He knew if he continued like this, he would truly lose here.

He had no choice. To win, he had to use his technique and make a surprise move.

In the instant Pancham used the move Push, Todo Aoi's hands, which had been guarding his vital areas, moved.

His left hand touched his right palm.

With a clap.

Immediately after, Pancham's punches fell like rain.

Akira's eyes turned serious in an instant.

Because, after that single clap, Todo Aoi went from a defensive crouch to standing normally, having swapped positions—from beneath Pancham's punches to appearing nearby, at Darkrai's position.

And Darkrai had swapped to Todo's original position, taking the full brunt of Pancham's Comet Punch.

Fortunately, Push was a light, continuous move, each hit not causing much damage, and Pancham pulled back quickly, having always adhered to Akira's instructions to exercise restraint and not go all out.

If it had been something like Body Slam, Darkrai would have been in real danger.

Bear in mind that Darkrai is a Dark-type Pokemon, and Fighting moves like Pancham's do double damage to it.

Even so, Darkrai's HP dropped significantly.

Pancham, furious at accidentally injuring its teammate, roared at the sky, producing a howl that had nothing to do with its name and sounded more like a wild beast.

Darkrai immediately stood up and tried to calm its companion.

But Pancham didn't stop howling; in fact, it grew louder.

At the same time, Darkrai sensed that some kind of connection was forming between it and Pancham.

Its darkness—no, something even more primal than darkness—was flowing through this connection into Pancham, rapidly transforming its very being.

Pancham's body began to glow, brighter than the sun overhead, causing the nearby audience to cover their eyes instinctively.

Except for Gojo Satoru, Masamichi Yaga, and Akira and his Pokemon.

The first two had sunglasses and weren't afraid of bright lights, while the rest knew well that this was the light of Pokemon evolution.

When this light appeared, it meant a Pokemon was about to undergo a new transformation.

The moment the light faded—

The adorable Pancham had disappeared from the world, replaced by a black-and-white giant over two meters tall, even taller than Todo Aoi and Gojo Satoru.

Large hands and feet, thick fur, a fierce gaze.

No one would underestimate it for its cute appearance now.

Every part of its body radiated power.

This was Pancham's evolved form!

Seeing this, Akira finally let out a sigh of relief, a smile of satisfaction appearing on his face.

In fact, Pancham had met the evolution conditions half a month ago.

Level 32, with a Dark-type Pokemon in the party.

But it had remained in its original form.

Because it refused to evolve, feeling that once it grew up, it couldn't cling to its big brother Panda anymore.

Akira chose to respect its decision.

There were plenty of examples in the Pokemon world of those who refused to evolve, like Ash's Bulbasaur. Ash chose to respect its wishes, just as Akira did with Pancham.

He truly viewed Pokemon as friends and partners.

When Pancham truly needed strength, when it felt it should evolve, it would evolve.

That time was now.

The guilt of hurting a teammate.

The anger at being toyed with by the enemy.

Although the darkness that Darkrai possessed by nature put pressure on it, although the fact that Darkrai, being smaller, was more mature and composed made it feel uneasy, they were always companions, united under their trainer, with Gardevoir as the "big sister" of their group.

For the first time, a strong will emerged in Pancham's little head.

If I can become stronger, strong enough that the enemy can't play tricks, then my dark little brother won't get hurt.

For that, I need more power.

Even if it means embracing the darkness.

The power that had always been rejected was finally accepted.

Pancham reappeared in the world in a brand-new form.

Its name is Pangoro.

With an imposing gaze locked onto Todo Aoi, its large hands unconsciously flexed open and closed.

It needed to quickly adapt to this new form and use its power to punish Todo Aoi, to apologize to its teammate, and to take revenge on the enemy!