83. Greninja

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In the smoke, Houndoom stood vigilant, its fierce eyes scanning in all directions. It didn't have any moves to clear the smoke.

Suddenly, a figure shot through the haze—Frogadier, gripping a kunai, aiming for Houndoom's throat like a bolt of lightning.

"Flamethrower!" commanded Tabitha.

Houndoom reacted almost instinctively, turning its head and unleashing a powerful Flamethrower!

Frogadier was instantly engulfed in flames—but it was only a shadow clone!

"Another fake?" Tabitha frowned. The Eruption move should have wiped out all the Double Teams.

Did Frogadier use Double Team *after* Eruption?

Where was the real body?

Just then, the true Frogadier burst from the haze, water swirling around it as it dashed toward Houndoom's back with a kunai, moving as fast as a Spark.

"Aqua Jet combined with Cut? This one has to be real!" Tabitha thought.

"Behind you! Lightning Fang!" Tabitha shouted.

But after using Flamethrower forward, even a powerful Houndoom couldn't turn and launch Lightning Fang fast enough.

They had no choice but to brace for the impact!

*Pfft!*

*Zzzzzzi!*

Frogadier's kunai slashed across Houndoom's neck, but Houndoom gritted its teeth, unleashing a numbing electric current as its jaws snapped forward in a vicious Crunch, aiming for Frogadier's head.

*Clang!* The sound of teeth clashing echoed.

It was fake again! Another Substitute!

Neither Tabitha nor Chris expected this. Chris had thought that Frogadier would have been badly injured or even knocked out after enduring Eruption.

But Frogadier still had enough energy to create a Substitute? Using Substitute takes a lot of stamina. If it didn't have enough strength left, it shouldn't have been able to pull it off.

Now that both the Double Team and Substitute were broken, where was the real Frogadier?

Just as this question formed in the minds of both Tabitha and Houndoom, a stream of water surged from behind Houndoom—from the same direction it had released Flamethrower earlier—giving them the answer.

"Water Pulse!"

Houndoom, exhausted from its earlier movements, couldn't turn around this time. Its earlier effort had been its limit.

Tabitha could only watch as the Water Pulse slammed into Houndoom, knocking it to the ground.

When it tried to rise, Houndoom felt an unfamiliar sensation in its limbs, making it hard to steady itself.

Tabitha's eyes widened. Oh no! Water Pulse had confused Houndoom, leaving it disoriented!

Chris saw his chance. "Frogadier, Quick Attack and Cut!"

In a flash, Frogadier darted through the haze, lightning fast. Its kunai gleamed, trailing two streaks of light in mid-air like a masterful sword ready to strike!

This blow would surely land!

"Electivire, Thunder Punch!" Tabitha couldn't bear to see his Pokémon defeated and quickly acted. A Poké Ball soared through the air, and Electivire landed with a thunderous punch crackling with electricity.

"Gabite, Dragon Claw!" Chris, expecting this, was already prepared. This wasn't a typical battle with rules—using multiple Pokémon was fair game.

Gabite emerged from its Poké Ball, facing Electivire head-on. Without hesitation, Gabite allowed the Thunder Punch to land. The electric attack had no effect on the Ground-type Gabite, but in return, Gabite's Dragon Claw slashed across Electivire, leaving a deep mark.

It was a trade well worth it. Electric-type moves were useless against Gabite, but the Dragon-type move was a real threat to Electivire!

As the two Pokémon landed, Frogadier had already finished its battle.

A sharp, decisive Cut left an "X" scar on Houndoom's neck. Frogadier stood behind it, breathing heavily, its slim figure swaying slightly. It wasn't trying to look cool—Frogadier was simply doing its best to stay on its feet.

Taking on that Eruption hadn't been easy.

With a thud, Houndoom collapsed, unable to rise again.

[Houndoom LV 40 has fainted. Frogadier gains 3102 experience points. Frogadier leveled up! Current level: 35]

One more level, and Frogadier would evolve.

But then Chris noticed something strange—a glowing white light began to flow from Frogadier's body. It was the unmistakable light of evolution!

"Wait, isn't it still one level short? Why is it evolving now?" Chris wondered.

Under the shroud of white light, Frogadier's body straightened and grew taller. When the light faded, a powerful Greninja stood before him.

[Greninja (Water/Dark)]

[Level: 35]

[Ability: Battle Bond (activated when bonded with the Trainer, effect unknown)]

[Stats: HP (31), Attack (31), Special Attack (31), Defense (25), Special Defense (27), Speed (31)]

[Moves: Bubble Beam, Pound, Growl, Quick Attack, Lick, Smokescreen, Water Pulse, Substitute, Cut, Fling, Smack Down, Rock Smash, Water Sport, Water Shuriken, Night Slash, Role Play, Shadow Sneak, Spikes, Feint Attack]

[Held Item: Mystic Water]

"I keep forgetting this isn't just a game." Chris chuckled. In reality, a Pokémon's will to grow stronger could trigger evolution even if it didn't align with the game's level system. 

And as for why Frogadier was able to endure Eruption and still use Substitute? It had learned *Water Sport* during the battle, which reduced the power of Fire-type moves!

"That's the power of a Pokémon with the Battle Bond ability," Chris thought proudly.

On the other hand, Tabitha looked furious, as if he'd just eaten something foul. Seeing his opponent's Pokémon defeat his own, and then evolve right in front of him, was deeply humiliating.

"Electivire, Thunder Punch!" Tabitha shouted in desperation.

"Crack!" Electivire roared, charging forward with electrifying speed, its fist glowing with sparks aimed at Greninja.

But Gabite leapt in front of Electivire, blocking its path.

"Gabite! (You want Greninja? You'll have to get through me first!)" Gabite growled.

"Annoying little pest!" Tabitha gritted his teeth and threw another Poké Ball. This time, Camerupt appeared.

"Camerupt, use Double-Edge!"

Camerupt charged between Gabite and Electivire, clearing the way for Electivire to focus solely on Greninja.

As Electivire prepared to strike, Chris remained calm and issued two commands.

"Greninja, use Role Play."

"Gardevoir, use Life Dew!"

(Greninja took on Electivire's Thunder Punch ability, and Gardevoir prepared to heal the team with Life Dew!)