Trouble at the Forest

Lucario had excellent reflexes but even it was caught off-guard by Hitmonchan's [Fake Out]. Folker then recalled how Chelsea's Zoroark was able to react on time despite having just been recalled on the battlefield.

He then made a mental note to himself to train his pokemon's reflexes for sudden attacks like this so that he won't be caught off-guard in the future. It would also help in defending against sneak attacks. After all, being too careful isn't a bad thing either as long as one doesn't forsake opportunities.

"Let's do this, Luca! Use [Bulk Up]!" Folker shouted as he clenched his fists. Lucario then forcefully bulked its muscles up with fighting type energy, strengthening its attack and defenses.

"[Bulk Up]" Koichi said with a smile as he looked at Lucario's figure. Hitmonchan also did the same as it sized up Lucario's figure.

"[Bulk Up], once again!" Folker shouted as he looked at the Karate Master's figure warily. Without any surprise, Koichi responded with the same move as they strengthened their attacks and defenses to the max they could.

Right now, both Lucario and Hitmonchan's muscles bulged, oozing with dense energy from within their muscles.

'I will have to be careful with Hitmonchan's attacks' Folker thought to himself as he looked at Hitmonchan's figure. Despite being a fighting type itself, Lucario's steel-typing made it weak against fighting type moves.

"Luca, use [Double Team] and follow it up with [Aura Sphere]!" Folker shouted as he raised his right fist forward. Lucario then rushed towards Hitmonchan and encircled it with its clones.

"[Detect]!" Koichi said with a faint smile as he let out a punch in a karate stance. Hitmonchan then focused its energy on its senses to detect the real Lucario's attack.

All of the Lucario clones whirled their fists as they launched an [Aura Sphere] from all sides. However, Hitmonchan was able to detect the real [Aura Sphere] and dodged by jumping in the air.

[Detect] was a type of move that once used, it can't be used for a short period of time. In addition, its accuracy also decreases the more the user uses this move. Therefore, it should only be used for critical situations.

It was at this moment that Lucario suddenly rushed towards Hitmonchan's direction and launched another [Aura Sphere] at point-blank range.

Hitmonchan was helplessly struck with [Aura Sphere] from below and was sent flying higher in the air, unable to stabilize its balance. The corners of Koichi's eyes lit up in shock.

"Follow it up with another [Aura Sphere] before it lands on the ground!" Folker hurriedly shouted as he observed Hitmonchan's figure that was falling on the ground.

Just when Hitmonchan was finally able to stabilize its balance mid-air, Lucario sent another [Aura Sphere] on its direction, forcing it to brace itself with its arms forward to minimize the damage to a certain extent.

Hitmonchan was pushed back from the impact and fell on the ground but it quickly stood up as it grit its teeth. From the looks of it, Lucario's attacks must have dealt some damage. Although it bulked its defenses up, it's still at the mercy of special attack moves like [Aura Sphere].

Fortunately, unlike Lucario, Hitmonchan's fighting typing allowed it to naturally resist some of the damage from the attack. Otherwise, being hit twice by a powerful [Aura Sphere] would have made it unable to battle.

"Not bad, young man" Koichi praised with a genuine smile on his face as he looked at Folker's figure. He was sincerely happy for Folker's growth as the master of the Dojo.

Folker scratched the back of his head as he smiled but he wasn't embarrassed by Koichi's praise. He took Koichi's words to heart and did not let his guard down.

After all, the Koichi is the Karate Master and he knew that even with all the advantages Folker was able to seize so far in this battle, Koichi wouldn't go down that easily and might even have a chance to turn around the battle.

"Now, use [Mach Punch]!" Koichi shouted as he performed an uppercut in the air. Hitmonchan then rushed towards Lucario's figure at breakneck speed as it let out a punching motion and struck Lucario's chest.

"[Fire Punch]!" Koichi hurriedly shouted as a follow up command. Hitmonchan quickly channeled fire-type energy on its right fist as fire emerged from it and struck Lucario's chest once again.

"Lucario!"

Lucario let out a scream of pain after being struck twice by super-effective moves. However, both Folker and Lucario's eyes lit up at the same time.

"Reversal!" Folker shouted as he clenched his fists, betting everything with this one move.

Lucario then used all the energy from within its body and focused it on its right fist as it rushed towards Hitmonchan's direction at lightning speed.

"[Detect]!" Koichi hurriedly shouted. Hitmonchan enhanced its senses and barely dodged Lucario's all-out attack by lowering its head slightly to the right.

The corners of Folker's eyes widened in shock while Lucario just grit its teeth as it struggled to stand on the battlefield, stubbornly refusing to fall down through sheer will.

A hint of respect can be seen from Koichi's eyes as he looked at Lucario's figure.

"As a sign of respect, I will do everything in my power to bring you down. [Fire Punch]!" Koichi shouted with his lungs out. Hitmonchan then let out a sharp cry and struck Lucario with a fiery fist.

Finally, Lucario fell down with its eyes spiraling.

"Lucario is unable to battle!" the referee announced Hitmonchan's victory. Hitmonchan then made a slight bow towards Lucario as a sign of respect.

It was at this moment that the figure of a young man with spiky hair in a karate uniform approached Koichi's figure. The young man panted for breath as sweat covered his body.

The corners of Koichi's eyes narrowed as he glared at the young man who approached him. He didn't like interruptions, especially during battles. Nevertheless, he decided to hear the young man out. Surely, he wouldn't interrupt him for something that is not an emergency.

Folker recalled Lucario back to its pokeball and muttered with a low voice "You did really well, Luca. I'm sorry we couldn't win this time". He then turned his gaze towards the young man but didn't show any expression.

"Master, huff.. huff.. t-there's t-t-trouble at the Cerulean Forest!" the young man said as he slightly panicked while catching his breath.

"Calm down first. Take a deep breath" Koichi said as he looked at the young man in front of him. The young man then took a deep breath and appeared to have calmed down after ten seconds.

"Master, Zapdos was sighted in the Cerulean Forest!" the young man said.