Read advance chapters for both of my work, exclusively on Patreon at - www.patreon.com/Sniperwoof
-----------------
Round Four.
The opponent's strength had stepped up a notch, but Li Xiang's strategy wouldn't change much.
He would stick to what worked.
Under the shining sun, he entered the field amidst the usual spectators, as if the arguments from the end of yesterday had never happened.
No one had discussed it on the forums last night either. Proof that there were still plenty of sensible people.
A bit of trash talk in a crowd was one thing, but the forums were real-name registered. Leading a charge there was a good way to make enemies.
Inside the arena.
The opponent had been waiting for some time.
Li Xiang walked in calmly, his mind still analyzing the opponent's team, while the referee announced the rules.
No communication.
Both silently revealed their Poké Balls, then decisively threw them!
Bang! Bang!
Two soft sounds!
On the other side, a Pokémon that looked like a large, green-skinned toad with a giant flower on its back, but with lizard-like elements, landed.
Venusaur, one of the first-generation starters. Hard to believe this was the first starter Pokémon Li Xiang had encountered in four rounds.
It seemed these Pokémon weren't as popular as one might think.
Ability: Chlorophyll. A sunny start was guaranteed.
His side could contest the weather, but it wasn't really necessary. They could handle Chlorophyll just fine.
"Meta!"
The shiny Metagross landed, its silver body gleaming in the sunlight, its dark golden eyes sharp and focused.
'Finally! It's my turn to steamroll!'
'Come on, let's see which unlucky fool needs a train ride today!'
The two Pokémon faced each other fifty meters apart, eyeing each other fiercely, officially starting the battle!
"Sunny Day!"
"Hone Claws!"
Venusaur let out a loud cry, a white light flashing on its body. The sun above seemed to focus its attention on this area, while the surroundings dimmed slightly.
The move didn't affect the sun itself but concentrated the sunlight within a specific range. This method was more energy-efficient compared to a semi-enclosed stadium.
"Growth!"
The opponent commanded. Sunny Day plus Growth was a fairly standard combo; under sunlight, Growth's effect would double.
"Vena!"
Venusaur shouted, its body enveloped in a shimmering green light. Its already somewhat large body rapidly swelled, as if growing larger!
Across the field, Metagross eagerly rubbed its claws together, raising its Attack and accuracy by one stage each.
Without Li Xiang's reminder, it automatically controlled its electromagnetic force, levitated from the ground, slotted its four thick arms into its head like a flying saucer, and hovered, ready to attack at any moment.
"The opponent will use Weather Ball to counter your Bullet Punch, so let's fake it this time. Use Protect and charge over at top speed immediately, no hesitation!"
"Meta!"
Metagross acknowledged, pulling its two front claws down and clasping them together, swiftly flying forward!
Sure enough, facing the onrushing Metagross, the flower on Venusaur's back tilted slightly, condensing a blazing fireball above it, which shot forward with a whoosh!
Under sunlight, Weather Ball becomes a Fire-type move!
Simultaneously, after firing the Weather Ball, Venusaur immediately began moving, not giving Metagross a chance to get close!
Not far away, as the fireball shot towards it, a shimmering green circular shield appeared in front of Metagross, blocking the fireball!
Thud!
The fireball exploded into raging flames and thick smoke, which Metagross then burst through, scattering them to the wind!
"Sleep Powder!"
The opponent's expression remained unchanged. The Weather Ball was just a probing attack, meant to force out Metagross's Protect.
The real intended move was Sleep Powder!
Venusaur shook its plump body, releasing golden powder that drifted around it, forming a protective cloud.
If Metagross dared to approach, it would surely be affected by the Sleep Powder!
However.....
"Icy Wind!"
Li Xiang suddenly shouted. Metagross, charging towards Venusaur, opened its mouth, releasing an icy cold wind mixed with snowflakes that blew all the golden powder away!
'Icy Wind!? Why would Metagross learn that? Do you have that much free time?'
The opponent frowned slightly, completely unprepared for Li Xiang's Metagross knowing this move, but he couldn't stop the powder from being blown away; Protect couldn't shield these particles.
So—
"Vine Whip!"
He waved his hand. Venusaur, cornered by Metagross, instantly shot two thick green vines from its back.
But the target wasn't Metagross; it was the distant chain-link fence!
Snap! Snap!
Squeak—
The fence made a strange noise as the middle section was tightly wrapped by the vines.
At the critical moment, facing the rapidly approaching Metagross, Venusaur suddenly leaped up. The vines retracted swiftly, pulling its body away into the distance!
Extremely fast, almost like Riolu using Agility!
Not far away, the chain-link fence bent rapidly but held firm, firmly anchored to the ground, allowing Venusaur's plump body to use it for mobility.
'Spider-Man, huh!?'
Li Xiang's face darkened. This was the first time he'd encountered someone using Vine Whip for movement, and so quickly at that. They were really making use of the field rules.
'Well, don't blame me then!'
"Agility, chase it down!"
"Meta!"
Metagross acknowledged and chased after Venusaur again, this time moving even faster than before!
"Weather Ball!"
The landed Venusaur tilted the flower on its back, which seemed to have eyes of its own, and shot another blazing fireball at Metagross!
After the Growth-boosted Special Attack, this Weather Ball wouldn't be easy to take head-on!
Fortunately, Metagross was very proficient with its Psychic Shield. Its eyes glowed blue, followed by a pink light blooming in front of it, forming a semi-circular shield.
Then, a golden light covered it, making it shine like a golden sun!
Boom!
Fire exploded against the golden Psychic Shield!
The Weather Ball hit Metagross's shield the instant it formed, a split-second timing. The golden shield trembled slightly, then shattered with a crack!
Only remnants of the flames reached Metagross's face. The highly powerful Weather Ball was completely blocked!
Seeing this, the opponent frowned again. He knew Li Xiang's Metagross had Psychic Shield, but he hadn't expected it to be so resilient.
This meant using a switch into Taunt had less value now. Adding Disable would be too greedy; he might not have that many opportunities.
'Tch! Just how long has this guy been training his Metagross!?'
As he pondered, Metagross had already closed in on Venusaur, raising one arm high, summoning a golden light blade, and swinging it down at Venusaur!
Psycho Cut!
'So fast!'
"Protect!"
The moment he spoke, a green light shield appeared above Venusaur, blocking the Psycho Cut!
Boom!
Golden light flashed brilliantly, nearly blinding him!
But without hesitation, he decisively recalled Venusaur, even though it wasted the Growth boost. He then threw out another PokéBall.
Bang!
A flash of white light, and a snickering, pitch-black Pokémon with pink flame patterns on its chest and belly landed on the field.
—Salazzle, the seventh-generation Poison/Fire-type.
A Pokémon that only females can evolve into. Its Ability was Hidden Ability Oblivious, not Corrosion which can poison Steel-types.
Clearly, the opponent believed that Oblivious, which blocks Taunt, was more useful than Corrosion, which only allows poisoning Steel-types but doesn't make Poison-type moves super-effective.
This wasn't a wrong assumption. In the current meta, if a Pokémon can learn Taunt, it absolutely will.
If there's a chance to use it, it will be used 100%.
Therefore, Abilities that prevent Taunt become somewhat valuable.
"After it! Psycho Cut!"
Metagross promptly turned and flew towards Salazzle, simultaneously forming another golden light blade on its claw!
The golden light gleamed under the scorching sun!
"Fire Lash!"
A whip made of flames shot out, surprisingly nimble as it tried to wrap around Metagross's body.
Seeing this, Metagross didn't hesitate, decisively slashing the flame whip with its blade!
Boom!
The two energies repelled each other, exploding into pungent smoke!
The opponent hurriedly ran towards Salazzle, who also promptly retreated, putting distance between herself and Metagross.
"Dragon Dance!"
While moving, Salazzle spun on one foot like a ballet dancer, her body glowing with a cyan-blue light.
'A physical-attack oriented Salazzle?'
Li Xiang frowned, "Bulldoze!"
"Meta!"
Metagross, bursting through the smoke a second time, slammed into the ground, creating a fan-shaped yellowish-brown shockwave!
The shockwave was extremely fast. Even though Salazzle was desperately running backward, she couldn't avoid it and was sent flying by the shockwave!
Her newly boosted Speed was lowered again!
Seeing this, the opponent's expression turned as dark as a pot.
'Bulldoze, Icy Wind—aren't these utility moves usually learned by support Pokémon?'
'Are you, an offensive Metagross, just bored or something!? Enough already!'
"Fire Lash!"
Salazzle flipped back onto her feet, raised her sharp claws, and a whip of flames quickly formed in her hand, which she then viciously lashed towards Metagross!
With Dragon Dance, Sunny Day, and a physical build, the power of this Fire Lash reached a terrifying level!
Li Xiang was about to shout Psychic, but his mind suddenly took a turn.
"Protect!"
Metagross created another green light shield, blocking the flame whip!
The opponent showed a scheming expression.
"Taunt!"
Salazzle hooked a claw at the shielding Metagross. The already irritable iron blockhead took the bait, roaring in anger!
'Protect gets Taunted, Psychic Shield gets Disabled—they always find a way to mess with you!'
'Dammit, defensive moves are really annoying!'
The opponent, frustrated by Metagross's resilience, couldn't help but smile.
But soon, he couldn't smile anymore, because Metagross remained in place, its eyes glowing with golden light. Then, the same golden light appeared around Salazzle!
The classic use of Psychic!
'It locked onto Salazzle with its psychic waves that quickly? And such a long control range?'
'Are you even a physical-attacker?!'
The opponent gaped, watching helplessly as Metagross continued closing in on Salazzle, who was being controlled and violently thrown towards it.
"Psycho Cut."
Li Xiang smiled slightly.
In an instant, a golden, spiked club appeared in Metagross's hands. Gripping it with both hands, it swung it like a baseball bat, smashing it forward!
'Damn! Is that a psychic spiked club?!'
The opponent's eyes widened in fury, shouting, "Protect!"
Salazzle, freed from control, shrieked and placed a green shield in front of herself.
However, when Protect met the psychic spiked club, it couldn't block all the force. Instead, it shattered with a boom!
The shield broke!
Gasps came from the audience. Shield breaks weren't rare, but without exception, they indicated extremely high power from the attacker!
Boom!
The slightly diminished psychic spiked club made intimate contact with Salazzle's face, sending her flying violently!
"Urgh!"
Salazzle felt a sharp pain as she was launched high into the air!
"Meta!" (A HOME RUN!)