Chapter 7: A Rock-Hard Battle!
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
Ultimately, without the Pokedex's override function, the Caterpie successfully evolved.
The Light dissipated, revealing a Pokémon that was glossy green all over and shaped like a Banana, its expression even more dazed.
In any case, it was a world away from the divine aura of the Rayquaza in the picture.
"Metapod. Nickname: Rayquaza. The Hard Pokémon. Its body becomes harder when stimulated. It is Pidgeot's favorite food, crunchy and crisp."
The Pokedex automatically announced.
Helpless, Ash could only slowly pick up the immobile Metapod.
It was surprisingly heavy; even with his powerful arms, it was a bit of a strain.
In the future, if I can't beat someone, throwing your Pokémon at them would be an excellent option.
"Metapod, let's stop thinking about Rayquaza. A bright future is still in our hands!"
Ash sighed, his eyes brimming with hot tears as he spoke.
"Pod! Pod!"
Having just evolved, Metapod also responded with tears welling in its eyes.
Misty: "…"
This scene… why did it look so bizarre?
"Speaking of which, which bastard pried off my B Button?"
Ash glanced at the Pokedex. The marks on it were clean, with no extra scratches. It was clearly the work of a seasoned professional.
Looking closely, he saw a line of small words written beneath the hollowed-out B Button slot.
"Be a good person."
Seeing this, Ash was instantly furious. The day he found out who the culprit was, he would smash this Metapod right in their face.
Red: "…"
The two of them packed their things and continued towards Pewter City.
Although Viridian Forest was said to be a paradise for Bug Type Pokémon, a whole day had passed and they had seen nothing but Caterpie and Weedle.
Even with Ash's hyperactive personality, he couldn't help but feel a sense of aesthetic fatigue.
They continued onward.
As they walked, Ash suddenly noticed a figure charging towards them.
*Swoosh!!*
A Blade Slash came cleaving straight down at his head, incredibly fierce.
It was a sharp blade!
*Crack!*
Ash instinctively raised his arm to block. When the blade made contact with his arm, it was directly shattered into two pieces.
"Damn it, such immense Power!"
The figure quickly backed away, clutching the broken blade, his expression shocked.
Ash: "???"
What the hell? Is he pretending to be a samurai with a soft plastic sword?
Taking a closer look, he saw that the figure was wearing a suit of blood-red armor and a ferocious-looking helmet.
"Greetings! I am the samurai youth, Jack, and I am undergoing the powerful and tenacious training of a samurai!"
Ash frowned and replied:
"No, you're the Bug Catcher Boy, Jack."
"You call yourself a samurai just by wearing a plastic helmet? Can't you at least cover up your tank top and shorts first?"
Jack: "…"
"Anyway, I'm looking for a Trainer from Pallet Town! You're from Pallet Town, right? Have a Battle with me!"
The samurai youth Jack shouted fiercely.
"Alright, Bug Catcher Boy, then I, the super Newcomer from Pallet Town, accept your challenge!"
Ash immediately grew fired up as well, raising a Poké Ball to face him.
"I'm a samurai youth!"
Enraged, Jack was the first to throw out a Pokémon.
A flash of red light, and a grayish-brown bug appeared.
It had a body of sturdy, lean Muscle, two hard, sharp horns on its head, and a ferocious expression.
"Pinsir. Not your run-of-the-mill Bug Type Pokémon. It has great Strength, but its meat is tough and doesn't taste good."
The Pokedex automatically announced.
Jack: "?"
Why is this Pokedex as snarky as its Trainer!?
"In that case, I choose you, Pikachu!"
Ash sent out his yellow general, one of his top three in terms of Strength.
"Pika…"
But Pikachu, at some unknown point, had already pulled out a three-piece set of a pillow, Quilt/Blanket, and mattress behind everyone. It even had a small Lightning bolt symbol on it.
"Zzz…"
It had made its bed on the spot and was sleeping soundly, even letting out soft snores.
Ash: "…"
Pikachu used Slack Off.
"In that case, I choose you, Pidgeotto!"
Undiscouraged, Ash once again sent out his avian general, another one of his top three.
"Good choice, Ash. Pidgeotto's Flying Type has an advantage over Pinsir's Bug Type."
Misty couldn't help but praise.
"Ah, it has a Type Advantage? In that case, return, Pidgeotto."
And so, Ash recalled Pidgeotto.
Misty: "?"
Did I memorize the Type Effectiveness chart wrong?
Or is this Youth hard of hearing?
Next, Ash sent out his other top-three Pokémon, his Dragon general.
"Metapod? Isn't that Pokémon just a sitting duck?"
Seeing this, Jack sneered and commanded:
"Go, use Clamp!"
"Pin-sir!!"
Pinsir charged forward like a wild bull, kicking up countless clouds of Smoke and Dust along the way.
It lowered its head, wedging Metapod directly into the center of the giant pincers on its head, and then began to apply pressure, trying to snap it in half.
"Don't lose to it! Use Harden!"
Ash hurriedly commanded.
Metapod's gaze sharpened. A metallic luster flickered slightly, and a blue light, symbolizing Defense, shone.
It hardened.
"*K-crack…*"
Under the immense force, the spikes on Pinsir's large horns actually developed several cracks from the hard shell.
"Damn it! Return, Pinsir!"
Jack quickly recalled Pinsir.
Those large horns were a work of art; their value would drop significantly if they broke. He had no choice but to switch to his second Pokémon.
A green, Banana-shaped…
That's right, it was also a Metapod!
"In that case, Metapod, we'll use Harden too!"
Jack said confidently.
When it came to hardness, he wouldn't lose to anyone!
A metallic luster also lit up on its body, and it seemed to shine even more brightly silver than Ash's Metapod.
Ash refused to back down, shouting, "Damn it! We'll use Harden too!"
"Then we'll keep using Harden!"
"Then we'll get even harder than it!"
"Harden!"
"Harden!"
Misty: "???"
Why did these lines have such a subtle implication? In her ears, she could almost hear the roars of an Incineroar and a Lycanroc.
The Battle lasted for over an hour.
By now, both Metapods were shining with a golden light, their hardness clearly having been raised to the Ultimate State.
"Damn it, have I reached my Limit of hardness?"
Jack was annoyed, panting heavily.
"Damn it, can't I get any harder either!?"
Ash's brow furrowed deeply, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"Then, use Tackle!"
Jack launched a surprise attack.
Getting hard and then starting to ram—it aligns with natural biology.
Jack's Metapod was covered in golden light, transforming into a charging golden Tank (Archetype) as it viciously slammed its head into Ash's Metapod.
*K-CLANG!*
Sparks flew and a metallic explosion echoed throughout Viridian Forest.
HP -0.
*K-CLANG!*
Ash's Metapod showed no weakness, also transforming into a golden Tank (Archetype) and ramming forward. Another terrifying metallic explosion resounded through the Air.
HP -0.
"Tackle!"
"Then we'll use Tackle too!"
Misty: "?"
What's more torturous than watching an hour of hardening? Don't tell me I have to watch an hour of Tackling now!?
I haven't done anything wrong, have I? How did I end up in hell?!
Soon, 10 Turns of Tackling had passed.
The HP of both Metapods, while not at their Peak, was still at Full Health.
Jack, gasping for breath, finally had a change in expression and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration:
"So strong… As expected of a Trainer from Pallet Town. Every one of you is so amazing…"
"*Hahh, hahh*… You've met other Trainers from Pallet Town?"
Ash asked, hands on his hips, panting heavily.
"That's right. I've already met three of them: a Trainer with a Squirtle, one with a Bulbasaur, and one with a Charmander. The Trainer with the Squirtle was especially, ridiculously strong."
"Squirtle? Was it Gary? That guy!"
Ash remembered that when they were kids, his best friend Gary had once said that when he turned 10 and set out on his journey, he wanted to get a Squirtle.
"So, who do you think is stronger, me or him?"
Thinking of this, Ash couldn't help but ask.
"You? Haha, you can't even beat me! You're even weaker than the girl with the Bulbasaur!"
"The girl with the Bulbasaur?"
Ash quickly remembered again. When he and Gary played together as kids, there was always a little girl who wanted to join them, but he mercilessly rejected her every time.
Guys should naturally play with guys. What's the deal with girls?
That girl's name seemed to be... Blue, right?
Red: "…"
That name... sounds a little familiar…
"Hmph, then I can't possibly lose to you here!"
Ash suddenly turned his Hat around. A fiery, brilliant Light shone in his eyes.
He was going to become a Pokémon Master in the future. How could he let a mere Bug Catcher Boy block his path right at the start?
"Metapod, use Electro Web!!"
he roared.
A golden Electro Web shot out, firmly ensnaring the opposing Metapod, which was close by but unable to move.
*BZZZT!!*
The next second, countless Electric Currents burst forth, directly charring the Metapod black.
Hmph, so what if its Defense was raised to the Ultimate State? Electro Web is a Special Attack.
"Beep beep. Metapod is Unable to Battle. Rayquaza is the winner!"
The Pokedex automatically announced.
Jack's eyes widened in disbelief. He then shook his head violently and loudly protested:
"That's not right! In the First Generation, there's no split between Special Attack and Physical Attack! Your Electro Web shouldn't have worked!"
"Beep beep. The times have changed, sir. An Electro Web Metapod is not from the First Generation."
The Pokedex replied automatically.
Ash nodded. Although he didn't understand either, it seemed the Pokedex had finally stood up for him for once.
Jack: "…"
—
(The newcomer asks for votes.)