Chapter 138: Detect, Copy Successful!
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
The battle began.
"Preemptive strike, Hitmonlee!" Neku launched the first attack.
Hitmonlee leaped into the air, its leg suddenly stretching two or three meters as it kicked straight at Primeape.
Ash calmly commanded, "Primeape, use that move!"
"Priii!"
Primeape nodded. It tilted its head slightly, caught Hitmonlee's spring-like leg on its shoulder, and then, using its core strength, prepared to throw it back.
Though it had only used the move twice, it was already a natural at Seismic Toss.
But Hitmonlee's reflexes were just as sharp. Using the momentum of being thrown, it extended its other leg, stomped on the arena's side ropes, and fiercely launched itself back.
*Smack!*
It landed a kick on the back of Primeape's head. The latter rubbed its head repeatedly in pain, rage swelling on its face.
"Such strong reflexes..." Ash marveled silently.
In truth, he currently had the upper hand. After all, Hitmonlee's Hit Points could be restored to full, but its energy and focus couldn't so easily return to their peak state after a major battle.
His Primeape, on the other hand, had steamrolled its way here with barely any damage.
Even so, Hitmonlee was still very strong.
"In that case, Primeape, use the Detect you just copied!" Ash suddenly ordered.
These words secretly startled both Neku and the watching Shandou.
If he was talking about the move Detect, it wasn't too difficult to learn. But if he meant Detect as a martial arts technique, how could it be learned with just a few glances?
Is this trainer dreaming?
On the arena, Primeape took a deep breath and closed its eyes. The "#" shaped vein that had popped out on its forehead from anger gradually smoothed and disappeared.
Then, it began to bounce lightly, its entire presence becoming somewhat mystical.
"Damn! It really copied it!?" Shandou was shocked. "This posture is clearly the same as my Hitmonchan's."
"Incredible aptitude, incredible aptitude..." Shandou's expression instantly became fervent.
Even Neku was stunned by this scene. He had watched all of Ash's battles; this Primeape was a complete martial arts novice. That decent-looking Seismic Toss was something it had cribbed only a few hours ago.
And now it had even stolen Detect?
"Damn it, Hitmonlee, use Double Kick!" he roared.
"Leee!"
Hitmonlee immediately threw out two spring-like kicks, one aimed at Primeape's chest and the other at its head.
But Primeape just bounced lightly on the spot. Facing the two incoming kicks, its breathing remained steady as it readied itself with the Detect technique.
*Swish*
*Swish*
Unexpectedly, both kicks from Double Kick struck Primeape, leaving two fleeting marks on its body.
"Haha, I thought it had truly mastered it, but it turns out it just learned an empty stance!" Neku burst out laughing, his heart settling.
Although Primeape was also dodging at the extreme limit of its range, its speed was far inferior. The two strikes of Double Kick didn't hit their intended targets, but they were still effective.
"Let it see our real Detect!" Neku laughed maniacally. Hitmonlee nodded, bounced lightly on the spot, and soon also entered a mystical state. Behind it, dozens of afterimages making all sorts of predictive motions appeared.
In a single breath, it could make dozens of movements. Able to attack and defend—this was the power of the Detect fighting style.
Seeing this, Neku smugly commanded, "Now, attack it!"
In its Detect state, Hitmonlee kicked out repeatedly. Dozens of kicks seemed to be launched simultaneously, sweeping out like a torrential downpour.
Primeape didn't dare to be careless, bouncing lightly and constantly trying to evade the attacks.
*Th-th-th-thud!!*
But it was ineffective. Unable to dodge completely, almost every kick left a mark on its body.
Seeing this, Ash's gaze hardened, and he shouted:
"Primeape, we'll attack too!"
"Priii!!"
Primeape struggled to maintain its bouncing state. Braving the rain of kicks coming at its head, it swung its fists and began to attack.
"It's useless!" Neku laughed.
Sure enough, every one of Primeape's punches was evaded by Hitmonlee at a perfect distance, not even grazing it.
*Th-th-th-thud!!*
Meanwhile, Primeape was grazed by countless flying kicks again, and the damage was accumulating.
The situation seemed hopelessly one-sided.
But Ash suddenly pumped his fist, wiped the sweat from his brow, and roared:
"Third Brother, show them our bond and our spirit!!"
"Priii!!"
Enduring the countless kicks, Primeape let out a great cry. Its large eyes stared intently at the long-legged creature before it, its movements gradually beginning to mirror Hitmonlee's, as if something was subtly changing.
*Th-th-th-thud!!*
The situation, where almost every kick grazed it, gradually changed to one where only one in two kicks landed...
Then one in three, one in four...
And Primeape's punches went from landing one in ten to one in five.
Then one in three, one in two...
Primeape's movements also started to become more agile. Under the constant attack, its breathing, contrary to expectations, grew steadier. The predictive afterimages behind its back, non-existent at first, began to increase...
Even Neku noticed this change. Glancing over, he saw a cunning smile spreading across the trainer's lips. *Likes to smile, does he?*
"Hitmonlee, full-power attack!" Neku roared.
"Leee!!"
Hitmonlee's speed surged again. Its kicks were as fast as phantoms, their movements impossible to follow.
On the other side, however, Primeape was no longer at its initial disadvantage. Even facing the current storm of attacks, it maintained a steady posture through every single kick.
*Whoosh whoosh...*
Looking closely, one could see that for the past half-minute, Hitmonlee hadn't landed a single kick.
Primeape was just weaving and dodging on the spot, having even scraped a circular mark less than half a meter in diameter on the ground.
Its feet had never left that narrow circle.
Detect, copy successful!
Ash smiled, his plan a success. Since the copy was successful, this 'tool' opposite him was no longer useful. He immediately went on the offensive, declaring:
"It's our turn to counterattack, Primeape!!"
"Priii!!"
Primeape ducked its head to dodge one of Hitmonlee's kicks. This time, it was its fists that swept out like a downpour, each punch aimed at Hitmonlee's vital points.
*Th-th-th-th-th-thud!!*
Every punch landed with a sickening thud. Hitmonlee let out a constant, tragic wail of pain amidst the countless phantom punches.
For punching, spirit is everything.
Once you've won on spirit, the outcome of the battle is decided.
Taking advantage of the fact that its opponent was completely dazed, Ash suddenly roared, switching to Primeape's ultimate move.
"Primeape, finish it in one move with Dynamic Punch!!"
"Priii!!"
Primeape instantly exited its Detect state and reverted to its original, furious state. Two "#" shaped veins now throbbed on its forehead.
It then stomped hard on the ground and shot forward. Its fist, the size of a sandbag, now glowed with a terrifying red light, like a time bomb about to detonate.
The dazed Hitmonlee's vision swam for a moment, and by the time it cleared, Primeape's fist was already right in front of it, striking it square on the forehead.
*BOOM!!*
A thunderous clap echoed out, startling everyone so much they couldn't help but jolt and lean back.
Hitmonlee, at the center of the explosion, was in a much worse state. It felt as if something had exploded in front of it, followed by a searing pain in its face as a terrifyingly immense force blasted it away.
It blacked out in mid-air, losing the ability to battle before it even hit the ground.
"You..."
With such a sudden turn of events, how could Neku not see Ash's strategy? His face was a mask of rage.
"Are you okay? The fastest way to master Detect is through muscle memory, of course. Heh." Ash waved his hand and said with a smug laugh.
Did he really think I was stupid enough to let Primeape be a sandbag for Hitmonlee just for fun? If I wasn't greedy for your move, I would have ended this battle long ago with a single Dynamic Punch.
Steal Detect, then take the champion title—that was Ash's strategy.
He just hadn't expected his opponent to be stupid enough to actually use Detect against Primeape. Wasn't that the same as giving him a personal, hands-on lesson?
"And there you have it! The champion of this P1 Grand Prix is the participant, Ash, and his Primeape!!!" the announcer roared again, his voice cracking from the strain.
Instantly, applause and cheers echoed throughout the entire town.
(end of chapter)