Chapter 159: Red vs. Zeus!! (Part 1)
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander
At this moment, Zeus had unexpectedly calmed down. An expert naturally senses another expert, and he could feel that the man before him might not be much weaker than himself. His initial disdain had shifted to the cautious gaze one reserved for an equal.
Zeus looked at the bodyguard, Red, and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, who exactly are you?"
"Less talk, more fight?"
Red replied bluntly.
Like a long drought met by sweet rain, Red, a battle maniac in his early years, had long wanted to truly test his skills against a real person in this world. The last time, he'd only exchanged a couple of moves with a giant, stationary target, which was far from satisfying.
But this broad-chested, brawny man before him was a worthy opponent. The sight filled him with a hunter's excitement.
Zeus: "..."
His own desire for battle was already intense, but this was the first time anyone had ever urged him into a fight. A corner of Zeus's mouth lifted, a vein throbbed on his forehead, and the enormous, head-sized muscles on his arms trembled. The flames of battle intensity flared in his eyes.
He, too, was a man who loved to fight!
"Then let's have a fight first!"
A vicious glint in his eyes, Zeus threw another Poké Ball. Before the red light had even faded, an incredibly domineering and fierce aura surged to its peak. A tangible storm of air blasted out across the hall, causing Red's clothes to whip about.
When the red light dissipated, a yellow Humanoid Pokémon stood there. It was nearly the height of an adult man, with a broad physique and powerful limbs.
Its yellow fur was marked with black stripes, like bolts of black lightning. On its round head stood two horns that resembled a radar, and two black cord-like wires floated behind its back. A black bar-like stripe ran across its eyes, which gleamed with a ferocious light.
Merely by standing there, a terrifying aura of electric current radiated from its body, and the entire hall seemed to crackle with faint, explosive sounds.
Electivire!
"..."
Red looked it up and down. This Electivire was a whole size larger than a normal one, its aura unabashedly erupting outwards. Its strength was undoubtedly far more ferocious than Zeus's previous two Pokémon.
In comparison, the aura of Ash's Gengar seemed as weak as a chick's.
"Let me tell you, Electivire is my ace."
Zeus sneered, looking at Red before roaring:
"Let your thunderous feast begin, Electivire! Use Electric Terrain!!"
"Zz-ROAR!!"
Electivire slammed its fists together and then smashed them into the ground. An immense, surging mist of electricity erupted from the floor, enveloping the entire hall in the blink of an eye.
"Crackle... Crackle..."
Everything around them looked as if it was covered by a yellowish filter, with stray arcs of electric current flashing intermittently.
Sparks of electricity flew underfoot!
"Electric Terrain, is it..."
A smile that saw through everything touched the corner of Red's lips. He had instantly discerned Zeus's objective.
But he remained impassive, giving no sign of his realization.
On the other side, Zeus watched Red with a smile of his own, thinking that everything was going according to his plan. His opponent was still a Gengar, a Pokémon he was very familiar with—he even owned a female Gengar himself. High attack, high speed, a total glass cannon.
"Electivire, use Light Screen."
Zeus commanded preemptively. The next second, Electivire swept its arm in front of itself, creating a transparent wall of light out of thin air. The screen then moved to cover its body, which began to glow with a brilliant yellow, transparent film.
Light Screen, for a certain number of turns, halves the power of special attack moves used against its user.
Gengar excelled at Special Attack Moves like Shadow Ball, Sludge Wave, and Psychic. At its core, it was a cannon for launching special attacks. But with the help of Light Screen, Electivire was now in a nearly unbeatable position.
"You've made quite a few preparations..."
Red's expression remained unchanged. He didn't interrupt, waiting until his opponent had set up both the terrain and the barrier before he slowly gave his command:
"Gengar, use Shadow Punch."
Zeus: "?"
"Geng!!"
Gengar slammed a fist into the ground. Instantly, a shadowy fist shot out from the floor in front of Electivire, striking upwards. It smashed squarely into its nose, leaving a red mark.
Light Screen had offered no resistance whatsoever.
Red spoke again, "Gengar, use Fire Punch."
Zeus: "?"
Watching Gengar's chubby fist erupt with a "poof" of flame before it charged forward, he couldn't help but scratch his head.
A physical attack Gengar?
What dimension did this strategy come from?
But Zeus quickly composed himself and commanded a direct counter:
"Electivire, we'll use Thunder Punch!!"
"Zz-ROAR!!"
Electivire roared and charged forward as well. A powerful electric current enveloped one of its fists, which, combined with the boosted voltage from the surrounding Electric Terrain, was imbued with a terrifying imposing might.
"BOOM!!"
Fire Punch and Thunder Punch collided. Two different types, two forms of power, clashed madly, sending shockwaves rolling towards the sky.
"Geng..."
After a stalemate of several seconds, Gengar ultimately proved to be the weaker, sent flying by the Thunder Punch. It only stopped its retreat after crashing into the wall behind it.
Fortunately, the envelope of flame had prevented the full effect of the type attack from spreading to it. Otherwise, given Gengar's glass cannon body, a single punch might have been too much to handle.
"Not enough power. Teaching a Pokémon like Gengar physical attack moves... you're a failure as a Trainer," Zeus taunted.
Red just calmly observed Electivire's movements, not offering a rebuttal.
Gengar's punching had form, but it lacked sufficient strength, especially when facing an Electivire renowned for its power. A head-on clash was impossible for it to win.
Then, Red launched another attack:
"Gengar, this time, use Twin Punches."
"Geng!!"
The dust-covered Gengar's morale was rekindled. It stood up again, its arms hanging by its sides. This time, two completely different types of energy erupted from its fists simultaneously—flame on one side, ice on the other. Two completely different powers appeared on a single Pokémon.
Although Gengar also knew Thunder Punch, against an Electivire with the Motor Drive Ability, that Move was effectively sealed.
"Twin Punches, eh? That's an advanced technique for Fighting Pokémon..."
Zeus's brow furrowed. It seemed this Gengar had gone down the path of physical attack and would never turn back. But the next second, a cruel smile stretched across his face.
"But my Electivire knows it too! Electivire, use Twin Punches... Thunder Punch!!"
"Zz-ROAR!!"
At the command, Electivire roared, smashing its two fists together in front of its chest. The radar-like horns on its head gathered the countless electrical currents from the surroundings into its body, then channeled them into its fists. Instantly, terrifying sparks of lightning burst from both fists.
Although Electivire also knew Fire Punch, Thunder Punch was undoubtedly more powerful right now!
"Zz-ROAR!!"
"GENG GENG!!"
The two Pokémon shot forward, their bodies leaning into the charge, and then unleashed both of their fists simultaneously!!
"BOOM! RUMBLE!!"
Terrifying brute strength and savage elemental power clashed without restraint, one rising as the other fell. At times, lightning flashed and thunder roared; at others, ice and flame entwined, their combined momentum soaring to the heavens.
"It's useless!!"
With a bellow from Zeus, Electivire suddenly put forth all its strength. The muscles in its arms bulged even more, and the might of its lightning erupted in an instant, a frenzy of electric current scattering in all directions!!
"BZZZZT!!"
The surrounding Electric Terrain coalesced countless bolts of lightning, which began to spiral around Electivire as their source!
"BOOM! RUMBLE!!"
Gengar finally couldn't hold on. Its follow-through lacked strength, and it was sent flying by the terrifying power of the twin fists and the might of the lightning, slamming hard into the metal wall behind it.
(end of chapter)