Chapter 267: The Formula Style of James!
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"A Ground and Poison-type, huh?"
Although this Nidoking before him had a strangely flushed face, its aura was extraordinary, so its Level couldn't be too low. Ash didn't dare to be careless and placed his hand on Wartortle's Poké Ball.
The Shared Pokémon system wasn't perfect yet; at this stage, he only had Ground-type Pokémon available. He planned to play it safe and steady by relying on Type Effectiveness.
"Bang!"
But before Ash could even pull out a Poké Ball, another one on his belt suddenly opened on its own. A red light appeared in front of him, gradually coalescing into the form of a small dinosaur-like beast. Its body was grayish-blue, and the top of its head featured a protruding, sapphire-like dome.
"Aooargh!!"
Cranidos made its entrance, thrashing about on the spot like a hyperactive child. It threw its little fists around wildly, its expression furious, before finally fixing its red-glowing eyes on the Nidoking before it.
"Cranidos, you want to battle?"
Ash was stunned for a moment but quickly understood. He took a step forward, a smile full of battle intent spreading across his face. He moved his hand away from Wartortle's Poké Ball, giving his tacit approval for Cranidos to participate in the battle.
"Huh? Just that? A newborn Cranidos? Ahahaha!!"
Seeing this, James burst into arrogant laughter, taunting him.
That's right, James recognized this grayish-blue dinosaur.
In the Sinnoh Region, his family kept two precious Cranidos and Shieldon as guards at their villa. James had some understanding of these exotic Pokémon.
But one look told him its Level was low—it was probably just a newborn. And it wanted to battle a high-level Team Rocket Nidoking?
Normally, Ash would have already retorted, but today he didn't argue with James.
Like the Pink Butterfree, this Cranidos was now likely the lowest-leveled member of his team.
However, unlike the Pink Butterfree, who disliked training and always stayed on the sidelines cheering like a fangirl and a pretty face, Cranidos was different. This tendency had become even more pronounced after Pidgeotto's evolution into the flashy Pidgeot.
As for Cranidos, it was simply because it had just been born.
"But if you want to fight, then let's fight!"
Unlike Misty, who would have a complete meltdown every time a Psyduck, Slowpoke, or Quagsire popped out of its Poké Ball unexpectedly, Ash always strongly encouraged his Pokémon to take the initiative in battle.
Can't win?
Then they'd just go to a different Gym. After all, Gary already had 10 Badges, and there was still a month and a half until the Indigo Plateau Conference. That was plenty of time.
"Cranidos, go at it with all you've got! Don't feel any pressure, I've got your back!"
Ash encouraged.
"Aooargh!!"
Cranidos lowered its head and roared, its two hind legs scraping against the ground, looking like it was ready to charge at any moment.
"Well then, the second Viridian Gym Challenge Match, Nidoking versus Small Fry Dragon, let the battle begin, Meowth!"
Meowth declared from the side in a sarcastic tone.
The battle began, and Ash was the first to attack:
"Cranidos, use Scary Face!"
Cranidos raised its head, widened its eyes, and opened its mouth to reveal the sharp teeth inside, attempting to make its most terrifying face.
But the next second, a purplish-brown figure suddenly charged forward. Its speed was incredible, its body moving at high speed like a tank, its imposing might overwhelming.
"Nidoking, use Sucker Punch!" James just smiled as he gave the order, still clutching that instruction manual.
"Nidooo!!"
Nidoking closed in on Cranidos and slammed a fist into its stomach. The power was immense, even creating a sonic boom in the air. The single punch sent Cranidos flying back several meters.
Sucker Punch, a move that lets you attack the enemy first.
Unlike the information provided by The Officials, this Nidoking's Sucker Punch didn't care if you were using an attacking move or not. Whatever you did, it would start with a good old punch.
"Agh..."
The receding Cranidos let out a stifled grunt in mid-air. Just as its body was about to hit the back wall, it finally came to its senses. Its eyes focused, it adjusted its posture in mid-air, kicked off the wall to flip sideways, and landed back on the ground, thus mitigating the follow-up damage.
"Aooargh!!"
Cranidos rubbed its belly but still lifted its head, continuing to put on its unfinished Scary Face expression.
"*Pfft*... Sorry, I couldn't help it."
The Scary Face that should have intimidated the enemy instead made James laugh out loud. It also caused a vein to pop on Nidoking's forehead, its expression turning sour.
Nidoking's Speed wasn't lowered by the Scary Face; on the contrary, it was enraged.
Having scored the first hit, James's confidence swelled. He once again put the thorny rose in his mouth and yelled:
"Nidoking, use Earth Power!"
Nidoking roared, suddenly bent over, and smashed a fist heavily onto the ground in front of it. The ground immediately shattered and crumbled, with countless fissures spreading out toward the target, cleaving a deep chasm down the middle.
"Rumble!!"
From within the chasm, turbulent, fiery energy spewed forth, scattering flaming debris everywhere, as if the punch had summoned the very Deity of the Volcano.
"Such terrifying power..."
Ash couldn't help but blurt out.
"*Pokedex Beep*. This is Nidoking's Ability, Sheer Force. When using a move with an additional effect, the additional effect is nullified, but the move's power increases."
The Pokedex reminded him in a timely manner.
Fearing Ash wouldn't understand, the Pokedex thoughtfully provided an example.
"*Pokedex Beep*. For example, if a Pikachu with this Ability used Thunderbolt, the opponent would never become Paralyzed, but the Power of Thunderbolt would increase."
"But Thunderbolt never causes paralysis anyway," Ash retorted.
"*Pokedex Beep*. It is not my problem, nor is it your problem. So, whose problem is it?"
The Pokedex, with its keen insight, pointed out the crux of the matter and added a reminder:
"Kiddo. Earth Power is about to hit. Please focus on the battle. We can talk about who's to blame later."
Hearing this, Ash jolted. He finally noticed that the turbulent flames of Earth Power had almost reached Cranidos's feet. The ground where it stood was trembling violently and cracking apart, as if lava was about to erupt.
Cranidos also looked around, completely bewildered and in a panic.
Ash no longer hesitated and quickly commanded:
"Cranidos, use Ancient Power on the ground beneath you!"
Ancient Power. This was a move that almost all Fossil Pokémon could master, symbolizing primeval, prehistoric power.
"Aooargh!!"
Having found its focus, Cranidos quickly gathered several rocks around its body. It then threw all the rocks beneath its feet and, with a push from its hind legs, jumped on top of them.
"RUMBLE-BOOM!!"
The flames and fiery debris of Earth Power erupted with immense power, instantly destroying the stones conjured by Ancient Power.
But Cranidos, who was on top of the stones, used the force of the impact to launch itself high into mid-air, successfully evading the ferocious Earth Power.
Once it was in mid-air, as long as Nidoking didn't use Smack Down, even Precipice Blades would be useless, let alone Earth Power.
"Rumble..."
Soon, the power of Earth Power dissipated. Although the ground was now covered in broken fissures, the turbulent flames from before had vanished. Cranidos landed back on the ground, having taken little damage.
But Ash's expression turned serious. Although it seemed like he had countered that one move, he was somewhat surprised by James's command strategy.
From the initial priority Sucker Punch to the later Earth Power that utilized its Ability for a power boost, James's command strategy seemed to have suddenly become much stronger.
"Wait..."
Ash suddenly noticed the note clutched in James's hand. It seemed that during the battle, James had been glancing at it from time to time.
"You noticed, did you?"
James noticed that Ash had noticed his unusual behavior. A flamboyant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He raised his rose, holding the instruction manual in his other hand, and chuckled.
"Jessie's Fully Automatic Style is just for laughs. When it comes to a real fight, you have to rely on me, James!"
Today was destined to be an indelible day in the history of Pokémon battles. Not only had Jessie invented the groundbreaking Fully Automatic Style of command, but he, James, had also created a brand-new style.
The Formula Style!
All command strategy is a formula!
Relying on the records in the instruction manual, James was logically applying the formulaic procedures written on it, feeling an imposing pride as if the world was in his hands.
(end of chapter)