Chapter 269: Blood Wheel Eye and Tailed Beast Cloak
Author: Samsung Charmander
"Swoosh!"
After using Rock Polish, Cranidos's speed was like a phantom's. Its figure blurred into a faint gray-blue afterimage as it ran, continuously flashing around Nidoking in a circular trajectory. Its speed was so extreme that for a moment, it seemed as if multiple Cranidos had appeared, surrounding it at once.
A pack of small blue beasts surrounded a giant beast, as if they had traveled to the Prehistoric World, where a group of small dinosaurs was surrounding and hunting a large dinosaur.
"Clang!!"
A metallic gleam shot up. The heads of the countless Cranidos afterimages simultaneously shone with a terrifying metallic glint, then they all charged toward the Nidoking in the center.
Iron Head!!
"Such incredible speed!"
The high-level Nidoking panicked, and its Trainer, James, panicked as well. Hidden among the many afterimages, the real steel-hard head was about to slam into Nidoking's lower back in the next second.
After all, a Trainer's battle still had to adhere to a certain code of ethics. Ash had taught it the rules of battle.
One, no eye-poking. Two, no low blows.
Therefore, the kidneys were absolutely the best place to attack any male Pokémon!
"ROAR!!"
Cranidos slammed into it viciously, the red in its eyes intensifying.
*All you pedos can just die!!*
"Heh heh, you didn't really think I was scared, did you?"
Suddenly, an insidious voice was heard. Just as Ash was secretly feeling pleased, thinking he had succeeded, James's expression suddenly changed. Full of confidence, he raised a rose high and struck a flamboyant pose.
"Nidoking, use Protect!"
"Zing!"
A cyan energy shield suddenly lit up around its body, protecting it securely. The ferocious Iron Head struck the protective barrier, unable to even make it tremble.
"The official guidebook says that once you're targeted by a high-speed Pokémon's close-range attack, there's no other strategy; Protect is the best counter-strategy," James said with a smile.
No matter what fancy tricks you pull, a Protect is a Protect, and it's going to do its job!
"And while the enemy's close-range attack is nullified by Protect, their body might be briefly stunned. This is an excellent opportunity for a counterattack..."
James continued to read from the instruction manual, then looked at the battle arena. At that moment, Cranidos and Nidoking were extremely close. The former's head was still ramming against the barrier, and sure enough, it was caught in a temporary stun in mid-air.
"Then, for the next move..."
James glanced at the instruction manual, then commanded with a maniacal laugh, "Now, Nidoking, use Surf!!"
"Nidooo!!"
The cyan shield dissipated. Nidoking slammed a fist into the ground. The ground began to tremble with a "rumble rumble rumble." But this time, it wasn't the surging flames of Earth Power, but a torrent of water that erupted out of thin air.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!"
The water gathered into a wave, rising nearly two meters high and surging outwards. Cranidos, at nearly point-blank range, had no time to dodge and was hit head-on by the Surf. The immense force of the water and the Water-type energy slammed into its chest.
Super Effective!!
"BOOM!!"
Cranidos's small body was sent tumbling by the current, flying back several meters as the Surf's waters engulfed it.
"Cranidos!!"
Ash cried out in worry, his mind completely baffled by this Surf.
A Ground-type Pokémon, and you use Surf to sucker punch someone?
His attack successful, James roared with laughter.
"Didn't see that coming, did you? This is the foundation of our Viridian Gym!"
Although its power was much lower than a Surf used by a Water-type Pokémon, a Pokémon like Nidoking was a natural jack-of-all-trades. They could learn a move or two from many different types, which could have miraculous effects in many situations.
The Nidoking and Nidoqueen line could master both Thunderbolt and Surf.
"Shhhh..."
The Surf came quickly and went just as fast. Since it wasn't a move of its own type, the surging water vanished from the battle arena the moment the wave passed.
"Grrr..."
Cranidos lay amidst the ruins, its expression dim. It had clearly taken massive damage; the fact it wasn't knocked out on the spot was a testament to its fortitude.
Its tongue lolled out of the side of its mouth, panting to dissipate heat. It pushed itself up with its two small, stubby arms, struggling to rise. Yet, its exhausted, blood-red pupils were filled with determination, staring fixedly at its target.
*You dare use Surf on me? Today, I'll definitely flush you!!*
A feeling of extreme rage appeared in its head, so intense it felt like its skull was about to crack. This made Cranidos desperately need to do something to vent this power.
In the next second, a ferocious, bloody red light appeared around Cranidos's body, forming a crimson energy cloak that roiled like a flame, emanating an extremely dangerous aura.
And its pupils, which had merely been reddish before, were now completely enveloped in a bloody hue, emitting a dense red glow.
"They're both out... the Blood Wheel Eye and the Tailed Beast Cloak."
Ash's eyes widened, and he felt his breathing become somewhat difficult.
The two stages after a Pokémon activates its prehistoric bloodline—the red eyes and the red cloak—had both appeared on Cranidos.
Its prehistoric bloodline concentration wasn't actually very high. Reaching the red-eye stage was already considered quite good. But because an unknown bone and the folk-science product—the Rage Pill—were added during its incubation and restoration, it had mutated into the prehistoric berserk bloodline, and its development had taken a strange turn.
He never expected that a bout of reckless experimentation would allow it to successfully reach the red-cloak stage, something only achievable with a high bloodline concentration!
"RAWR!!!!"
Finally, Cranidos, covered in the blood-red cloak of energy, stood up completely. Atop its small body, its oversized head tilted back and let out a bloodthirsty roar that seemed to come from prehistoric times. A desolate and profound, wild prehistoric aura instantly filled the Viridian Gym, utterly murderous.
"Ni..."
Although there was a world of difference in their physiques, Nidoking couldn't help but take half a step back at the roar. It seemed strange, yet it made sense.
Don't be fooled by Nidoking's powerful, bear-like appearance. In reality, it was merely a terminal branch of a prehistoric dinosaur's bloodline that had survived to the modern day. Cranidos, however, was a true prehistoric dinosaur!
This was a suppression on the level of bloodline and soul, regardless of strength or weakness.
"Nidoking, don't be a coward! It's just a bluff!"
James quickly shouted encouragement.
Secretly, however, he shook his head. It seemed this Nidoking's mentality was weak. Even with the bloodline disadvantage, the level gap was still there. How could it be frightened by a newly hatched little beast?
"We're going on the offensive again!"
The battle was still ongoing, and Cranidos was like a flickering candle in the wind, on the verge of defeat. Ash showed no hint of carelessness; instead, his expression grew even more solemn. After some calculation, a new battle strategy had already formed in his mind.
Then, with a wave of his thumb, he yelled, "Cranidos, use Sucker Punch on James!"
Watching the small dinosaur, covered head to toe in surging red light, pounce toward him, the red light magnifying rapidly before his very eyes, James's eyes widened. A single symbol slowly formed above his head.
"?"
(end of chapter)