"Last night was just a small effort on my part. The ranch master is far too polite," Yozora said casually.
As the saying goes, true kindness does not seek repayment. At least last night, when he sniped the hunters, Yozora never once thought of asking for compensation.
That was why he genuinely appreciated the old rancher's generous gift.
Otherwise, if he had wanted to purchase Mei the Miltank from the ranch master, it would have cost him five million in assets.
"Tsk, tsk… just a small effort, you say? Kid, you're even more arrogant than I am."
"You're saying that defeating two Elite-level hunters all on your own last night was nothing more than a trivial chore?"
Komai spoke loudly, his tone filled with provocation. "Fine, then you and I will battle. If you defeat me, it proves you're telling the truth. But if you lose, then I'll have reason to suspect that you and those two hunters were actually working together, staging a play to trick my grandfather into trusting you. Maybe… you even have a bigger scheme in mind!"
"Don't spout nonsense! What kind of 'bigger scheme' could there be?!"
The old ranch master was livid. His voice thundered as he cursed, "If Brother Yozora had been colluding with those hunters, then last night they could have taken away every single Miltank from this ranch! Would you still be sitting here, drinking fresh milk and flaunting yourself like a cocky brat?!"
Even after scolding Komai, the old rancher still couldn't vent his anger. He raised his hand and swung a heavy slap toward his grandson.
Komai, however, slipped out of the way with ease, grinning like a rogue. "Grandpa, don't be angry. I only said maybe, that's all. If he really has the strength to defeat me, I'll naturally apologize."
Then he turned to Yozora, his grin crooked. "So, the only way to prove your innocence is to beat me in battle!"
Yozora gave him a sidelong glance, chuckling. "Heh, so that's what this is about. You just want to battle me. You could've just asked properly—why make such a scene?"
Komai tilted his chin arrogantly, emphasizing each word. "Because I, Young Master Komai… am always overbearing!"
Yozora smiled faintly and said nothing more. Together, they walked out of the ranch, choosing a flat clearing as their battlefield.
"Let's make it a three-on-three battle. Each of us gets one substitution," Komai said casually. "My first Pokémon will be Tauros. Now hurry and send out yours."
Yozora focused his gaze on the Tauros standing before him. It was the very same Tauros Komai had been riding earlier. Muscular and imposing, its strength had reached the peak of the Senior level—stronger than any other Tauros on the ranch.
Still, to Yozora, such strength was nothing more than that of a small fry.
"Go, Aegislash!" Yozora threw out his first Poké Ball. He knew this would be both his first and last Pokémon for the match.
That's right.
Komai's cocky attitude had rubbed him the wrong way. Yozora intended to sweep him in a one-versus-three, crushing him so thoroughly that he'd finally learn some humility.
And truthfully, Yozora believed this was also the old rancher's intention when he asked for Yozora's help.
"Aegislash? I was just about to ask—this guy isn't a native Kanto Pokémon, is it?" Komai exclaimed, staring enviously at the floating blade-and-shield Pokémon.
"Correct, Aegislash usually inhabits the Kalos region. But I've never been to Kalos. I caught it right here in Kanto," Yozora replied with a smile.
"Talk about luck…" Komai's voice turned sour, his heart full of curses. Damn it, why does this guy get all the fortune? Why can't Komai be the lucky one?!
"Tauros, charge in with Take Down!" Without hesitation, Komai ordered his Pokémon to attack.
He had no idea that Aegislash was a Ghost-type.
And Ghost-types were naturally immune to Normal-type moves.
Still, Yozora didn't intend to dodge. Aegislash's defenses were far too solid—Tauros simply didn't have the power to break through.
On the contrary, if he commanded King's Shield, not only would Aegislash remain unharmed, but Tauros's defenses would be sharply reduced in the process.
"King's Shield!" Yozora commanded as Tauros thundered forward.
Bang!
With a heavy thud, Tauros slammed headfirst into Aegislash, yet the blade Pokémon didn't budge an inch.
Instead, a ripple of force pulsed outward. Tauros's massive body was hurled backward through the air.
Boom!
Tauros crashed heavily to the ground, its body already battered with injuries.
Above its head, streaks of white light fell like chains—it had suffered a drastic drop in Defense!
"What the—?! What kind of defense is that?" Komai's jaw dropped as he stared at his battered Tauros.
He had always been confident in Tauros's raw power. But against Aegislash, not only had Tauros failed to deal damage—it was blown away instead.
What a humiliation!
"Shadow Sneak!" Yozora commanded calmly.
Aegislash's shadow stretched across the ground, darting forward in a blur. With a single strike, Tauros was sent flying once more.
This time, its eyes closed and its body went limp. It had completely lost the will to fight.
"Hmph, you've got some skill, I'll admit that!" Komai growled. "I believe you now—you really could take down those Elite hunters. But compared to me, you're still not strong enough!"
"Return, Tauros!"
Cursing under his breath, Komai recalled his fallen Pokémon and threw out another Poké Ball.
This time, a Nidoqueen appeared.
Standing tall on two legs, her body stocky and muscular, she was the female counterpart to Nidoking. Komai's Nidoqueen radiated a stronger aura than Tauros, her power also at the Senior peak.
"So that's it… that shield must belong to a Steel-type. No wonder it's so tough!" Komai muttered. Then he sneered. "If it's Steel you rely on, let's see you handle Fire. Nidoqueen, Fire Punch!"
As expected of the rancher's grandson, Komai's main Pokémon carried a wide coverage of moves.
Boom!
Nidoqueen swung her fist, flames bursting from her knuckles as she charged at Aegislash.
Yet once again, Aegislash did not evade—its shield glowed with the aura of King's Shield.
The fiery punch was blocked cleanly. The recoil flung Nidoqueen backward, slamming her onto the ground.
Above her head, the same white lights fell, her Defense sharply reduced.
Nidoqueen, usually renowned for her durability, had been stripped of her bulk in an instant—rendered fragile.
"Shadow Sneak!" Yozora ordered again.
The shadow lashed forward like a phantom. In one swift motion, Nidoqueen was struck, hurled through the air, and slammed into the ground.
She didn't get back up.
A clean knockout.
The difference in their strength was simply worlds apart.
(End of Chapter)