Chapter 16. Natsume vs. Brock
"Ash, without me even guessing, you definitely just threw Pikachu out there like a hothead, didn't you?"
Up in the stands, Misty leaned in, scolding Ash with a look.
"Huh? What's the problem?"
"Idiot, were you not listening to what I said earlier or what?
Electric-type attacks are barely effective against Ground type!"
Arms crossed, Misty shouted at Ash, furious that he'd let her words go in one ear and out the other.
"Hmph, just watch.
When Natsume challenges, he definitely won't foolishly send Pikachu out like someone just did."
"Oh, I'll watch closely."
Seeing Ash get serious, Misty also pulled her gaze back to the arena below, looking at Natsume on the battlefield.
Although Natsume isn't all that reliable, the guy is at least a Pokémon researcher.
He ought to know basic common sense.
"Go, Pikachu!"
"Pika?"
From the field came Natsume's shout.
Misty: "…"
What kind of researcher is this!
"Oh? Another Pikachu?"
Down below, Brock looked at center-parted Pikachu yawning on the field and shook his head, a little disappointed.
"You can't beat me.
Onix, go!"
"Roar!"
With a low bellow, a huge figure made of countless dusky rocks appeared on the field.
"Battle Domain, activate!"
At Natsume's shout, an impassioned battle theme started playing.
At the same time, a streak of light slipped of its own accord into Brock's mind, explaining the rules of the Battle Domain to him.
"What is that?"
In the stands, seeing [LV.21] and [LV.30] appear above Pikachu and Onix respectively, Ash and Misty were full of curiosity.
"You're a Pokémon researcher and you've developed something this incredible.
Remarkable!"
After the information finished streaming through his head, Brock looked at Natsume with deep admiration in his eyes.
Ever since the match with James last time, Natsume had suggested to his system that everyone he dragged into the Battle Domain should automatically get a crash course on the rules.
Though he had no idea how the system patched the logic together, Brock seemed to think this was Natsume's invention.
"Your Onix is raised quite well, too."
"Right."
Brock scratched his head, thinking it was polite reciprocation from Natsume and about to reply with a compliment of his own—only for the other side to launch into nonstop praise.
"The Onix you raised can be called a Rock-type exemplar—judging by the rock composition on its body, its main diet should be high-purity silicate strata, supplemented with iron olivine tempered in volcanic magma to activate the genetic loci for metallic element deposition."
Brock started, a sliver of doubt flickering in those narrow eyes of his.
"Right," Natsume kept going in a steady stream.
"The stones in this Onix's body have begun forming a honeycombed buffering structure internally, and judging from the membrane on its surface, you must be soaking it in water for two hours, then immediately putting it into a high-temperature environment to prompt a water-resistant crystalline coating on the surface."
"How do you know that?"
Brock was shocked.
Natsume had gotten every detail exactly right.
Natsume still didn't answer him, speaking on his own:
"This Onix, though it hasn't evolved, can already be called a steel beast…"
"Uh, really?
It's not as good as you say.
I just followed—"
"All right.
Pikachu, use Grass Knot."
"Roar—!"
After a single scream, Onix crashed to the ground unconscious.
Brock: "???"
You praised it for so long?
And then you just dropped it in one hit?
And what move did that Pikachu just use?
It all happened too fast—Onix fell, the Domain disengaged in an instant, and Brock didn't see clearly at all.
"Send out your other Pokémon."
Natsume turned to look at Brock.
"No need.
I forfeit."
Brock gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
He'd wanted to feel what was so special about this so-called battle system.
Turns out the other side's Pikachu had a move that could one-shot Onix.
There was no point in sending out his two Geodude.
"Wow, Natsume, you're amazing!
You won in one go!"
In the stands, Ash was like he'd been injected with chicken blood, as if he were the one who'd won.
"Okay, since Natsume could win, I can't fall behind either.
I'm going to do special training.
Pikachu, let's get stronger!"
"Hey, hey, hey, didn't you get it?
He only won because his Pikachu used some weird, super-power move—wait for me!"
Stomping her foot in anger, Misty spun and ran after him.
Down below, noticing Ash leave, Natsume didn't stop him.
Wanting to get stronger is a good thing.
Once he's out of the Pewter City Gym, if nothing goes wrong, Ash will run into Flint, and then the guy will take him to "charge up" Pika-god.
"Here's your Badge."
While speaking, Brock handed Natsume an octagonal, faceted badge.
"Is there something you want to ask me?"
Seeing Brock seemed to have something to say, Natsume simply took the initiative and asked.
"How did you know my raising regimen?
And what move did your Pikachu just use?"
Brock didn't ask first about Pikachu's move, but about the thing that mattered to him most.
After all, his dream is to become a top Pokémon Breeder.
"Oh, that."
Natsume casually patted around and, from who-knows-where, pulled out a newspaper to hand to Brock.
"Pewter City Pokémon Academy, Issue 32."
Brock froze inside.
He really had been following what was written there, but even that article wasn't as detailed as what Natsume had just rattled off.
"You—"
Brock wanted to say more, but Natsume cut him off.
"I know.
Read it again."
Read it again?
Brock looked down at the article in his hands, "Scientific Raising Guide for Onix."
Author—Natsume.
"Let me introduce myself.
My name is Natsume."
By the time Brock came back to himself, Natsume was already far away.
Brock lowered his head to the paper in his hands.
Since the author told him to read it again, then he'd read it carefully.
I. Ecological Habit Adaptation Direction
Habitat selection: long-term residence in areas where volcanic ash settles.
Diet formulation
II. Anti-Impact Special Training System
Physical defense enhancement: anti-shock training, have it endure continuous "Mega Punch from Golem" drills.
Type-resistance specialization: soak in torrential rain for 2 h, then immediately place—
III. Tactical Move Development
IV. Evolution Potential Excavation
X. Live Deployment Warnings
Reading all the way to the end, Brock still didn't feel like he'd missed anything all these years.
Suddenly, something at the very bottom caught his eye—the last two lines in small print:
(Attached: This regimen has passed ethics review by the Pewter City Pokémon Academy.
Side effects include but are not limited to—being driven into an explosive rage by Oddish.)
"So that move was a Grass-type move?"
Brock rubbed his chin, his narrow eyes full of doubt.
That's right.
An Onix raised this way is, to a large extent, barely checked by Water-type moves.
But there is a side effect—being even more vulnerable to Grass-type moves.
Only, he was a bit confused.
Since when does Pikachu have a Grass-type move?
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