Chapter 25. Natsume vs. Lance
In the real world, Poké Ball Rotom's Heal Ball can treat several Pokémon at the same time.
Although the treatment effect diminishes, it's still enough for these Clefairy that suffered minor injuries and hid themselves away.
"Amazing, Natsume!"
Ash Ketchum cheered nearby.
What they had originally estimated as three days of work, Natsume finished in a short while.
"Congratulations, Natsume.
Looks like the research is a success."
"Yeah, Natsume, you didn't busy yourself these past few days for nothing!"
Brock and Misty also offered their congratulations to Natsume.
From all the Poké Balls Natsume had been tinkering with these days, they had more or less guessed what he was trying to do.
Judging from Rotom's performance now, Natsume's research was already a success.
"Incredible.
If this new form of Rotom becomes widespread at Pokémon Centers, it'll surely save a lot of medical expenses."
Lance walked over with praise and extended a hand to Natsume, who was being surrounded and fawned over by the Clefairy like stars orbiting the moon.
"The researcher who proposed the Rotom–Natsume Law—let's get to know each other properly.
I'm Lance, the Dragon-type member of the Kanto Elite Four.
You can call me Lance."
At this moment, Lance clearly could no longer treat Natsume like an ordinary researcher.
Hearing Lance's praise, Natsume rubbed his nose and reached out as well.
Mm… if this thing really gets popularized, Pokémon Centers might earn themselves a notorious reputation.
But Rotom are few in number to begin with, so popularization would be difficult.
"Natsume, Natsume…"
Just as Natsume and Lance were solemnly shaking hands, Ash's low whisper came from the side.
With the corner of his eye, Natsume saw Ash frantically winking at him, looking extremely excited.
Natsume understood in an instant.
"Lance, do you have any Pokémon with you that can battle?"
Natsume pointed at the Dragonite behind him.
"Like that one."
Seeing this, Lance was a bit surprised.
"My Dragonite is very strong."
"I know, but the stronger the better.
Right, Ash!"
As he spoke, Natsume looked toward Ash.
"Mm-hmm-hmm-hmm!"
Ash's eyes shone as he nodded madly.
Yes, exactly.
Natsume gets him so well.
This way Mr. Lance would agree—
"So I want you to battle me, to test this new-form Rotom."
Natsume's voice followed right on the heels of that.
"Ah—"
Ash let out a disappointed sound and looked resentfully at Natsume.
"Don't worry, Ash.
If I win, we'll have a sparring partner stronger than Mr. Lance by our side at any time."
Natsume patted Ash's head, and Ash was instantly fired up again.
"Okay!
Natsume, you've gotta give it your all!"
A test, huh…
Lance pondered for a moment, then nodded and agreed.
"Alright.
I also want to see this new-form Rotom for myself.
This will surely be a spectacular battle!"
A spectacular battle…
Natsume guiltily lifted his head to look at the sky.
Mm… maybe, probably, the expression on Lance's face will be pretty spectacular.
At the summit of Mt. Moon, in a clearing.
Everyone watched nervously as the two stood in the arena.
In the middle of the clearing, Brock acted as the referee.
"Alright, begin!"
With the command given, neither side sent out a Pokémon immediately.
"Natsume, are you sure you're only sending this one Pokémon?"
Lance looked at Natsume with a strange expression.
Only now, when the battle was about to start, did he realize Natsume only had two Pokémon on him.
One Pikachu he had only just begun to train, and one Poké Ball Rotom.
To battle his full team, there was no way Natsume could win.
"Yeah.
Just these two."
Natsume nodded seriously.
There was, in fact, a device here that could transmit Poké Balls.
Natsume had raised quite a few Pokémon back at Professor Oak's Laboratory, most of them ones he had caught over the years to cooperate with experiments.
He thought that once he raised his arm and gave the call, countless Pokémon would bravely surge forward to be the vanguard.
As a result, the moment he raised his arm, every Pokémon in the yard on the other side of the screen ran away—two Primeape even turned around and presented him with their red behinds.
"Sigh, fine then.
As you said, we'll change from a Double Battle to a 1v1."
Lance rubbed his brow and decided to hold back a little.
That way he could both cooperate with Natsume's research and avoid breaking his spirit.
Lance did not send out Dragonite.
Instead, he took a Poké Ball from his pocket and threw it.
"Roooar—"
With a flash of red light, a Pokémon with an orange-red body, enormous wings and a long tail, a blazing tail flame, and a deep, dignified roar like a dragon appeared at one end of the field.
"This is my Charizard.
It should be more than enough to accompany you in testing this Rotom."
Arms crossed, Lance gave a casual introduction.
A pressure unique to the strong swept forth.
"Alright.
Go, Poké Ball Rotom!"
With Natsume's call, Poké Ball Rotom came over with a large group of Clefairy in tow.
"Hey, hey, hey, you can't go in!"
Misty and the others scrambled to stop the Clefairy.
"Roto!"
Poké Ball Rotom turned back and said something unknown, and all the Clefairy obediently halted.
They spread out of their own accord, forming an organized ring around the battlefield and encircling it.
"Clefairy, clef, clefairy…"
The Clefairy began a mysterious dance again.
"Wow, so cute.
It's like they're cheering Rotom on!"
Looking at the adorable Clefairy, Misty's eyes seemed ready to drip with sweetness.
"Natsume, you've got this!"
From the back, Ash's voice of encouragement came, and Natsume gave him a thumbs-up.
Poké Ball Rotom entered the field, and the battle officially began.
"You take the first move.
This time I'm mainly here to help you test this new-form Rotom's moves."
Lance closed his eyes.
From his observation, this Rotom was many levels lower than his Charizard.
And it seemed to have a huge shortcoming in Speed.
If they battled normally and his Charizard moved first, this Rotom wouldn't have any chance.
"Charizard, Lv. 66."
Glancing at the approximate level shown on the assessment app on his Rotom Phone, Natsume put the phone away.
"Then let's agree in advance, Lance—you mustn't get mad later."
"Why would I get mad?"
Lance looked at Natsume, puzzled.
"Okay, I recorded that."
Natsume put his phone away.
Lance: "…"
For this battle, Natsume did not activate the Game Rule Field.
Because there was no need.
Under the game field, whatever the move description was, Poké Ball Rotom's move would be exactly that.
What he wanted to test was the effect of these few moves in a real battle.
Precisely because of that, Lance was willing to let him—so that even if Poké Ball Rotom was slower, it could still take the first action.
"Alright.
Poké Ball Rotom, use Curse Ball!"
"Roto!"
A strange purple beam of light shot out from Poké Ball Rotom's core and instantly enveloped Charizard.
Lance did not order his Charizard to dodge.
Instead, he watched the scene before him with great interest.
Before the battle, Natsume had explained that his new-form Rotom had developed unprecedented moves.
He very much wanted to see just how powerful these unprecedented moves were.
Wrapped in the purple light, Charizard, though not ordered by its Trainer to evade, still struggled on instinct at the bewitching aura emanating from the beam.
Unfortunately, its struggle was in vain.
As if capturing a Pokémon, Charizard was drawn in by Poké Ball Rotom without any resistance.
"If I'm not mistaken, this move seems to be able to seal a Pokémon?"
Right on target.
Arms still crossed, Lance's expression shifted slightly.
After Poké Ball Rotom captured Charizard, it fell still.
Time ticked by.
"How strange…
This doesn't feel like a Pokémon battle at all, Natsume."
Ash touched the two Pikachu's on his shoulders, feeling that this was nothing like the thrilling showdown he'd imagined.
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