Chapter 35. Ash Ketchum vs. the Honora
The days the other party stayed at the academy had even the principal on edge.
"So which 'Whip' are you?"
Natsume leaned in and looked at the Honora with curiosity.
"Reporting to the First Generation, she's the Fourth Generation—the Scourge of God!" someone answered at once.
"Mm.
Pretty good nickname," Natsume nodded.
He truly hadn't expected the casual club culture he'd left behind to develop to this degree.
At this moment, the Honora's face was as red as a tender, dewy fruit, and steam was practically rising from the top of her head.
"You lot!
Back to class!"
The Honora stiffly stretched out a hand and pointed toward the classroom building behind them.
"Fourth Generation, why?"
"If the First and Fourth Generations are meeting, there must be a major decision!"
"If it's a major decision, it's only right we're not present…"
As the chatter rose, the Honora grew even more embarrassed, standing there like a frozen console with steam puffing up.
Fortunately, these club members were very obedient to their president.
They chattered as they withdrew.
"You don't seem to get along with them very well?"
Natsume raised an eyebrow at the Honora, who was finally recovering.
"Hmph!"
The Honora lifted her chin, proud and defiant.
"I only joined this so-called club to challenge the academy's strongest."
There was no helping it.
The people in this club were a bit unruly, but they were publicly acknowledged as top-tier within the academy—almost all senior trainees.
"And another thing!"
The Honora looked at Natsume.
"I will prove that theoretical calculation is more important than live battle.
Beating every member of the Whip of the Academy's battle faction will be the proof!"
Huh?
Seeing that the truth didn't match his expectations, Natsume arched a brow, and the words the Honora hoped would provoke him did not leave his mouth.
"Then how did you end up becoming their Fourth Generation?" Natsume asked instead.
The Honora froze, as if caught in an awkward memory, and her face flushed bright red again.
It wasn't what she wanted either.
Before she could even mock them, the members had egged her on and lifted her onto the "Throne of Succession."
She had defeated the Whip of the Academy today, but the news that she'd become the Fourth Generation had spread throughout the academy yesterday—the previous club president of the Whip of the Academy was clearly also very good at theoretical calculation.
The Honora shook her head sharply.
"Let's not talk about that yet.
In short, I want to challenge you and then disband the Whip of the Academy completely!"
"I object!"
Ash Ketchum used a loud roar.
"The vibe is so good, so full of enthusiasm, and they support you so much, yet you're talking about disbanding them—what a joke!"
"Pika-pi!"
"Pi!"
This time, even the usually aloof center-parted one started cheering for Ash.
"Hmph.
What gives you the right to lecture me, rookie with only two Badges?"
The Honora turned her head aside, not putting Ash in her eyes at all.
"How about this."
Catching her off guard, Natsume patted her on the head.
"You and Ash do a 1-on-1 battle.
If you win, I'll accept your challenge."
"Him?
Seriously?"
The Honora glanced at Natsume and spoke with a hint of threat.
"You're a researcher, right?
If you dare go back on your word, I'll have my dad buy out your research institute!"
"Sure, no problem," Natsume nodded, already pondering whether to buy a plot of land, call it a research institute, and sell it high.
"I absolutely won't lose!"
Ash shot Natsume a reassuring look.
Soon, the two arrived at the academy's battlefield.
"Go, Pikachu!"
With a sweep of Ash's arm, Pikachu leapt up and took the field.
"Pika—"
Electricity danced on Pikachu's cheeks as it stared at the Honora with solemn eyes.
"I really don't understand what kind of person uses Pikachu as a first partner."
The Honora shook her head and looked at Ash as though he were a curiosity.
"I don't want to waste time.
Go, Rhyperior!"
Thoom!
A gigantic silhouette appeared, accompanied by a heavy, low growl and a grinding, rock-like tremor.
[Rhyperior, Ground + Rock; the Drill Pokémon.
The evolved form of Rhydon.
It stuffs rocks into the holes in its palms and fires them using muscle power.]
"Ash, be careful!
This Pokémon has the same typing as my Onix!"
Brock called to Ash on the field.
"I got it.
Go, Pikachu—use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika—CHUU!"
A violent thunder surged forth and poured onto Rhyperior without reservation.
Thoom!
Rhyperior flicked an arm and the lightning dispersed at once.
"Hmph, as expected of a clueless brat."
The Honora raised her chin and lifted a small hand.
"Rhyperior, use Earthquake!"
"Pikachu, jump into the air!"
"Pika!"
A yellow shape shot into the air, evading a guaranteed-knockdown Earthquake.
"Do your best, Ash!"
Misty, for once, cheered for Ash.
"Don't lose, Honors Prodi—ah!"
Sean hadn't finished speaking before furious Misty grabbed him by the collar.
"Whose side are you on?"
"Heh."
The Honora's eyes showed disdain.
"Only the weak need encouragement from their companions."
She hadn't finished speaking when a sudden clamor of drums and gongs rose up behind her.
"DONG-dong-dong!
Fourth Generation, you got this!"
"Kore yaru!
Brat, if you dare beat the Fourth Generation, prepare to be whipped today!"
"Yo, yo!
Brat!
You can't do it!
Yo, yo!"
Those members who had left had somehow returned behind the Honora to cheer wildly.
Looking back, there were eighteen club members—blowing, beating, plucking, drumming, even breaking into freestyle rap.
The Honora stood there dumbfounded, the joints of her fingers turning white from how hard she clenched them, as a red flush slowly rose from her neck to cover her whole face.
"Wow, looks like your bond with the club runs deep.
Pikachu, we can't lose either—use Iron Tail!"
"Who's bonded with them!"
The Honora's battle sense was excellent; she entered the state in an instant.
"Rhyperior, dodge!"
But Pikachu was too fast, and Rhyperior took the Iron Tail head-on.
BOOM—
A thunderous crash erupted, blasting up a cloud of dust.
The Honora's gaze didn't change.
"Even though Steel-type moves hit for super-effective damage, my Rhyperior has Solid Rock!"
"Solid Rock?
What's that?"
Misty turned, puzzled, to Brock.
"Solid Rock reduces the damage from moves that hit for super-effective damage."
"Huh?
Then isn't Ash in danger?"
"Relax.
Pikachu's Iron Tail has been reinforced by Natsume."
As they spoke, the dust settled, revealing Pikachu and Rhyperior within.
Rhyperior stood steady as a boulder.
By contrast, Pikachu's tail was wedged in the seam of the rocky plate on Rhyperior's shoulder.
"Concede.
My Rhyperior needs to save its stamina to fight Natsume."
The Honora spoke, shooting a glance at Natsume.
Well?
She had the strength to challenge him now, right?
That one glance froze her expression at once.
Natsume wasn't paying attention to the battle at all.
Head lowered, a Great Ball in one hand and a file in the other, he was doing who-knows-what.
"Pika!"
Pikachu's shout snapped the Honora back to the present.
Before she could give a command, electric light suddenly flared along Pikachu's tail.
In an instant, Rhyperior felt the Iron Tail on its shoulder grow dozens of times heavier!
"Roaaar!"
With a pained roar, Rhyperior was pressed to one knee, and Pikachu seized the chance to pull free and return to Ash.
"Why can your Pikachu keep Iron Tail active?"
The Honora blurted in shock.
Only now did she realize Pikachu's tail had remained in an Iron Tail state the whole time.
No—that didn't seem to be Iron Tail.
At the moment, golden current coursed over Pikachu's tail, the electricity carrying countless black particulates that swirled around it.
From afar, it looked as if Pikachu's tail had grown a whole size larger, like it was hefting a greatsword.
"This is—!"
Ash cried out in delight.
"Pikachu, you've managed the steel-alloy within Iron Tail just like Natsume described!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu turned back and nodded at Ash.
"Pi—"
At Ash's feet, center-parted one hesitated.
It was so cool.
But so bitter.
Thinking of the training conditions Natsume had described, center-parted one shook its head hard and pulled its little blanket over itself.
No way it was learning that.
Not in this lifetime.
It would just mooch off its Trainer and muddle through.
"Natsume?"
The Honora blinked.
From Ash's words, this Pikachu's change had something to do with Natsume.
"I don't care what tricks you're using.
Type advantage is advantage.
Level advantage is advantage."
The Honora sounded a bit angry.
"Rhyperior, Stone Edge!"
THUD!
Rhyperior rose and loosed another high-power move—countless razor-edged stones sped toward Pikachu.
"Pikachu, use the Iron Tail Greatsword Style!"
Another term the Honora had never heard popped out of Ash's mouth.
"Pika!"
Pikachu held its breath.
Facing a barrage that sealed off every angle, it did not flinch.
The next second, it opened its eyes.
Its body drifted like a falling leaf, tail first and body following—as though the tail were the true body.
Amid the rain-like assault, the little mouse began to weave through the gaps.
"Impossible!"
The Honora's eyes were filled with shock.
"Even a Pikachu that's done agility training wouldn't—"
Before she could finish, Pikachu was already dragging its massive sword-tail above Rhyperior's head.
"Pikachu, use Magnetic Storm Sword Tail!"
Ash shouted.
A thousand thunders poured into the ink-black sword-tail.
"Pika!"
With a neat spin, the Magnetic Storm Sword Tail struck solidly on Rhyperior's head.
It's super effective!
At the corner of the battlefield, Natsume, who had had his head down the whole time, raised it a fraction and glanced at Pikachu.
[Magnetic Storm Sword Tail: Electric + Steel, Physical.]
[Power: 150; Accuracy: 90; PP: 10; Priority: 0.]
Electric + Steel, huh…
As expected, a move can carry multiple types.
Even though, in the Pokémon world, all known moves are single-type.
When Natsume had gone to watch a Pokémon Contest and seen those gorgeous combination moves, he'd already conceived of multi-type moves.
Now it seemed he was right.
It's just that this method requires a small modification to a Pokémon's body.
That's an academic taboo.
Mention "Pokémon modification," and everyone reflexively feels disgust.
Researchers who dare to do that are generally branded as scientists of evil teams.
Natsume didn't think that way.
Technology isn't right or wrong—people are.
If you keep your bottom line, technology can benefit countless people and Pokémon.
For example, some Magnemite suffering from demagnetization syndrome yet still able to generate electricity—Natsume could absolutely restore them to normal by similar means.
Most importantly—
Damn, he could publish another paper again.
But as one person, he just didn't have the time or energy.
Aahhh, his stockpiled drafts…
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