Huh? Dual [Water Gun]?!
Is this even legal?! What are you, a Pokémon with Parental Bond?!
Satoshi's pupils widened sharply, his worldview nearly shattering.
"[Quick Attack] to dodge!"
"Kero!"
Using [Quick Attack], Froakie narrowly dodged one shot. Yet its hesitation cost dearly—it couldn't evade the second [Water Gun] entirely, taking the hit full-on.
"Kero..." Froakie staggered under the watery assault, shaking its body to regain footing.
"[Water Gun], rapid-fire!" Without even pausing for satisfaction at landing a hit, Kagura Hikari issued another order.
"Jime!"
"Water Pul—" Before Satoshi could finish, Drizzile's twin jets of water shot forth like arrows, blasting Froakie back into the dirt.
The speed of those attacks left zero chance to counter. Coupled with [Sniper] and [Rain Dance] boosting its charge time, evasion was essentially impossible.
The situation turned so dire, both spectators and Sylveon began fearing Satoshi might actually lose.
"Ninf~ (What now... Satoshi might lose...)" Sylveon's ribbons brushed gently against Anon's heart, quietly conveying its anxiety.
Yet Anon simply stroked Sylveon's head, deep in her heart never once believing Satoshi could truly be defeated.
"It's fine—Satoshi won't lose. He'll win for sure. Just believe in them."
Satoshi's words echoed clearly in her mind:
"Even if we run away or lose our way, as long as we search together with our Pokémon, we'll definitely find our way forward."
Remembering this reassurance from him instantly soothed Anon's heart.
The person she liked most was someone who Pokémon answered unconditionally.
He wouldn't lose.
If he actually lost, first I'll punch Soyo-san twice.
Anon's resolve had been set long ago.
"I've won, Satoshi." Kagura Hikari coldly declared. Drizzile took aim again, twin water pistols trained on Froakie.
But Satoshi's gaze never left Froakie, completely ignoring Hikari's declaration.
"Froakie, you okay?"
"Kero!"
Sensing its trainer's fiery determination, Froakie shot upright, responding firmly.
Seeing this, Satoshi's lips curved upward into a confident smile. He thrust his arm forward.
"Then let's show them, Froakie—our true power."
"We can still become stronger! Let's go!"
"Kero——!"
As Satoshi's words echoed, Froakie's cry aligned perfectly with his voice. A gentle blue light enveloped Froakie as its body elongated and strengthened. Its arms stretched, its back darkened, becoming slender and agile.
The brilliant glow of evolution!
Frogadier!
"Koga——!"
Now standing in the arena was Frogadier—stronger, swifter, and fiercer, born from the strength of Satoshi's heart.
Amazing~ Satoshi!
The instant Froakie evolved, Anon's eyes sparkled with heart-shaped pink lights, fingers clasped in joyful admiration.
[Frogadier, the Bubble Frog Pokémon, evolved from Froakie. With unmatched agility, it moves so swiftly it can scale a 600-meter tower in one minute.]
"An evolution…? Still, it's not enough. Drizzile, [Water Gun]."
"Jime!" Drizzile nodded, aiming twin water jets like sharp arrows directly at Frogadier.
"That remains to be seen. Frogadier, [Cut]!"
"Koga!"
At the critical moment, Frogadier unleashed [Cut].
In a dazzling flash of white light, a blade appeared, instantly slicing Drizzile's dual [Water Gun] clean in half, shocking everyone watching.
So fast...!
Drizzile and Hikari both appeared stunned that Frogadier could neutralize [Water Gun] with such ease.
"[Double Team]—!"
"And immediately, [Cut] again!"
"Koga! Koga!" "Koga!" "Koga!"
In moments, dozens of Frogadier copies filled the field. Simultaneously, all rushed forward, blades drawn toward Drizzile.
"Drizzile, [Surf] to clear them out!"
"Jime——!"
A surging wave rose beneath Drizzile, crashing forward like a beast, washing away all illusions in one fierce sweep.
"[Cut]—!"
A blade flashed brilliantly, impossible to follow. Frogadier's sword-light cleaved [Surf] apart, clearing the entire battlefield instantly.
"Hey, seriously?! [Cut], that garbage move, just sliced through [Surf]?!"
"No way—that pathetic tree-cutting move?"
Everyone nearby became engrossed, utterly captivated by Frogadier's unexpected power.
"Their movements are starting to match..."
Almost nobody noticed except Anon. She clearly saw Satoshi's movements synchronize perfectly with Frogadier's.
Unlike everyone else, Anon wasn't just watching the battle. She wanted a "macro" view.
In short, she wanted to watch Satoshi.
"What's happening, exactly?"
Anon tilted her head, puzzled.
"Jimeron~~!"
[Cut] sliced fiercely again, air itself seemingly ripped apart. Drizzile had no chance to defend, knocked back hard.
"Drizzile, [Mud Shot]—keep your distance!" Even calm Kagura Hikari broke into a slight sweat now.
[Mud Shot]'s thick viscosity wasn't easily cut by blades. Moreover, its higher power meant earlier, Hikari had simply been playing around—but now, things were spiraling far beyond expectations.
"[Water Pulse]!" Satoshi's excitement hit a boiling point. This was, without a doubt, the most exciting battle he'd fought yet.
He desperately wanted victory.
The boredom of a fifty-win streak, plus Hikari's formidable strength, ignited a deeper desire to win.
"Koga!"
Frogadier gathered energy for [Water Pulse]—but this time, it didn't release the usual wide, spherical wave.
Instead, Frogadier concentrated the energy into sharp, shuriken-like forms.
The shuriken-shaped [Water Pulses] shot toward Drizzile, colliding head-on with its double [Mud Shot].
Water trumped Ground.
With incredible speed and precision, [Water Shuriken] pierced [Mud Shot] like a blade through silk, stabbing straight into Drizzile.
Caught off-guard, Drizzile reeled from the focused strike. While smaller, the concentrated power hurt significantly more.
[Mud Shot]'s defense crumbled instantly. Frogadier's [Water Pulse] attacked like expert swordsmanship, piercing directly into Drizzile's weak points, dealing heavy damage.
"The move's form changed… similar to my Drizzile's dual pistols..." Kagura Hikari stared blankly.
Her double-pistol style had an explanation—imitating Champion Leon's famous Inteleon, capable of dual-wielding [Snipe Shot] and [Dark Pulse].
But Satoshi had found a similar way entirely on his own, evolving Frogadier's strength dramatically. Such power was extraordinary.
He had the aura of a Champion!
Yet I don't want to lose either!
Hikari reclaimed the brightness that had once been stolen from her, facing down Satoshi and Frogadier resolutely.
"It's not over yet! [Whirlpool]!"
"Jime!!"
Drizzile waved both arms, conjuring a massive swirling vortex of water, hurling it directly toward Frogadier.
"[Cut]!"
Frogadier instantly responded, slicing cleanly through [Whirlpool], dispersing it.
Yet as water cleared from view, Frogadier and Satoshi found Drizzile had repositioned—[Mud Shot] now aimed straight at Frogadier.
"[Mud Shot]!"
"[Water Pulse]!"
Shuriken-shaped [Water Pulse] clashed again with [Mud Shot], but Drizzile dodged quickly this time.
"[Surf], again!"
Another huge wave surged forth aggressively.
Seeing this, Satoshi smiled slightly.
Jump high, Frogadier!
"[Double Team]!"
With immense leap strength, Frogadier soared upward, instantly surrounding Drizzile with countless illusions mid-air.
"Let's finish this battle with everything we've got—[Water Pulse]!"
"Koga!" "Koga!" "Koga!"
Responding perfectly, Frogadier and every illusion simultaneously launched shuriken-shaped [Water Pulses].
"Mud Sh—" Before Hikari finished, [Water Pulses] streaked through the air like sharp shurikens, piercing directly into Drizzile.
"Jime——!" Drizzile desperately tried to withstand, yet was blown backward, arcing through the air and crashing heavily to earth, defeated.
"Drizzile is unable to battle! Frogadier wins—the winner is Satoshi!"
We won...
Rain slowed gradually, clouds parting to reveal bright blue skies. Warm sunlight spilled down, illuminating Satoshi and Frogadier.
Bathed in sunlight, Frogadier lifted its head proudly, eyes meeting Satoshi's.
"Amazing, Frogadier!"
"Koga!"
Trainer and Pokémon embraced warmly. Honestly, Anon was starting to feel jealous.
But within minutes, everyone's attention was drawn away by an announcement:
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!
"The Afro Buffalo Cup has now concluded. Here are the top ten teams—"
"Top 10: School Champion & Happy Friends, Stage Girls, MYGO, Roselia, μ's, Kessoku Band, Rainbow Feather Student Council, Revival Alliance, Service Club, Ave Mujica."
---
T/N: dont worry bonus chaps will be released on sunday
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"Grrrk—RAAH… Every 100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter… 100ps one… 200ps two… 300ps three… gyaaahhh."
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say thank you to Girantina for that thoughtful message