"As expected, let alone taking down Tauros through a relay battle, that guy Aster probably can't even wear down half of Tauros' stamina."
Giselle sighed as she shook her head from the audience stands. She more or less understood Aster's battle style.
For a theory-oriented Pokémon Trainer like Aster, once something completely overturned his understanding of battle and exceeded the scope of his plans, both his own and his Pokémon's battle condition would be severely affected. They might even fail to perform at their usual level during the match.
"As expected of our Red-sama! Not only did he predict contestant Aster's type-advantage tactics, but he also showed everyone the rare shiny Tauros! I'm getting more and more excited for Red-sama's future matches!"
The announcer said excitedly. Although, as the commentator, he couldn't openly cheer for Red, anyone with ears could tell that the announcer had absolutely no faith in Aster advancing any further.
"Damn it! Victreebel, use Razor Leaf immediately! Even if our tactics failed, it doesn't mean we'll lose!"
Aster shouted unhappily, instantly issuing an order to Victreebel in an attempt to land the first hit on Tauros.
The leaves on both sides of Victreebel's body swung back and forth, instantly releasing two thick leaves that rapidly flew toward Tauros like throwing knives. Yet Tauros showed no sign of panic whatsoever, remaining motionless like a mountain.
"What's this?! Our Red-sama actually hasn't ordered Tauros to make any counterattack at all! Could it be that Red-sama has some sort of strategy beyond our understanding?!" the announcer exclaimed.
"This level of opponent is fine for autonomous battle."
Red said calmly, allowing Tauros to rely on its own judgment to win the match.
Razor Leaf quickly arrived before Tauros. Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, Tauros slowly opened its mouth and actually bit the leaves directly between its teeth.
Then, under the frozen stares of Aster and Victreebel, Tauros leisurely turned the leaves into food, slowly chewing and swallowing them into its stomach. It even licked its lips a few times afterward, as though savoring the delicious taste of the Razor Leaf attack.
"That's way too mocking, isn't it?"
Giselle complained from the audience seats, but the moment she looked at Red's face, her eyes instantly filled with lovestruck admiration.
"Well, it's Red's Pokémon after all. It's all Aster's fault for not knowing his place!"
"Victreebel, use Vine Whip to bind Tauros!"
Aster ordered anxiously, completely failing to realize how foolish that command was.
As a Pokémon, Victreebel chose to trust Aster unconditionally. It immediately extended two Vine Whips from its body. Under Tauros' lazy gaze, the two vines successfully wrapped around Tauros' horns.
"Hm?"
Red glanced curiously at Aster, not expecting him to give such a stupid command.
Seeing Red look at him with curiosity, Aster mistakenly thought Red had been intimidated by his strategy. He proudly raised his head, revealing a "modest" expression.
"Idiot..." Red said helplessly.
The moment those words fell, the previously motionless Tauros suddenly exploded with astonishing momentum. Under Victreebel's terrified gaze, Tauros used its overwhelming brute strength to yank Victreebel directly in front of itself.
"This is bad! Victreebel, hurry and dodge!" Aster shouted in panic, never expecting Tauros' strength to be this terrifying.
Before Victreebel could react, a layer of purple energy covered Tauros' forehead. Immediately afterward, Tauros slammed its head violently into Victreebel's body. The terrifying impact sent Victreebel uncontrollably flying backward.
"Bang—"
After smashing through several thick stone pillars in the rocky battlefield, Victreebel's entire body was driven into the corner wall.
Under Aster's stunned gaze, Victreebel, whose body had been crushed into the wall, weakly collapsed onto the ground, already unable to continue battling.
"Victreebel is unable to battle!"
Seeing this, the referee immediately announced the result, while secretly casting a fearful glance at Tauros, unable to imagine the terrifying extent of its strength.
"A one-shot! It's a one-shot! I never expected Red-sama's Tauros to defeat contestant Aster's Victreebel with just a single Zen Headbutt!"
The announcer excitedly explained. At first, he hadn't recognized the move Tauros used, but thankfully he quickly flipped through reference material and found the move's information.
"In less than a minute, contestant Aster has already lost one Pokémon! What Pokémon will he send out next to deal with the immensely powerful Tauros?!"
"Don't get cocky! I also have power-type Pokémon. I'm counting on you, Rhydon!"
After recalling the unconscious Victreebel into its Poké Ball, Aster sent out another Pokémon. This time, he planned to fight Tauros using the equally strength-famous Rhydon.
Rhydon was Aster's ace for rocky battlefields, yet it had been forced onto the field in less than a minute.
The heavy Rhydon let out a thunderous sound the moment it landed, breathing heavily as it stared at Tauros ahead with burning battle intent.
Seeing that its opponent was Rhydon, Tauros revealed a hint of curiosity, intending to compare strength with the Pokémon before it.
"Rhydon, use Horn Attack on Tauros!"
Aster immediately ordered.
Rhydon roared and charged toward Tauros with heavy footsteps, launching a Horn Attack.
Seeing this, Tauros also rushed directly toward Rhydon, using Horn Attack as well.
"Bang—"
After a brief clash of power, Rhydon was completely overwhelmed and forced backward by Tauros. Its four limbs desperately clawed at the ground, leaving deep scrape marks as it struggled to resist, though its efforts achieved nothing meaningful.
Immediately afterward, the three tails behind Tauros simultaneously burst with dazzling silver light. Tauros twisted its body and unleashed Iron Tail. The triple Iron Tail attack smashed heavily into Rhydon's body, sending it flying to the edge of the rocky battlefield.
Not only was it suffering double type-advantage damage, but Tauros also possessed the Sheer Force Ability, boosting Iron Tail's damage by another 30%.
No matter how thick-skinned and durable Rhydon was, it absolutely could not withstand such an assault from Tauros.
Sure enough, after crashing near the edge of the rocky battlefield, Rhydon's eyes spun as it fainted on the spot.
"Rhydon is unable to battle!" the referee announced again.
The referee subconsciously pulled out his pocket watch to check the timing between the two battles. He discovered that not even a full minute had passed. Such a scene completely shattered his previous understanding of Indigo League matches.
"Damn it, I'm counting on you now, Rapidash!"
With no other choice, Aster fiercely threw out his last remaining Pokémon, Rapidash.
Registering Rapidash in his lineup had originally been Aster's precaution against opponents using Grass-type Pokémon to counter his Rhydon. But who could have expected that he wouldn't even be able to scratch Red's Tauros?
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