Wild battles are a true test of a Trainer's reflexes and their ability to assess the environment and situation.
Weather, terrain, moves... even the Trainer themselves can become decisive factors in wild battles.
And it's this exceptional awareness in wild battles that Pokédex Holders pride themselves on.
Gold wanted to challenge Natsume-sensei through a wild battle for their first showdown!
"This guy! He's way too reckless!" Crystal stomped her foot in frustration.
While she could understand the desire to challenge Natsume-sensei...
Natsume-sensei was a guest! You don't just attack someone the moment you meet them!
"Well, that's Gold for you," Natsume nodded with a complicated expression.
This guy was bold enough to challenge even Professor Samuel Oak...
This was just a friendly wild battle.
Both sides would naturally hold back the power of their moves.
In that case, the psychological battle between Trainers was the key factor in wild battles...
Crystal shouted, pulling a Poké Ball from her bag. "Natsume-sensei, I'll help you teach this guy a lesson!"
Before she could finish, Natsume yanked Crystal aside.
The Sudowoodo disguised as a tree behind her swung a heavy punch, missing its target.
At the same time, Squirtle, ready for action, leaped out from behind Natsume.
"Squirtle!" A powerful jet of water slammed into Sudowoodo, forcing it to shield its head.
"Natsume-sensei... how did you know..."
Crystal's question was cut short as she saw the serious look on Natsume's face.
That look... Crystal thought.
She had only seen it in people like Red and Blue Oak Senior!
Natsume was indeed serious.
But that was because he was too tense to show any other expression.
Regardless, Gold's strength in wild battles was not to be underestimated.
Wild battles were quite similar to battles with Substitute users.
And Natsume had the advantage of crucial information!
The rustling of leaves signaled Ambipom leaping out from the trees, lunging straight at Natsume.
A Poké Ball, propelled by the trajectory of a pool cue, shot toward Natsume's side.
With a pop, Sunflora emerged from the Poké Ball, releasing a blinding flash of light!
A black-haired boy wearing a cap and goggles.
He rested the pool cue on his shoulders and blew a strand of hair from his forehead, grinning. "Did I get him?"
He nimbly leaped down from the tree, only to suddenly dodge to the side.
A spinning Turtle Shell, carrying a powerful gust of wind, came crashing toward him.
The Turtle Shell embedded itself into the tree trunk, nearly splitting it in half!
Gold clicked his tongue.
Sunflora's flash should have blinded him!
"Darn it... Natsume-sensei was wearing sunglasses!"
Gold blurted out, just as a white figure dashed toward him.
"Sylveon!" Sylveon's Quick Attack was about to knock Gold out, but Sudowoodo stepped in to block it.
Crystal shouted, "Hitmonchan, Mach Punch!"
Hitmonchan charged at Gold at lightning speed, and the battle seemed decided in an instant.
But Gold's lips curled into a smirk.
Aibo grabbed onto a tree branch with its tail, lifting Gold out of harm's way and dodging Hitmonchan's attack.
While Crystal's attention was diverted.
The Sunflora beside her was sucked into a Poké Ball with a red beam, replaced by a roaring Typhlosion!
"Using... his own body to draw the attack," Crystal muttered in shock. "That's so like Gold!"
If he had thrown out Typhlosion directly, it would have been intercepted by her Pokémon.
But by using Sunflora to close the distance first, the "Baton Pass" allowed Typhlosion to break through the enemy line.
Even the flash was a feint—the real strategy was Gold's ace, Typhlosion!
"It's over!" Gold stood on the tree branch, wiping his nose with a flourish. "Exbo, use—"
At that moment, Natsume snapped his fingers crisply.
Gold blinked, suddenly feeling dizzy. He struggled to look at the tree beside him.
"Haunter!" A sinister grin appeared on the tree trunk as Haunter's face slowly emerged, its eyes glowing an eerie blue.
"I was prepared for this!"
Gold's eyes flashed with surprise before he reluctantly closed them.
Gold toppled forward, but Aibo caught him just in time, his cap falling slowly.
Looking at Gold, now snoring on the tree branch.
Crystal sighed in relief and patted Typhlosion's head.
"Typhlosion!!" Typhlosion nuzzled Crystal's hand affectionately.
If it weren't for Gold's pleading, it would never have agreed to this exercise!
By the way, Gold's Togekiss had no interest in the exercise and was currently at home playing games...
In the end... it still came down to Natsume-sensei!
Crystal glanced at Natsume-sensei with awe.
But Natsume-sensei looked completely unfazed.
Crystal blinked, then blushed and muttered, "Well... beating this idiot isn't exactly something to be proud of..."
Reflecting on the battle, it had ended in an instant, but Crystal couldn't keep up with the mind games between the two.
She had thought Sunflora's blinding flash was Gold's trump card...
But using the pool cue to pass the Poké Ball was all part of the "Baton Pass" strategy...
"Can I ask you something?" Crystal gathered her courage and asked, "Natsume-sensei, how did Haunter get to that spot..."
Long-range Hypnosis had poor accuracy.
But how Natsume-sensei managed to get Haunter close to Gold was beyond Crystal's understanding.
Natsume thought for a moment, then nodded. "It was when Sunflora used the flash."
"I had Squirtle carry Haunter's Poké Ball... and intentionally crash into the tree..."
"Then Haunter used the tree as cover to get close to Gold on the branch."
As he spoke, Natsume glanced at the tree with the embedded Turtle Shell, nearly split in half, and broke into a cold sweat.
Wild battles were truly full of unknowns...
If the strategy had failed, he would have been roasted by Typhlosion's Flamethrower!
Crystal's mouth hung open, her mind reeling.
Squirtle had intentionally missed?
Using Withdraw before the crash was to hide the Poké Ball?
Could all these layers of strategy really be thought up in just a few seconds?
"Natsume-sensei..." Crystal swallowed hard. "You're just too strong!"
"Ahem!" Natsume coughed. "Let's check on Gold first!"
To be honest, if this had been a standard 3v3 battle, Natsume-sensei would have been crushed by Gold.
But this guy just had to pick the "Trainer as the primary target" wild battle mode.
Even Elite Four members would be knocked out by a single Hypnosis!
(Ash Ketchum, Sabrina, Caitlin, and other human-like Pokémon are exceptions.)
"Good thing I had the intel advantage..." Natsume muttered.
"After all, Gold's only real strategy is Baton Pass..."
This was Natsume-sensei's first true wild battle.
Aside from sweaty palms, the System also rewarded him with an achievement: [First Victory (Wild Battle)].
The reward was a [Defense Enhancer], perfect for compensating Squirtle's chipped Turtle Shell...
Natsume shook his head and walked toward the shade.
Gold had already been carried down by Aibo and was now lying in the shade, resting his head on Crystal's lap...
Natsume-sensei was filled with envy.
How come you get a lap pillow even after losing?!
This is just too unfair!
But Crystal wasn't exactly the traditional gentle girlfriend type...
"Aibo," Crystal smiled. "Wake-up Slap, please!"
Ambipom grinned, using its tail to slap Gold repeatedly.
Gold woke up with two bright red handprints on his face, looking dazed. "Is it noon already?"
"It's almost afternoon!" Crystal laughed. "If we don't hurry back, Pokémon Day Care Granny will scold us!"
Gold scrambled to his feet, looking at Natsume and scratching his head sheepishly. "Natsume-sensei, I lost this time... but!"
Gold hoisted his pool cue onto his shoulder and blew a strand of hair from his forehead. "I'll beat you someday!"
Natsume coughed lightly and nodded. "Keep at it. The future is yours!"
"By the way..." Gold rubbed his hands together, his earlier bravado gone. "Uh... Natsume-sensei, could you maybe consider making me an admin?"
Natsume's eyes widened. "In your dreams!"
"Darn it!" Gold scratched his head in frustration, shouting, "I'll become an admin someday!!"
Gold's loud declaration startled a flock of Pidgey from the trees.
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