Judging from the power of this Garchomp, the opponent must have equipped it with a Life Orb.
Since the game didn't include Gengar's Mega Evolution stone as an item, Natsume had opted for a Focus Sash instead.
In the game, the Focus Sash's effect was to leave the Pokémon with 1 HP after taking a fatal hit.
Translated into reality, it meant barely clinging to the last sliver of health.
The pale-faced Gengar let out a groan and spat out a headband from its mouth, shakily tying it around its forehead.
With a renewed spark of battle spirit in its eyes, Gengar sprang back to life!
"Every time, I can't help but this cutscene," Natsume sighed. "How is this even a thing?!"
In real battles, Trainers would go to great lengths to hide the items their Pokémon were holding.
For example, hiding a Life Orb in a discreet spot or disguising a Mimikyu's disguise as Rowlet's cloak…
With a Pokémon like Gengar, which had a pocket dimension for a stomach, Natsume figured it could probably carry four or five Sitrus Berries without a problem.
Of course, that strategy was way too dirty, and Natsume's conscience wouldn't allow it.
But then again, would referees actually check how many items a Pokémon was carrying during a match…?
Maybe I should try it next time?
In the virtual imaging, the countdown above Garchomp's head was down to less than a minute, and the opponent launched a furious assault.
Gengar dodged and weaved, using Protect when necessary, dragging the battle out until the final ten seconds.
"Garchomp, Dragon Claw!"
"Gengar, Double Team!"
A pale green dragon claw tore through the air, but Gengar gracefully evaded it with Double Team, sticking out its tongue and making faces.
Cynthia frowned, trying to recall Garchomp mid-air.
But at that moment, a dark shadow extended from Gengar's feet toward Garchomp.
Countless hands shot out from the shadow, gripping Garchomp tightly and preventing Cynthia from recalling it!
The countdown hit zero, and Garchomp, having lost its will to battle, let out a yawn and lazily fell from the sky.
At the same time, the system announced Natsume's victory.
"Whoa, Mean Look plus Perish Song?"
"So the opponent can't even switch out?"
"How is this even a thing?!"
"Natsume-sensei, can this strategy be used in real battles?"
Natsume pondered for a moment. "Theoretically, yes."
"Perish Song is a mental attack, and if the opponent loses their will to battle, it counts as a win in official matches."
"Unlike regular battles, this is a clever strategy, similar to moves like Charm or Attract."
"But once it's set up, all you have to do is keep using Protect!"
The chat exploded with messages, and the live stream's popularity soared past the one million mark.
Witnessing the birth of Natsume-sensei's new strategy, the viewership even broke 2 million!
"I get it now! I'm gonna try this against a Gym Leader!"
"Natsume-sensei is a genius! Is this his third strategy?!"
For an average Master-level Trainer, mastering two different strategies was already impressive.
After all, changing one's battle style was difficult, and most people stuck to one team and strategy.
But Natsume-sensei had unveiled three different strategies in just two months, sharing them all without holding back…
This wasn't just selflessness—it was something else entirely.
Natsume-sensei was the god of dirty strategies!
Gift animations flooded the screen, and Natsume glanced at the system notifications.
[Live stream popularity has surpassed 2 million for the first time! BP Points +1000!]
[Brilliant command! BP Points +200]
Gaining over 2000 BP in one night was beyond Natsume's expectations.
But upon reflection, this was likely the first time the Perish Song strategy had been showcased in such a way.
While there were Trainers who used Perish Song teams in real battles, the exposure from Natsume's live stream was unmatched.
The 2000 BP was just the beginning.
Once the video was edited and released, and its influence continued to grow, getting the "Protect" Technical Machine would only be a matter of time!
Natsume glanced at Gastly, who was staring wide-eyed at the screen, drooling at the sight of the triumphant Gengar.
Natsume chuckled and poked Gastly.
"Don't worry, you'll get to be this dirty someday too!"
Natsume returned to the camera and cleared his throat. "Alright, that's it for today's stream."
"If you haven't subscribed yet, hit that button! See you all tomorrow!"
With practiced ease, Natsume ended the stream, leaving behind a chat filled with question marks and loyal followers.
"Everyone, stand up!"
"Goodbye, Natsume-sensei!"
Cynthia stared at the "Defeat" screen in surprise.
Untying her hairband, Cynthia lay back on the pristine bedsheets, tossing the controller aside and letting her golden hair spill out.
In a real battle, this Gengar would've been turned into Swiss cheese by Cynthia's Garchomp.
But even in reality, the Perish Song strategy had its merits.
Morty, the Ghost-type Gym Leader of Ecruteak City in Johto, was a devoted advocate of the Perish Song strategy.
And Lorelei, the Ice-type Elite Four member from the Sevii Islands, aside from her mastery of Ice-types, relied heavily on her Lapras and Dewgong for her Perish Song tactics.
It was just that, as a game, Pokémon: Battle couldn't fully replicate real battles.
Still, losing the game left Cynthia feeling a bit down.
Sighing, Cynthia picked up her phone, intending to vent to Diantha, but Professor Rowan's call came through instead.
"A new batch of inscriptions has been unearthed in Eterna City. You should come by the museum when you have time."
"Have you finished your visit to the Touran Region?"
"Yes… and it was quite fruitful!"
Professor Rowan sounded reflective. "The scholars in the Touran Region have made significant strides in various fields, and the academic atmosphere is vibrant."
"To be honest, I invited a student to be my assistant, but he turned me down."
Cynthia was surprised. "I thought you weren't taking on any more assistants?"
As Sinnoh's leading authority on Pokémon, countless people had fought to become Professor Rowan's assistant.
Overwhelmed, Professor Rowan had publicly declared he would no longer take on assistants.
But now, Professor Rowan had personally invited someone… and been rejected?
Professor Rowan sighed. "He has a deep understanding of Sinnoh's myths, and I thought he could be of help to you."
"But he has little interest in becoming a researcher, and he's not keen on being a Trainer either."
Cynthia smiled. "To each their own, I suppose."
Back in the day, Cynthia had defied her grandmother's wishes and embarked on her journey to conquer the Sinnoh League, driven by her love for Pokémon and passion for battling.
Everyone had the right to chase their dreams, and Cynthia understood that deeply.
"Perhaps," Professor Rowan said, shaking his head. "What's your schedule looking like?"
"In December, there's the Type Expert Tournament in Eterna City. I'll be serving as a judge."
Professor Rowan nodded, then suddenly realized something. "Are you planning to take a three-month vacation?"
Cynthia mumbled vaguely, "Professor, my phone's about to die. I'll talk to you later."
Putting down her phone, Cynthia opened the game interface.
Reflecting on the recent battle, Cynthia pondered for a moment before clicking the "Add Friend" button.
🌟 Join My and Unlock Exclusive Pokémon Content! 🌟
Are you a fan of the Pokémon series? Become a member today and enjoy amazing benefits!
🌟 Membership: Pokémon Series - Gold Champion
Unlock access to 4 Chapters in advance!
Enjoy daily updates with 2 new chapters every day!
🌟 Membership: Pokémon Series - Platinum Legend
Unlock access to 17 Chapters in advance!
Enjoy daily updates with 5 new chapters every day!
Join now and immerse yourself in the exciting world of Pokémon like never before! Your support means the world to me!
👉.com/PokemonStoryWeaver