Cynthia sat on the sidelines, holding a reluctant Eevee in her arms, while Haunter eagerly massaged her shoulders, completely ignoring Garchomp's murderous glare.
Clair, unable to suppress her curiosity, cleared her throat and asked, "Miss Cynthia, how did you invite... Natsume-sensei?"
"I stayed at his place this morning, and then we came here together."
Cynthia, oblivious to the implications, tilted her head in confusion. "Is there a problem?"
Clair shook her head like a rattle drum, stammering, "L-let's just watch the battle for now!"
Cynthia nodded lightly, frowning as she observed the two Trainers on the field.
Natsume-sensei's strength... This battle should reveal a thing or two!
On the field, Lance, who had just finished a battle, narrowed his eyes, fully focused.
This was a Trainer highly praised by Red.
Although it was a rental battle, it tested both sides' ability to adapt on the spot.
Lance, hailing from the Blackthorn family, was naturally familiar with Clair's Dragon-type Pokémon and could command them with ease.
But Natsume-sensei... Could he really make Cynthia's Pokémon obey his commands?
These were the Pokémon of a Champion Trainer!
If the Pokémon refused to obey, it would mean the Trainer's personal strength was lacking, and the battle would be pointless!
Lance squinted, even feeling a bit worried.
Natsume, on the other hand, was more concerned about Spiritomb getting hurt.
"If you can't hold on, just play dead. I'll take the embarrassment, but don't get hurt!" Natsume whispered to Spiritomb.
"Spiritomb..." Spiritomb's fan-like patterns glowed faintly red, swaying gently.
Clair, acting as the referee for both, cracked a black whip, the sound echoing sharply on the ground.
Lance flipped his cape and threw a Poké Ball. "Go, Druddigon!"
The dark green-scaled, red-headed shiny Druddigon stood on its hind legs, swinging its powerful forelimbs and letting out a ferocious roar.
Looking at this "forgiveness-colored" Druddigon, Natsume's expression turned odd.
While it was indeed one of Clair's aces...
Druddigon was a disgrace to the Dragon-type family!
Even Garchomp could fly, but Druddigon, with its wings, couldn't. How absurd!
Complaints aside, Druddigon's "Sheer Force" ability made its attacks devastating.
Judging from its moveset in the Pokédex, this Druddigon was likely built for maximum Attack. If Spiritomb's Foul Play landed, there was even a chance of winning.
Seeing the obedient Spiritomb, Lance nodded.
"Ghost-type... Are you planning to demonstrate a future strategy for Haunter?"
"Haunter?" Hearing Lance's words, Haunter's eyes lit up, focusing intently on the battle.
I didn't, don't make things up!
Although I've beaten Cynthia in games.
This was different from a game. This was a real battle against a Champion-level Trainer.
Natsume took a deep breath, his mood gradually calming, his gaze sharpening.
Finally getting serious, huh?
Lance's lips curled slightly as he commanded, "Druddigon, Dragon Claw!"
A menacing roar erupted as Druddigon swung its dark green claws, charging toward Spiritomb like a tank across the open field.
Spiritomb had almost no mobility, but that was because it was bred as a physical wall.
"Spiritomb, hold your ground!"
Spiritomb's fan-like body snapped shut.
Just as Druddigon closed in, Natsume's voice rang out. "Foul Play!"
The fan suddenly opened, eerie green eyes glowing with a sinister light.
Foul Play: Using the opponent's strength to attack—the stronger the opponent, the greater the damage!
But as the light flared.
Druddigon burrowed underground right in front of Spiritomb, causing Foul Play to miss entirely!
Lance's lips curled into a smirk. "Body slam it! Use Earthquake!"
Druddigon burst out from beneath Spiritomb.
Knocking Spiritomb into the air, it used Spiritomb as a cushion, slamming it hard into the ground!
"Lance predicted Spiritomb's Foul Play..." Clair murmured from the sidelines.
Cynthia rested her chin on her hand. "Once a weakness is exposed, Lance's offense is nearly impossible to stop."
"Unless..." Cynthia narrowed her eyes.
Just as Druddigon and Spiritomb were about to hit the ground.
Natsume's cold voice cut through. "Now, Sucker Punch!"
If the opponent uses an attacking move, Sucker Punch allows the user to strike first.
"Get out of Earthquake's range!"
The moment they neared the ground, Spiritomb broke free from Druddigon's grip, flickering away and reappearing a meter from Druddigon.
Lance shouted, "Druddigon, Earthquake again!"
As Druddigon's feet hit the ground, the earth cracked, a powerful shockwave surging toward Spiritomb and sending it flying!
Not giving Natsume a moment to breathe, Lance clenched his fist in the air. "Gunk Shot!"
A deep purple Poison-type energy surged from Druddigon's claws.
A 120 Power Poison-type move, combined with Druddigon's "Sheer Force" ability, boosted its power to over 150!
If it hit, Spiritomb, already battered by Earthquake and Dig, would surely be knocked out!
Natsume suddenly understood where these Trainers' true strength lay.
In real battles, Elite Four members wouldn't give their opponents a moment to breathe. Every second was a strategic decision made on instinct.
Natsume had no time to think.
In less than two minutes, Spiritomb's HP was hanging by a thread.
But Natsume was betting.
Betting that Lance wouldn't settle for a draw.
"Spiritomb, Destiny Bond!"
Lance narrowed his eyes. "Druddigon, retreat!"
This gave Natsume a rare moment to breathe.
As the light of Destiny Bond began to glow, facing the incoming Gunk Shot, Natsume quickly changed his command.
Gunk Shot's accuracy was only 80, and Druddigon hadn't aimed properly.
Spiritomb, after all, was Cynthia's Pokémon. It managed to dodge mid-air, and the moment it landed, a ghostly hand shot out!
The hand stretched endlessly, locking onto Druddigon's neck like an umbilical cord, draining energy to replenish Spiritomb.
Pain Split: Adds both Pokémon's HP together and splits it evenly.
Druddigon roared in pain as the ghostly hand faded and disappeared.
In what seemed like a hopeless situation, Natsume had forced Lance to reveal a weakness.
Clair frowned, nodding reluctantly.
Admittedly, with reflexes like that, this guy definitely had Master-level skill!
"A very risky gamble," Cynthia said, furrowing her brow. "But... he's still at a disadvantage!"
Though Pain Split had landed.
Natsume had no time to relax.
Druddigon charged forward, a fiery fist slamming into Spiritomb and sending it flying three meters back!
Lance raised his arm and shouted, "Druddigon, Earthquake!"
Lance's offense was like a storm, leaving Spiritomb with almost no chance to hit. But Natsume had no choice but to grit his teeth and command:
However, to everyone's surprise.
Despite its battered state, Spiritomb's Hypnosis forced Druddigon to stop mid-attack!
Even Natsume couldn't help but mutter, "Holy..."
Others rely on luck in battles, but I'm gambling with my life here.
Did all my "Hydro Pump triple MISS" luck get used up in this battle?
On the sidelines, Cynthia chuckled. "Spiritomb... really trusts him."
Even Lance frowned, his voice low.
"Druddigon, Sleep Talk!"
Sleep Talk allowed a Pokémon to randomly use one of its moves while asleep.
Druddigon randomly used Dragon Claw, its power still formidable.
If Spiritomb used Dream Eater, it would surely be knocked out first, but now Druddigon couldn't avoid Destiny Bond.
Natsume let out a long sigh, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.
"Spiritomb, Destiny Bond."
Druddigon's Dragon Claw easily tore through Spiritomb's defenses.
The eerie light flared once more, and both Druddigon and Spiritomb collapsed.
Looking back, the duel had only lasted three turns.
In less than five minutes, Natsume was drenched in sweat.
This only strengthened his resolve to never become a Trainer.
Having to gamble, rely on probability, and strategize every day...
If you didn't have nerves of steel, the risk of dying from stress was way too high!
Natsume finally understood the insidious nature of the System's task.
If he hadn't risked it all on that Hypnosis probability...
There was no way he would've gotten the reward!
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Natsume muttered:
"That was close... good thing I was one step ahead!"
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