https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-125-The-Charm-of-the-Six-Tailed-Fox-Unmatched-by-Any-/12830698/
Chapter 126: Can Tactics Be “Dirty”?
Chapter 126: Can Tactics Be “Dirty”?
"Double battles, huh."
Jing He observed the four Pokemon on the field, his lips curling slightly.
Double battles were a true test of a trainer's tactical abilities and the synergy between two Pokemon. However, the mentor evaluation wouldn't assess the teamwork between Pokemon, but rather the mentor's tactical prowess.
Previously, non-battle-focused mentors could still rely on luck or the strength of individual Pokemon to advance. But at this stage, the gap between non-battle-focused mentors and battle-focused mentors became starkly apparent.
After all, challenging someone's livelihood with your hobby was no easy feat.
Most battle-focused mentors had already assembled a full team of six Pokemon, giving them a wide range of options. On the other hand, non-battle-focused mentors like Jing He struggled to even gather six Pokemon.
"This round, winning means getting a TM. Understand?"
Jing He addressed Gengar and Weavile.
"Ha ha ha~~"
Gengar shook its sunglasses and grinned wickedly.
It had been a long time since it last got a TM, and it was feeling quite bored after finishing its latest series.
"Roar!"
Weavile nodded seriously, its face stern.
It seemed they needed to take a bit more of a risk this time!
Weavile silently reduced its safety distance from five meters to four meters and eighty centimeters!
"Chirp?"
The little Steelix in Jing He's arms tilted its head.
What was this about, ignoring me?
Is it because I'm too weak?
Steelix hopped out of Jing He's arms and, after digging out a small piece of metal from somewhere, prepared to hammer it.
"It's almost my turn."
Jing He stood up and said to Daimao, "Daimao, keep an eye on Steelix."
It wasn't that he didn't want to bring Steelix to the field; he just felt that even if he recalled it to its Poke Ball, it would probably run out on its own when the referee called for Pokemon. The probability was likely around ninety percent.
To be safe, he decided to leave it in the audience.
Seeing the deep meaning in Jing He's eyes, Daimao paused, then smiled.
"Don't worry, teacher."
With that, he tossed a Poke Ball.
A red light flashed, and the massive Beldum appeared.
Thankfully, the arena built by Devon Corporation was sturdy enough, and the gaps between the rows of seats were wide to accommodate students who might bring their Pokemon. Otherwise, Beldum's appearance might have caused a collapse.
"Chirp?"
Steelix, having just hammered a small piece of metal into its hammer, saw Beldum's silver-gray metallic armor and was drawn to it like a magnet.
It immediately jumped onto Beldum and began tapping and exploring, its eyes shining with enthusiasm.
"Beldum?"
Beldum looked at Daimao for help.
Daimao smiled and said, "Beldum, it's on you."
Beldum could only look resigned.
Fortunately, Steelix was just a small fry, so it let it do as it pleased.
Bang! Bang!
Steelix knocked on Beldum's chest armor, its eyes gleaming as it called out to Beldum.
"Chirp~~" (Big guy, could you pick up my hammer for me? I got too excited and left it on the ground.)
"Beldum?" (What for?)
Beldum asked as it bent down to pick up the small hammer.
Steelix, with an innocent face, called out again.
"Chirp~~" (I think this part of your armor is a bit crooked. Let me give it a few taps.)
Beldum smiled warmly.
"Beldum. (□；)" (With your tiny size and that little hammer, what can you do?)
Before it could finish, Beldum's expression froze.
It realized that Steelix's small "mini hammer" was surprisingly heavy!
It had tried to flick it up casually but found it couldn't!
Only after using some effort did it manage to pick up the small hammer.
"Chirp!!Ψ(｀▽)Ψ" (Come on, big guy!)
Steelix, clinging to Beldum's chest armor, urged it excitedly.
Beldum: ＼(□ l|l)/
When will this match end?
Jing He slowly walked out of the competitor's tunnel, and the audience erupted in cheers.
There were also a few comments like "cruel to the weak" and "heartless" mixed in.
His opponent, a female teacher in a light green dress and a round-brimmed hat, walked toward him.
She was quite attractive, but her face was stern, as if it read "beware of the enemy."
"This battle will be a Double Battle, continuing until all Pokemon on both sides have lost their ability to fight."
The referee, after confirming that both trainers were in position, briefly explained the rules.
He then signaled for the trainers to summon their Pokemon.
"Go, Roserade, Bellossom!" Homi threw out two Poke Balls.
Ice Sixtails had battled a wild Bellossom before, so it wasn't unfamiliar.
As for Roserade, it was the final evolution of Chikorita, one of the Johto region's starter Pokemon.
From Jing He's side, Gengar and Ice Sixtails also entered the battlefield, one grinning and the other focused.
"What strategy will Teacher Jing He use? Will Gengar use 'Toxic Shield'?"
"In a Double Battle, 'Toxic Shield' might not have much of an advantage, right?"
"Just from the types, it seems Teacher Jing He has the upper hand."
"If it's just about types, why bother battling?"
"..."
As the audience buzzed with speculation, the referee's flag dropped.
"The battle begins!"
"Bellossom, Spore!"
Homi made the first move.
From Bellossom's mushroom-like cap, a cloud of fluffy spores immediately dispersed, capable of putting opponents to sleep upon contact.
"Roserade, Sweet Scent!"
From the petals around Roserade's neck, a sweet, fragrant mist wafted, attracting the attention of Pokemon and reducing their mobility, making them easier to hit.
As Homi's Pokemon took action, Jing He's vision displayed information about them from the Pokedex.
"A Bellossom with the 'Spore' ability, paired with a Roserade skilled at distracting and attracting attention. They have the makings of a 'Sleep Team.'"
But...
Competing in sleep tactics with Gengar and Ice Sixtails?
Jing He smiled.
Suddenly, crystalline snowflakes began to fall, and the sudden drop in temperature slowed the spread of the "Sweet Scent."
At the same time, Gengar's claws spread, and a dark blue flame suddenly ignited in the field. Three spiraling "Will-O-Wisp" flames flew out, burning the approaching spores into blue ice flowers.
The snowflakes and ice flowers blooming in the air created a stunning spectacle, leaving the audience in awe.
So beautiful...
Seeing that her initial moves had no effect and that the snowy weather was disadvantaging her Grass-type Pokemon, Homi frowned.
"Leaf Blade, Mach Punch, close in!"
Bellossom stomped the ground and punched, speeding forward, while Roserade's large, sharp leaves circled around Bellossom, creating a protective barrier as it advanced.
It was clear that Roserade and Bellossom worked well together, with "Leaf Blade" giving Bellossom the opportunity to close the distance.
"Psychic."
"Ooh—"
An invisible psychic force controlled the rapidly spinning leaf blades, also hindering Bellossom's advance.
"Bellossom, Brick Break!"
Bellossom instantly changed its move, dark red energy like flames enveloping its fists, breaking through the psychic barrier and aiming straight for Ice Sixtails.
"Roserade, Light Screen!"
At the same time, Roserade created a transparent barrier between Bellossom and Gengar.
"Light Screen" could reduce the damage from special attacks.
Homi's intent was clear: to take out Ice Sixtails first, as it posed a greater threat with its weather manipulation and was relatively easier to deal with. She was willing to accept the damage Gengar would deal to Bellossom.
However...
Jing He's expression was peculiar.
If you were trying to deal with the "troublemaker" Gengar, you might have a chance, but you chose Ice Sixtails...
And...
Who said Gengar only uses special attacks?
The only commendable move was choosing "Brick Break" to prevent Ice Sixtails from using defensive moves like "Reflect" or "Aurora Veil."
Taking advantage of the speed from "Mach Punch," Bellossom rushed to Ice Sixtails.
"Got it!"
The punch connected!
Bang!!
Bellossom felt its fist hit something.
But... why did "Ice Sixtails" explode?
Ice Sixtails, who had already moved five meters away, let out a sigh of relief, patting its chest.
That was close.
It almost got hit.
Bang!!
Before Bellossom could react, Gengar, with a sinister grin, landed a solid punch on its face.
"Run," Jing He commanded.
In the increasingly fierce snowstorm, visibility dropped, and multiple, even dozens of Ice Sixtails appeared.
In the audience stands:
"Wow! A physically offensive Gengar?"
"Wait, how are there so many Vulpix?!"
"Gengar too, how are there so many Gengar?"
"What kind of tactic is this? Hide and seek?"
"."
The Parasect, whose counterattack was dodged by the Gengar using "Substitute," looked bewildered. Where did all these Gengar shadows come from?
Homi frowned and quickly commanded:
"Playing tricks, Vileplume, use 'Petal Dance' to scatter all the shadows!"
Petals drifted down from Vileplume, smashing into the shadows of the Weavile surrounding them.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of impact echoed from all the shadows.
Some shadows "collapsed," but others remained intact.
Why?
Even Homi was taken aback this time.
What she didn't realize was that "Petal Dance" wasn't particularly powerful to begin with, and it became even weaker when divided among dozens of targets.
Moreover, the Weavile's snowmen had been hammered daily by the small blacksmith, making them increasingly solid.
And among them were some of Weavile's "Substitutes."
"Kwah!"
Parasect suddenly felt a tap on its back and swung its fist around, only to find nothing there.
By the time it reacted and looked back to the front,
It was met by Weavile's mesmerizing eyes.
Hypnosis!
A beautiful dream quickly enveloped Parasect, but less than a second later, a terrifying ghost face appeared in its dream, swallowing the entire dream in one gulp.
"Kwah~"
Gengar smacked its lips.
Let's be honest, the taste of a good dream is not as satisfying as a nightmare.
Move: Dream Eater!
However, through "Dream Eater," Gengar quickly restored the energy it had expended using "Substitute."
In a double battle, when one Pokemon loses its fighting ability, the battle quickly shifts in favor of the remaining Pokemon.
But it wasn't easy to make Homi give up so quickly.
Using the sound of Parasect falling, she and Vileplume finally locked onto the positions of Gengar and Weavile.
In an instant,
Three glowing green "Energy Balls" shot through the snow.
"Kwah~"
Gengar immediately cackled, forming a black sphere in its hands and launching it at the three "Energy Balls."
Boom!!
The collision's shockwave slightly pushed back some of the snow, revealing how the "Shadow Ball" had defeated the three "Energy Balls."
"Damn! A Super 'Shadow Ball'?"
"This 'Shadow Ball' is just... unreasonable!"
Even after defeating the three "Energy Balls," the "Shadow Ball" hit Vileplume head-on, causing it to cry out in pain.
Gengar smirked.
Why?
Just because you can form three "Energy Balls" in a short time, doesn't mean I can't form one big one?
It's just a bit larger, that's all.
"Vileplume!"
Homi called out sternly, "It's not over yet, don't give up!"
Vileplume's eyes glowed green, and a green light enveloped its body.
"It's 'Overgrow'! Teacher Homi hasn't..."
"There's still a chance! There's still a..."
The stands erupted in excitement.
"Ice Beam."
Jing He's voice echoed, and a cold blue beam shot from about seven meters away, striking Vileplume.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The icy chill instantly froze Vileplume into a block of ice, stifling its "Overgrow" and extinguishing the flames of excitement in the stands.
The entire arena fell silent.
"Ooh~"
Another "Ice Beam" further sealed Vileplume's "Overgrow."
The arena was dead silent.
Weavile let out a light breath.
Almost, it was almost a comeback.
The snow and wind cleared.
Revealing the snowmen scattered on the field and the shadows created by Gengar's "Substitute" and "Shadow Ball."
Some spectators couldn't help but put themselves in Homi's shoes, shuddering at the thought.
They realized that without controlling the weather, the snowmen could be infinite, and Gengar's shadows seemed to be infinite as well.
Does that mean...
Hitting them would be a matter of luck?
And it might be a very small chance, a chance that diminishes over time.
Some students who understood tactics immediately realized that this might be an even more "savage" strategy than "Toxic Spikes"!
"So dirty, Teacher Jing He..."
Dirty?
Can tactics be called "dirty"?
Besides,
This is just the beginning—
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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