Chapter 174: How Do You Learn?
Chapter 174: How Do You Learn?
"Teacher Jing He, is it an unlimited battle, a rotation battle, or—"
Rika smiled as she walked onto the battlefield.
Do all Gym Leaders in Kanto prefer unlimited battles? Jing He couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
But upon further thought, it was indeed true!
Rika, besides her skills in flower arranging and perfume making, was also proficient in archery—a unique style where she used Poke Balls as the arrowheads, launching them to send Pokemon directly to her opponent's side. It was quite similar to Akane's pool cue technique.
Of course, there were also regular arrows without Poke Balls.
So, Jing He said, "It's just a simple exchange, let's go with the basic 1v1 format."
Rika didn't refuse, nodding solemnly. She bowed politely, and when she lifted her head again, her hair was neatly tied back with a headband, giving her a touch of elegance and resolve.
"In that case, I'll leave it to this one."
In her hand, she held a Poke Ball. Jing He also indicated that he was ready.
In the audience stands, Daisuke, Kenta, and Asa sat with Yuki, Akira, and Dujuan from Yuhong University.
"Miss Dujuan, I admire you—"
Kenta was about to make his move on Dujuan when Gengar emerged from the shadows.
"Gengar~"
It grinned wickedly and patted Kenta's shoulder, causing Kenta to freeze.
"N-N-N-N-N-Numb!"
"Gengar, what are you doing here?" Asa asked, unable to contain her curiosity.
"Teacher Jing He is about to battle," Daisuke mused. "Since Teacher Rika specializes in Grass-type Pokemon, it makes sense for Teacher to use Vulpix."
"But why did Gengar go with Teacher Jing He earlier?"
Dujuan, noticing Gengar's mischievous grin, asked.
Gengar's grin widened, and it suddenly produced a bucket of popcorn from somewhere.
Pop!
It casually grabbed a handful and stuffed it into its mouth, the crunch of the popcorn filling the air.
So delicious!
"Gengar?"
Do you want some?
Gengar, being quite generous, offered.
"Sure, thank you, Gengar!"
The group's eyes lit up, and they all thanked him.
"By the way, Gengar, where did you get the popcorn?"
Abe was curious; he hadn't seen any snack stands nearby.
Gengar clenched its fist and then slowly opened it, indicating that it had made the popcorn itself.
"But there's no corn in the school, right?" Dujuan recalled.
"It should be—" Daisuke, who had experienced this before, said sheepishly, "the Sunfloras' sunflower seeds."
"Sunfloras' sunflower seeds can make popcorn?"
"Wait."
Yuki, who had just taken a mouthful of popcorn, suddenly seemed to realize something or felt a bit off. He looked at Gengar.
"Gengar, what did you use to pop the popcorn?"
Huh?
"Gengar!"
Gengar grinned and a ghostly blue flame appeared beside it.
Ghost Fire?!
Hiss!
Yuki's cheeks turned red, followed by Abe, Dujuan, and Daisuke, who wisely didn't eat any. As for Asa—
Crunch, crunch—
"Not bad, Gengar. It would be even better if it were a bit spicier," Asa mumbled with a pout.
"Gengar!" Gengar gave her a thumbs up.
She knows good stuff!
Rika, fully focused on her battle with Jing He, was unaware that her students had been collectively knocked out by Gengar again.
"Teacher Jing He, do you have your own battle 'style'?"
Rika smiled, tossing her Poke Ball.
A red beam shot out and landed on the ground, transforming into a large Pokemon with a flower on its back—Venusaur!
Venusaur, the Seed Pokemon, with Grass and Poison types, is the final evolution of Bulbasaur, one of the Kanto region's starter Pokemon!
Venu—
Do you have to be so serious? Jing He's face twitched slightly at the sight of the large Venusaur.
While he knew Rika's main Pokemon were Bellossom and Sunflora, as a seasoned Pokemon enthusiast, Jing He was well aware of the challenges Venusaur posed.
Jing He's Poke Ball opened, and an Ice-type Vulpix appeared at his side.
"Vulpix?"
Seeing the Venusaur across from it, Ice Vulpix's expression immediately turned serious.
"Relax, just take it easy," Jing He crouched down, soothingly saying.
The Six-tailed Ice Pokemon nodded solemnly.
"Ooh!"
It looks like a tough opponent. This time, I might have to bring out my true strength!
It curled its tail, and the small "Ice Stone" it usually played with appeared. The little guy, with a serious expression, placed it at the edge of its mouth.
Under Jing He’s watchful eyes, it—
Crack!
Somehow managed to bite off a small piece!
Then it started chewing it like an ice cube, making a "crunch crunch" sound.
Jing He: "..."
You could digest it all along?
Yesterday, he thought the Ice Six-tailed would last a while with the small "Ice Stone," but now it seems...
Another foreseeable large expense.
"Are you okay?"
The Ice Six-tailed nodded after swallowing, saying, "Ooh!"
I’m good!
Come to think of it... This shouldn’t count as a performance enhancer, right?
"Then go ahead," Jing He could only say.
The Ice Six-tailed leaped into the battlefield.
"Teacher Jing He, it seems you and your Pokemon are both enjoying the battle," Rika said with a gentle smile that gradually turned sharp.
"And I am also thrilled to be facing you in this battle!"
There was no referee, but both of them were in perfect sync.
The battle began!
The Ice Six-tailed's snow-white fur became even more crystalline, and a faint layer of frost appeared with each breath, while snowflakes began to fall across the field.
Such strong weather control!
Rika's eyes narrowed.
Is this Teacher Jing He’s true strength?
She didn’t dare to underestimate him and immediately commanded:
"Venusaur, use Leech Seed!"
"Darn!"
Venusaur shot seeds of varying sizes from the flower on its back, which landed around the Ice Six-tailed and quickly took root, sprouting vines that wrapped around it, slowly sapping its energy.
At the same time, Jing He saw the Pokedex information about Rika’s Venusaur.
Venusaur
Type: Grass, Poison
Ability: Overgrow
Known Moves: Sunny Day, Leech Seed, Toxic, Protect, Substitute, Sleep Powder, Poison Powder, Razor Leaf, Synthesis...
Seeing these moves and Venusaur’s ability, Jing He had a general understanding of Rika’s strategy.
His expression became a bit odd.
He then commanded in a deep voice:
"Six-tailed, use Feint!"
The Ice Six-tailed allowed Venusaur’s Leech Seed to quickly take root and wrap around it, the vines disappearing but continuously draining its energy.
However, during this time, the Ice Six-tailed completed the boost from Feint.
A flash of cunning appeared in its eyes.
Rika frowned when she saw this.
This was very different from the tactics she knew about Jing He’s Ice Six-tailed.
Shouldn’t it be building snowmen in a snowstorm?
But she didn’t change her strategy.
Or rather, after using Leech Seed, she had no chance to change it.
"Venusaur, use Toxic!"
Of course!
How disgusting!
Using the "Substitute + Toxic" strategy!
How can there be such a dirty tactic?
"Ooh!"
The Ice Six-tailed let out a mournful cry as rocks and snow flew around, and it disappeared from the field in the blink of an eye.
It dug a hole!
Rika smiled slightly.
"It won’t work."
As the Toxic from Venusaur was about to miss, a green light suddenly appeared around Venusaur, followed by a faint light from the ground—Leech Seed had wrapped around it!
Jing He’s eyes widened.
Unbelievable!
The Toxic even had a "lock-on"?
Is this cheating?
They say the Gym Leaders in Kanto are all "talented," and their unlimited battle tactics can’t be understood with conventional thinking.
There’s no other way.
We can only see whose "cheat" is bigger.
Whoosh!
On the battlefield, a fierce, bone-chilling wind suddenly howled.
"The ‘Substitute + Toxic’ strategy?" Dujuan was full of surprise.
Isn’t this one of Teacher Jing He’s signature tactics?
"But come to think of it, Teacher Jing He and Ice Six-tailed’s strategy this time is a bit different."
As a fan of Jing He, Apen had watched almost all of Jing He’s battle videos, though there weren’t many.
"Because 'Parasect' can lock onto a target, it's pretty hard to hide, right?" Itsumu added.
"I know why," Takeshi said, his lips trembling.
Faced with the puzzled gazes of the others, he smiled mysteriously.
"Because of the scent. Teacher Rika and her Pokemon are very sensitive to odors."
Initially, the others were a bit unsure, but with the explanation from the "expert" Takeshi, they all suddenly understood.
No wonder it was Takeshi!
Daigo chuckled. "Well, let's see how Teacher Jing He will counter the ‘Substitute Poison’ strategy."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
It was indeed a tough strategy to counter, because even if you knew what move the opponent would use next, it was hard to neutralize it unless everyone had a "Taunt."
Blizzard?
"Venusaur, Sunny Day!"
The ice-type move "Blizzard" was a significant threat to Venusaur.
Moreover, under the "Hail" weather, "Blizzard" not only had more power but also a higher chance of hitting the opponent.
This was a "Blizzard" enhanced by "Foul Play"!
However, Rika chose to counter the move at its root.
Change the weather!
Hmm?
But she quickly realized something was off.
Crack, crack, crack—
Flowers of ice formed out of thin air, like white blooms blossoming before Rika’s eyes.
Venusaur’s attempt to change the weather wasn’t as smooth as expected.
Or rather, the change in weather was much slower than anticipated!
Realizing this, Rika’s expression changed, and she quickly changed her strategy, saying in a deep voice:
"Venusaur, Protect!"
But Jing He had already anticipated this move.
"Right now, Vulpix!"
Bang!!
Vulpix emerged from the ground.
Dig!
While it couldn’t cause substantial damage to Venusaur, it broke the "Protect" before "Blizzard" could hit!
Then came the real move:
"Blizzard!"
"Oow!!"
Emerging from the ground, Little Vulpix’s tails fully extended, and the already howling wind and snow instantly turned into razor-sharp blades.
This was the real "Blizzard." What about earlier...
Rika only then noticed the fading psychic energy in Little Vulpix’s eyes.
So, it used psychic energy to simulate the "Blizzard"?
A feint?
This kind of playstyle...
Could it be that Teacher Jing He is also an expert in unlimited battles?!
Realizing this, Rika quickly said, "Venusaur, Substitute!"
"Too late."
A terrifying ice tornado, intertwined with faint strands of psychic energy, instantly enveloped Venusaur.
Flowers of ice blossomed on Venusaur’s body, layering upon layer, forming a crystalline structure.
"The power of this 'Blizzard'..." Rika murmured, her eyes filled with undisguised amazement.
What a powerful "Blizzard"!
Even if Venusaur struggled to use "Substitute" at the last moment, it couldn’t escape the widespread "Blizzard."
Jing He demonstrated the best way to counter "Substitute Poison"—not with tactics, but with sheer force!
"Trick" combined with "Ice Body," "Blizzard" enhanced by "Psychic Power"...
The power of this move was completely disproportionate to Little Vulpix’s small size.
Even more so, Little Vulpix habitually followed up with an "Ice Beam," preventing Venusaur from using its "Overgrow" ability.
Venusaur, unable to fight on!
Little Vulpix let out a light breath.
That was close.
It hurried over to Jing He, looking pitifully at him and calling out twice.
"Oow oow~~"
I’m poisoned, give me ten antidotes.
Yasha and the others exchanged glances.
Though Teacher Jing He had shown how to counter "Substitute Poison" with brute force, they wondered...
How can we learn that?
That "Blizzard" covered the entire field, with such power...
How are we supposed to learn that?
"Is this the biggest gap between me and Teacher Jing He?"
Takeshi thought of the Gym Leaders cheering for Jing He and felt his heart ache.
—
PS: I accidentally wrote too much; this chapter is nearly 4k words. Please give me your monthly votes!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
