Chapter 270: The Mighty Ninetales, A Picture of Steadiness
Chapter 270: The Mighty Ninetales, A Picture of Steadiness
The eyes of the world were upon them.
A true spectacle for all to witness.
Amidst the cheers of tens of thousands of spectators, the announcer's passionate introduction echoed through the arena as the quarterfinalists, Jinghe and Melanie, stepped into the massive stadium.
The elliptical arena was packed to the brim, and the roaring crowd's cheers surged like a tidal wave.
Bang! Bang! Bang—
Brilliant fireworks blossomed in the sky, foreshadowing the upcoming battle's splendor.
"Go, Teacher Jinghe!"
"Melanie, give it your all!"
Both contestants had their fair share of supporters and fans.
"Teacher Jinghe, I'll give it my all!" Melanie, clad in a wizard-like robe, spoke with determination.
Having reached the semifinals in the Miare Conference in the Calos Region, her goal this time was nothing less than the championship!
But now, she faced the strongest opponent she had ever encountered in her career as a Trainer.
Jinghe adjusted his glasses and nodded kindly, "Go for it, you can do it."
Melanie's expression relaxed slightly, and she nodded firmly in response.
For some reason, when facing Jinghe, she felt as if she were facing her own teacher.
His gentle tone was like that of an elder encouraging a younger generation.
Although it felt odd, she did feel significantly more relaxed.
"Professor Oak, I believe this is Teacher Jinghe's first time using the 6V6 rotation mode, right?" Shiba, sitting in the guest area, asked with his arms crossed.
Professor Oak laughed heartily, "Yes, it reminds me of my first time participating in a tournament."
"The 6V6 rotation mode demands even more from Trainers." Shiba sensed Professor Oak's high regard for Jinghe.
"He'll surely succeed."
Liubo, sitting in a wheelchair nearby, glanced at the two but didn't join their conversation.
He couldn't understand the source of Professor Oak's blind trust.
Was it because he got along so well with his Pokemon, like Liubo himself? If that were the case, what was the point of training? Liubo, known as "Winter Liubo," believed in rigorous training and maintained a strict distance from his Pokemon, refusing to develop a bond of trust with them.
As Professor Oak and Shiba discussed, the referee's flag signaled the start of the battle.
"Battle, begin!"
Melanie waved her wizard's robe, tossing a Poke Ball into the air. Amidst the flashing red light, a Pokemon appeared in the arena.
"Go, Sun Rock!"
Its body was orange, with eight yellow rock spikes protruding from the sides and a pattern of small yellow stones on its front and back, resembling a sun made of rocks.
Sun Rock, a Meteorite Pokemon, possessed the Rock and Psychic types and had the Levitate Ability.
It was said to be a Pokemon that fell from space, a fragment of the sun itself.
"Oh, a Sun Rock? Now that's a rare Pokemon." Professor Oak's eyes lit up with interest.
Meanwhile, on Jinghe's side, a Pokemon also emerged within a flash of red light.
"Roar~"
Its body was a pristine white, with an elongated form and nine tails gracefully spread out, each adorned with falling crystals.
Under the sunlight, it exuded an unparalleled elegance and purity.
The moment Ninetales appeared, the audience's clamor abruptly ceased.
But after a brief silence, an even more exuberant cheer erupted.
"Wow, so beautiful!"
"It's stunning! Is this the Ninetales?"
"Teacher Jinghe's fourth Pokemon in this tournament, and it's finally our Ninetales' turn!"
The continuous praise and admiration were the perfect testament to Ninetales' graceful form.
"Roar~ (//▽//)"
Ninetales couldn't help but feel a bit shy, as this was its first battle in front of such a large audience.
But now, it was gradually getting used to it.
Melanie narrowed her eyes.
An Alolan Ninetales? Its type wasn't at a disadvantage.
Time to fight!
Whoosh—
Snowflakes began to fall, transforming the entire arena into a winter wonderland, and the temperature dropped significantly.
"Brr, it's so cold!"
"Is this the Snow Warning Ability? The effect covers such a large area; that's a bit over the top, isn't it?"
".
In the audience, especially among those seated closer to the front, many couldn't help but rub their arms to keep warm.
In the guest area, Liubo, who had maintained a stoic expression, leaned forward slightly and squinted when he saw this.
This Ninetales was exceptionally well-trained!
Melanie, however, remained unfazed and took the initiative.
"Sun Rock, Stealth Rock!"
In the 6V6 rotation mode, switching Pokemon was almost inevitable, and setting up Stealth Rock early on was a strategic move for the long game.
Rocks materialized out of thin air and appeared in various corners of the arena, only to quickly disappear again.
These rocks would ensure that Jinghe's replacement Pokemon would take damage as soon as they entered the field.
While Sun Rock was setting up Stealth Rock, Ninetales was also busy.
"It's Aurora Veil! Melanie starts with Stealth Rock, while Jinghe chooses Aurora Veil!"
The announcer commented with a hint of intrigue, "It seems both sides are being extremely cautious and playing it safe!"
The audience chimed in with their own observations.
"After the extreme violence of the previous match with Gigaforg, is Teacher Jinghe going to show us his steady side in this one?"
"He can be both strong and flexible, both aggressive and defensive. That's the versatile Teacher Jinghe for you."
".
Noticing that Jinghe wasn't attacking, Melanie sensed a "connection."
"Sun Rock, Cosmic Power!"
[Cosmic Power: Increases the user's Defense and Special Defense.]
If they were going to boost their stats, she would have Sun Rock pass the baton to a powerful Pokemon, allowing her to sweep the opponent's team.
However.
As soon as she gave the command, she saw a blurry white figure moving swiftly through the falling snowflakes, approaching Sun Rock.
Hmm?
Isn't Ninetales a Special Attack-oriented Pokemon? With the Snow Warning Ability in effect, Ice-type moves should be the best choice, right? She had even prepared a strategy to have Sun Rock use Sunny Day and surround itself with Fire Spin when the snow started falling.
At that moment, the Sun Rock seized the opportunity to unleash the cosmic force, passing the baton to the next Pokemon, thus completing its task.
Before the cosmic force could fully descend, the Ice Nine-Tails had already sprinted to the front of the Sun Rock.
Its nine snow-white tails shimmered with a metallic luster.
Simultaneously, the nine tails coiled and intertwined, forming what seemed like a massive iron hammer, faintly resembling the shadow of a Gigaforg.
Iron Tail!
Bang!!
The tails struck the Sun Rock with a heavy blow.
On its rock-like body, fine cracks immediately appeared.
In an instant, the Sun Rock was sent flying backward.
A single Iron Tail from the opponent's Pokemon, but with nine tails of its own, the power was...
Thud!!
The Sun Rock slammed heavily into the surrounding wall, instantly losing its ability to battle!
The entire venue fell silent.
The audience was still in shock, and the host's mouth hung open.
Just a moment ago, he was commenting on how Jinghe had been playing cautiously today, but the next second, he was proven wrong?
"Ow-oo~ ε=ε=┌(>_<)┘"
The Ice Nine-Tails, having landed a hit, didn't even turn back as it dashed towards its side of the field.
That was close.
If the cosmic force had landed, it would have been much harder to fight, right?
She almost lost, waa~
However, that previous attack also served as a test of the Ice Nine-Tails' newly honed Iron Tail.
In the future, when comparing tails with Serena's Eevee, she probably wouldn't lose.
Melanie pursed her lips.
She never expected the Ice Nine-Tails to use a move like Iron Tail.
No one in their right mind would fight like that, right?
Fortunately, the Sun Rock's Rock Stealth had already descended, and she had also scouted that Jinghe's Ice Nine-Tails would likely go for a Dual Blade style.
Taking a deep breath, she recalled the Sun Rock and threw out her second Poke Ball.
"Go, Shellodile!"
Shellodile's appearance was almost identical to that of a Slowpoke, with the only differences being its upright posture, the shell it held in its tail, and its equally perplexing gaze.
Shellodile was the evolved form of Slowpoke, a Shellder Pokemon with Water and Psychic types.
It was common knowledge that ice and water were closely related.
However, the saying 'ice and water are close' referred to Water-type Pokemon often mastering some Ice-type moves, but Ice-type Pokemon might not necessarily be adept at Water-type moves.
"Yadong?"
Shellodile tilted its head, scratching it in confusion.
Looking at Shellodile, question marks also appeared above Jinghe's and the Ice Nine-Tails' heads.
?
Melanie's expression turned serious.
If it's going to be an all-out attack, then so be it!
"Shellodile, Psychic!"
"Nine-Tails, Trick!"
Melanie: ?
Isn't this supposed to be an all-out attack? Why is it suddenly a boost again?
She wondered if her 'chemistry' with Jinghe was off, causing her to react half a beat slower at times?
No matter! Melanie made up her mind.
Even if Jinghe chose to boost, she could defeat or damage it like the previous Ice Nine-Tails, forcing a switch.
At that point, the rhythm of the battle would be back in her hands!
"Yadong—!"
Although Shellodile looked a bit dopey, its reactions were swift. As a psychic aura appeared in its eyes, a powerful psychic force surged towards the Ice Nine-Tails.
Bang!!
The Psychic move immediately encountered the resistance of the Aurora Veil.
This was within Melanie's expectations.
However, she had absolute confidence in Shellodile's Psychic power; its seemingly dopey appearance belied its innate psychic prowess.
"Shatter it, Shellodile!"
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Cracks began to appear on the Aurora Veil.
Finally...
The Aurora Veil was forcibly shattered by Shellodile's Psychic power.
"It broke! What powerful Psychic!"
"Oh no, our little Nine-Tails is in trouble! It's still casting Trick!"
"Has Jinghe finally become a bit overconfident?"
However...
Before the joy and surprise could spread among the audience, Melanie, or even the announcer, they were all instantly replaced by bewilderment.
Bang!!
The Psychic move, having broken through one Aurora Veil, encountered another layer of resistance.
?
Question marks appeared above everyone's heads, including Melanie's and Shellodile's.
Then...
Shellodile gritted its teeth and broke through another layer of the Aurora Veil.
But what awaited it was a third layer of the Aurora Veil.
??
In the refracted light, the audience seemed to see countless Aurora Veils standing between Shellodile and the Ice Nine-Tails.
"This..."
For a moment, even the announcer didn't know what to say.
"Ow-oo!"
At this moment, the Ice Nine-Tails' Trick was finally complete. Its nine tails coiled, and a deep blue orb formed, emanating an extremely cold aura that seemed to freeze the air.
Amidst the ice flowers formed by the condensed water vapor, a beam of light woven with pale blue, white, and purple shot out from the orb.
"Freeze-Dry!"
Crack! Crack!!
Shellodile's Psychic move was blocked by the Aurora Veil, but the Ice Nine-Tails' Freeze-Dry was unaffected, directly hitting the Shellodile that couldn't dodge in time.
In an instant, Shellodile was frozen into an ice statue.
Although Freeze-Dry was an Ice-type move, it could deal double damage to Water-type Pokemon.
Coupled with the boost from Trick...
"Shellodile, unable to battle!" the referee declared with chattering teeth.
Whoosh—!!
The arena, which had been silent for a while, suddenly erupted with deafening cheers.
"That's insane! How many layers of Aurora Veil was that?! Am I seeing things? Is my vision playing tricks on me?"
"Another one-hit KO! That Nine-Tails is clearly so strong..."
"Hiss—So, this Nine-Tails is both strong and cautious?"
". "
"Ow-oo~"
The little Nine-Tails let out a soft breath, patted its chest, and looked at Jinghe.
The opponent was so powerful, breaking through two layers of Aurora Veil in one go. If they weren't careful, they might lose, right?
Jinghe naturally understood the temperament of her little Nine-Tails and nodded slightly with a stern face.
"If it's a bit more cautious, there's a chance to win six in a row."
Still typing, not sure how long it will take. The next chapter will definitely be finished.
(End of Chapter)
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