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[Pokemon] Chapter 41: VS Iono Part 1
🕑 Added 2024-08-29 17:40:43 +0000 UTCJin and Liko sat side by side on the bed in Jin’s cabin aboard the Brave Olivine, both gazing at the ancient Poké Ball placed between them.
“This is so strange…”
“Yeah, it really is…”
After repelling Spinel in Hakkou City(Levincia), Jin and the others used Gardevoir's Teleport to return to the area near the ship. The moment the Teleport ended, Arboliva had returned to the ancient Poké Ball on its own.
“Hmmm…”
Jin fiddled with the Ball's opening switch and called out to Arboliva, but it remained as unresponsive as before.
“…Alright, enough. Let’s give up on solving this mystery for now. We don’t have enough information to go on, so thinking about it any further is pointless.”
They had planned to meet Liko’s grandmother, Diana, to gather more information. Maybe, with what they learned, they could unravel the mystery and meet the other Six Heroes. For now, the answers would have to wait until then.
“We’ve got about two hours until we set sail, right? What should we do? Want to check in on Roy?”
“That’s a good idea, but… before that, let me ask you a few questions to make sure there’s nothing wrong with your memory.”
Although Gardevoir had intervened quickly, the fact remained that Beheeyem had started tampering with Liko’s memory. There didn’t seem to be any obvious changes, but for peace of mind, it wouldn’t hurt to check if there were any abnormalities.
“Sure! Ask me anything.”
“Alright, let’s start.”
Q1: What’s the name of the academy you attend?
"Easy! Indigo Academy."
Q2: What did you do the first time you met me?
“Um… I got startled by a Rattata’s cry and… hugged you… Is that right?”
Q3: After you jumped off the roof of the academy, what happened next?
“…You carried me princess-style… Hey, aren’t these questions a bit weird?”
Q4: How many times have I carried you princess-style?
“………Twice.”
Q5: What color are your underwear today?
“Okay, this question is definitely weird! How would you even know that!? …Wait, you don’t, right?”
At that moment, Jin quickly averted his eyes.
“Looks like there’s no problem. Good, good.”
“Wait a minute! How do you know!? When did you see!?”
Liko’s face flushed bright red with embarrassment. She grabbed Jin by the collar, shaking him back and forth as she desperately tried to get an answer, but Jin just watched her, amused.
(...This girl is really fun to tease.)
Of course, Jin had no idea what color Liko’s underwear was today. He had just pretended to know. Poor Liko, unaware that she was being teased, continued to cry out, “Jin, you pervert!” with a flushed face and teary eyes, but her words only entertained him.
“Rototorot! Rototorot!”
Just then, Jin’s Rotom Phone buzzed with an incoming call. Checking the caller, Jin was surprised to see that it was from Dot, a rare occurrence.
“Liko! Dot’s calling. Hold on a sec!”
“…From Dot?”
Hearing Dot’s name, Liko finally let go of Jin’s collar, starting to calm down a little. It was rare for Dot to call either Jin or Liko directly, so it might be an emergency. Naturally, Liko couldn’t help but react this way.
“We’ll continue this later, okay?”
“…You better!”
With Liko’s approval, Jin answered the call. Dot’s face appeared on his Rotom Phone screen.
“Um, I need to talk to you… Oh, wait, were you two… busy?”
On the screen, Dot could see Jin’s disheveled clothes and Liko’s still-flushed face. Knowing they were a couple, it was easy for Dot to assume they had been… up to something in Jin’s cabin.
“N-no! That’s not what’s happening at all! You’ve got it wrong!”
“…I’ll just, uh, leave it at that.”
“I’m serious! It’s not what you think!!”
(This misunderstanding just keeps growing. It’s pretty amusing, but… I guess I should step in.)
Jin, finding the situation entertaining, finally clapped his hands to interrupt before things got further out of hand.
“Alright, that’s enough. So, what’s this about, Dot?”
“…Actually, there’s something crazy happening in Hakkou City.”
According to Dot, there had been reports of a massive Pokémon, almost 20 meters long, sighted in the city, which had caused a minor panic in certain parts.
“Ah…”
“Yeah… I think we know what that’s about.”
It was undoubtedly the ancient hero, Arboliva. Despite their quick escape to avoid being seen, it seemed someone had managed to catch a glimpse of the giant Pokémon. The rumors were spreading, and if left unchecked, the situation could spiral out of control.
“And then… I got a request from Iono-sis. She wants our help calming down the people in the city.”
“Iono? Wait, the Iono?!”
Iono was the Gym Leader of Hakkou City, known as the "Electro★Streamer," a hugely popular influencer in the Paldea region. Both Liko and Jin had heard of her, as she was quite a famous figure.
“Dot, that’s amazing! You know Iono-san personally!?”
“Ugh! W-well… th-that’s… not important right now! Anyway, I need Jin’s help.”
“Help? What exactly do you want me to do?”
Jin acknowledged that the panic in the city was partly his responsibility. If there was something he could do to assist, he was more than willing. Dot then began to explain the plan in detail.
“Iono-sis wants you to do a Gym Battle with her!”
Iono’s Gym Battles were popular events that attracted large crowds, and they were live-streamed on her channel. Just by holding the match, Dot explained, they could help ease the city’s panic. If the battle went viral and stirred excitement, it might even overshadow the rumors about the giant Arboliva.
“You sure I’m the right person for this?”
“It has to be you. You're a former League Champion and the one who beat Champion-level Nemona. That alone will draw a ton of attention. Plus, Iono-sis is looking forward to a serious battle with you—it’s bound to go viral.”
A real, serious Gym Battle with a Gym Leader. Jin couldn’t help but feel his heart race at the thought. He’d been participating in unofficial battles for a while, so the idea of a proper, official battle sounded like just the challenge he needed.
"Got it. I'll do it."
“…Th-thank you. That’s a big help.”
Dot, fiddling with her bangs, expressed her gratitude. Though her face was hidden by her hair, Jin and Liko could see her ears turning slightly red.
“No problem. So, when’s it happening?”
“They said they’ll be ready in about an hour, so if you leave in 30 minutes, you should make it in time.”
“Understood. I guess I’ll do some research on Iono-san until then.”
“Oh, leave that to me! I’ve got a magazine with a feature on Iono-san in my room. I’ll go grab it!”
With that, Liko left Jin’s room to retrieve the materials. Alone with Dot, Jin addressed the call still ongoing.
“…That was close, you know.”
He was referring to how Dot called Iono “Iono-sis.” It wasn’t strange for two popular streamers to know each other, but Liko didn’t know Dot’s true identity, so it was careless to mention it in front of her.
“…Sorry.”
“How long are you planning to keep it a secret? Even Liko’s gonna figure it out eventually.”
Jin had been waiting, assuming Dot would tell Liko herself, but time had passed, and neither had made a move. It was getting frustrating for Jin to watch.
“…I’ll tell her today.”
“You serious?”
“Yeah… I’ve been thinking I had to do it sooner or later. I’ll tell her before we leave Paldea.”
It seemed Dot had finally mustered the courage to reveal her secret. Telling someone your true identity takes a lot of bravery, especially for Dot, since Liko was her first friend. That made it even harder.
“Well, I’ve got to check the system… Good luck.”
Dot offered a brief but sincere word of encouragement before ending the call.
“…‘Good luck,’ huh?”
Jin couldn’t help but feel touched. Dot, who barely used to speak to him when they first met, now chatted freely, even offering him encouragement. She had certainly grown, and Jin felt it deeply.
(…This feels like something Murdock would say.)
With 30 minutes to spare, Jin spent the time flipping through the magazine Liko brought back. It had plenty of information about Iono, particularly about her as an influencer, but…
“…There’s barely anything about her as a Trainer.”
“S-sorry! I grabbed one of my favorite magazines without thinking…”
“Well, don’t worry about it. There’s not much we could prepare in 30 minutes anyway. Going in blind isn’t so bad once in a while.”
If Jin were to battle the Explorers or the Six Heroes in the future, there was a good chance he’d have no prior information. Though this would be his first Gym Battle in a while, it wasn’t a bad idea to get used to fighting with little preparation.
***
In the center of Levincia lies the battlefield used exclusively for Gym Battles—a circular field now being eagerly watched by a large crowd of city residents, all waiting with anticipation.
Eventually, the time arrived. The battlefield began to emit vibrant lights, with a bright glow gathering in the center. The spot where the light focused was structured like an elevator, and from it, two figures emerged. One was a woman with light pink and blue hair, a flashy and vibrant appearance, and sharp, pointed teeth. In this city, almost no one would fail to recognize her.
"Everyone! Are you ready? I'll capture your attention with my Elec-web! Who am I? It's Iono!"
The Gym Leader of Levincia, Iono, introduced herself, and the crowd erupted in cheers to welcome her. Simultaneously, numerous Rotom Phones appeared around her, beginning the live stream.
"Iono Iono!"
"Iono-san I love you!!"
“Iono Iono!” echoed the crowd.
The audience joyfully responded to Iono’s unique greeting, clearly excited to see her. Everyone's eyes were on her with excitement and happiness.
(…This is definitely the first Gym Battle of this kind for me.)
Jin, standing beside Iono and watching the scene, felt a bit unsure. Though he had heard during their brief pre-battle meeting that things would be like this, he had never experienced such a flashy Gym Battle before.
"It's time for Iono Zone! Today, we've got a very special guest! Here we go!"
At Iono’s cue, some of the Rotom Phones surrounding her moved to positions where both she and Jin could be seen, continuing the recording.
“Today's special guest is Jin, the rising star who's taking down challengers left and right!”
“I’m Jin. Nice to meet you.”
“Whoa! You're as tough as a rock-type Pokémon! Are you nervous?”
“Yeah, meeting someone as famous as you, Iono-san, and getting the chance to battle you—it’s making me a little nervous. I barely got any sleep last night.”
“Hehehe, right? But, wait, didn’t we just decide to battle a few hours ago?! You almost had me fooled!”
(This person really knows how to keep the mood light...)
Jin had tried to throw in an unscripted joke, but Iono handled it smoothly. That ability to go with the flow was likely a key part of what made her such a popular influencer. As Jin glanced at the comments section displayed on the Rotom Phones, he could see that the stream was gaining momentum.
“Oh! Elekin-san! Thanks for the usual super chat!”
As Iono read aloud, it became apparent that a few viewers had already started sending super chats. Though Jin couldn’t track the numbers fast enough, he guessed it was already adding up to a decent sum.
“Wow! Thanks for the red super chat, Kiba-san! Huh? ‘Avenge us against him’? Jin, any idea what that’s about?”
“…No clue. There are all kinds of people out there, after all.”
It could be that a few Trainers Jin had defeated scraped together their pocket money to send the message.
“Huh? Oh well! Before we start the battle, let me give you all a quick introduction to Jin!”
This part had been planned in advance. If Iono went all out against an ordinary challenger, it might seem odd to the viewers. To avoid that, a proper introduction was necessary.
“So get this! Jin has won a League Championship in his home region of Hoenn and is regarded as a future Champion! And that’s not all—just between us, he’s even beaten Champion-rank Nemona in a recent unofficial battle!”
When Iono introduced Jin’s background, the comments section quickly filled up. Some viewers were genuinely surprised, but there were also quite a few negative remarks.
"Since I'm up against such an amazing Trainer, I'm gonna go all out for the first time in a while! I can't wait to see how many views this video will get—I'm so excited for the numbers! Alright, let’s get started!"
With that, the platform that Jin and Iono were standing on descended back down to the ground level. Both Trainers stepped off the platform and walked toward their respective sides of the field.
“Alright, everyone, let’s get this battle going! The rules are full battle with free switching! Today’s special is: ‘Gym Leader Iono’s Rare All-Out Battle!’ A full-power Iono is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, so keep your eyes on the action!”
As Iono’s announcement rang out, both she and Jin took out their Poké Balls and threw them onto the battlefield.
“Gardevoir!”
“Kaaaai!”
Jin sent out Gardevoir as his first Pokémon, while Iono called out Kilowattrel, the evolved form of Wattrel, with its distinctive black feathers and lightning bolt patterns resembling a stormy seabird.
(A Flying/Electric-type... a counter for Ground-type moves. Interesting.)
“After you, Iono-san. Ladies first,” Jin offered.
“Oho! Such a gentleman, Jin! Then I’ll take you up on that offer! Kilowattrel, ‘Tailwind!’”
Kilowattrel flapped its wings, whipping up a fierce gust that swirled around the battlefield. With this, Iono’s team would have a speed advantage for a while.
"For someone who’s aiming for a viral battle, you're playing it pretty safe."
As an opening move, it wasn’t bad, but ‘Tailwind’ was a support move and lacked the flashy visual impact that could excite an audience.
"To make a viral video, prep work is crucial! The real show starts now! ‘Discharge!’"
“Gardevoir, ‘Protect.’”
Kilowattrel unleashed a powerful surge of electricity aimed at Gardevoir. With its Wind Power ability, Kilowattrel's Electric-type moves were even stronger. However, Gardevoir blocked the attack with ‘Protect.’
“Now, ‘Light Screen!’”
Before Kilowattrel could make another move, Gardevoir set up a shimmering barrier in front of it, weakening any special attacks. Jin then recalled Gardevoir into its Poké Ball.
“Go! Aggron!”
“Gooohhh!”
With a mighty roar, Jin sent out Aggron, a Pokémon whose Rock typing made it a perfect counter for Kilowattrel.
“Oh! Going by the book, huh? Then I’ll switch things up too!”
Of course, Iono was quick to realize this, so she recalled Kilowattrel. While this might have seemed like the correct move, Jin had expected this outcome.
“Next up! Go, Electrode!”
Iono sent out Electrode, the ball-shaped Pokémon.
“I bet you’re planning to use ‘Earthquake,’ right? No way I’m letting that happen! Electrode, ‘Magnet Rise!’”
The moment Electrode hit the field, it generated magnetic energy and floated into the air. This made it immune to Ground-type moves like ‘Earthquake.’
(I see... no gaps in her Ground-type defense. In that case...)
“Aggron, ‘Stealth Rock!’”
“What!? No way!”
Aggron summoned a flurry of floating rocks on Iono’s side of the battlefield. Now, every time Iono switched Pokémon, they would take damage. What’s more, the damage would vary based on the Pokémon’s type. If Kilowattrel came back in, it would suffer massive damage due to its Flying-type.
“Electrode! ‘Discharge!’”
Iono, realizing that Aggron had an advantage over her Kilowattrel and could likely use Ground-type moves, decided it was best to eliminate it early. She instructed Electrode to attack. Thanks to the boost from ‘Tailwind,’ Electrode quickly unleashed an electric blast toward Aggron.
“Gooooh!”
However, Aggron still had the effects of Gardevoir’s ‘Light Screen.’ While the attack couldn’t be completely nullified, it took minimal damage.
“Now it’s our turn! ‘Stone Edge!’”
Sharp stones materialized around Aggron and shot toward Electrode. The fast Electrode managed to dodge the initial attack, but the move wasn’t over yet.
“Don’t let it get away!”
Aggron’s eyes gleamed as the stones changed direction, homing in on Electrode. Caught off guard, Electrode couldn’t dodge this time and was hit.
“‘Head Smash!’”
Taking advantage of Electrode’s moment of vulnerability, Aggron charged forward, delivering a devastating headbutt. Electrode was sent flying across the field, crashing into the wall before collapsing to the ground, motionless.
“Electrode!?”
Iono called out desperately, but Electrode’s body refused to move. Summoning the last of its strength, Electrode discharged electricity across the battlefield before fainting.
“Is that...?”
In its final moments, Electrode had managed to create an ‘Electric Terrain,’ giving a significant advantage to Electric-type moves in the battle. This was a testament to the fierce determination of a Gym Leader’s Pokémon.
(...Well, that’s one down. So, what’s next?)
// END
