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[Pokemon] Chapter 46: VS Kabu - Part 2
🕑 Added 2024-09-07 16:00:30 +0000 UTCThe unofficial Gym battle, which began at Jin's urgent request, saw Annihilape, the new team member he caught in Paldea, take the first move in its debut battle.
"BUHIIIIII!"
Having knocked out its opponent in its first battle, Annihilape, full of adrenaline, raised both arms and started striking a victory pose.
"Don't let your guard down. We need to keep this momentum going."
"Boogya!"
Though the battle was still in its early stages, Jin made sure to caution Annihilape, who seemed to understand the importance of staying focused.
(So far, so good...)
Kabu’s lead Pokémon, Torkoal, had taken significant damage from Milotic’s Hydro Pump, and now his second Pokémon, Ninetales, had been knocked out. On Jin’s side, Milotic remained unharmed, and although Annihilape had suffered damage from the Stealth Rock, it had already destroyed them and healed with Drain Punch.
Though the match had just begun, Jin was clearly in a favorable position.
"Return, Ninetales. You did well," Kabu said as he withdrew the fainted Ninetales, thanking it before preparing his next Pokémon.
"Impressive. I never imagined you would use Stealth Rock like that."
"Thank you. But honestly, it’s a strategy I adapted from another trainer," Jin replied.
The trainer Jin referred to was Iono, whom he had recently battled in Paldea. In that match, Iono’s Electivire had used Ice Punch to break through Stealth Rock, and seeing that gave Jin the idea to use it both defensively and offensively.
"Even with that level of strength, you still strive for improvement. You truly are a formidable opponent! It’s been a long time since my heart burned with such excitement!"
With fiery determination in his eyes, Kabu pulled out another Poké Ball and threw it onto the field.
"The real battle starts now! Go, Arcanine!"
The next Pokémon to emerge was Arcanine, a legendary-looking creature with flowing ivory mane and the powerful presence of a lion.
"Arrr-can!"
"Boogyaaa!"
As soon as Arcanine appeared, it activated its Intimidate ability, lowering Annihilape’s attack power. Annihilape hesitated for a moment, seemingly unnerved.
"Stay calm, Annihilape! Keep it together!"
"BUHIIII!"
Reassured by Jin’s words, Annihilape regained its composure. Although Arcanine was powerful, Annihilape was not outclassed in terms of level. With a cool head, victory was within reach.
"Arcanine, Extreme Speed!"
Arcanine dashed toward Annihilape at blinding speed, using the priority move Extreme Speed. However, since Annihilape had the Ghost typing, the Normal-type attack had no effect. Instead, Arcanine began running in circles around Annihilape, creating a blur of motion.
"Now, use Will-O-Wisp!"
"Jump and dodge it!"
While racing around Annihilape, Arcanine unleashed Will-O-Wisp from all directions, attempting to burn it. Annihilape managed to evade the attack with a well-timed leap, but the danger wasn’t over yet.
"Now! Flamethrower!"
"!?! Guard and use Bulk Up!"
As Annihilape attempted to escape by jumping into the air, flames from Arcanine's Flamethrower closed in. Without the Stealth Rock to shield it like before, there was no way out this time.
Annihilape crossed its arms, blocking the attack while concentrating its muscles to successfully use Bulk Up, but the Flamethrower hit directly, sending it crashing to the ground.
(…He planned that. And he's quick to switch between moves.)
It was clear that the recent string of attacks had been meticulously planned. Kabu must have anticipated that Annihilape would jump into the air, leading to this situation. The way Arcanine used Extreme Speed to launch Will-O-Wisp and then immediately followed Annihilape into the air with Flamethrower was executed with precision. Jin couldn't help but acknowledge Arcanine's speed and skillful coordination.
"Let’s finish this! Extreme Speed into Play Rough!"
As Annihilape managed to brace itself despite the damage, Arcanine once again closed in with Extreme Speed. It then enveloped Annihilape in its flowing mane and began using Play Rough, a super effective move against Annihilape. There was no way it could endure this for long, but despite being in an overwhelming pinch, this was also Annihilape’s best chance.
"Annihilape! Grab onto the mane!"
Following Jin’s command, Annihilape endured the damage and grabbed hold of Arcanine’s mane. Normally, hitting a target as fast as Arcanine during Extreme Speed would be nearly impossible, but now that it was this close, Annihilape had a clear shot.
"Strike with Rage Fist!"
Fueled by the damage it had taken, Annihilape converted its rage into energy, channeling it into its fist before smashing it into Arcanine’s face. The sound of the impact reverberated through the battlefield, reaching both Jin and Kabu. Arcanine, taking massive damage from the attack, slowly collapsed to the ground.
"Arcanine!?"
But that wasn’t all. Annihilape, exhausted from the accumulated damage, dropped to its knees and fell on top of the fainted Arcanine.
"Annihilape!?"
Both Arcanine and Annihilape lay on the ground, eyes closed. The battle had ended in a rare double knockout, with neither Pokémon able to continue.
"Return, Annihilape... You did well."
"Arcanine, come back. You fought bravely."
Jin and Kabu recalled their Pokémon, offering words of gratitude for their efforts.
"Your fast-paced battle using Arcanine's Extreme Speed was impressive."
"Thank you. But to lose both Ninetales and Arcanine just to take down your first Pokémon... There's still a long road ahead."
"...This might sound arrogant, but it’s been quite some time since one of my Pokémon was knocked out in battle."
As Jin reflected, he realized that the last time one of his Pokémon had fainted in a battle was long before the Ever Grande Conference. Back then, he was still a novice trainer. Kabu’s ability to defeat one of his Pokémon spoke volumes about his strength.
"Haha, I’m sorry. Did I ruin your record?"
"I don’t mind. That kind of record doesn’t mean much anyway... In fact, I’m having fun. Coming here was the right choice."
Battling against serious Gym Leaders—Jin had felt it during his match with Iono as well—was an invaluable experience. It made him consider the possibility of revisiting the Hoenn region after this journey and challenging the Gym Leaders he’d faced in the past to serious battles once again.
"I’m glad to hear that... Now, here’s my next Pokémon!"
Kabu's next choice was Salazzle, a Poison- and Fire-type Pokémon with a lizard-like appearance. Its sleek, seductive body was adorned with markings that resembled a high-cut leotard on its belly.
"Once again! Milotic!"
In response, Jin called out his lead Pokémon, Milotic, once more onto the battlefield.
"Let’s reset. Milotic, Rain Dance!"
Milotic lifted its gaze to the sky, offering a prayer. The Drought effect created by Torkoal vanished entirely, replaced by dark rain clouds forming overhead. Soon, droplets of rain began to fall gently.
"Doesn't that cool rain feel nice on your heated body?" Jin teased.
"...I suppose so," Kabu replied, though his expression suggested otherwise. He was now at a disadvantage, with the unfavorable weather working against him.
"Salazzle's not just about Fire-type moves! Sludge Wave!"
Salazzle whipped its tail around, sending a wave of poisonous sludge crashing toward Milotic.
"Use Surf!"
Milotic summoned a massive amount of water beneath it, creating a giant tidal wave. The Surf and Sludge Wave collided head-on, but the difference in scale was too great. The sludge was swallowed up by the wave, which surged forward toward Salazzle.
"Salazzle! Jump to evade!"
With the entire field engulfed by the wave, the only way to avoid it was to escape upwards. Salazzle used its tail like a spring, leaping high into the air to avoid the oncoming tsunami.
"I knew you'd do that. Milotic, Hydro Pump!"
"Wha—!? Counter it with Dragon Pulse!"
This was exactly what Jin had planned. Now that Salazzle was midair, it had nowhere to escape. It fired off a Dragon Pulse in an attempt to block the incoming Hydro Pump, but the enhanced Hydro Pump overpowered it, blasting Salazzle all the way into the stadium wall.
Kabu quickly checked on Salazzle, which had slumped against the wall, eyes shut and unconscious.
With Ninetales, Arcanine, and now Salazzle all defeated, Kabu had lost his third Pokémon.
"Could it be…?"
What Jin had just done mirrored Arcanine’s earlier strategy. Though the approach was slightly different, Jin had used the same method—forcing the opponent into a situation where they had no choice but to jump, then capitalizing on their vulnerability. It was a form of payback using the same tactics.
"...You’ve got quite the nerve," Kabu muttered.
"Sorry about that," Jin said with a playful grin, looking like a mischievous child after pulling a prank. Kabu felt a small flicker of irritation, though he kept it to himself.
"...Come forth! Torkoal!"
Suppressing his emotions, Kabu recalled Salazzle and sent out Torkoal, his lead Pokémon from earlier. Instantly, Torkoal's Drought ability activated, clearing away Milotic's rain clouds and returning the heat to the battlefield.
"My clothes got wet from the rain earlier. This heat will be perfect for drying them, don’t you think?"
"Kabu, you’re more of a troublemaker than I expected."
"I could say the same to you. Torkoal, Shell Smash!"
Torkoal’s body glowed as cracks appeared along its shell, which shattered moments later. Already weakened from the earlier battle, Torkoal was in no condition to take any more hits. Kabu had decided that now was the time to discard defense and focus on attack.
"Use Surf!"
Milotic summoned another wave with Surf. Though the intense heat from Drought reduced the size and power of the wave compared to before, it was still large enough to engulf Torkoal.
"Torkoal, Earthquake!"
Torkoal raised its front legs and slammed them into the ground with immense force, sending shockwaves across the field. Powered up by Shell Smash, the Earthquake not only dispelled the Surf but also knocked Milotic, who was riding the wave, to the ground.
"Now! Fire Blast!"
Torkoal unleashed a powerful Fire Blast, launching it directly at Milotic, who had just fallen to the ground. With Milotic still unable to regain its footing, there was no way to dodge the oncoming attack.
"Milotic! Mirror Coat!"
Just before the Fire Blast hit, Milotic's body shimmered with a rainbow-colored light, absorbing the attack and reflecting it back with double the power. Caught off guard, Torkoal was unable to avoid its own amplified move and took the hit head-on.
The moment the attack landed, the explosion was so intense that smoke engulfed the field. Jin and Kabu both focused their attention, waiting for the smoke to clear. When it did, they saw Torkoal lying on the ground, knocked out and unresponsive.
"Torkoal!?"
This was Kabu’s fourth Pokémon to faint. If he lost one more, it would mean defeat.
"Torkoal, return. You fought well."
Despite the mounting pressure, Kabu remained calm. Years of experience as a trainer and the unwavering trust he had in his final Pokémon kept him steady.
"It’s not over yet! I never give up until the very end!"
Kabu reached for his last Poké Ball. Inside was his strongest partner, the Pokémon he trusted most. As long as this Pokémon was still standing, Kabu had no intention of surrendering.
"Blaze brightly, Centiskorch!"
Kabu’s final Pokémon appeared—Centiskorch, with its long, flat, crimson body and fiery whiskers sprouting from its mouth. The intense heat radiating from its body immediately raised the stakes of the battle.
(So, Centiskorch is his last Pokémon…)
Centiskorch was a Fire/Bug-type, giving it a natural advantage over Milotic. However, Milotic had taken some damage during the battle with Torkoal. While it could recover using moves like Recover or Aqua Ring, Jin was wary of pushing Milotic too hard, especially given the unique concerns of battling in the Galar region.
"Alright… Milotic, return."
After careful consideration, Jin decided to recall Milotic, letting it rest. He grabbed another Poké Ball and threw it onto the field.
"I’m counting on you, Scizor!"
Jin’s third Pokémon, Scizor, took the field. As soon as Scizor appeared, Kabu’s expression changed to one of curiosity. Scizor was a Bug/Steel-type, with few weaknesses—except for one: Fire-type moves, which Centiskorch excelled in. While Centiskorch had the clear advantage, Kabu knew better than to let his guard down now.
"Scizor, huh? Do you have a strategy to turn the tables on such a type disadvantage?"
"Well, you'll just have to wait and see," Jin said with a grin.
"Heh... Fine, then! Show me what you’ve got! Centiskorch, Flamethrower!"
Centiskorch spewed a stream of flames toward Scizor. However, Scizor remained unmoved.
"Use Swords Dance to deflect it!"
Scizor crossed its arms and spun in place, using Swords Dance. The rotation created enough momentum to disperse the Flamethrower, rendering the attack ineffective.
"Bullet Punch!"
With lightning speed, Scizor dashed forward and struck Centiskorch with its pincers like a bullet. Although the attack wasn’t very effective, it still dealt damage.
"...I see. You've prepared for fire, haven’t you? It seems half-baked techniques won’t cut it against you and your Pokémon."
Acknowledging Jin’s preparations, Kabu suddenly recalled Centiskorch into its Poké Ball. At that moment, the band on Kabu’s wrist began to glow red, and the light flowed into the Poké Ball, causing it to enlarge.
(...Here it comes.)
"Burn brightly! Centiskorch, Gigantamax!"
Kabu threw the enlarged Poké Ball high into the sky. As it opened, Centiskorch emerged, now in its massive Gigantamax form. Its size was overwhelming, towering over the battlefield. This wasn’t just a Dynamax—Centiskorch had taken on its unique Gigantamax form, a feat only certain Pokémon could achieve.
"So, this is Gigantamax…"
Jin had heard about it, but seeing it in person, Centiskorch’s enormous size was just as impressive as that of the Gigantamax Pokémon used by one of the Six Heroes, Arboliva. The sheer scale was awe-inspiring.
(Could it be that Arboliva’s Dynamax form somehow got stuck like that? No, focus. Now's not the time for that.)
Jin pushed aside the unnecessary thoughts, refocusing on the battle at hand.
"Let's go! This is our full strength! Centiskorch, G-Max Centiferno!"
Centiskorch turned its body sideways, directing its abdomen toward Scizor. As energy gathered and began to glow, a massive fireball slowly formed at its center. Even though the move wasn’t fully charged yet, the sheer energy it emitted hinted at its overwhelming power.
(...I can’t deflect this one.)
Attempting to counter it with Swords Dance like before would be a fatal mistake—Jin could see that clearly.
(It's time to give it a shot...)
In the past, Scizor might have had no chance against such a powerful attack. But now, Jin had a secret weapon that could turn the tide. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Tera Orb he had received from Gym Leader Iono in Paldea.
"Let’s do this! It’s time to show a new possibility! Shine like the stars, Terastallize!"
Jin threw the energy-charged Tera Orb over Scizor, surrounding it in a brilliant array of crystals. When the transformation was complete, Scizor's body gleamed like a precious gemstone, with a crown resembling a fountain atop its head.
"Scizor, Tera Blast!"
The Tera Crystal on Scizor’s head shattered, and four powerful water projectiles shot down from the sky like meteors, colliding directly with Centiskorch’s G-Max Centiferno. Although each water shot was weaker individually, the combined force of all four was enough to evaporate the fiery attack, turning it into steam.
"What!?"
Kabu was visibly shaken after seeing his full-powered G-Max Centiferno neutralized. The difference between him and Jin was becoming clearer. Jin had anticipated Kabu’s use of Galar’s famed Dynamax, but Kabu hadn’t considered the possibility of Jin using Terastallization. It was a small detail, but one that ultimately shifted the battle in Jin’s favor.
"Scizor! Bullet Punch!"
"Tsk! Centiskorch, Max Overgrowth!"
Through the steam-filled battlefield, Scizor moved faster, landing a Bullet Punch on Centiskorch before it could react. Although the attack didn't deal significant damage, the hit was enough to throw Centiskorch off balance. Seizing the opportunity, Scizor swiftly climbed up Centiskorch’s massive body.
"This is the end! One more Tera Blast!"
Reaching Centiskorch’s head, Scizor unleashed Tera Blast once again. The four water bullets fell like meteors, crashing into Centiskorch’s head and body.
"Ce-Centiskorch..!"
The battlefield echoed with Centiskorch’s pained roar as the powerful water blasts hit their mark. As the steam cleared, the towering Gigantamax form of Centiskorch faded, leaving the Pokémon lying unconscious on the field.
"...It seems this is the end," Kabu said softly, recalling Centiskorch to its Poké Ball. Stepping away from the trainer's zone, Kabu approached Jin. At the same time, Jin returned Scizor to its ball and moved to meet him at the center of the field.
"My experience was no match for your skill and talent. I’m completely defeated."
"Thank you. This battle with you, Kabu, has been an invaluable experience."
Jin’s first battle in Galar had introduced him to the unique Dynamax phenomenon, and it had certainly been a valuable learning experience. The two trainers shook hands, mutually respecting each other’s efforts and growth.
"I never expected you to be able to use Terastallization as well."
"It’s no surprise. I only recently received the power of Terastallization from a Gym Leader named Iono in Paldea."
"Iono? Ah, was that during the Gym Battle that was streamed not long ago?"
"You’ve heard of it?"
Jin was slightly surprised. Though the battle had been archived online after its broadcast, he hadn’t expected Kabu to be aware of it. He had assumed Kabu wasn’t the type to follow such things.
"Yes, there’s a young trainer who wants to become a Gym Trainer. I happened to see them watching your battle."
Jin nodded, understanding. Even if Kabu wasn’t personally into modern technology, it made sense that those around him would share such things.
"Well then, after I drop off my Pokémon at the Pokémon Center, I plan to rest at a café before heading out for a run. Would you care to join me? It's called the Battle Café, and they serve some of the best cakes around."
"Oh, I was going to the Pokémon Center too, but after that—wait a second..."
Jin remembered his promise to meet up with Liko. When he checked his Rotom Phone, he saw that Liko had sent him a message with a map. The meeting place? The Battle Café.
"Something wrong?"
"...No, actually, I’d love to join you. I’ll take you up on your offer."
"Of course. I can’t give you a badge, as promised, but I can at least treat you to some cake."
// END
I'm still unsure if this battle scene came out the way I envisioned, but I enjoyed writing it.
Now Scizor and Annihilape's Terastallizations have been revealed, and I'll plan to Terastallize other Pokémon when the opportunity arises.
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