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[Pokemon] Chapter 42: VS Iono Part 2
🕑 Added 2024-09-02 14:27:05 +0000 UTC"Alright! The first one is down!"
Aboard the Brave Olivine, the members of the Rising Volt Tacklers were watching the live stream of Jin and Iono's battle on their Rotom Phones. Originally, Liko had wanted to go with Jin, but he had firmly insisted that she stay on the ship.
Though it was unlikely that Spinel would attack again, there was still a possibility that enemies might be nearby. In a crowded area, the risk was too high, and once the battle started, Jin wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on Liko. It was safer for her to remain on the ship with everyone else.
That was Jin’s reasoning.
“That was one powerful headbutt.”
As Murdock mentioned, Electrode had taken damage from ‘Stone Edge,’ but the final blow that knocked it out was undoubtedly the ‘Head Smash’ that followed.
“Yeah, though ‘Head Smash’ is like ‘Volt Tackle’—it causes recoil damage…”
“So, he can’t use it too many times, right? Was it really okay to use it so early in a full battle?”
“Normally, no. But if I recall, Jin’s Aggron has the ability ‘Rock Head.’”
The ability ‘Rock Head’ prevents the Pokémon from taking recoil damage when using moves like ‘Head Smash’ or ‘Double-Edge.’
“That ability is such a cheat! No wonder Aggron always charges straight at Fuecoco without a care…”
“...Fuee....”
Roy and Fuecoco finally realized why Aggron could repeatedly hit them with reckless moves like tackles and headbutts during their training sessions. At the same time, they both turned pale, imagining that those headbutts would be coming their way again in future battles.
“Kaai…”
Watching the two with a slightly perplexed expression was Wattrel, Roy's new Pokémon. After overcoming its fear of flying during training with Roy, Wattrel had chosen to accompany him, which is why it was here now.
“...Don’t worry, Wattrel, you’ll get used to it soon.”
“Fueee...”
Wattrel, sensing what lay ahead, was already starting to regret coming along.
“Well, in any case, Jin’s got the upper hand for now, right?”
“For now. But it’s just the beginning. The real fight starts here.”
Jin had already knocked out one of Iono’s Pokémon. Plus, he had boosted his team’s special defense with ‘Light Screen’ and set up ‘Stealth Rock’ to deal damage whenever Iono switched Pokémon. However, the battlefield was now covered by ‘Electric Terrain,’ giving an advantage to Electric-types, and ‘Tailwind’ was still in effect, boosting the speed of Iono's team.
While Jin had a balanced approach in both offense and defense, in terms of pure attacking power, Iono had the upper hand.
(Jin… he’ll be fine, right?)
Liko didn’t doubt that Jin would win. However, she had never seen a full battle before—she only knew about single battles, and was unfamiliar with the strategies involved in a full team battle.
(…I believe in him.)
Even though she had felt a little bitter when Jin left her behind on the ship and gave Iono the first move, now that the battle had started, Liko found herself fully engrossed, cheering for Jin and watching every move with intense focus.
---
"Thank you, Electrode! I won't let your effort go to waste!"
As Iono recalled the unconscious Electrode, she expressed her gratitude. The presence of 'Electric Terrain' makes a huge difference in the battle for her Electric-type Pokémon.
"Let's go! Luxray!"
Iono's next choice was Luxray. As soon as Luxray entered the field, it was hit by the 'Stealth Rock' trap, taking damage. Despite the pain, Luxray glared intensely at Aggron, its ability 'Intimidate' clearly in effect.
"Charge in with 'Wild Charge'!"
"Block it with 'Rock Slide'!"
Luxray cloaked itself in electricity and charged forward. In response, Aggron summoned a barrage of rocks with 'Rock Slide' to create a shield. However, Luxray smashed through the rocks one by one, pushing forward.
"Brace yourself with 'Iron Defense'!"
As Luxray broke through the rocks, Aggron raised its defenses with 'Iron Defense,' preparing to withstand the incoming attack.
"Grrrraaahh!"
Luxray's 'Wild Charge' was boosted by the 'Electric Terrain,' but Aggron, known for its high defense, managed to endure the attack. The impact of smashing through the rocks weakened the move's power, and the added defense from 'Iron Defense' further minimized the damage.
However...
"Use 'Psychic Fangs'!"
Despite taking recoil damage from 'Wild Charge,' Luxray bit down on Aggron's right arm with fangs infused with psychic power. The attack was strong enough to shatter the 'Light Screen' protecting Aggron.
"Aggron, 'Iron Head'!"
Aggron raised the arm Luxray was biting and then slammed its head down onto Luxray's head. The direct hit to Luxray's brain overwhelmed it, forcing Luxray to release its grip and collapse onto the field.
"I'm sorry, Luxray. Thank you for fulfilling your role."
Luxray's mission was clear—to destroy the 'Light Screen.' Iono's words suggested that this was a crucial part of her strategy.
"Two in a row, huh? Jin, you're really strong!"
"I might just take down all your Pokémon at this rate."
"Hehehe! If you think you can, go ahead and try! I'm not going down that easily!"
After recalling Luxray, Iono reached for a new Poké Ball.
"Here we go! My partner!"
The next Pokémon to enter the field was Iono's partner, the Electric Frog Pokémon, Bellibolt, a familiar presence during her streams. As it appeared, it was immediately struck by 'Stealth Rock.'
"…Let's keep going, Aggron."
Based on Bellibolt breaking the 'Light Screen,' Jin guessed that its attacks were likely special-based. Its bulky appearance suggested high defense but possibly low speed. However, with 'Tailwind' still active, Jin decided to keep the slower Aggron in to assess the situation.
But...
(...They're not making a move?)
Bellibolt remained still, with Iono also holding back on giving any commands, seemingly waiting for Jin to make the first move.
(...Should I go on the offensive?)
"Aggron, 'Earthquake'!"
"Block it with 'Reflect'!"
Aggron shook the ground with a super-effective 'Earthquake,' causing the entire field to tremble, even creating waves in the sea below. Bellibolt quickly set up a 'Reflect' to reduce the damage. Despite the protection, Bellibolt still took significant damage, unable to completely block the powerful attack.
"What incredible power... But! Now we're ready! Bellibolt, time for payback! 'Thunder'!"
Bellibolt's ability, 'Electromorphosis,' kicks in, allowing it to double the power of its next Electric-type move after being hit. With its ability activated and the 'Electric Terrain' still in effect, an immensely powerful 'Thunder' was unleashed upon Aggron.
(...Amazing.)
Jin couldn't help but admire the sheer brilliance and power of the attack. Such a devastating 'Thunder' was rare to witness. Using the Pokémon's ability and the terrain to amplify the move made it the ultimate strike. Even Aggron, known for its durability, took heavy damage from the blow.
However...
"No way!?"
"…That was close."
Aggron was still standing—barely. It was covered in scorch marks, and it was clear that it was on the verge of collapsing, but somehow, it remained upright.
"We can finish it! Bellibolt, use 'Water Pulse'!"
Iono's call was the correct one. Aggron was already struggling to stay standing, so a single hit would finish it off. But in this desperate state, there was one move that could turn things around.
"Way to hold on! Let's end this! 'Metal Burst'!"
Aggron converted all the damage from 'Thunder' into steel energy and unleashed it in a blast from its mouth. The 'Water Pulse' was completely nullified, and the energy tore through the 'Reflect,' hitting Bellibolt with full force. Bellibolt was blasted backward, slamming into the wall of the field, taking even more damage than it had dealt with its own 'Thunder.'
"Bellibolt!?"
Now, Iono had lost three of her Pokémon to Jin's Aggron: Electrode, Luxray, and her partner, Bellibolt. The match was clearly in Jin's favor, but there was a price to pay.
"...Grr... Grr..."
Aggron was still standing, but it was at its limit. Luxray's attacks and Bellibolt's 'Thunder' had brought it to the brink of collapse. Any further fighting was out of the question; it was essentially in a state of defeat.
"...This is as far as you go. Return, Aggron."
Jin recalled Aggron. Given its condition, it was unlikely to return to the battle unless an emergency arose.
"Jin! You could be a bit more considerate of my pride, you know! Taking down three in a row is just too much!"
Jin still had all six of his Pokémon, though one was on the verge of being knocked out. Iono, on the other hand, was down to her last three. It was starting to look like a one-sided match.
"My apologies... but I can't help it. You see, I recently started dating someone, and she's a bit... possessive. If I get too friendly with other girls, she gets jealous and sulks. But you know... that's part of what makes her so adorable."
"Don't start bragging about your relationship in a serious battle—!"
As Jin boasted, the comments on the Rotom Phone chat were flooded with messages like "Real-life couple should 'Self-Destruct'" and "Go Iono!" The support for Iono and the anti-Jin comments were overwhelmingly obvious.
(...Seems like things are getting lively.)
The purpose of this battle was to calm down the townspeople and dispel the rumors about Arboliva. While a completely one-sided fight would be problematic, Iono was a worthy Gym Leader. If Jin held back too much, the situation could spiral out of control. So, keeping the atmosphere light with some banter was necessary.
"...Hmm?"
"Ugh..."
Both Jin and Iono noticed it at nearly the same time—the 'Tailwind' that Iono's Kilowattrel had set up at the start of the battle had just worn off. Now, Iono's only advantage left was the 'Electric Terrain.'
('Electric Terrain,' huh... Waiting for it to fade is too much trouble. In that case...)
"You're up! Manectric!"
Jin sent out his third Pokémon, Manectric. The moment Iono saw it, her eyes lit up with excitement.
"Manectric... Jin! That one’s an Electric-type, right?"
"Yes, you're familiar with it?"
"I know the name, but it's my first time seeing one! We don't have them in Paldea! Ahh, its mane is so cute! And those sharp eyes, it's the best! Hey, hey! If I win, can I take a picture of Manectric?"
Iono was completely smitten by the Electric-type she'd never seen before. While Manectric had been called cool before, being called cute seemed to leave it a bit bewildered.
"I don't mind. If it's after the battle, feel free."
"Yes! I'll turn this around just for that photo! Let's go, Electivire!"
With renewed determination for the sake of taking a picture with Manectric, Iono sent out Electivire. As soon as it hit the field, it took damage from the Stealth Rocks.
"...Electivire, huh? Manectric, return."
The moment he confirmed the opponent was Electivire, Jin recalled Manectric right away.
"Aw, come on! Switching again? I wanted to see Manectric battle!"
Jin had planned to use Manectric to take advantage of the 'Electric Terrain' and nullify Iono's Electric-type moves with its 'Lightning Rod' ability. However, Electivire also had the 'Motor Drive' ability, which made it immune to Electric-type moves. While Jin still had options to attack, a battle where both sides had immunity to Electric moves would be tough.
"My apologies. But unlike you, I have no reason to hesitate when switching Pokémon."
"Grr! You set up 'Stealth Rock' yourself, and you say that!? I take back calling you a gentleman! You've got a terrible personality!"
As Iono's frustration mounted, the comment section once again erupted with anti-Jin comments, with many of Iono's fans now firmly rooting against him.
"You're up, Salamence!"
Jin's fourth Pokémon, Salamence, soared high into the sky after being released from its Poké Ball, establishing aerial dominance while glaring sharply at Electivire. Its ability Intimidate lowered Electivire's attack, but it didn’t dampen its fighting spirit.
"Let's go, Electivire! Ice Punch!"
Electivire coated its fists in ice and charged forward, leaping high into the air.
"Ascend!"
Salamence tried to evade by rising even higher, but Electivire wasn’t aiming for Salamence.
"Now! Hit those Stealth Rocks with a barrage of Ice Punches!"
Electivire turned its attention to the floating Stealth Rocks, pounding them repeatedly with its icy fists. In no time, the Stealth Rocks were shattered into pieces.
"Impressive," Jin praised.
Attacking Stealth Rocks directly was a tactic Jin hadn’t anticipated, so he acknowledged it with genuine admiration.
"Hehehe, I'm not going to stay on the losing side forever. Now I don't have to hesitate about switching anymore!"
With a smirk, Iono recalled Electivire and sent out Kilowattrel again. At the same time, the effects of Electric Terrain faded, returning the battlefield to its normal state. It seemed Iono had prioritized removing the Stealth Rocks over taking advantage of the dwindling Electric Terrain, aiming to minimize future damage for her remaining Pokémon.
"Close in! Dragon Claw!"
"Kilowattrel! Use Tailwind again, please!"
Kilowattrel flapped its wings as soon as it emerged from the Poké Ball. Salamence tried to stop it with Dragon Claw, but Kilowattrel swiftly dodged and set up Tailwind.
"Now it's our turn! Discharge!"
"Deflect it with Dragon Dance!"
The electricity surged from Kilowattrel, heading straight for Salamence. However, Salamence spun gracefully in midair, performing Dragon Dance, and the move absorbed the electric attack without harm.
"What!? You can do that!?"
This maneuver was an adaptation of a technique Jin's Scyther had used to deflect Manectric's electricity before it evolved into Scizor. Unlike Scyther, Salamence could pull it off seamlessly in the air.
"Draco Meteor!"
Salamence tilted its head skyward, concentrating energy before launching it into the sky. The energy exploded, sending meteor-like projectiles crashing down toward Kilowattrel.
"Dodge them!"
Thanks to Tailwind, Kilowattrel darted around, narrowly avoiding the incoming Draco Meteor projectiles.
But...
"Now!"
Suddenly, Salamence closed in from above. Kilowattrel, too focused on evading the meteors, hadn’t noticed Salamence sneaking up amid the chaos.
"Don't let it escape. Pin it down."
Kilowattrel tried to evade at the last second, but Salamence wouldn't allow it. With its legs, Salamence clamped down on Kilowattrel's wings, biting down before diving and slamming it into the ground.
“Finish it! Dragon Pulse!”
The shock from being slammed into the ground, followed by the point-blank Dragon Pulse, finally caused Kilowattrel to faint. Iono was now down to her fourth Pokémon.
(The remaining Pokémon are Electivire, and one that hasn’t appeared yet...)
Recalling Kilowattrel, Iono sent Electivire back into battle. It seemed she intended to hold off on revealing her last Pokémon until the very end.
(Well, never mind, I’ll start with Electivire...)
On the battlefield, Salamence in the sky and Electivire on the ground glared at each other. Electivire, boosted by Tailwind, was the first to act.
"Ice Punch!"
Electivire leaped into the air, its fist coated in ice, but Salamence ascended higher to avoid the blow. Electivire, relying on close-range attacks, had no choice but to approach and strike, but this gave Salamence a clear advantage, as it controlled the airspace.
"Dragon Pulse!"
"Block it with Ice Punch!"
From the sky, Salamence fired a Dragon Pulse toward Electivire on the ground. Electivire met the oncoming attack with both ice-coated fists. The clash of moves caused an explosion, filling the field with smoke.
(Where will it come from?)
Electivire’s figure was hidden in the smoke, but Salamence was still visible in the sky, leaving it vulnerable to an unseen attack.
"Now! Ice Punch!"
Suddenly, Electivire leaped out of the smoke, appearing behind Salamence. Caught off guard, Salamence was hit by the super-effective Ice Punch and slammed into the ground.
"I’m ending this! Thunder Dive!"
For the first time in the battle, Electivire had the upper hand over Salamence. It charged its body with electricity and dove from above, aiming to finish off Salamence.
It was the perfect time to attack, especially after landing a critical hit with the ice-type move that was four times effective against Salamence. However, Salamence wasn’t out of the fight yet.
"Salamence, Draco Meteor!"
Salamence raised its head and fired a concentrated Draco Meteor directly at Electivire. Normally, the move would split into multiple meteors and rain down over a wide area, but this time, the energy ball stayed intact, colliding directly with Electivire.
Thunder Dive and Draco Meteor clashed in midair, causing a massive explosion. Despite both being powerful moves, the full-force Draco Meteor, which hadn't split, overpowered Electivire. Electivire plummeted to the ground, landing near Salamence, knocked out.
"No way! Even Electivire is down!? I might be in a bit of a pinch! Come on, everyone, cheer for me!"
Even though Iono had been confident of victory when commanding Thunder Dive, this sudden defeat was a heavy blow. Yet, her cheerful demeanor remained intact as she rallied her viewers and the audience.
(Heh... She’s strong.)
Although Jin had taken some damage, he had yet to lose a single Pokémon. Realistically, a comeback seemed unlikely for Iono. However, her confident attitude made it seem like victory was still within reach. Her experience and trust in her Pokémon were apparent.
"Let’s go, Jin! Here’s my last Pokémon! Come on out, Mismagius!"
Iono’s final Pokémon was Mismagius, a Ghost-type. For an Electric-type Gym Leader, this choice might seem out of place.
(I see... So that’s her strategy.)
Jin had already witnessed the unique phenomenon of the Paldea region in the battle between Brassius and Roy. Taking that into account, it made sense that Mismagius was Iono’s trump card.
“Mismagius, huh? That’s your ace, Iono?”
"Exactly! This is where things really heat up! I’m totally turning this battle around!"
"I see. In that case, I’ll challenge you with my strongest Pokémon."
With that, Jin recalled Salamence and sent out his longest and most trusted partner, Sceptile, onto the field.
"Sceptile is my strongest Pokémon."
"Nice! Ace versus Ace! You've had me on the ropes until now, so I've got to step up the excitement for my viewers! We'll show them everything we've got!"
"That's exactly what I want. Sceptile! Let's show them our full power!"
Jin pulled out his pendant, while Iono took out her Tera Orb. As soon as their hands touched the items, both the Keystone and the Tera Orb began to glow.
"Surpass your limits! Mega Evolution!"
The Mega Stone embedded in the scarf around Sceptile’s neck began to shine, enveloping the Pokémon in light. When the light faded, there stood Mega Sceptile, ready for battle.
"Time to shine, little light bulb! Terastalize!"
As Iono tossed the Tera Orb above Mismagius, its body was enveloped in a shell of crystals. When the crystals shattered, Mismagius emerged, sparkling like a gemstone with a light bulb growing from its head.
(So it’s Terastalize... Judging by that form, it’s definitely Electric-type as expected. And Mismagius’s ability is...)
Mismagius's ability, Levitate, made it immune to Ground-type attacks, which meant it no longer had any weaknesses at that moment.
(She’s really thought this through. So this is Iono’s full power...)
"This is Mega Evolution! It's my first time seeing it live! Terastalization vs Mega Evolution—this is going to blow up online for sure!"
Iono wasn’t the only one excited. The audience and viewers were buzzing with excitement over the rare sight of Mega Evolution in Paldea.
"But it’s not over yet."
"Huh?"
"I told you, we’ll show you our full power... Sceptile, let’s go!"
Sceptile nodded, gathering Grass-type energy around its mouth to form a glowing green orb, an Energy Ball.
"Energy Charge!"
Sceptile swallowed the Energy Ball, and after a brief pause, its body began to glow with a radiant green aura, energy surging from it.
"W-what the heck!?"
This was something neither a Mega Evolution nor Terastalization could explain. Iono was genuinely surprised. It wasn’t just the Mega Evolution—it was this Energy Charge, a move never before seen in an official battle.
"I’ll warn you now. Once Sceptile enters this state, he can’t hold back. I’m sorry, but this battle will end with the next move."
"Wh-what!?"
It wasn’t a bluff. The overwhelming aura emanating from Sceptile confirmed it. Iono knew her chances were slim, but as a Gym Leader and Trainer, retreating was not an option.
"Fine then! Let’s go, Mismagius!"
Gathering her resolve, Iono and Mismagius prepared to face Jin and Sceptile head-on. Only their strongest move would be enough to challenge this powerful foe.
"Mismagius, Terra Blast!"
The light bulb-shaped Tera crystal above Mismagius shattered, releasing a surge of electric energy that coalesced into a glowing yellow orb at its mouth. With a fierce charge, Mismagius unleashed the energy as a powerful bolt of lightning, heading straight for Sceptile.
(Beautiful...)
Jin couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the attack. The dazzling lightning bolt, charged with immense power, surged toward Sceptile. If it hit, the damage would be catastrophic. The lightning struck Sceptile directly, engulfing the battlefield in a cloud of smoke and flame.
(Such a shame...)
Had it been any other Pokémon, Jin knew the attack would have landed a decisive blow. But in this case, it was merely a mismatch of circumstances—or rather, a poor choice of opponent.
Everyone, from Iono to the audience, held their breath as they waited for the smoke to clear. Slowly, the dust settled, revealing Mega Sceptile standing tall, completely unharmed.
"N-no way..."
Mismagius’s attack had been its strongest move, but it was useless against Mega Sceptile, whose ability, Lightning Rod, rendered all Electric-type moves ineffective. Unfortunately, Iono's lack of knowledge about Mega Evolution had led to this critical mistake. Even if she had used a different move, the result would have likely been the same.
"This is the end. Leaf Storm!"
"Sceptiiiiiiiiiile!!"
With a mighty roar, Mega Sceptile launched its tail like a missile, spinning as it radiated a brilliant green aura. The power of the Leaf Storm was overwhelming, its green light rivaling even the magnificence of Mismagius's Terra Blast.
The storm of leaves shot forward, hitting Mismagius directly, triggering a massive explosion. Mismagius was hurled through the air, slamming into the wall behind Iono.
"Mismagius!?"
Iono rushed over, but Mismagius had already fainted, eyes spinning from the force of the blow.
// END
And so, the battle with Iono comes to an end. All that’s left is the post-battle conversation and the departure from Paldea, and the Paldea arc will be concluded.
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