Chapter Nineteen: Savage Combat, a Battle Where Only Victory Matters

Because some of the Pokémon recognized this generous benefactor, Zhusuìhan didn’t encounter much hostility, though he did catch a few unfriendly glances. After all, he was a human—and a local at that, not some foreign Pokémon come to seize territory.

Zhusuìhan took out a healing spray and carefully applied it to the wounds on Oddish’s body and the leaves atop its head. “This might sting a little. Bear with it.” He released Lapras from its ball. “Let’s get a sense of the situation.”

If the enemy numbers were high, he’d go back for reinforcements and call Abi to take the lead.

Lapras exchanged a few words with some of the leaders among the Pokémon, then returned to Zhusuìhan’s side, relaying what it had learned.

“Three people, fighting their way through, and aiming for a cave outside?” he repeated. “What small-time villains. They know the Pokémon around Azalea Town aren’t too strong, so they act so arrogant?”

“Three people—we can handle that.”

Zhusuìhan made up his mind, then turned to the gathering Pokémon. “All of you, I’ll lead you in a fight. Are you willing to go?”

He swept his gaze over the crowd. Though their average strength might be lacking, their types and abilities covered a broad range. They had more than enough tricks up their sleeves.

Determination flared in the eyes of every Pokémon present. If not for being ambushed and ganged up on, how could they have lost so badly?

“Now, we need a convincing ruse.” Zhusuìhan looked at the silent Heracross. “Could you pretend to be my Pokémon partner? Do you have the confidence for it?”

Heracross opened its eyes, glanced at its companions, then looked at Zhusuìhan and nodded resolutely.

Zhusuìhan patted Lapras on the head. “Then, when the time is right, I’ll count on you to deliver a decisive blow.”

Lapras responded enthusiastically, “I’m strong, you know!”

***

Outside, two men of nondescript appearance were emerging from the cave, grinning as they hefted the minerals in their hands.

“Just as the boss said—good stuff here! Swinging by to make a quick haul was definitely the right choice,” said one, his tone a touch envious. “When will I ever have a Rhyhorn as sensitive to minerals as the boss?”

“Save the chatter. Remember, we’re just here to fetch the box for the minerals,” the other replied coolly. “My Golbat was spotted. That dumb kid may not know what’s going on, but the local Nurse Joy might. Once we’ve packed up, we leave immediately.”

“Resources here really are abundant. Who’d have thought a random cave would have minerals like this?”

“But you’re just passing through? Seems like your plan had a small flaw.”

The two men quickly turned, stunned to see Zhusuìhan sitting on a stone. Was he human or ghost? He hadn’t made a sound!

“So you’re the backup that kid called in? Don’t overestimate yourself—”

Crash!

The ground collapsed, dropping both men into a pit. Zhusuìhan wore a sly grin. “Guess why I bothered talking to you?”

Digletts were waiting below, combining Dig and Sand Tomb to give these lackeys a proper welcome.

Now, as any villain would, the next move should be—

“Golbat, finish off that sneaky brat!”

“Nidorino, get him!”

“Tsk. I’ve always doubted your taste, but suddenly I realize it’s not just a matter of aesthetics.”

Zhusuìhan stood, the Starly squad behind him poised to strike. Fierce winds whipped up, blowing the two villainous Pokémon that had leapt out back into the pit. But it wouldn’t last long; in terms of raw strength, Zhusuìhan’s side was weaker, and the flying squad couldn’t suppress them for long.

“It’s because these Pokémon look intimidating that you can act so confident around your peers.”

White hair flying, Zhusuìhan snapped his fingers. The Bug and Grass squads, hidden in the surrounding brush, converged at once. At another snap, the flying squad changed targets; before the enemy Pokémon could leap out again, a rainbow cloud of powders—carried by powerful winds—poured into the pit the Digletts had prepared.

Poison Powder, Stun Spore, Sleep Powder—all at once! Toxic, Poison Sting, Toxic Spikes, all unleashed! Even Razor Leaf and other ranged attacks joined in, the Digletts amplifying the damage to the limit.

“A turn-based fight? If I catch you, you’re not leaving unless my damage output is lacking.”

With only one Pokémon each—and clearly never expecting Zhusuìhan to fight so unscrupulously—they didn’t even have time to draw another Poké Ball. Moving a finger would be a feat now.

“Rhyhorn, Horn Attack!”

Zhusuìhan didn’t even turn. “Heracross, meet it head-on!”

Heracross emerged, its horn colliding with Rhyhorn’s head, the two entering a contest of strength.

“I thought for a second you were Officer Jenny, but you’re just a brat.” The lead grunt hurled a Poké Ball. “Go, Onix! Take out Heracross first! Rock Slide!”

Onix roared, massive boulders crashing down toward Heracross, while Onix itself lunged, its tail ready to strike.

“Heracross, lift Rhyhorn and use it as a shield!”

Heracross, swallowing the energy cube in its mouth, suddenly surged with power. Using its horn as a lever, it heaved Rhyhorn into the air, colliding with Onix’s Rock Slide.

“Aerial Ace—dodge Onix’s tail!”

Heracross spread its wings, narrowly avoiding Onix’s powerful blow, landing breathless at Zhusuìhan’s side.

If not for Zhusuìhan’s medicine, Heracross might not have managed such feats.

Living near the outskirts of town, Heracross and its companions were nothing like the powerful Pokémon of Mt. Silver or Coronet Highlands. There was a clear gap in strength.

“Well, interesting. I thought only one brat had nearly caught us, but it turns out there are two.” Onix took the lead, eyes fixed on Heracross, while Rhyhorn behind began pawing at the ground, ready to charge.

“Release my men!”

Boom!

A huge blue beam shot past Zhusuìhan, the force whipping his clothes violently. If it had aimed a little higher, he’d be half bald by now.

The blue beam struck Onix, the raging torrent forcing a cry of pain as Onix toppled backward, crashing into Rhyhorn and carving a long furrow in the earth.

Zhusuìhan’s face was calm. “Two Pokémon quadruple weak to water—you’re just asking for trouble.”

“You sneaky brat! Rhyhorn, Onix, get up!” The grunt leader, sensing danger, leaped aside, trying to revive his Pokémon.

But Heracross lunged forward, pinning him to the ground.

Zhusuìhan glanced at Lapras. “Hit them again with Hydro Pump—make sure they stay down.”

Once more, the blue beam struck Onix and Rhyhorn. Only then did Zhusuìhan walk over.

“Today’s my lucky day,” he grinned. “No, actually, I’m lucky every day.”

The grunt leader was furious. “Cowardly sneak attack!”

“What did you expect?” Zhusuìhan kicked the man unconscious. “I’m a girl, you know. Can’t stand blood, afraid of violence.”

Heracross blinked. “Really?”

Zhusuìhan waved a hand. “Just kidding.”

He pried the Poké Balls from the leader’s belt, recalling the battered Onix and Rhyhorn.

“Tsk, too bad I don’t know that trick—would be safer if I did.” He tried to remember how to disable a Poké Ball’s inner mechanism—something about attacking a few tiny components.

Zhusuìhan searched the man for any ID or badges. Nothing. Not even a big red R.

Damn, could it be the villains really aren’t Team Rocket?

Where will I get my villainous godfather nutrition now?

“Utterly worthless.” By a Pokémon hunter’s standards, Onix and Rhyhorn were the most valuable things here—aside from the pile of minerals in the cave, which he couldn’t take for himself.

“Wait, why worry about the minerals?”

He gave the grunt leader another punch, then checked through the minerals the other two had taken. He couldn’t tell what they were, but Lapras said some were laced with elemental energy—likely byproducts of evolution stones.

“Still not useful.” Even if rare, he could just ask Ma Zhishi for anything he lacked. And if he used them himself without knowing how, he might accidentally harm Lapras—a risk not worth taking.

“Let’s go.” Zhusuìhan took out the healing spray and thoroughly treated Heracross, then handed him several boxes of energy cubes from the incense burner. “These are for you. If you run into types like this again, go to Azalea Town and find someone to help.”

Heracross nodded. Zhusuìhan patted the beetle’s armored head; Heracross tapped Zhusuìhan on the chest with its horn, then led the others away from the cave.

Lapras asked if they should bring the defeated villains to town.

Zhusuìhan shook his head. “No reward for that. Why bother?”

“Tie them up and wait for Nurse Joy or Abi to find them. Besides, it’s almost time to pick up Chihiro from school.”

Compared to these no-name lackeys, Zhusuìhan found his deals with Ma Zhishi and learning apricorn Poké Ball crafting from Mr. Steel much more enticing.

Villains? The Pokémon world never lacked them.

He halfheartedly sprayed some antidote on the grunts, tied them up with rope from their gear, and recalled Golbat and Nidorino into their balls.

“Let’s go, Lapras. You really saved the day.” Two Hydro Pumps had given those three a taste of utter defeat.

Lapras nuzzled Zhusuìhan’s cheek before obediently returning to its Poké Ball.

***

Pokémon Center—

“You’re finally back!” Nurse Joy sighed in relief when she saw Zhusuìhan. “If you’d taken any longer, I’d have had to ask Gym Leader Abi to rescue you.”