-149- Battle Against Aji (Part Two)
“Aji, although your master doesn’t say it aloud, he has already acknowledged you in his heart!” After the burly man departed, Toji spoke to Aji.
Aji lifted his head and looked at Toji. “Yes! Toji, let’s continue the battle! A fight for the silver badge!”
Aji held up the silver badge in his hand, which now symbolized his identity as a fighter representing the Nanwei Dojo.
“Carry on!” Toji said, preparing to resume the fight.
The Electric Beast’s body crackled with faint electric glimmers, poised to strike without even needing Toji’s command.
Kentaro’s front hooves lifted before pounding down heavily, brimming with fighting spirit.
“Kentaro, run!”
“Moo—”
On this abandoned battlefield, Kentaro’s running caused the ground to tremble slightly.
The Electric Beast charged a thunderous lightning punch toward Kentaro.
Golden streaks of electricity surged at Kentaro.
Kentaro sprinted swiftly, kicking up dust with each stride.
He charged the Electric Beast with a powerful horn strike.
Boom—
The two Pokémon clashed fiercely in the first round.
Lightning punch versus horn attack.
It must be said, this Kentaro had been exceptionally well trained.
His horn strike was truly formidable.
After the intense collision, both withdrew a step.
However, Kentaro’s recoil was more forceful, his hooves digging firmly into the ground.
Then he took off running again.
As if his fighting spirit was inexhaustible, Kentaro kept charging forward with endless stamina.
The Electric Beast gathered energy once more.
To deal with a Normal-type like Kentaro, Fighting-type moves were essential.
As Kentaro approached, Toji finally spotted a slight opening.
“Now! Trip him!”
Toji’s voice rang out, and the Electric Beast swiftly launched its attack.
When Kentaro reached the Electric Beast, it crouched low, locking Kentaro’s horns with its arms before sweeping him sideways.
The trip move wasn’t limited to frontal attacks; it could also sweep opponents off their feet.
“Hey, cool!”
The Electric Beast’s trip sent Kentaro sprawling hard to the ground.
Thud—
Kentaro crashed heavily onto the earth.
“Kentaro! Are you alright?” Aji asked with concern.
“Moo~”
Kentaro signaled he could still fight, pounding his front hoof and rising from the ground.
“Use Tackle!”
Hearing Aji’s command, Toji roughly gauged his opponent’s fighting style.
He was the passionate sort, always charging headlong forward.
Perhaps this was why the burly man didn’t approve of him?
But in battle, Toji dared not speak plainly, lest it show disrespect.
“Electric Beast, cast Thunder Web and trap Kentaro!”
Having discerned Aji’s fighting style, Toji found winning this match much easier.
A golden electric glow ignited before the Electric Beast.
Kentaro was still running when the powerful electric glow instantly solidified into a strong electric web.
“Moo~”
Kentaro crashed into the web, feeling the tingling numbness coursing through him.
The web’s resistance halted his advance.
“Now! Use Brick Break!”
Seizing the opportunity, Toji issued the command.
“Hey, cool!”
The Electric Beast stepped forward swiftly, closing in on Kentaro.
Thud—
Beneath the electric web, Kentaro was struck by Brick Break and collapsed.
“Moo~”
With one final bellow, Kentaro lost his fighting ability.
“This boy’s got some skills, huh?”
“Yeah, Aji doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Sigh... I told you, Aji should travel around. Staying in Nanwei City taking care of us old folks isn’t good for his growth!”
“...”
The elderly folks nearby felt a pang of sympathy for Aji’s defeat.
In truth, Aji stayed in Nanwei City partly because most residents were elderly, and he worried about leaving them alone.
He often visited and cared for the old households, maintaining warm relations.
After recalling Kentaro, Aji hesitated briefly before sending out his third Pokémon.
“Quanquan Bear, go!”
Aji called out to Quanquan Bear, his first and strongest Pokémon.
After losing two Pokémon in a row, Aji was forced to bring out Quanquan Bear.
No matter what, he had to win this match.
Losing and having his head shaved would be too humiliating.
“Quanquan Bear, huh?”
Through his data panel, Toji checked Quanquan Bear’s stats.
Quanquan Bear
Level: 35
Grade: Dojo Master Class
...
“Level’s even one higher than my Electric Beast?” Toji muttered.
But for the Electric Beast now, challenging higher-level opponents was routine.
Even if the opponent was five levels higher, it wouldn’t affect its ability to battle up.
Especially with type advantage.
Toji had chosen Nanwei Dojo for another reason: it specialized in Normal-type.
Among the eighteen types, Normal-type fears no one except Fighting-type.
And Toji’s Electric Beast excelled in Fighting moves!
“Kettle: Me too!”
“Electric Beast, charge!”
Facing Aji’s third Pokémon, Toji didn’t attack first but chose to charge up.
Using Charge to boost the power of his next Electric-type move.
“Charging? In that case, we’ll use Bulk Up!”
Aji finally calmed down, no longer rushing blindly.
Bulk Up greatly increases Quanquan Bear’s attack and defense.
A powerful supportive skill.
“Electric Beast, Thunderbolt!”
Toji swung his left hand, enhancing the move with the charged energy and preparing to strike.
“What?”
Seeing the glow on the Electric Beast, Aji thought he’d misread.
How could the Electric Beast use Thunderbolt while charging?
“Hey, cool...”
Charge completed, Thunderbolt was unleashed.
“Quanquan Bear, dodge quickly!”
Aji’s command came swiftly, but Quanquan Bear wasn’t fast enough.
Just as it began to Bulk Up, it faced the opponent’s attack—stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The Thunderbolt struck Quanquan Bear directly.
Though the damage wasn’t severe, the move’s additional effect immediately paralyzed Quanquan Bear.
“Guma...”
Quanquan Bear’s eyes turned crimson, its fighting spirit blazing.
“What’s this? The Guts ability?”
Only then did Toji realize that Aji’s Quanquan Bear possessed the Guts ability.
Pokémon with Guts see their Attack rise sharply when afflicted by a status condition.
“Looks like it backfired, huh?”
Aji smiled wryly.
“Quanquan Bear, retaliate with Payback!”
After enduring the Electric Beast’s attack, Aji ordered Quanquan Bear to use Payback.
… (To be continued)