An Absurd Three-Way Free-for-All (Part 1)

"So, how did things end up like this?"

Blake stood on the battlefield with a helpless expression. This was not a normal rectangular arena, but a square one originally intended for Double Battles. Yet now, it had become a free-for-all, with Cynthia and Steven each standing in a corner of the field.

Rewinding time a little, everyone had been enjoying themselves at the dinner table. But for some reason, Haunter, Gible, and Metang had gotten into a dispute. It seemed Haunter's playful nature had gotten the better of it, and it had secretly tampered with the other two's food, making both Gible and Metang suspect the other of messing with their meal. Haunter did not get away with it, though. Lucario noticed what it had done, and then Haunter was surrounded by Gible and Metang.

None of them had been serious; it was only playful roughhousing. But given the strength of those Pokémon, even their playing around affected quite a large area. Things had still been under control at that point. Blake, Cynthia, and Steven could all rein in their Pokémon. Yet, as luck would have it, Chairman Stone, who had drunk a few glasses, started egging them on. Somehow, everyone else joined in, even the waiters. Before they knew it, the three of them were standing here.

"Then we will use free-for-all rules. The last Pokémon on the field to lose its ability to battle will be the winner. Non-held items are prohibited, and each Pokémon may hold only one item. Each side may send out only one Pokémon. Moves are unrestricted. Any other questions?"

The hotel's professional referee robot floated over and spoke.

"No problem." *3

The three said in unison.

"Then! The match! Begins!"

Two small flags extended from the top of the robot's head and swung downward. The next moment, all three moved at once.

"Haunter! Haze!" "Gible! Swords Dance!" "Metang! Iron Defense!"

For their first commands, Cynthia and Steven both chose to strengthen themselves. But to everyone's surprise, Blake had chosen Haze first. Before Gible and Metang's buffs could even take effect, they were interrupted.

"Did he read us? This guy isn't as simple as he looks."

Steven watched the Haze spread across the battlefield without showing any sign of dispersing, and immediately realized this battle would not be nearly as simple as he had imagined. It seemed he would have to stay completely focused.

"Metang! Use Confusion to scan the entire field! Lock onto their positions!"

Rumble!

Following Steven's command, a rainbow-colored glow lit up around Metang, and an invisible wave swept across the field.

"Gible! Use Dig and get out of there!"

Cynthia looked at the Haze on the field. She could barely make out Gible's position, but she clearly could not see anyone else. That was highly unfavorable for her commands. The best course of action now was to hide herself as well, and for Gible, the most suitable way was to burrow underground.

"Grrraah!"

It had to be said, Gible truly deserved to be called a pseudo-legendary Ground-type Pokémon. Though it was only in its second stage, its skill with Dig was frighteningly strong. It vanished from its original spot almost instantly.

"Haunter! Will-O-Wisp!"

Blake knew that in a direct clash, his Haunter was no match for the other two. But Ghost-types had their own way of fighting. There was no need to meet the enemy head-on. If they were going to fight, then they had to give it everything.

"Kehehe! Hehehehe!"

Haunter hid within the Haze, making no attempt to dodge Metang's Confusion sweep. Instead, it raised a hand and summoned a sheet of violet flames that spread toward Metang. Haunter knew very well that Metang was the greatest threat on the field. The combination of Steel and Psychic was extremely troublesome for Haunter. Although Ghost-type moves were super effective against Psychic-types, Haunter itself was also part Poison-type and weak to Psychic. On top of that, Steel-types were immune to Poison-type moves. Haunter had memorized the type chart, kehehe!

"Metang! Protect!"

Even with the Haze obstructing his view, there was no way Steven could miss such a huge wave of Will-O-Wisp. He was immediately alarmed. This was a three-way battle. If Metang was inflicted with a status condition from the very beginning, then even if it defeated Haunter later, Gible would simply reap the benefits. Against Ground-type Gible, Metang was actually at a disadvantage. So even if it had to take some damage, it could not afford to be afflicted with a status condition.

Rumble!

Metang swiftly gave up maintaining Confusion. A blue barrier replaced its rainbow-colored glow, blocking all the Will-O-Wisp outside.

"Impressive. This is the first time I've seen a Protect move that can completely cover its user."

Blake could not help but praise Metang's Protect. Protect in reality might not work the same way it did in games. Normally, it did not envelop the entire body. It usually appeared only in the direction of an incoming attack, while the other directions had protection too, but it was often much weaker. Yet Metang's barrier covered every direction without any blind spots, offering the greatest possible protection. Haunter's Will-O-Wisp crashed against it like ocean waves, but it could not shake Metang's reef-like defense.

"No! Haunter! Phantom Force!" "Kehe!?"

Haunter did not understand why, but its habitual trust made it carry out Blake's command immediately. Its body blurred into a black shadow and vanished into the darkness. In the instant after Haunter disappeared, the ground suddenly split apart, and Gible burst from the earth, its jaws snapping shut where Haunter had just been.

"Whew... that was close."

Blake watched Gible's attack and silently counted himself lucky. If he had not suddenly sensed that something was wrong just now, Haunter would have either been knocked out or seriously injured.

"Amazing reaction. How did you notice?"

Cynthia also applauded Blake's reaction speed and the trust between him and his Pokémon. But she was very curious how Blake had discovered her attack. She had not spoken aloud; instead, she had relied on her usual understanding with Gible to make it move. Yet even while attacking Metang, Blake had noticed.

"It was too quiet. You used Swords Dance right away, which showed that both you and Gible favored offense. You had been silent for so long, so you obviously couldn't have been doing nothing. In that instant, attacking Metang would have accomplished nothing. Your only possible target was Haunter."

Blake explained without holding anything back. Pokémon battles were not merely exchanges of attacks between Pokémon; they were also contests of wits between Trainers. Still, Blake had been lucky. If either he or Haunter had reacted a little slower, they would not have been able to avoid that move.

"Excellent analysis."

Steven nodded and spoke approvingly. At that moment, the Haze on the field dispersed. Metang and Gible's vision was no longer obstructed, while Haunter remained hidden in the shadows, ready to launch a Sucker Punch at any moment.

"Your analysis may have been excellent, but that doesn't mean I'm stopping here. Gible! Bulldoze!"

"Metang! Magnet Rise!"

"Don't let it succeed! Haunter, interrupt Metang's Magnet Rise!"

"Grrraah!" "Rumble!" "Kehe!"

All three Pokémon moved at once. Gible stomped the ground with all its might, causing the entire field to shake. Steven immediately ordered Metang to take flight, but Blake clearly wanted Metang to go down most of all. If he could use Gible's attack to accomplish that, all the better. Haunter appeared behind Metang and swung both hands toward it.

Rumble!

Metang gritted its teeth and held on. Even while facing Haunter's attack, it still successfully took flight.

"Tch. As expected, Haunter's physical attack is still too low. Even with type advantage, it's hard to make an impact."

Blake could not help but sigh. As Metang rose into the air, Gible's Bulldoze became ineffective. Though Metang had been struck, the damage was insignificant. The outcome of the battle remained impossible to predict.