Roserade vs. Combusken

"The battle will be one-on-one. Each side may use only one Pokémon. When either side's Pokémon falls, the opponent wins!"

Saori's companion, Xiao Yi, stood to the side as the referee.

"So, what Pokémon will contestant Hu Yang send out?"

Hu Yang: "..."

He took out Roserade's Poké Ball. A flash of white light passed, and Roserade's beautiful figure appeared opposite Combusken.

Seeing how energetic Roserade looked, Saori raised her eyebrows.

"Your Roserade has been raised very well! However, its type is at a disadvantage against Combusken. You can attack first!"

Hu Yang did not decline and ordered, "Poison Sting!"

"Rorili!"

Roserade lightly raised its hands, and light bloomed from the rose buds on them.

Then, sharp purple poison needles formed one after another, flying toward Combusken like a torrential rain of pear blossoms.

After ordinary Pokémon evolved, the parts of their bodies they used to perform moves would also change accordingly.

For instance, after Squirtle evolved into Blastoise, when it used Water Gun, the water would spray from the cannons on its shell rather than its mouth.

Roserade was the same.

When it was still a Budew, whether it used Stun Spore or Seed Bomb, the moves were launched from the bud on its head.

After evolving into Roserade, those moves were released from the rose buds on its hands.

Faced with Poison Sting, Saori proved herself worthy of being a Trainer who had already collected three Gym Badges, reacting swiftly.

"Combusken, dodge!"

Here it came! The divine move of the Pokémon world!

Combusken suddenly exerted force with its legs and leaped into the air, the poison needles barely brushing past it.

"Pursue it from the air—Flame Wheel!" Saori shouted.

"Cha!"

Combusken cried out. Scorching flames whooshed over its entire body, and it descended like a red meteor.

Roserade had nowhere to dodge. Whether it used Seed Bomb or Stun Spore, they would be burned away by the flames before they could get close.

"So this is type disadvantage?" Hu Yang did not panic. Instead, he calmly issued an order. "Roserade, use Magical Leaf!"

"Ro—rili!"

Roserade instantly understood its Trainer's intent and aimed both hands at the ground beneath its feet.

A vast number of Leaf Blades, seemingly imbued with spirit, gushed from its rose buds.

An unseen gust surged forth, and Roserade's small body rode the force into the air.

"Using the whirlwind created by Magical Leaf to rise into the air? Nice command!" Saori's eyes lit up as she praised him.

"It's not over yet," Hu Yang said with a smile.

Using Stun Spore directly would be neutralized by the opponent's flames.

Since that was the case...

"Roserade, use that move from the air!" Hu Yang ordered.

That move? Which move?

Saori froze for a moment, then carefully observed the battlefield.

Roserade brought its hands together in midair, and a dense green glow condensed between them into a huge, hard seed.

It was Seed Bomb!

Saori recognized the move and quickly ordered, "Combusken, remember our special training! Against an aerial target, use Double Kick!"

"Cha!" Combusken's eyes were full of fighting spirit.

It suddenly pushed off with its legs, then leaped high and accurately kicked the Seed Bomb flying toward it in midair.

However, the expected scene of the Seed Bomb being kicked away did not happen.

Instead, it exploded the instant it was struck.

A faint powder, driven by the shockwave, spread outward at tremendous speed.

"That is..." Saori was shocked. "Seed Bomb and Stun Spore? How did you do that?!"

No, it was not simply Seed Bomb combined with Stun Spore.

Hu Yang looked toward Roserade, which landed gracefully.

It was the result of their special training over this period of time.

It was the result of combining the "Landmine Bomb," which exploded the instant an enemy touched it, with Stun Spore.

Both its power and effects far surpassed those of an ordinary Paralysis Bomb.

Combusken fell into a paralyzed state. It dropped from the air to the ground, its body twitching uncontrollably.

Hu Yang immediately followed up. "Use Magical Leaf with all your strength!"

"Ro—rili!"

Seeing that the results of its special training had successfully defeated the enemy, Roserade became extremely excited as well.

Its eyes brimmed with fighting spirit. Bolstered by its emotions, a mass of Magical Leaves far exceeding the usual number burst from its rose buds.

The surging leaves stirred up powerful air currents, producing sharp whooshing sounds.

Quantity brought about qualitative change.

As enough Magical Leaves gathered together, they faintly showed signs of forming a vortex-like tornado.

Hu Yang's heart stirred.

This scene reminded him of another move.

Leaf Storm.

Its description in the games was as follows:

The user attacks by wrapping the target in a storm of sharp leaves. After use, the recoil sharply lowered the user's Special Attack.

If Magical Leaf underwent special training, could it become a weaker version of Leaf Storm?

And after using it, its Special Attack would not be greatly reduced by recoil.

The thought flashed through his mind.

At the same time, the huge mass of Magical Leaves successfully struck Combusken.

Perhaps because this Combusken had high resistance to paralysis, it recovered as soon as Magical Leaf hit it.

Fierce flames burst uncontrollably from its body.

That was the Blaze Ability!

Blaze: When HP dropped, the power of Fire-type moves increased.

"Blaze has activated?" Saori said. "In that case, Combusken, use Fire Blast and finish this battle!"

"Cha!"

The flames around Combusken burned ever more fiercely. Empowered by Blaze, a giant character-shaped blaze formed, giving Roserade no chance to evade as it struck in an instant.

"Roserade has lost the ability to battle. Miss Saori wins this match!"

Hu Yang: "..."

He had spent so long attacking with barely any effect, yet she only needed one move to achieve outstanding results and land a critical hit.

Hu Yang felt numb. Winning while at a type disadvantage really was rather difficult.

"You worked hard." He recalled the defeated Roserade into its Poké Ball.

Saori walked over, still unsatisfied. "Battling you was really interesting. If my Combusken hadn't already had two years of training experience, I'm afraid I would have lost this battle."

Hu Yang humbly replied, "Not at all."

Saori smiled. "Do you have any other Pokémon? Want another battle?"

Hu Yang shook his head. "No."

Cramorant could not come out at a time like this. The power of its moves could probably flatten half of Fallarbor Town.

If he did that, the Hoenn League would have him wanted across the entire region by the next day.

"Alright, then." Saori sounded somewhat regretful, but she then smiled and asked, "Are you traveling to Fallarbor Town alone?"

Hu Yang nodded. "Yes."

Saori invited him, "Then would you like to come with us to watch this year's Pokémon Contest?"

For anyone who couldn't access the chapter, please download it again. I revised part of the plot starting from Chapter 35.