Is This Damage Seriously Normal?

Inside Battle Field Seven.

Mu Yun carried Espeon to one side of the field. He had originally planned to wait for Song Xiaomeng to recall her, but Song Xiaomeng did not bring it up, and Espeon made no move either, so he simply carried her in.

As the two took their positions, the electronic referee flew out from its charging station as usual, arrived at the center of the field, and spoke in a synthesized electronic voice.

"Beep—please send out your Pokémon!"

"Go, Espurr!"

"Xiao Du, you're up!"

As expected, Song Xiaomeng sent out Espurr.

Mu Yun, meanwhile, sent out Xiao Du.

It was not because of some fair principle of taking turns, but simply because Namikaze would probably have a hard time defeating Espurr.

Xiao Du was different. Although his Poison typing made him take double damage from Psychic Type moves, Bug Type energy could also resist Psychic Type moves very effectively.

With Xiao Du's damage output, as long as he managed to touch Espurr, the match could be declared over.

After all, Psychic Type Pokémon were just as famous for their frail bodies as Psychic Type moves were for being strange and difficult to defend against.

"Meow?"

On one side of the field, Espurr floated in midair. When she saw her boss lady curled up in the arms of an unfamiliar man, a rare flicker of confusion appeared in her blank eyes.

She looked back at her Trainer, whose calm expression carried a trace of excitement, then looked at her lazy boss lady again. Her thoughts were a mess.

What was going on?

Had the boss lady defected?

Forget it. It wasn't important. As long as I don't have to fight the boss lady, it's fine.

After thinking for a moment, Espurr gave up thinking. Her gaze returned to its vacant state as she looked at the Beedrill in the distance.

"Espurr, pull yourself together! Make sure they understand how formidable Psychic Type Pokémon are!"

Song Xiaomeng was brimming with fighting spirit, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.

Xiao Yun, fall at your big sister's feet!

"Meow—"

Espurr nodded almost imperceptibly. A hint of seriousness seemed to appear on her expressionless face.

"Your 'mom' sure is full of energy. I hope she'll still be like this in a little while." Mu Yun smiled as he stroked Espeon's soft, sleek fur.

"Esp?"

Espeon looked puzzled.

Although Espurr was a newly recruited Pokémon and far weaker than her, Espeon had to admit that the little one was highly talented, especially when it came to psychic power.

At the same level, Espurr probably would not be much inferior to her.

As for that Beedrill, his presence was decent, but he was still somewhat weaker than Espurr.

"Both Pokémon are in position. Beep beep—the match begins!!"

While they were talking, the electronic referee spoke again.

"Xiao Yun, there are no siblings on the battlefield. I won't go easy on you. Espurr, use Confusion!" Song Xiaomeng said.

Beedrill resisted Fairy type moves and was doubly weak to Psychic Type moves, so Song Xiaomeng naturally would not open with Disarming Voice like she had against Tepig.

Mu Yun had anticipated Song Xiaomeng's plan long ago. With Data Eye, he knew every move Espurr had and had naturally prepared a countermeasure.

"Xiao Du, use Twineedle! Break through the Confusion and fly over!"

That's right, this time he was not opening with String Shot, but directly with Twineedle!

Thanks to his incredibly fast energy conversion speed and extremely high move proficiency, before Espurr's Confusion could envelop him, Xiao Du's pair of silver-white needles were already covered in a layer of pale green Bug Type energy.

"Bee!!"

Xiao Du's thin wings trembled, and his body shot forward like an arrow released from the string. By the time Espurr's Confusion spread toward him, he had already crossed half the field.

"That Beedrill is so fast!"

From the side of the field, Song Xiaomeng was startled as she watched Xiao Du close the distance in the blink of an eye.

She had not expected Xiao Yun to have trained not only Pidgey well, but Beedrill too.

Unfortunately, his opponent was Espurr, level 18—a Psychic Type Pokémon whose strength was almost on par with a Veteran Level Pokémon!

"Meow!!"

Just as Xiao Du crossed the halfway line, vast invisible psychic power silently enveloped him from all directions under Espurr's control.

"Bee!"

Perhaps Bug Type Pokémon were naturally sensitive to Psychic Type energy. At the instant Confusion drew near, Xiao Du suddenly slowed down mid-flight, his Bug Type energy-coated needles rapidly slashing through the air.

To ordinary people, Xiao Du looked as though he were randomly cutting at empty air.

But in Espurr's and Espeon's eyes, Xiao Du's energy-coated needles were like heated blades, slicing through and melting away all the Confusion closing in on him.

So it really works!

From the side of the field, Mu Yun felt his heart settle as he watched Xiao Du slow down but continue advancing steadily.

The innate type advantage of Bug Type energy, the boost to Bug Type move power, and the Infiltrator Trait carried by Twineedle—when all three combined, Xiao Du fighting Espurr across levels no longer seemed so unbelievable.

Still, until he witnessed the result with his own eyes, Mu Yun had not been entirely sure.

Fortunately, the System's Traits had not been added for nothing, and Xiao Du's strength was no joke!

"How is this possible? Espurr's Confusion can't stop a Beedrill at the same level?"

Song Xiaomeng was no Novice Trainer. She had battled countless Pokémon, including plenty of high-level Bug Type Pokémon.

But until now, she had never seen a Bug Type Pokémon at the same level force its way forward through Confusion in such a bizarre fashion.

Not even Scyther, known as the Bug Warrior, could do that!

So why could a Beedrill with Poison typing do it?

Was that even reasonable?

Song Xiaomeng was shocked, and Espurr was the same.

It was not that she had seen much of the world. She was simply used to bullying weaker opponents. Other than the older Pokémon on her team, she had never encountered anyone capable of standing against her.

This guy seems a little different!

Espurr's thoughts churned, but her eyes remained blank. Only the large ears folded over her head lifted a little farther.

An even more violent surge of Confusion burst forth and rushed toward Beedrill.

But unfortunately, a mere increase in quantity had limited effect on Xiao Du. Other than slowing his flight a little more and making his needle movements even faster, it did not stop him at all.

"Meow—"

After more than ten seconds of stalemate, Espurr's spread ears suddenly clamped shut, and a trace of pain appeared in her vacant eyes.

This was the result of full-power output and excessive mental exhaustion.

This was also one of the few weaknesses of Psychic Type Pokémon. Their frail bodies and low endurance meant they could sustain full-power output for far less time than Pokémon of the same level.

Once drawn into a prolonged battle, they could easily begin to falter.

Almost the instant Espurr showed pain, the overwhelming Confusion suddenly stalled for a moment.

Xiao Du's crimson eyes lit up. He fiercely beat his wings and took the opportunity to accelerate forward.

"Not good! Espurr, use Fake Out!"

The moment Song Xiaomeng saw Espurr expose an opening, she immediately shouted.

It was not some useless command like "Dodge!" When a Pokémon exposed an opening, foolishly shouting for it to dodge did little besides create noise and make the Pokémon panic.

The correct response at that moment was to immediately use a move of another type. That would ease the pressure on the brain while also allowing an attacking move to serve as a defense to some extent.

"Meow!"

As a Psychic Type Pokémon, Espurr reacted quickly. Just as Xiao Du came within one or two meters, her fluffy little paw immediately lit up with white light.

[Fake Out: Normal Type move. The user swings its palm at extreme speed, with a chance of inflicting Flinch on the opponent.]

(In this story's setting, the restriction that it can only succeed when used immediately after entering battle has been removed.)

[Flinch: The target feels panic and fear, briefly loses control over its energy, and cannot use moves.]

"Bee!"

Seeing Espurr's little paw strike toward him, Xiao Du showed no fear and still opened with Twineedle.

Under the insight of his crimson Compound Eyes, his silver-white long needles easily deflected the incoming paw and struck Espurr squarely in the chest.

With the 100% hardness boost, Espurr only felt an exceptionally thick, hard object lash across her chest like a whip. The burning pain made her instinctively furrow her brow.

Before she could react, another equally thick and hard object smashed down from above onto her head.

Thud!!

Critical hit triggered!

Sniper Trait activated!!

Damage increased to 225%!!!

Bug Type move dealt double effective damage!!!!

"Meow!!"

Excruciating pain spread from where the hard object struck her head through her entire body. Espurr felt as if her head were about to explode.

Fortunately, the sensation vanished the next second.

Because she had fainted...

[Ding! Beedrill (10) defeated Espurr (18). Permanent Quest 1 has been completed. The opponent's level has been detected as higher than yours. Congratulations, Host, your reward has been doubled. Points*20 obtained!]

"Beep—Espurr has lost the ability to battle. The winner is the red side, Mr. Mu Yun!"

The System notification and the electronic referee's synthesized voice rang out at the same time.

Espeon's eyes widened slightly in Mu Yun's arms, and her small pink mouth parted. She seemed not to have expected Espurr to be instantly defeated.

Song Xiaomeng on the other side of the field also widened her eyes and opened her mouth.

"Wait, she got one-shot in a single move? Is this Beedrill's damage seriously normal?"