Street Racing? Smooth Drifting? (Triple-Length Chapter!)

They went to the Pokémon Center to treat the three heroes' injuries.

Chansey and Mawile had barely been hurt. Swellow and Crustle had never touched Chansey, while Mawile's battle with Tauros had taken an inspired turn when she became a bullfighter and brought her strength to bear.

When asked how she had thought to climb onto Tauros's back, Mawile said it had come to her in a flash. She had only wanted to jump up there and pound its head.

In her usual battles with Aggron, she spent all day climbing onto his back. She did the same with Steelix.

It was just a habit.

Who could have guessed Tauros's back was its blind spot? If it had been Aggron or Steelix, they would have flung her off long ago.

It had been a lucky accident, but it also gave Mawile an idea for attacking large Pokémon.

She committed everything she had learned from fighting Tauros to memory.

Aggron was the only one who needed treatment. More obvious than his fatigue were the many cuts Zangoose's claws had left across the metal armor on his chest and belly.

They were half a finger wide and fairly deep. Crisscrossing one another, they looked rather vicious.

They also showed just how strong Zangoose was.

Unfortunately, Zangoose probably had not expected Aggron to take so much punishment. He had not even used the boost to his attack, choosing Metal Burst as a countermeasure instead, before finishing the match with Superpower.

Truthfully, Aggron had shown mercy. If Double-Claw Cannon Hammer had struck Zangoose directly, it would have needed at least three or four days to recover. Instead, he had only let the move's energy hit it, so it would be back on its feet after a short rest.

Such was the Big Monster's mercy.