Showing What He Could Do

Sure enough, a Multitype Pokémon was far more powerful than one with a single type.

That showed just how bright Shiny Cubone's future was.

Perfect Evasion.

Shiny Cubone had been through countless battles. Dodging these attacks was easy for it.

Its Battle Armor Ability activated too. Small stones began gathering on its body, gradually raising its defense.

But the opponent's Haze was no ordinary move. It kept spreading.

Once the Haze enveloped Shiny Cubone, lightning would strike it repeatedly inside, with a chance of causing Paralysis.

That would interrupt its Perfect Evasion and Battle Armor.

Watching the Haze spread, Liu Xin shouted, "Spin your bone and blow that Haze away!"

Shiny Cubone sprang into action, whirling the bone club in its hand like a little windmill.

A gust began to swirl. But would it really be that easy?

Yuta smiled faintly. "Trying to blow away my Haze?"

"Houndoom, walker of the underworld, use Inferno! Burn their souls!"

Inferno!

Flames spread through the Haze.

Their power surged as they closed in on Shiny Cubone from every direction.

The once-bright red flames turned pitch-black. They looked impressive.

Perfect Evasion.

But it was too late.

Inferno had engulfed the entire area. Where could it dodge?

Liu Xin made a snap decision. "Use Endure!"

"Take all of it!"

With its fire resistance and the defensive boost from Endure, Shiny Cubone could definitely hold out.

Even if defense was not its strong suit.

"Got you! Burn it to ashes!"

"Let it perish in the Inferno."

Shiny Cubone curled up like a stone, bracing itself against the endless flames.

Inferno was no ordinary fire, but Shiny Cubone's resistance to Fire-type attacks still negated most of it.

That let it push Endure to its limit. Chips of stone gathered over the bone club, raising its defense and physical attack.

"Hahaha! It's beaten, isn't it?"

"Just to be sure, Houndoom, finish it with Bite!"

Houndoom bared its fangs, every bit a vicious hound.

Its eyes were full of disdain, as if answering the taunt from the start of the battle.

It closed in step by step. Even with its jaws nearly upon Shiny Cubone, its target did not move.

Even Ito Hei grew anxious. "Liu Xin, is your Shiny Cubone done for?"

"Get it treated, quick. Houndoom's Inferno is terrifying, and it keeps hurting Pokémon."

"If Bite lands too, its life could be in danger."

Flames that kept burning?

As it happened, Liu Xin had those too.

And his ever-burning flames were more terrifying than Houndoom's so-called Inferno.

A smile tugged at Liu Xin's lips. Just as Houndoom's jaws were about to close around Shiny Cubone, he roared, "Now! Knock Off!"

Shiny Cubone, motionless until then, suddenly struck.

Stone chips had completely coated the bone club gripped in its hand, pushing its physical attack past 250. This blow was going to hurt.

Ding! Shiny Cubone attacked Houndoom. It's super effective.

Houndoom was sent flying, drool streaming from its mouth. It rolled several times before coming to a stop.

Shiny Cubone, on the other hand, had only a few scorched patches. It was not badly hurt.

Ito Hei and Yuta were speechless. How tough was its hide?

Was this Shiny Cubone made of iron?

Any Pokémon burned by Inferno would suffer terribly, unless the level difference was enormous.

But Shiny Cubone was lower-level than Houndoom.

What on earth was going on?

"Houndoom..."

Houndoom cried out groggily. That blow had left it so dazed it could barely tell which way was up.

If it had been a Fighting-type Pokémon, it could have performed a whole drunken boxing routine with those steps.

"Houndoom, snap out of it!"

"Why is it still dizzy? It won't listen at all."

Yuta was starting to panic.

Liu Xin scoffed, then said calmly, "Finish it."

"Send it home with a spectacular Boomerang."

Shiny Cubone struck the ground with its bone club once more, proclaiming its victory.

In that state, Houndoom had no way to resist. A single Boomerang knocked it out.

Ding! Shiny Cubone defeated Houndoom and gained a large amount of experience. Points +

Gaining another level was still difficult. It needed quite a bit of experience.

That was mainly because it was close to evolving, which raised the experience requirement even further.

Yuta stared at his unconscious Houndoom, clearly unhappy.

But Houndoom was his strongest Pokémon and the one he took the most pride in. Sending out another would only embarrass him.

All he could do was grumble, "You're good. I admit it."

"You can join our expedition."

Ito Hei was a little excited. "Yuta is one of the strongest in the group, and you beat him! That's amazing!"

"I just wonder when my Ponyta will evolve."

Liu Xin took a look. It was nearly at the level for evolution, so he smiled. "Soon. Just keep at it."

"Let's follow the main group to that special area first. Don't get lost."

"Come back."

Shiny Cubone returned to its Poké Ball. Ito Hei followed Liu Xin and the rest of the group deeper into Viridian Forest.

Deep within Viridian Forest.

Many parts of Viridian Forest remained unexplored, but novice trainers usually stayed near the outskirts to complete their trials.

Only trainers with some ability ventured into its depths.

Just as they were doing now.

Hot. The heat was stifling beyond words.

It was not just the air around them. They felt as though they were burning from within.

"Golduck, cool these youngsters down."

"Any trainers who can't take the heat should turn back now. The core area will be even hotter."

As soon as the leader's Golduck appeared, it used a series of Water-type moves to cool the group.

But the relief was brief. The water soon evaporated.

Anyone who wanted to keep going would need real resolve and grit.

Ito Hei said excitedly, "Ponyta looks so eager! I've decided to keep going!"

"No matter what happens, I'm taking it all the way."

Liu Xin looked at the Poké Balls in his hand and let both his Pokémon out.

Strangely, Mutant Phanpy was not giving off heat here. If anything, it seemed to be enjoying itself.

"Phanpy~"

Watching Mutant Phanpy bask in the heat, Liu Xin shook his head helplessly. "This place really is perfect for Fire-type Pokémon. I hope they evolve without a hitch."

Shiny Cubone had fire resistance, so it would be fine.