Vigoroth pressed his advantage, swinging on a branch with his long arms and raising a claw to take a swipe at Chimchar's face too.
With the immediate danger over, Ye Qing said calmly, "Quick Guard!"
Chimchar immediately stood up at the command, crossing his arms over his head as a small, transparent shield formed in front of him.
Clang!
Vigoroth's claw failed to break through the defense, and Chimchar blasted him in the abdomen with a Fire Punch in return!
The flames scorched the fur on Vigoroth's abdomen. Fighting back the urge to retch, he punched Chimchar away again.
Thud.
Chimchar fell straight to the ground, the tremendous momentum sending him rolling all the way to Ye Qing's side.
"Run!"
That was the only thought in Ye Qing's mind. He scooped Chimchar up, pulled a Repel spray from his pocket, and sprayed wildly behind him.
The spray's range was limited, however. Though it posed little threat to Vigoroth as he leaped nimbly through the forest, it still bought Ye Qing and Chimchar some precious time.
Smelling the pungent gas in the air, Vigoroth sneezed several times in succession as he continued the chase.
Faced with this situation, another Pokémon might already have given up the pursuit.
But Vigoroth lived up to his name. Once enraged, he entered a state of mindless fury. Never mind Repel spray-he would dare jump into a sea of fire or a mountain of blades!
Sneezing as he swung from branch to branch, Vigoroth stayed right on Ye Qing's heels.
Accidentally kicking a Caterpie away, Ye Qing tossed aside the empty spray and kept fleeing with Chimchar in his arms. According to the route map, a large river lay ahead. As long as he jumped into it, he would be safe for the time being.
"Dugtrio!"