Was I Actually Really Strong?

The King Engine.

This wasn't something that belonged in the Pokémon world. It was the signature technique of King, "the strongest hero on Earth," from the manga One-Punch Man.

Of course, whether they'd read the manga or not, everyone knew-

The technique didn't actually exist. King was just an ordinary man whose heart pounded excessively loudly when he got nervous, and everyone's wild overinterpretations had turned it into a fictional signature move.

That was very similar to the impression Eevee was giving off, so Qingyu immediately connected the two.

Of course, they weren't entirely alike. Eevee couldn't summon a terrifying bald man at a critical moment, which made the current situation rather awkward.

If he had to compare it to something, it was also a little like the Ability Pressure.

Pressure was a very interesting Ability. Almost exclusively possessed by Legendary Pokémon, this prestigious Ability reflected their overwhelming superiority over ordinary Pokémon.

And yet, its actual effect was almost negligible...

Although it had briefly intimidated Pawmi, who held the initiative, and left the little Pokémon uncertain whether to keep attacking, they couldn't stare each other down forever. Sooner or later, the bluff would fall apart.

But precisely because of that, Qingyu decided not to give Eevee any more commands.

Eevee was already nervous to the limit. More instructions from him might genuinely push that pressure over the edge.

Whether Eevee could overcome this flaw in its personality would determine the course of the battle.

So he needed to support it as best he could.

"Pawmi, be brave! Charge in again!"

Soon after Qingyu, Nemona also recovered and continued giving assertive commands.

"Paw!"

Hearing its Trainer's voice visibly reassured Pawmi.

It shook its head, readied its hind legs, and focused its gaze on Eevee again.

But just then, Eevee moved first.

Still leaning forward, it subtly raised its forelegs, casually making a small movement that wasn't hard to spot with the naked eye.

Qingyu's eyes flew wide, then immediately returned to normal.

Eevee's forward lean had thrown its center of gravity off balance. An observant opponent should notice immediately.

If Pawmi used Quick Attack now, Eevee would have no way to dodge.

Nemona was a little baffled, too.

Why did this Eevee look so unsteady, as though it could lose its balance at any moment?

Would a Pokémon raised by a Gym Leader really make such an obvious mistake in battle?

Thump, thump-thump-thump-thump!

The frenzied marching drums grew faster and fiercer, proclaiming the opponent's superb condition.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Nemona quickly rejected her initial impression.

True, she was a rookie Trainer with little more than boundless enthusiasm, but she wasn't completely inexperienced in battle.

She was certain this was a deliberate invitation for Pawmi to approach Eevee.

"Before you set off on your journey, I want to make sure you and your Pokémon are on the same page."

Nemona suddenly remembered what Qingyu had said before the battle.

She hadn't understood at first. But when she noticed that Qingyu had stopped giving commands entirely and left every decision to Eevee, it suddenly all clicked.

Was he reminding me not to give commands blindly, but to pay attention to what Pawmi wanted?

And Pawmi clearly didn't want to get any closer to its opponent...

I get it. I understand everything now!

So this was how Mr. Qingyu was testing me!

Nemona smiled confidently, placing one hand on her hip as she pointed at Eevee.

"Pawmi, use Thunder Shock!"

Her Pawmi had the Ability Iron Fist, which made it better suited to close combat, but what Electric-type Pokémon didn't know a few Special Attack moves?

The two Pokémon weren't very far apart, so Eevee reacted the instant faint electrical crackles began coming from Pawmi's cheeks.

A bolt of lightning shot from the electric sacs on Pawmi's face, but Eevee leaped first with practically zero startup time and nimbly dodged it.

Watching this, Qingyu instantly understood.

According to the Pokédex, the Ability Anticipation had the following effect:

It could sense dangerous moves possessed by an opponent.

Was it so afraid of getting hurt that every move seemed lethal to it...?

Why did everything about his Eevee feel illegal?

If it weren't so timid, he would have wondered whether he'd actually turned on cheats.

With its attention intensely focused, its reaction just now had been faster than lightning. That was downright absurd.

If he could develop it properly, Anticipation might turn out to be terrifyingly powerful!

Still, what mattered more right now was winning this battle and helping Eevee build some initial confidence in fighting.

"Eevee, Confuse Ray!"

Seizing the opening after the opponent's attack, Qingyu finally gave a command before Eevee landed.

Eevee hadn't even had time to breathe a sigh of relief after dodging when it heard Qingyu's voice and moved almost instinctively.

An eerie light quickly flickered across its tail. With a sharp swing in midair, it sent the light straight toward Pawmi.

Pawmi couldn't react in time. The instant Confuse Ray entered its body, its head grew fuzzy, and everything around it seemed to spin.

Confuse Ray took effect, immediately leaving Pawmi in Confusion.

"Pawmi, hang in there!" Nemona's slightly panicked voice rang out again. "Use Thunder Shock again!"

Hearing its Trainer's voice, Pawmi instinctively began gathering energy.

But...

Thump-thump, thump-thump-thump-thump!

The ceaseless heartbeat abruptly reached its peak. Under that suffocating pressure, spirals soon formed in Pawmi's eyes.

Its movements suffered as well, and it began discharging electrical energy in every direction without any sense of aim.

As a result, it soon used up almost all its stamina without once hitting Eevee, who stood motionless on the other side.

"Vee?"

Noticing that something seemed a little off about its opponent's mental state, Eevee let out a puzzled cry.

"Encore!"

Taking advantage of Pawmi's confusion, Qingyu decided to press the advantage.

As another burst of energy entered Pawmi's body, it began releasing electricity uncontrollably again.

If used properly in an actual battle, the two moves Eevee had learned through special training produced results that went far beyond a simple one plus one being greater than two.

What Qingyu hadn't expected was that Eevee's "King Engine" would further intensify Pawmi's confusion.

It was especially devastating against weaker Pokémon.

"Stop, Pawmi!"

Nemona tried to talk Pawmi back to its senses, but it had no effect at all.

After repeatedly releasing electricity, Pawmi completely emptied the electric sacs it used to store power. With no stamina left, it soon collapsed limply to the ground.

In that condition, there was no hope of it getting back up to fight.

"Pawmi is unable to battle."

Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief and promptly announced the verdict.

"With the challenger's Pokémon defeated, the victory goes to the Sunshine Gym."

"Vee?"

Only then did Eevee, still wound tight and terrified that its opponent might fire off another Thunder Shock at any moment, realize what had happened.

I think I won?

And it was a flawless victory? I didn't get hurt, and I exhausted my opponent with just two moves?

Was I actually really strong?

The corners of Eevee's mouth curled upward involuntarily. It lifted its little round head high and turned toward Qingyu, its eyes brimming with pride.

Heh heh, battling wasn't so hard after all!