Chapter 229

Chapter 229: Chapter 229

Lairon looked at the tiny Snivy standing in front of him, and a trace of confusion flashed through his eyes.

She was so small!

Wouldn’t one good charge send her flying?

"Lairon, use Iron Head!"

Lairon scraped one forefoot against the ground.

Metallic light spread across his armored head, and a moment later, he lowered his body and charged straight toward Snivy.

"Dodge it, then Vine Whip!"

Snivy sprang lightly into the air, vaulting cleanly over Lairon’s rushing body.

The instant he passed beneath her, two vines shot from around her neck and lashed down across his back with tremendous force.

After being strengthened through the energy of two Leaf Stones and a Miracle Seed, her Vine Whip had become noticeably thicker and more powerful than before.

CRACK!

The vines split the air with a terrifying sound.

Lairon cried out as the blow struck his armored back.

Despite his heavy body, he was forcibly whipped off his feet and sent flying before crashing hard against the ground.

Lairon pushed himself upright again, but two clear welts now ran across his back.

Even the steel armor covering him had been smashed inward where the vines had landed.

Paul’s pupils contracted when he saw the damage.

"That... that was incredible..." Dawn swallowed as she stood nearby with Piplup in her arms. "She sent Lairon flying with nothing but Vine Whip..."

Even Brock, who was serving as referee, stared for a moment longer than usual.

Clearly, he hadn’t expected anything close to that result either.

Snivy didn’t immediately follow up.

Instead, she turned toward Paul and gave him a gentle smile.

Paul showed no visible reaction. Remaining completely composed, he issued his next command.

"Lairon, Stealth Rock."

Chunks of stone appeared around Lairon’s body before being hurled into the space surrounding Snivy.

The jagged rocks vanished from sight as soon as they settled into position.

"Come back."

Paul recalled Lairon and immediately threw another Poké Ball.

Red light burst across the clearing, revealing a crimson Pokémon whose body radiated heat.

Magmar.

"Use Flamethrower!"

Magmar opened their mouth, unleashing a scorching torrent of fire directly toward Snivy.

"Snivy, spin your Vine Whips."

At Mike’s command, she extended both vines and began turning gracefully in place.

The vines accelerated with every rotation until they became a rapidly spinning barrier.

A miniature vortex formed around her body, meeting Flamethrower head-on and tearing the stream of fire apart before it could reach her.

At the same time, the spinning vines swept through the entire area around her.

One hidden Stealth Rock after another was struck and shattered.

Within moments, Paul’s entry hazard had been completely cleared from the battlefield.

"She blocked it..."

Ash stood beside Dawn with Pikachu in his arms, mouth hanging slightly open.

Watching the unusual defense, Ash suddenly felt as though something had clicked inside his head.

Mike, meanwhile, was extremely satisfied when he saw Flamethrower dispersed before it could even get close to Snivy.

’Ash’s Counter Shield is so damn useful.’

The only thing Mike didn’t know was whether Ash had already invented the technique at this point in his journey.

Mike remembered it very clearly.

Ash had used Counter Shield numerous times during his battles against Paul, and Paul had eventually incorporated the same concept into his own battle strategy when the two fought at the Lily of the Valley Conference.

"Use Clear Smog!"

Magmar opened their mouth again.

This time, thick purple smoke poured out and began spreading across the battlefield toward Snivy.

"Leaf Storm! Blow it back!"

A violent storm of green leaves erupted around Big Sis Snivy and surged directly toward the advancing cloud.

The instant Leaf Storm collided with Clear Smog, the swirling current pulled the poisonous smoke into itself.

Instead of merely dispersing the cloud, the storm carried the smoke along with it and sent the entire mixture roaring back toward Magmar.

"Flamethrower!"

Magmar opened their mouth, and Fire-type energy had only just begun gathering when a Vine Whip suddenly shot out from inside the approaching Leaf Storm and wrapped tightly around their neck.

The external force disrupted the forming attack.

Instead of flames, Magmar coughed out a puff of black smoke.

Then Leaf Storm crashed into them, carrying the trapped Clear Smog along with it.

Because Snivy’s vine still held Magmar firmly by the neck, the force of the attack couldn’t even knock them away.

When the swirling leaves and smoke finally dispersed, Magmar’s entire body was covered in injuries.

A faint purple tint had also appeared across their face, and they looked visibly weakened as they stared toward the little Snivy standing in front of Mike, one vine still wrapped around their neck.

Snivy gave Magmar another gentle smile.

At the same time, the aura surrounding her continued to rise.

"Swing Magmar up, then use Leaf Storm again!"

Snivy pulled hard.

Magmar’s feet were ripped from the ground.

She swung the larger Pokémon upward, released her Vine Whip, and immediately followed with another Leaf Storm.

BOOM!

The attack struck Magmar in midair.

When the smoke cleared, Brock carefully examined the battlefield before raising his flag.

"Magmar is unable to battle! Snivy wins!"

Yet Snivy’s momentum still hadn’t faded.

She looked across the field toward Paul and flicked her tongue between her lips.

Apparently, the battle had gotten her blood going, and she clearly wanted to keep fighting.

Paul recalled Magmar without comment and threw another Poké Ball.

A grayish-purple Pokémon with long, sharp claws appeared on the battlefield.

Weavile.

Snivy was already preparing to continue, but Mike called her back.

"You’ve done enough, Snivy. Leave the rest to Glameow."

Snivy turned and looked toward Glameow beside Mike’s feet.

Glameow was still visibly annoyed by Paul’s earlier words.

Snivy smiled knowingly, nodded, then used her vines to swing herself back into the tree.

Once she settled onto the branch again, her little legs resumed their gentle swinging.

"Glameow, I’m counting on you."

Mike’s voice was soft.

Glameow walked gracefully onto the battlefield and hissed toward Weavile.

Weavile sharpened their claws against each other, looking at the smaller Pokémon with obvious contempt.

"Weavile, Swords Dance!"

Light gathered around Weavile’s claws, extending them as the Pokémon began performing the strengthening battle dance.

"Quick Attack!"

"Meow!"

Glameow vanished from where she stood.

Before Weavile could even finish dancing, Glameow appeared directly in front of them and slammed headfirst into their body.

Weavile was violently knocked backward.

Mike’s mouth twitched when he saw Glameow use her skull like a battering ram and hit Weavile hard enough to visibly knock the Pokémon’s jaw sideways.

’Never underestimate what happens when something with the momentum of a surprisingly heavy compact car crashes into you...’

"Stay on them! Iron Tail!"

Glameow’s four legs moved rapidly across the ground as she chased after the still-airborne Weavile.

Her spring-shaped tail hardened with metallic energy.

She twisted her body and brought the steel-coated tail down viciously across Weavile’s head, smashing them out of the air and straight into the ground.

"Thunderbolt!"

Using the recoil from her own strike, Glameow sprang high into the air.

Yellow electricity erupted around her body before crashing down toward Weavile.

BOOM!

Smoke flooded the battlefield.

Brock widened his eyes and watched carefully, refusing to announce anything until he had confirmed Weavile’s condition.

When the smoke finally thinned enough for him to see the Pokémon lying completely motionless on the ground, he raised his flag.

"Weavile is unable to battle! Glameow wins!"

The moment Brock finished speaking, Glameow landed lightly on all four paws.

She calmly raised one paw and licked it.

Her expression remained utterly serene, as though the brutal combination she had just delivered had been nothing worth mentioning.

Ash stared in disbelief.

That same Weavile had defeated his Gligar not long ago!

"Mr. Mike is incredible..."

Mike watched Paul recall Weavile and found himself wondering whether Paul had only caught this particular Pokémon recently.

Compared with Magmar, Weavile’s reactions had been noticeably slower, and Paul’s coordination with them seemed less polished.

At the same time, another thought crossed Mike’s mind.

’Should I ease up on him a little?’

If this continued, Mike was genuinely worried Paul’s confidence might get completely shattered.

Paul recalled Weavile, closed his eyes, and slowly drew in a deep breath.

’So this is how a truly strong Trainer fights...’

He had only let his attention slip for an instant.

That tiny opening had been enough for Mike to seize control and launch a relentless offensive before Paul could recover.

When Paul opened his eyes again, he looked toward Glameow.

She was still standing on the battlefield, calmly licking one paw while staring directly back at him.

Something different appeared in Paul’s gaze.

"Glameow, good work."

Mike called to her.

Glameow lowered her paw, stood, and gracefully leaped into the nearby tree.

She settled beside Snivy, and the two watched the rest of the battle together.

Paul took out his third Poké Ball.

His expression had become completely focused.

"Get ready. Torterra."

Red light flashed.

A massive figure appeared before everyone.

The enormous Torterra, carrying a great tree upon his shell, planted himself firmly on the battlefield and released a deep roar toward Mike.

Mike smiled when he saw him.

This was Paul’s first Pokémon.

Mike also remembered that this same Torterra would later help Ash’s Grotle—who would eventually become Torterra—understand how to adapt his battle style after gaining so much weight and losing much of his former speed.

Unfortunately, Ash had never been particularly well suited to commanding a slow, heavily defensive Torterra.

Mike pushed that thought aside and snapped his fingers.

"Beedrill, I’m counting on you."

Beedrill’s wings buzzed as he flew in front of Mike.

He raised both lance-like stingers and aimed them directly toward Torterra.

A strange chill passed across Torterra’s neck.

Almost instinctively, the massive Pokémon pulled his head slightly closer toward the protection of his shell.

"Torterra, Giga Drain!"

"X-Scissor."

Vines erupted from Torterra’s body and raced toward Beedrill.

Beedrill slipped between them with remarkable agility, flew directly above Torterra, crossed his twin lances, and slashed viciously across the enormous shell.

Torterra’s hind legs buckled.

His entire body swayed from the impact.

"Fury Cutter!"

One of Beedrill’s lances came down again, carving another wound across Torterra’s back.

"Frenzy Plant!"

Torterra roared angrily.

Several enormous roots burst from underground and whipped violently toward Beedrill.

Beedrill immediately began retreating through the air.

His twin lances moved with both speed and precision, repeatedly cutting apart every thick root that approached him.

Mike instinctively gripped the amulet around his neck.

His fingers nearly pulled it free.

Then he stopped.

’Forget it.’

If he used Mega Evolution here, he would be bullying the kid.

Unfortunately, Mike’s brief hesitation gave Paul exactly the opening he needed.

Paul recalled Torterra.

Then another Poké Ball flew onto the battlefield.

A large brown Pokémon appeared in his place.

"ROAR!"

Ursaring raised both arms and bellowed toward the sky.

Mike knew that Paul’s Ursaring was extremely strong.

It was a shame that Paul wouldn’t end up using this particular Pokémon during his eventual League battle against Ash.