Chapter 573: Blaziken Strikes Back — Blaze Kick Breaks Through

"Awooo...!"

Arcanine let out a weak howl as its massive body crashed onto the battlefield.

Spirals filled its eyes.

It was unable to battle.

Braveon had claimed the first knockout of the match, taking down one of Blaze's strongest Pokémon.

"Arcanine is unable to battle!"

The referee raised his flag.

"Blaze, send out your next Pokémon!"

"Come back, Arcanine."

Blaze recovered quickly, recalled his partner, and reached for another Poké Ball.

Then he looked across the field at Braveon.

"Don't get cocky."

"You got lucky with the matchup."

"Extreme Speed couldn't touch a Ghost-type."

Arcanine's strongest combinations relied heavily on Extreme Speed, so opening against Aegislash had put Blaze at an immediate disadvantage.

If he had known what Braveon was planning, he never would have led with Arcanine.

Braveon grinned.

"Or maybe I knew you'd lead with Arcanine."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Maybe that's exactly why I chose Aegislash."

"You..."

Blaze stared at him.

"Bullshit!"

"What, you can see the future now?"

Braveon only grinned and said nothing.

Blaze clicked his tongue.

"Fine."

"This one's mine."

He hurled his Poké Ball onto the field.

"Blaziken, you're up!"

A flash of light burst across the battlefield.

A tall, bipedal Pokémon covered in fiery red plumage emerged from the light.

Blaziken.

The Fire/Fighting-type Pokémon.

"Blazi-ken!"

Flames flared from its wrists as it landed, clearly eager to fight.

Back in the preparation area, Aaron immediately pulled up its status panel.

[Name: Blaziken]

[Gender: Male]

[Nature: Adamant]

[Type: Fire/Fighting]

[Ability: Speed Boost — Raises Blaziken's Speed by one stage at the end of each turn.]

[Base Stats Total: 530]

[Level: Gym (Late Stage)]

[Potential: Champion]

[Known Moves: High Jump Kick (Perfect), Fire Punch (Perfect), Flare Blitz (Perfect), Blaze Kick (Perfect), Quick Attack (Master), Aerial Ace (Master), Swords Dance (Master), Iron Defense (Master), Brave Bird (Master), Slash (Master), Focus Energy (Master), Flame Charge (Master), Sand Attack (Proficient), Brick Break (Proficient), Agility (Proficient), Double Team, Protect, Flamethrower...]

[Description: Blaziken, the Blaze Pokémon and the evolved form of Combusken. It is overflowing with fighting spirit and has a habit of kicking at almost anything that challenges it—even a Poochyena.]

...

At least this Blaziken's Ability was relatively normal.

For once, Aaron was looking at a Pokémon that hadn't developed some ridiculous custom Ability or bizarre mutation.

Ever since arriving at Crown University and seeing the teams raised by real prodigies, it felt like every other Pokémon had some special trait that pushed it far beyond the norm.

He still wasn't completely used to it.

Then Aaron remembered his own team.

...

Right.

His Pokémon were probably the worst offenders of all.

...

Back on the battlefield, Aegislash and Blaziken faced each other.

"Blaziken, Flame Charge!"

Blaze attacked first.

"Blazi!"

Flames erupted around Blaziken's body.

It kicked off the ground and charged straight at Aegislash.

"Aegislash, King's Shield!"

Braveon answered immediately.

Aegislash's greatest strength was its ability to shift freely between offense and defense.

King's Shield made that flexibility even harder to punish.

With +4 priority, Aegislash could bring its defense up almost instantly.

"Aegis!"

Aegislash shifted into Shield Forme.

A pale-blue hexagonal barrier snapped into place in front of it.

KRAAANG!

Blaziken's Flame Charge slammed into the barrier.

Fire burst outward across its surface.

But the shield held.

Blaziken failed to break through.

"Aegislash, Blade Forme!"

Braveon countered immediately.

"Shadow Claw!"

"Aegis!"

Aegislash switched forms.

Shadowy, claw-shaped energy wrapped around its blade as it slashed toward Blaziken.

Blaze smirked.

"You really think you can hide behind that shield all day?"

"You're not the only one who can block!"

"Blaziken, Protect!"

"Blazi!"

A transparent barrier snapped into place around Blaziken.

KRAAANG!

Aegislash's Shadow Claw crashed into Protect.

Dark energy scattered across the barrier, but the defense held firm.

Blaze seized the opening.

"Now!"

"Blaziken, Blaze Kick!"

"BLAZI-KEN!"

Flames erupted around Blaziken's powerful right leg.

It pivoted on one foot and whipped the burning limb toward Aegislash.

Braveon reacted immediately.

"Aegislash, King's Shield!"

But Blaziken was already too fast.

Speed Boost had activated twice, raising its Speed to +2.

Aegislash had barely begun shifting back toward Shield Forme when Blaziken was already in front of it.

KRAKOOM!

Blaze Kick struck Aegislash head-on.

Still in Blade Forme, it took the full force of the flaming kick.

"Aegis—!"

Aegislash was blasted across the battlefield.