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Cyndaquil's Flamethrower was something it had learned through the TM that Liam had given Delia. Although it hadn't been long since it mastered the move, its power was already quite impressive.
The flames sprayed out in a continuous stream, radiating scorching heat as they rushed toward the Aipom ahead.
"It's over…"
Liam, standing in the hot spring, looked at the clothes and luggage wrapped around Aipom's tail that were about to be reduced to ashes, and his face twisted into a sorrowful expression…
But what happened next surprised Liam. He had thought that the wild Aipom before him would be helpless when faced with such a sudden attack. Instead, just as the flames were about to engulf it, Aipom reacted with its trademark mischievous grin.
"Habu~!" (Note: Aipom kinda sounds like this in the anime. Should I continue to use this or should I just use something like 'Aipom' instead in its speech.)
Not far from the shore, Aipom suddenly laughed out loud. Its eyes showed not a hint of fear as it stared at the incoming Flamethrower. A pink psychic glow suddenly enveloped its purple body, and in the blink of an eye, its figure vanished just before the flames reached it!
"Cynda?!"
Its opponent had suddenly disappeared. Cyndaquil's Flamethrower burst into empty air, and it quickly stopped the stream of fire. Looking confused at the vacant space before it, several large question marks might as well have appeared above its head.
"Huga~!"
Just as Cyndaquil stood there puzzled, Aipom reappeared behind it, grinning mischievously as it rammed into its back. Cyndaquil was knocked into a ball-like shape, rolling all the way to Delia's side before stopping at her feet.
"Hehe~ Huga~!"
Having successfully ambushed Cyndaquil, Aipom looked smug and proud, still clutching the clothes and luggage with its tail as it danced a little victory jig.
"Cynda!"
Cyndaquil, which had only stopped rolling because it had bumped into Delia's foot, flipped over onto its back, paws flailing in the air. Hearing Aipom's mocking laughter, its face twisted in anger. It quickly righted itself, landing on all fours, its back flaring up with furious flames. The little one was truly angry now.
"Tsk, this Aipom seems to be a high level one—it's already learned Agility! Delia! Be careful, don't let your guard down!"
Aipom's display of skill had been beyond Liam's expectations. Its strength was surprisingly good. Worried Delia might underestimate it and take a loss, Liam hurriedly reminded her.
"Mm! I got it. Cyndaquil, you heard him too, right? This opponent is strong! But we're not weak either. Now it's time to show our true strength! Today we're definitely catching this mischievous guy! Go, Cyndaquil! Use Quick Attack!"
Nodding to Liam, Delia immediately gave her command with a serious expression.
"Cyn~da!"
Having already built up its energy, Cyndaquil sprinted out the moment it heard the command. Using both paws and feet, it dashed forward, its body cloaked in a streak of white light.
"Hao~"
The Aipom, who had still been dancing gleefully, instantly reacted when it saw the attack coming. Laughing as it moved, it nimbly jumped aside, dodging the straight-line charge.
"Don't stop, Cyndaquil! Keep using Quick Attack in succession!"
As Aipom dodged, Delia's firm voice rang out again. Cyndaquil, whose speed hadn't diminished, immediately turned sharply and charged once more.
"Habu~!"
"Cynda!"
"Habu~!"
"Cynda!"
In just a few blinks, Cyndaquil and Aipom had crossed paths several times. Each time Cyndaquil was about to collide, Aipom twisted its body in unexpected ways, narrowly dodging while keeping that relaxed and cheeky grin.
But…
"Cynda!"
Cyndaquil's relentless pursuit finally paid off.
When Cyndaquil once again closed in with Quick Attack, Aipom—confident it could dodge—suddenly slipped. The constant shaking had caused the luggage and clothes wrapped around its tail to start slipping.
Without noticing, Aipom's foot landed on a fallen piece of clothing. Losing traction for an instant, its movement faltered. Although it quickly tried to regain balance, Cyndaquil smashed into it head-on!
With a cry of pain, Aipom was sent flying. The luggage and clothes scattered everywhere as it crashed to the ground.
"Yes! Nicely done! Now it's my turn! Go, PokeBall!"
Seeing Cyndaquil's attack succeed, Delia shouted in delight. Without hesitation, she grabbed a fallen empty PokeBall and threw it swiftly and precisely at the fallen Aipom.
But…
Just as the PokeBall flew toward it, Aipom's eyes snapped open. With a whip of its long tail, it batted the ball aside with ease.
"What! You still dare resist?! Hmph! Then take another ball!"
Unhappy at seeing her PokeBall deflected, Delia pouted, unwilling to give in. She quickly scooped up more empty PokeBalls from the ground, hurling them one after another at Aipom!
"Huga!"
Aipom refused to back down. Leaping to its feet, it swung its tail like a flyswatter, swatting every single PokeBall away with remarkable accuracy.
"Ugh, so annoying! Just get in already!"
Frustrated, Delia became so flustered she didn't even notice that the ball she had just picked up wasn't an ordinary empty PokeBall. Putting all her strength into it, she threw it as hard as she could.
"Habu~"
Perhaps because it had already gotten used to smacking them away, Aipom wasn't alarmed. Wearing its mischievous grin, it spun and whipped its tail once more, fully intent on batting this one back like the others.
But—
Pa!
"Huga?"
The instant Aipom's tail struck the PokeBall, the usual scene of the ball being knocked away didn't happen. Instead, with a crisp snap, the ball popped open, sucking the bewildered Aipom inside.
Doo… doo… doo… ding!
"…Yes! Success! I caught Aipom!"
"Cynda~ Cynda~"
The sudden success left Delia stunned for a moment. After a few seconds, her dazed expression gave way to realization. She leapt three feet high in excitement, running to scoop up the ball with a bright, triumphant smile.
Liam: "…Delia, that ball you threw… was that the Love Ball Mr. Kurt gave you?"
By now Liam had stepped out of the hot spring. Seeing the pink PokeBall with a heart design in Delia's hand, the corner of his mouth twitched as he asked.