"Go, Coalossal! Tar Shot!"
Sticky tar shot out, enveloping Machamp. Relying solely on its brute force, Machamp was completely unable to dodge the sticky cage. Machamp's speed began to drop, and it became increasingly vulnerable to Fire-type moves.
After being hit by Tar Shot, Machamp wasn't bothered by the pain, but rather the sticky sensation. It twisted its body continuously, trying to shake off the tar, but to no avail.
Roaring flames surged forth as Coalossal's Fire Blast closed in on it. Sensing danger, Machamp immediately stopped struggling and exerted its immense strength through all four arms simultaneously.
The powerful force shattered the flames, yet as the scattered embers struck Machamp's body, intense pain followed immediately.
"Smokescreen, Rock Polish!"
While Machamp adapted to the searing pain of the burns, Gu Yuan ordered Coalossal to act once more. Thick black smoke spread out, obscuring Coalossal from view.
Staring intently into the fog, Machamp did not rush in blindly. Instead, it quietly used Bulk Up to strengthen itself. Inside the smoke, Coalossal wasn't idling either, using Rock Polish to increase its speed.
"Go, Coalossal! Flame Charge, then use Heat Crash!"
Searing flames covered Coalossal, further boosting its speed. Without a second thought, Machamp chose to avoid the brunt of the attack, facing the menacing Coalossal that looked like a literal small mountain.
"Turn left, Heat Crash!"
Controlling its massive body to a swift halt, Coalossal launched its attack again. The influence of Tar Shot lingered, making Machamp's speed inferior to Coalossal's, and it could not evade the Heat Crash.
Machamp exerted its strength, barely managing to withstand Coalossal's assault. However, as Machamp noticed the flames gradually welling up from Coalossal's body, a bad feeling arose in its heart.
In the next second, Coalossal unleashed Incinerate, and the roaring flames instantly swallowed Machamp. Stimulated by the intense pain, Machamp was forced to retreat.
"Coalossal, continuous Fire Blast bombardment!"
Burning star-shaped flames shot out. Machamp, still enveloped by the effects of Incinerate, was unable to dodge and was struck squarely by the Fire Blast.
The effect of Tar Shot ensured that the Fire-type moves were exceptionally effective. Under the continuous bombardment, Machamp's stamina was consumed at an incredible rate.
Furthermore, the burns from the flames made Machamp suffer miserably; even its Guts ability could not allow it to endure the onslaught. Ultimately, with its stamina nearly depleted, Machamp completely lost the ability to battle under the excruciating pain of the burns.
Once the battle ended, Gu Yuan first praised Coalossal, then took out some Burn Heal medicine to treat Machamp. By now, both Hatterene and Coalossal had broken through to the Ace Rank during their battles.
Meanwhile, all the hidden injuries Roaring Moon and Moltres had accumulated while fighting in the spatial rift were fully healed. This warm interaction further deepened the bond between Gu Yuan, Roaring Moon, and Moltres.
It is worth mentioning that as Ash grew older, he displayed a miraculous affinity for Pokémon, establishing friendships with Charizard and the others. Ash even mentioned that once he became a Trainer, he would definitely choose a Charmander to be his partner.
However, Gu Yuan knew that while Ash wouldn't be able to choose a Charmander as his starter, he would eventually own a Pikachu that could be considered a literal "bug" in the system. Sometimes, Gu Yuan couldn't figure out if the "bug" was Ash, the Pikachu, or the combination of the two.
"Alright, Coalossal, that's enough battling for today. Go back and get ready; it's time for us to set out again."
After healing Machamp, Gu Yuan spoke to Coalossal with a smile. Stroking Coalossal's body and feeling the warmth radiating from it, Gu Yuan felt he wouldn't have to worry about the cold in winter ever again.
After recalling Coalossal into its Poké Ball, Gu Yuan prepared to bid farewell to Professor Oak. Entering the laboratory, he saw the Professor analyzing data.
"Leaving already? Time really does fly."
Seeing Gu Yuan, who should have been battling, come over, Professor Oak more or less guessed what was happening.
"Thank you for your help during this time. I would love to stay here, but I have more important things to do."
Gu Yuan was truly grateful to Professor Oak. Putting aside the treatment for Roaring Moon and the others, simply being allowed to battle the Pokémon in the ranch had been immensely beneficial.
The Pokémon in Professor Oak's ranch were comparable to those living in several forests, and their types were diverse, making it far more convenient than Gu Yuan searching for them himself. Gu Yuan also believed that if he wanted them, the Professor's research data would be open to him.
"It's nothing. You're still young, and having your own pursuits is a good thing. I only hope you stay safe."
"Come, I'll go with you to buy some ingredients. Let's have a grand meal tonight as a farewell for you."
Closing his computer, Professor Oak stood up and walked over to Gu Yuan.
"No problem!"
Smiling, he left the laboratory with Professor Oak, bringing Ash and Gary along as well. Although they were still "little guys," they were already over eight years old and would soon become real Trainers and start their journeys.
Similarly, Gu Yuan had been in the Pokémon world for nearly two years. On the way, they ran into Delia out shopping for groceries. To make the dinner even more grand, they naturally needed Aunt Delia's help.
Every time Delia saw Gu Yuan, she felt as if she were seeing Ash as a future Trainer, so she cared for him even more. Aside from Shadow and Elite Agatha, Professor Oak, Delia, Ash, and Gary were the only ones who made him feel warmth in this world.
In the evening, after enjoying a delicious and hearty dinner, Gu Yuan finished telling the stories of his travels, leaving Ash and Gary yearning for adventure. Unfortunately, they were still over a year away from being able to travel, and no amount of impatience would help.
The next morning, to avoid a painful parting, Gu Yuan woke up specifically early, but he didn't expect Delia to be up even earlier. Before he could leave, she arrived with a sleepy-eyed Ash, thoughtfully preparing a bento for him.
Gu Yuan could not repay Delia's kindness, so he could only keep it in his heart. If there was a chance in the future, he would repay it through Ash; the same went for Gary.
After the farewells were over, Gu Yuan released Roaring Moon and hopped onto its back. As Roaring Moon began to accelerate, Gu Yuan once again began to train his psychic powers.