Chapter 55: Houndoom vs. Gyarados! The God-Tier Skill, "Stand Up!"!
This Houndoom's level wasn't low, and its potential had already reached the Gym Leader-level. With proper training and a few lucky breaks, it might even have a chance to break through to the Elite Four-level one day.
It was just unlucky. A Fire/Dark-type Houndoom, running straight into his Gyarados.
Gyarados (4-Star)
Sex: Female
Level: LV.33
Type: Water/Flying
Base Stats: 720 (HP: 130, Attack: 170, Defense: 100, Sp. Atk: 80, Sp. Def: 130, Speed: 110)
Abilities: Intimidate, Pressure
Moves: Aqua Tail, Dragon Dance, Waterfall, Ice Fang, Scary Face, Crunch, Protect, Iron Tail, Dragon Rage, Twister
Potential: S+
In terms of moves, Gyarados hadn't changed much. Its level, however, had leaped from LV.25 during the last competition all the way to LV.33.
A full 8-level increase!!
"ROOOOAR!!!—"
Gyarados unleashed a terrifying roar, triggering both its Pressure and Intimidate abilities simultaneously.
The terrifying spiritual pressure crashed down like a tsunami, rushing toward the Houndoom and swallowing it whole.
Whether in daily training or actual combat, Kenji had deliberately trained his Gyarados to control this overwhelming pressure.
When the Intimidate and Pressure abilities were present on the same Pokémon, the resulting effect was a case of one plus one equaling far more than two.
And after this systematic training, Gyarados's mastery over its aura had improved dramatically.
If it focused its full pressure on an opponent, it was enough to terrify any Pokémon under level 25 into losing its will to fight.
Even Pokémon above level 25 would be constantly harassed by Gyarados's pressure, affecting both the power of their moves and their execution speed.
Of course, he could also have Gyarados apply that pressure directly to the opposing trainer, which would effectively disrupt their thought process.
It was just a bit of a dirty trick, so Kenji had never actually ordered Gyarados to do it.
"GAAAA!!!—"
Houndoom let out a sharp, low growl, its fur standing on end. A closer look revealed a trace of fear in its eyes.
"Houndoom!"
Yuki cried out.
As Yuki's voice rang out, a red light suddenly flashed across the startled Houndoom's eyes. The fear was instantly shattered, replaced by a bloodthirsty ferocity and a maddening will to fight.
This unnatural turn of events, of course, did not escape Kenji's notice. His expression flickered with surprise.
He understood instantly. This must be Yuki's "special ability."
After all, it was his own "special ability" that had made Metropolis Academy willing to offer a pseudo-legendary—a massive chip—to recruit him.
Since Yuki was receiving the same treatment, he was clearly no ordinary person either.
But while he'd guessed that Houndoom's strange change was due to Yuki's special ability, he had no idea what that ability actually was.
Could it be... Purification?
While Kenji was still pondering, Yuki issued the first command.
"Houndoom! Use Dark Pulse!"
The moment he spoke, Houndoom opened its maw, and a terrifying dark-type energy gathered within.
With a roar, the dark energy instantly transformed into black, pulsing rings of energy that blasted toward Gyarados.
"Dodge with Waterfall!" Kenji commanded.
At the command, Gyarados lowered its body. Instantly enveloped in a column of water, its massive frame shot sideways at incredible speed.
"BOOM!!!—"
The Dark Pulse hit nothing but air.
"Gyarados, use Dragon Dance!"
Kenji wasn't in a hurry to attack. Instead, he seized the opportunity to have Gyarados boost its stats.
"Taunt!"
But Kenji had barely finished speaking when a strange, dark energy flared in Houndoom's eyes as it glared at Gyarados.
"ROOOAR!!!—"
The moment Gyarados met Houndoom's gaze, its already violent temper ignited. A towering inferno of rage flared to life, and the Dragon Dance it had just begun was instantly broken.
"Approach it with Waterfall!"
"Dodge with Quick Attack!"
Gyarados, wreathed in water, charged the Houndoom. The scene looked exactly like a freight train bearing down on it.
Houndoom's slender frame didn't dare take the hit. It vanished in a flash of white light.
"Scary Face!"
Kenji seamlessly followed up.
As Gyarados stopped its Waterfall, it whipped its head around, fixing Houndoom with a ferocious, red-eyed glare.
"Gaaaa—"
Affected by Scary Face, Houndoom's movements slowed, its limbs trembling uncontrollably.
"Waterfall!!"
Seizing the opening while Houndoom's movement was restricted, Kenji once again ordered Gyarados to close in.
"Dodge with Quick Attack! Counter with Thunder Fang!"
This time, Houndoom's movements were clearly sluggish. It barely managed to dodge the Waterfall before lunging, its fangs crackling with lightning, and biting down hard on Gyarados's body!
But at the exact moment Houndoom's Thunder Fang connected, Gyarados's massive tail—wreathed in solidified water—slammed into it with terrifying force.
"KRA-BOOM!!!—"
"GROOAAR!!—"
Gyarados let out a low roar. With a sickening thud, the Houndoom was sent flying, launched clear across the field by the tail.
It flew a great distance before finally slamming onto the ground.
In contrast, Gyarados had not only the attack-lowering effect of Intimidate but also a terrifying base 100 Physical Defense.
As a result, the 4x super-effective Thunder Fang hadn't dealt significant damage.
The Houndoom, on the other hand, had been hit so hard by the Aqua Tail that it was completely disoriented. It lay on the ground, struggling to even get up.
It was on its last legs, seemingly moments away from being unable to battle.
"Stand up! Houndoom!"
Yuki seemed to have been frightened by the power of that Aqua Tail, immediately resorting to the protagonist-exclusive, god-tier skill on par with "Dodge it!": the legendary "Stand up!"
But the instant Yuki finished speaking, a dark aura erupted from Houndoom's body. Incredibly, the Pokémon actually, tremblingly, forced itself back onto its feet.
Kenji was dumbfounded. Did Yuki really just pull that off?
But given Houndoom's current condition, standing up would change nothing.
"Gyarados, use Waterfall! Finish it!"
"Houndoom! Meet it with a maximum-power Flare Blitz!"
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