Note: So… I've noticed that Power Stones and reviews are almost nonexistent for this book…
Tl;dr: I just wanted to ask if you could leave a quick, honest review.
•.•.•.◓⃙.•.•.•
As mentioned, Takuya and Haruto's basic knowledge was "acceptable". In their eyes, Pokémon raising was just about taking good care of them, so Haruto's Sandshrew had good skin luster and body shape, but its combat power was very poor.
Sandshrew's Swift did not even offer any resistance against Beedrill's Pin Missile, and it shot directly toward Sandshrew.
Under Haruto's "critical" command, Sandshrew instantly rolled up, curling into a yellow ball, which was indeed not bad. It seemed Haruto had indeed polished the skin on its back.
"Rapid Spin!"
Sandshrew used Rapid Spin while maintaining its Defense Curl state, and Pin Missile was deflected by Sandshrew.
Tetsuya did not immediately launch the next attack. If Sandshrew had been trained well, it could have used the rebound to attack Beedrill.
However, Haruto's Sandshrew remained in a defensive state the entire time, until Beedrill stopped using Pin Missile.
Sandshrew also stopped using Rapid Spin, but when it stood up, it was already swaying and unable to find its direction.
As expected, Rapid Spin had made it dizzy. In fact, the battle could already be declared over at this point.
Haruto was still shouting for Sandshrew to use Scratch. The disoriented Sandshrew jumped around and clawed randomly. Its jump height was no more than fifty centimeters. Even in a clear state, it would not be able to touch Beedrill.
"…That's enough, you've already lost."
Tetsuya said a sentence, and Haruto also understood his own level and could only recall Sandshrew.
"I'll try! Come out, Poliwag!"
After Takuya's Poliwag came out, it bounced twice. It looked quite lively, with moist skin and droplets of water sliding off its body. It was clear that it had been well raised.
Now it depended on its combat power…
"Poliwag, use Rain Dance!"
Takuya gave the order, and Poliwag kept bouncing, letting out sharp "Polilili" cries.
Tetsuya did not interrupt it. Using Rain Dance right after coming out, it seemed that this Poliwag's Ability was very likely Swift Swim. If that was the case, Takuya had really picked up a treasure.
Immediately after, the moisture in the air became heavier, and a light drizzle began to fall from the sky. The raindrops hit Poliwag's body, and Poliwag became unusually excited, its bouncing speed becoming much faster than before.
"Hn. Can we start¹[1]?"
Tetsuya said.
Takuya swallowed. He naturally understood that Tetsuya was going easy on him. Otherwise, with such a long Rain Dance setup time, Beedrill could have already launched a powerful attack.
"Poliwag, Water Gun!"
Following Takuya's command, Poliwag shot a stream of water from its mouth straight toward Beedrill.
Although Rain provided a certain boost to Water-type moves, the force and speed of this Water Gun were far from sufficient, and it was easily dodged by Beedrill.
"Poliwag, run, disrupt it!" Takuya shouted.
'…Disrupt it?'
Tetsuya even doubted his own ears. Just how fast would it need to be to disrupt Beedrill.
Poliwag in the rain indeed moved much faster, and faint afterimages even appeared.
It seemed the Ability really was Swift Swim. Takuya's tactics and approach were not wrong, but unfortunately Poliwag had not undergone strict training[2]². Although it had been raised well, its combat ability was still very poor. If it continued like this, it could only be considered a decorative Pokémon.
"Beedrill, Double Team."
The Poliwag that was preparing to attack suddenly saw more than a dozen Beedrill appear before its eyes.
Poliwag immediately became dizzy and stopped in place, looking around in confusion.
"Can Poliwag stop now…?" Tetsuya said to Takuya in a questioning tone.
Takuya lowered his head. "…Poliwag, don't stop running, otherwise you'll be locked onto by Beedrill."
After receiving Takuya's command, Poliwag continued to run forward with its head down.
"Beedrill, [Twin Fury], this can end now."
After Tetsuya spoke, more than a dozen Beedrill shot out from all directions.
In the blink of an eye, Beedrill was already flying high in the air.
Takuya was completely stunned!
"T-This…"
As the raindrops dissipated, Poliwag had already collapsed on the ground and could not get up.
"Sssss~ Too strong!" Takuya sighed, walked to Poliwag's side, fed it a Potion, and recalled it into the Poké Ball.
"What have you been doing these three months?"
Tetsuya's question immediately left the two speechless.
"If you don't train your Pokémon's combat power, there is only a dead end. Decorative Pokémon are toys for rich women."
Every word Tetsuya said pierced into their hearts.
However, Tetsuya did not intend to end it there. "You were also among the top four Trainers in the Ecruteak Gym examination, yet you can't even defeat the weakest in Cianwood City… No wonder they look down on you!
From today onward, all actions and training will follow my command. I will make you defeat the strongest in the Cianwood City team within a year."
Tetsuya's words were not empty talk. Takuya and Haruto had a good base. Although their battle tactics were somewhat rigid, at their age they were already quite strong. What they lacked was ruthlessness, and they could not be harsh with their Pokémon. Moreover, their personalities were too timid, which was why their current situation had arisen.
"One year…? Defeat the strongest!?" Takuya and Haruto were both somewhat surprised.
"That's right, but you must listen to me in everything. In three years, I can definitely make you become part of the strongest ten!"
Tetsuya struck while the iron was hot and pursued a deeper form of "persuasion". Of course, he still had some confidence in this. The most important thing was that personalities like Takuya and Haruto were most suitable to be subordinates.
Tetsuya had helped them repeatedly, and now he had given them hope to become stronger and also hope to survive. In their hearts, he was already an unquestionable leader.
With Tetsuya's reminder, the matter of three years later made them feel a chill. Not wanting to die was not the most frightening thing. Truly feeling the presence of death was the most terrifying.
"We will definitely listen to you! We were just looking for a leader. From now on, we will listen to you in everything!"
Takuya and Haruto were exactly hoping for this. Tetsuya also needed helpers to deal with mid-term team resource plundering. There were no eternal enemies or friends, only eternal benefits[3]³, so with them he was in the same team, they were "friends".
"I need to catch Houndoom now to exchange back my Piloswine. Do you have any Pokémon in the Shadow Team list?" This was Tetsuya's current main objective and had to be carried out as soon as possible.
"Nn, when we were captured, we didn't have Gastly with us, so we don't have any Pokémon there," Haruto said.
"Just now… you said you want to catch Houndoom!?" Takuya asked in some surprise.
"Heh, is there a problem?" Tetsuya said disdainfully.
"Tetsuya, I know you are strong… but Pokémon like Houndoom are extremely fierce! The three of us definitely can't handle it!
I heard the team from Cianwood City was also trying to catch Houndoom. Even with ten people, they didn't succeed. They have probably already given up."
Hearing "Houndoom," Takuya naturally felt somewhat fearful, so he tried to persuade Tetsuya.
•.
•.
¹. TesuyAdara: Hn. Let me see you dance.
². EV training, bro.
³. Lord Palmerston stated: "We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow".
[1] TesuyAdara: Hn. Let me see you dance.
[2] EV training, bro.
[3] Lord Palmerston stated: "We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow".