After Tetsuya's opponent was selected, Ben laughed. It was precisely his rival, the former Blackthorn City team leader, Jacky.
Jacky stood opposite Tetsuya with an icy expression on his face. Back then, he had also been an innocent and carefree boy. A year and a half of life-and-death struggles and betrayal from friends had long since turned his heart ice-cold. Especially his starter Pokémon, Dratini, the important partner that had accompanied him throughout his childhood…
The Shadow Team had demanded that he exchange Dratini for a Pupitar, but on an island like this, how could there possibly be a Pupitar!?
Jacky could only helplessly watch his childhood partner being taken aboard that huge ship. After that farewell, it was very likely to become a permanent one. From then on, Jacky embarked upon a lonely path of solitary growth.
Deep in his heart, Jacky had already secretly sworn that he would become the strongest… that he would destroy the entire Shadow Team… and that he would definitely retrieve his Dratini!
'Today, I will prove myself…'
Jacky silently muttered in his heart before taking out two Poké Balls. "Come out, Pidgeot, Pikachu."
Pidgeot soared through the sky, its sharp eyes gleaming brilliantly. Pikachu appeared ordinary and unremarkable, yet no one dared underestimate a Pokémon called "Pikachu". Its yellow fur shone brilliantly, while electrical currents crackled from the electric sacs on its cheeks. It had already assumed a battle stance.
Tetsuya threw out the Poké Balls of Beedrill and Houndoom.
"Today's opponent is not simple."
Tetsuya gave a reminder.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Pidgeot, Feather Dance!"
Jacky launched the first attack. His tactics were obvious. Pikachu's Thunderbolt merely served as provocation, while the Feather Dance was the true focus. Feather Dance could lower the opponent's Attack power, but most terrifyingly, it could wear down the opponent's battle awareness.
The fact that he could devise such tactics only proved that Jacky's basics were solid.
"Houndoom, Flamethrower against Feather Dance. Beedrill, Pin Missile against Pikachu."
Because of Jacky's offensive, Tetsuya's own tactics could not unfold normally. However, Jacky's tactics would also never succeed against him.
The moment Houndoom opened its jaws, blazing flames burst outward. Pidgeot flapped its wings as Feather Dance swept forward. The moves of both sides were evenly matched.
Pikachu's Thunderbolt collided against Beedrill's Pin Missile. Beedrill was not skilled at this kind of stalemate tactic, and naturally Pikachu was not either. The moment the moves slightly collided, both attacks immediately ceased.
What they were competing in was speed!
"Pikachu, Agility, Quick Attack!"
Jacky shouted.
"Double Team, Toxic Spikes." The moment Tetsuya heard Jacky shout "Agility", the chances of victory in his heart had already risen by more than half. It showed that Pikachu's natural speed had not yet reached the level of Agility.
His own tactics could now be implemented.
After using Agility, Pikachu truly became as fast as a ray of light. It charged over with Quick Attack, only to discover that it had struck a fake Beedrill.
Looking back again…
More than twenty Beedrill now surrounded its body.
Pikachu could also be considered highly experienced. Thunderbolt spread outward in the form of an electrical net. In an instant, more than half of Beedrill's clones had already been eliminated.
"Fly high, Toxic Spikes."
Tetsuya gave the order. Beedrill vibrated its wings and flew beyond the attack range of Pikachu's Thunderbolt. Without relaxing for even a moment, Toxic Spikes shot out from Beedrill's tail stinger and scattered across the field before sinking into the ground. Taking advantage of the brief moment Jacky paused to think, Tetsuya had already completed the creation of the Toxic Spikes field.
'Next…'
Jacky shouted, "Pidgeot, use Hurricane!"
Beedrill, positioned at a high altitude, would inevitably encounter interference from Pidgeot. This was also a situation Tetsuya had already anticipated, which was why he had Beedrill complete the Toxic Spikes setup immediately at the start.
At this moment, Pikachu was now in danger. The moment it moved, it would be obstructed by Toxic Spikes. For a speed-type Pokémon, this was undoubtedly equivalent to cutting off its legs.
Under Pidgeot's Hurricane, Beedrill absolutely could not gain any advantage. Its Double Team clones were instantly wiped out, leaving it with no option but to rely on its speed to avoid the incoming air currents.
"Houndoom, use 'Howl' on Pikachu."
Tetsuya's gaze sharpened.
'…Isn't Howl a support move?' This was Jacky's first reaction. However, as a qualified Trainer, it was impossible for him to simply sit still and wait for death.
"Use Thunderbolt on Houndoom!"
Sure enough, Jacky let out a long sigh of relief at this moment, because the electrical current of Thunderbolt was currently clashing against the Snarl move hidden within Houndoom's [Blazing Howl].
At this moment, the sunlight suddenly became exceptionally intense. Hidden within it was the Sunny Day move, something Jacky had never anticipated.
At this moment, Houndoom could be said to be absolutely terrifying. Howl had increased its Attack power, while Sunny Day also boosted the power of Fire-type moves.
The intense sunlight even affected the aerial battle between Beedrill and Pidgeot. The sunlight was dazzling, causing both Pokémon to lower their flight altitude involuntarily.
This was undoubtedly more advantageous for him.
Pidgeot's flying ability was famous throughout the Pokémon world. However, after lowering its flight altitude, in this kind of short-distance burst flight, Pidgeot was far inferior to Beedrill.
Beedrill used [Twin Fury] for a sneak attack, immediately placing Pidgeot in grave danger. It could only flap its wings to defend itself.
"Houndoom, use Flamethrower on Pikachu."
Pikachu's physique was not particularly outstanding. As long as he eliminated one first, the battle would become much easier.
"Pikachu, Thunder!"
At this moment, Jacky's expression twisted fiercely as he already realized the approaching danger.
Houndoom unleashed another Flamethrower. This time, the flames were twice as thick as before, powerful enough to scorch the ground!
Even Pikachu's powerful Thunder was quickly neutralized by Flamethrower. Although Pikachu grit its teeth and stubbornly endured, it was already in imminent danger.
"Pidgeot, quickly take Pikachu into the air!"
Although doing this would definitely leave Pidgeot open to Beedrill's sneak attack, at a critical moment like this, choices had to be made…
Pidgeot suddenly stretched out its wings and fiercely dived toward Pikachu.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Beedrill viciously stabbed Pidgeot's back three times. Pidgeot let out a long cry. The intense pain instead stimulated it further, causing its diving speed to become even faster.
Just as Flamethrower was about to engulf Pikachu, Pidgeot grabbed Pikachu with its talons and carried it back into the air.
A narrow escape!
Jacky's heart had already risen into his throat.
However, even though Pikachu had been rescued, his own plan would not change. "Houndoom, continue using Flamethrower to burn the field. Beedrill, [Twin Fury]."
Blazing flames ignited across the field, while the toxins on the ground rose into the flames!
Although Jacky did not know what Tetsuya intended to do, what he did know was that this person would absolutely never do something meaningless.
"Pikachu, Pidgeot, move!"