"Hitmonchan? Looks like this one's Ability should be..."
Red glanced at Hitmonchan and used the Pokémon System to scan its data.
"Pokémon: Hitmonchan
Attribute: Fighting-type
Ability: Iron Fist (The power of punching moves increases by 20%.)
Moves: Mach Punch, Comet Punch, Fire Punch, Mega Punch...
..."
"It really is a Pokémon that specializes in punching moves..." Red said calmly.
"The match begins!" the referee announced.
"Mach Punch!"
"Quick Attack!"
Hitmonchan and Pidgeot simultaneously rushed toward each other at high speed, once again forming a stalemate.
"How is that possible? You actually predicted my tactic!" Koichi exclaimed in shock. He had intended to use Mach Punch to seize the initiative, but Red had seen right through it.
"Unfortunately, Pidgeot's Quick Attack also has priority," Red explained.
"In that case, Hitmonchan, use Fire Punch!" Koichi ordered.
With flames igniting around its fists, Hitmonchan charged toward Pidgeot at once.
"Air Slash!" Red commanded.
Pidgeot soared into the sky and flapped its wings, releasing countless wind blades. It wasn't foolish enough to approach Hitmonchan directly—Pidgeot certainly didn't want its beautiful golden feathers burned by fire.
"Use Comet Punch!"
Just as the wind blades were about to hit, Hitmonchan rapidly swung both fists, its continuous strikes blocking the incoming Air Slash.
"Wing Attack!"
Pidgeot's wings burst with white light as it slammed fiercely into Hitmonchan's body. Hitmonchan hurriedly raised its fists to block the assault, but it was ultimately overpowered and sent flying.
"Hang in there, Hitmonchan! You're the hope of our Fighting Dojo!" Koichi encouraged, while the surrounding karate disciples shouted in support.
Hearing the cheers, Hitmonchan firmly stood back up, steadied itself, and stared directly at Pidgeot preparing to attack from above.
"Unfortunately, even if your persistence has earned everyone's recognition, I can't hold back and lose to you," Pidgeot muttered regretfully as its figure suddenly blurred from everyone's sight.
Bang—
Pidgeot, having used Agility, suddenly appeared behind Hitmonchan. Before Koichi could urgently give a command, Hitmonchan was struck down by Pidgeot's steel-like wings executing Steel Wing.
"That's enough," Red said calmly, stopping Pidgeot from following up.
Seeing this, Pidgeot stopped preparing Air Slash and flew back to Red's side, rubbing against his cheek with its eyes happily narrowed.
"Master actually lost..."
"How could this happen..."
...
The karate disciples stared in disbelief at what had just happened, unable to understand how Koichi—the Karate King they admired—could have been defeated so decisively.
"Mr. Koichi accepted my challenge and fought with everything he had to defend the Fighting Dojo's honor. What's there to mock?" Red said displeased, rebuking their gossip.
"Young man..." Koichi said, moved that Red would speak up for him.
"As Mr. Koichi's disciples, shouldn't you be working even harder to improve yourselves, defeat me one day, and continue protecting your dojo's honor?" Red scolded angrily. "Instead, you're just belittling Mr. Koichi. Is that how disciples should behave?!"
After hearing Red's reprimand, everyone realized why they had come here in the first place. They had joined the Fighting Dojo because they admired martial arts—not for empty reputation.
"Please choose a Pokémon you like!" Koichi said, leading Red to the selection area. Before him were several Hitmonchan and several Hitmonlee.
"These Pokémon were carefully selected by me as thanks for your restraint during the battle," Koichi explained.
Normally, the Hitmonchan or Hitmonlee offered to challengers were randomly chosen that day. But because Red had defended Koichi's dignity after the battle, Koichi decided to let him choose freely from all of them.
"Thank you, Mr. Koichi!" Red said gratefully, turning to look at the Fighting-type Pokémon before him. Some of them met Red's gaze only to become intimidated by the faint aura he exuded and quickly looked away.
Seeing this, Red shook his head and released his crimson Gyarados from its Poké Ball.
"Roar—"
The crimson Gyarados let out a fierce roar the moment it appeared, freezing most of the Pokémon in place. Only one Hitmonchan ran out excitedly, waving its fists, eager to challenge the crimson Gyarados.
"That one!" Red pointed at the emerging Hitmonchan, nodding in satisfaction.
"As expected of you, Red. You have a good eye. This Hitmonchan's talent is far from ordinary. I only managed to catch it by chance back then—and even now, I've never gained its recognition!" Koichi sighed. Perhaps fate had already decided that this Hitmonchan was meant to join Red's team.
Back then, Koichi had encountered this Hitmonchan by accident. At the time, it was fighting another Hitmonchan and a Hitmonlee simultaneously. Even against two opponents, it held its ground evenly.
But two fists can't match four hands forever. In the end, it was defeated and lost the habitat it had fought so hard to claim. Seeing it severely injured, Koichi ignored its resistance and forcibly captured it in a Poké Ball, sending it to the Pokémon Center for treatment—leading to this very moment.
When Hitmonchan heard Red confidently declare he would capture it, it wore an expression as if that were only natural. Still, it called out a few times at Red, clearly aware that the crimson Gyarados was Red's Pokémon and wanting to challenge it first.
"So you want to battle before deciding whether I'm worthy to be your trainer?" Red said with a slight smile, growing even more satisfied with Hitmonchan's attitude.
Hitmonchan nodded, indicating it was ready.
"Arrogant rookie!" the crimson Gyarados growled irritably. Its violent temper wouldn't allow anyone to belittle its master.
"Free battle!" Red instructed.
The crimson Gyarados roared first, attempting to forcibly lower Hitmonchan's Attack. Yet Hitmonchan showed no reaction at all, looking at it with ease while constantly shifting its legs to maintain combat readiness.
"So it has the Inner Focus Ability. No wonder it wasn't affected by Intimidate," Red said.
(Inner Focus: A Pokémon with this Ability will not flinch and is unaffected by Intimidate.)
Seeing that Intimidate had no effect, the crimson Gyarados immediately used Aqua Tail. Its massive tail surged with torrents of water as it smashed toward Hitmonchan.
Hitmonchan quickly responded with Thunder Punch, its fists crackling with electricity, completely fearless in the face of the crimson Gyarados' towering body.