Chapter 347: The Final Gamble
The regular spectators were still in awe, but the professional players had already seen what was happening.
"That Gengar's close-combat ability… isn't it a bit unscientific?" asked Melody, the other main player from the Otter Team who had transferred from the Blaze Team.
Beside her, Luna simply replied, "It's Arthur's Pokémon."
"..."
The lounge fell silent.
The logic was flawless!
"Incredible. Does this kid train even his Blissey to use Mega Punch?"
Come to think of it, Arthur actually had that idea back in the day…
Although Blissey are naturally lacking in physical strength, they're incredibly durable! Being able to take a punch is a huge advantage in a melee brawl.
Unfortunately, that idea had been shot down by the military high command back then.
The commander's exact words were, "We're already short on healing Pokémon at the front lines. Please, Colonel Arthur, go and torment some other Pokémon!"
At the time, Arthur hadn't yet become a Champion and couldn't disobey a military order, so he had regrettably missed the opportunity to torment… I mean, train a Blissey.
As for Specter, as the attendant Pokémon who had guarded Arthur's shadow for years, it was only natural that he would be skilled in some close-combat moves.
Shadow Claw, as his favorite and most practiced move, was second to none in power. A critical hit with that claw was no less effective than the super-effective Sludge Bomb from earlier.
Serperior's modified Coil had failed, and it had effectively delivered itself to the enemy.
"Specter, pursue!"
Receiving the command, Specter let out a strange cry, grabbed Serperior's neck, and smiled with a terrifying glee.
At this moment, Serperior wished it could scream: Don't come over here!
By now, Serena no longer had any doubts. She was certain she had been tricked.
The opening barrage of Sludge Bomb was just a disguise. This Gengar's true area of expertise was still close combat!
This person's Pokémon all have such a strong, personal style…
"Serperior, release the coil! Use your tail to fight!"
Against such an experienced opponent, continuing to coil would only seal off its own escape routes.
It was better to let go and settle things with agile movements!
This did indeed prevent it from being used as a punching bag.
But unfortunately, Serperior was still no match for Specter…
"Use Thrash!"
Even as Serperior whipped its tail like a lash, the sound of it cutting through the air like a sudden downpour, Specter remained like a seasoned boxer, easily dodging most of the attacks by shifting, weaving, and leaning back.
He didn't even need to use Phantom Force again to evade the majority of Serperior's damage!
And then—
"Use Fire Punch!"
Specter could throw punches too!
A close-range, super-effective Fire Punch landed on Serperior's cheek, making its face even flatter…
Can't win…
This time, I really can't win…
Serperior didn't have Blastoise's tough shell and outstanding defense.
Serena quickly realized her disadvantage.
This time, Serperior was breaking down faster and more miserably than Blastoise had in the first round.
Seeing that the Dark-type Thrash couldn't turn the tide, Serena decisively changed her move again.
"Use Glare, then fall back."
Serperior's eyes flashed!
Although its face was a bit swollen and scorched, which diminished its regal presence, it didn't affect the move's effect.
At such close range, Specter couldn't look away in time and was afflicted with paralysis.
Serperior then seized the opportunity to quickly retreat, trying to create distance again.
But Arthur wouldn't allow it.
"Use Scary Face!"
Specter opened its mouth and roared, its presence erupting, its image becoming even more terrifying.
Serperior was instantly scared stiff.
At this moment, Serperior finally understood that the biggest gap between them wasn't in their close-combat skill, but in their killing intent and willpower!
Specter's Scary Face was now even stronger than Old Flame's.
Old Flame had been in decline for many years, but Specter had not!
He had truly fought and killed for two hundred years!
At this point, the drawback of Serperior not having the Contrary ability was exposed.
Under the intimidation of Specter's exceptionally effective Scary Face, Serperior's body went limp. It couldn't slither away.
Even though Specter was slowed by paralysis, it still couldn't escape.
The beating continued!
Specter moved in, and soon, another volley of Fire Punches rained down!
Serperior's condition was rapidly deteriorating!
Both sides were down to their last move slot. They were both cautiously observing, not wanting to commit it rashly.
Arthur was also going all-in. It seemed he had no intention of even curing Specter's paralysis.
Specter, relying on its overwhelming close-combat ability, was beating down its opponent while enduring the status condition!
Finally, Serperior seized an opportunity when Specter was stunned by paralysis and quickly retreated, creating some distance.
By now, two or three minutes had passed since they had unexpectedly started their melee brawl.
Serperior was in terrible shape, but at the same time, its Overgrow ability had been pushed to its absolute limit!
Just like Torrent and Blaze, this was another "low-health-power-up" ability!
"Use Grassy Terrain!"
With that, Serena had used her last move slot.
The Grassy Terrain spread out, instantly covering the arena in a layer of green turf!
Within the range of the terrain, any Pokémon standing on the grass would receive slow healing, and the power of Grass-type moves would be increased!
She was also going all-in!
The healing from Grassy Terrain is very slow. This was essentially a tightrope walk. If it couldn't heal fast enough, Serperior would be finished.
But on the other hand, if it could hold on with a sliver of health, with the Overgrow ability and the terrain boost, Serperior's subsequent Grass-type moves would be incredibly powerful!
High risk, high reward!
As a former All-Star captain, last year's League Cup singles third-place finisher, and the holder of the "strongest female player" title, Serena would never accept just sitting back and waiting for defeat!
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, she had to take one last gamble!
And to this respectable opponent, Arthur also gave his highest respect.
"Fire Punch!"
Specter used Fire Punch again, and this time, Arthur finally saw what he had been waiting for—
A line of fire rapidly spread down from the side of Serperior's face where the punch had landed, instantly covering its entire body in crimson lines.
The additional effect of Fire Punch had triggered—
Serperior was now also afflicted with a status condition: burn!
Ever since Specter had stopped Serperior's escape with Scary Face, Arthur had been commanding him to use Fire Punch, using it four or five times in a row.
And he had instructed Specter to repeatedly strike the same spot as much as possible.
This was why one side of Serperior's face was now particularly swollen.
Focus on one point, and break through the defense!
This effectively increases the probability of a move's additional effect triggering.
And then, a few seconds later, Arthur showed his hand!
"Specter, use Hex!"
The Ghost-type move: Hex. Use a curse to damage the opponent. When the target is under a status condition, the damage is greatly increased!
Serena had no move slots left to cure Serperior's burn.
Arthur had let Specter fight through paralysis, even giving his opponent chances to counterattack, all to save this one last move slot. And now, it had finally paid off!
Against enemies with abilities like Overgrow, Blaze, or Torrent, you can never give them a chance to survive with low health. Otherwise, the consequences will be dire!
Disregarding Legendary-exclusive moves, the Ghost type has no ultimate move of its own. So Arthur had chosen a different path, choosing to end the match with Hex!
Under the right conditions, the burst damage of this move is no less than that of an ultimate!
This one burst of cursed energy would end this round.
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 35 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you