Chapter 203: Slide Tackling Incineroar
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"I choose you, 002!"
Ash ignored Ivysaur's conflicted expression and pushed it forward.
"Damn..."
Ivysaur looked at the creature on the rock platform, the sky overlord from an ancient era, and shivered violently. The pressure it gave off was far stronger than the likes of the Kabuto from before.
But as a lone wanderer of this world, it steeled itself and took a step forward, staring fixedly at its opponent with a resolute gaze.
This enemy looked invincible, and in reality, it probably was invincible, but that didn't mean it was scared!
"Ivysaur, use Razor Leaf!"
"Seed-rah!"
Ivysaur's flower bud trembled, flinging out dozens of green leaves that swirled through the air, transforming into countless dangerous, sharp blades.
The Aerodactyl didn't dodge, taking the full force of the menacing Razor Leaf and even licking its lips.
*Clang, clang, clang...*
The sharp blades struck Aerodactyl's rock-hard body and simply shattered into pieces.
HP -1.
Even with its strength greatly increased by the blessings of the ordinary 002 and 003, Ivysaur still failed to land an effective attack.
"Chaaaaaa!!"
This time, the Aerodactyl didn't have the patience to wait for Ash to test out his moves one by one. It flapped its wings and took to the air again. A terrifying spiral of pink energy gathered around its body, twisting into a horrifying aura that enveloped it completely before it charged forward.
Giga Impact!!
Even Exeggutor, with its high durability, had been taken out in a one-hit KO by this move. Given Ivysaur's physique, getting hit by it wouldn't end well. Even if it didn't faint, it would be left on its last legs.
Faced with this nearly invincible attack coming from mid-air, a gap of less than half a meter was exposed underneath. Ash's eyes suddenly lit up and he shouted:
"Great chance, Ivysaur! The opponent is getting impatient! Let's use Grassy Slide Tackle!"
This wasn't a baseless command.
Ash remembered the time during the P1 Grand Prix when he had studied The Royal Mask's battle recordings. The Royal Mask had one-hit KO'd every opponent he faced, meeting almost no one who could stand against him.
The title of "Universe's Number One Pokémon" had gradually spread throughout the fighting world.
At the time, numerous discussions had popped up on the forums about how to counter that nearly invincible Incineroar. All sorts of dirty tricks were suggested, which, while causing people to curse and scorn them, were also secretly saved for later.
Heh, idiot netizens. Not a cent to their name, but a million dirty tricks up their sleeves.
But one top-pinned strategy caught everyone's eye.
Title:
It's actually not that hard. When Incineroar pounces, all you need is a slide tackle to easily take care of it (sweating emoji)
"Second floor (smoking emoji)."
"Don't bother reading further. OP is an idiot. Case closed."
"That made me laugh."
"Just a passerby, can confirm (smirking emoji)."
"The bait is the fish, but what's missing?"
"F*ck you."
The initial replies were all mocking, some even resorting to outright cursing, with the flame war stretching for nearly 300 floors.
Eventually, the original poster, seemingly fed up with the abuse, directly posted a video.
A picture—or in this case, a video—is worth a thousand words.
In the video was a brown goat-like Pokémon with a mane of green leaves around its neck and back, and a pair of long, dark-brown horns on its head.
Gogoat, a signature Pokémon of the Kalos Region, often used as a mount.
Its opponent was a small, red-and-black fiery tiger.
It was less a tiger and more of a large, colorful cat with a bell around its neck. Its physique was barely half the size of the Gogoat.
Torracat, the Stage 1 evolution in the Incineroar line. It could be considered half a tiger, I suppose.
The Torracat, cloaked in fierce flames, pounced forward with imposing might.
Though it wasn't the ultimate move, Flare Blitz, it was a lesser move, Flame Charge.
The Gogoat, however, remained as steady as a mountain, calmly waiting. As the Flame Charge approached, it suddenly lowered its head and charged forward, sliding low across the ground and brushing past the Torracat.
It was a slide tackle.
Just as their bodies overlapped, the sliding Gogoat suddenly flicked its head up, viciously ramming its pair of sharp horns into Torracat's belly.
The Torracat couldn't stop its momentum, and the Flame Charge flashed past.
Using the opponent's own force, Gogoat's horns tore two long gashes across the cat's stomach. The image was too bloody, and the rest was censored with a mosaic.
The outcome was decided in an instant.
"6666!!"
"Haha, what a pro slide-tackler!"
"OP is the man!"
"Misunderstanding cleared, we're all brothers here."
The tone of the thread instantly reversed. Most people went from haters to fans on the spot, and a number of "objective observers" even appeared to chime in.
"The OP was right from the start, I don't get why so many people were flaming him. Everyone knows that people's physical capabilities can't be judged by the same standard (sweating emoji)."
"It's not that strange. The stronger the enemy, the easier they are to deal with. Those who know, know. For those who don't, it's not convenient for me to say more."
"When I was in 3rd grade, I ran into a three-meter-tall Ursaring. When it pounced at me, I just used its momentum to do a back-throw, making it land on its head and twist its neck. It was Unable to Battle after that. (sweating emoji)."
Finally, the original poster shared his tournament schedule for the upcoming regional-level P1 Grand Prix, revealing that his opponent was none other than the superstar seeded player of the time, The Royal Mask.
"Stop arguing, everyone. In the official battle, I will use my slide tackle strategy to defeat that invincible Incineroar! Remember to come and cheer for me, y'all (happy emoji)."
"Professional!"
"OP is a badass!"
"Let's go, sisters!"
Of course, Ash didn't know what happened after that. By then, he had already reached Saffron City and was completely focused on taking on Sabrina.
But he did remember that the original poster had mentioned a secret trick, the key to the whole thing. So, he shouted another reminder:
"Ivysaur, remember to maintain your rage! If you use Grassy Slide Tackle in a state of extreme rage, this Aerodactyl actually won't be that hard to deal with!"
Gary, who was watching from the back: "?"
Ivysaur: "?"
And my move is called Grassy Glide, not Grassy Slide Tackle!
Having no other choice, Ivysaur could only psyche itself up, forcing itself to become enraged. Facing the menacing Giga Impact, its body became cloaked in a layer of green energy. It lowered its head and shot forward, its body skimming the ground.
Grassy Glide!
With the four little grass shoes still on its feet, it maintained the speed priority of a Grass-type move, instantly zipping to the spot directly beneath the Aerodactyl.
"Now, Ivysaur, use—" Ash's words caught in his throat.
Gogoat had horns to attack upwards during a slide. What did his Ivysaur have?
Was it supposed to ram Aerodactyl with its little flower?
Ivysaur: "?"
Its Grassy Slide Tackle motion also froze. Ivysaur had assumed Ash had a follow-up plan. So, what was the follow-up?
There was none?
*I can't believe I fell for your bullshit!*
"Chaaaaaa!!"
The Aerodactyl, having been dodged by the slide, flapped its wings again. The spiraling energy of its Giga Impact had not yet dissipated. It twisted around in mid-air and charged once more, this time straight down at the isolated and helpless Ivysaur below, the power of its Giga Impact now even greater!
"Damn..."
Ivysaur didn't hesitate any longer. It was still in its Grassy Glide state, so it could act first.
*Whoosh.*
A red light flashed from Ivysaur's body as it returned to its Poké Ball.
This nut was too tough to crack. Things were getting dicey, time to bolt.
It had already farmed enough KDA for today. The rest would have to wait until next time.
886.
*BOOM!!* The next second, the terrifying Giga Impact slammed into the rocky ground, blasting a large pit. A cloud of smoke, dust, and rock fragments flew everywhere, coating the face of Ash, who was standing closest.
Ash, defeated.
***
Aftermath of the P1 Grand Prix.
The post about slide tackling Incineroar was made a year ago, so the battle had naturally concluded a year ago.
The ending was also quite obvious.
Incineroar pounced with Flare Blitz. The Gogoat, following the pre-battle strategy, lowered its head for a slide tackle, attempting to use Incineroar's momentum to rip open its stomach with its horns.
Then the Incineroar, while mid-air, slapped it and broke its neck. It died on the spot—
(The action choreography for this chapter has been pinned in the comment section.)
(end of chapter)