Chapter 202: Today, I'm just a light bulb.
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"Exeggutor, use Reflect!"
As soon as the battle began, Gary took the initiative and set up a wall.
This Aerodactyl, just from its physique, was clearly a physical attacker. Setting up Reflect was a safe bet.
"Exegg!"
A blue light appeared in Exeggutor's eyes as it erected a transparent light wall in front of itself, reducing the physical damage it would receive next.
Seeing that the Aerodactyl wasn't attacking, but was instead sizing them up with its blood-red eyes, Gary felt a mix of joy and worry.
He was happy because this gave Exeggutor a chance to prepare an attack under cover, which was a great advantage for its steady and solid style.
He was worried because the Aerodactyl's eyes were so red they were almost purple, proving that its spirit was in a state of extreme exhaustion. Under such circumstances, a Pokémon's most normal reaction should be rage and destruction. But it was still able to maintain its composure and observe the battlefield, proving that its willpower was also absurdly high!
"Next, use Hypnosis!" Gary launched another attack.
"Exegg!"
Exeggutor's eyes lit up again. A psychic ring of light shot out from the leaves on its head, exuding a captivating, special power as it fell toward its target.
"Shaaaargh!!"
The Aerodactyl made no other move. It simply roared where it stood, and a foul-smelling storm forcefully dispersed the energy ring of Hypnosis.
Hypnosis failed.
Seeing this, Gary's brows furrowed. He quickly launched another attack.
"Damn it, in that case, try this move! Use Seed Bomb!"
"Exegg!"
This time, Exeggutor tilted its body, launching a giant white seed. The smell of gunpowder filled the air around it, as if it could explode at any moment, emitting a dense, dangerous aura.
"Aow."
The Aerodactyl still didn't move. It just raised its head, opened its mouth, and caught the Seed Bomb on the spot. Then, it swallowed it in one gulp and even licked its lips.
*Boom—*
Half a second later, the muffled sound of an explosion rumbled in its stomach, but the ripples quickly faded.
Seed Bomb? The plant seeds of the prehistoric world were far more dangerous than this. Aerodactyl's entire body was made of incredibly hard, ten-thousand-year-old stone. An explosion of this magnitude couldn't even penetrate its stomach.
Watching their successive attacks being dealt with so nonchalantly, as easily as breathing, made both Gary and Ash, who was observing from behind, understand the opponent's power.
They didn't know how much of its strength had been temporarily weakened by its long slumber, but based on the strength it was displaying now, there was no way the two of them could defeat it without going all out.
Ash even predicted that as soon as the opponent took the offensive, Gary would be defeated instantly. He was already thinking about his own battle to follow.
"Pikachu, it's a Flying-type, and you're an Electric-type. You have a type advantage. Are you confident?" he asked, looking at the brightly shining Electric-type mouse at his feet.
"Pika."
Pikachu nodded.
"Then I'll make you my ace general!"
"Pika."
Pikachu shook its head again.
What a riddler.
But what it was actually trying to say was very simple.
It was confident.
But it wasn't necessary.
Today, it wasn't a Pokémon, just a light bulb—the kind that could adjust its own brightness at will. A purely neutral NPC.
If the benefits were sufficient, it might even switch sides on the spot and help the Aerodactyl electrocute the two from Pallet Town.
Ash: "..."
"Tch, use Extrasensory!!"
On the battlefield, Gary was still relentlessly attacking.
Light flared in Exeggutor's eyes. This time, it was a terrifying blue psychic light that spread outwards in ripples, completely enveloping the Aerodactyl.
"..."
The blue light wrapped around it like a barrier, continuously exerting pressure and dealing damage.
HP -1.
"Shaaaargh!!"
The Aerodactyl stretched its neck to the sky and roared. The blue psychic light on its body was instantly torn to shreds.
Extrasensory failed.
Then, the Aerodactyl flapped its wings and rose. It crossed its stone wings in front of its body, raised its arrow-tipped tail, and its entire body formed a streamlined shape, perfectly designed to negate friction.
*Rumble...*
A pinkish-purple orb of energy appeared around its body. A terrifying and dense pressure instantly covered the entire field. The orb began to spin, transforming into a spiral shockwave!
The Aerodactyl's body instantly became a spiral shockwave and shot forward!
Giga Impact!!
*BOOM!*
Its speed was immense. In an instant, it crashed into Exeggutor, which had no time to use any move to defend itself.
*Crack...*
The sound of shattering glass rang out. The Reflect Exeggutor had previously set up was instantly shattered and nullified. In the face of absolutely overwhelming power, little tricks were meaningless.
*BOOM BOOM!!*
Giga Impact erupted. The terrifyingly brutal power slammed fully into Exeggutor's body. It couldn't even withstand it for half a second before its heavy body was sent flying backward, embedding it fiercely into the rock wall behind.
Smoke, dust, and rampant energy filled the air as the shockwave rolled out, forcing both Ash and Gary to shield their faces, their hearts trembling.
The Aerodactyl, however, used the recoil from the impact to shoot out of the smoke and dust, creating distance to watch its target. This was a habit it had developed from long periods of battle: immediately creating distance after using Giga Impact.
After using Giga Impact, its body would become immobilized. The prehistoric era was a time fraught with crises. Another ferocious beast could pounce and attack during its few seconds of immobility, giving it no time to recover.
Even the neutral light bulb began to flicker, creating an atmosphere full of crisis.
"Exegg..."
The smoke and dust cleared. Exeggutor's massive body lay fainted on the ground, covered in wounds.
From the very beginning, it had already completely lost its ability to battle.
The first battle: a complete defeat for Gary.
"Is the gap really that big..."
Gary recalled Exeggutor. His expression grew profound, but surprisingly, he didn't seem too shocked.
Don't be fooled by the seemingly foolish act of sending out an Exeggutor with a type disadvantage. This was all part of his plan.
He was simply using this first match as a tool to study and observe the Aerodactyl. With Reflect and its numerous crowd-control moves from its Grass and Psychic types, Exeggutor was undoubtedly a good sacrificial pawn.
Although, the Aerodactyl's power was somewhat beyond his expectations.
The deciding match for him would be his second one!
That's right. He had predicted his own defeat, and he had even predicted that Ash would also lose the next match.
That meant neither of them had failed.
A ninja must be adept at observing the bigger picture, at coordinating and interleaving.
With this level of understanding, he was still on the Fifth Layer!
Ash: "?"
Watching Gary walk back across the trainer's line, Ash couldn't understand why he looked so proud despite having lost. If he hadn't been there to see it, he would have thought Gary had won.
He slapped Gary a high-five, and this time, it was his turn to step over the line, Poké Ball gripped tightly in his hand.
He admitted the Aerodactyl was strong, but he wasn't weak either.
Gary had fought the first round as a test, and Ash had naturally seen that. That was a move he could copy.
With a wave of his thumb, he sent out a Pokémon that was already on the field.
"I choose you, Ivysaur!!"
Ivysaur cried out, "Saur?!" *You're using me as a sacrificial pawn, too?!*
"Don't worry, I have a perfect strategy."
A confident, all-knowing look appeared on Ash's face as he quietly leaned in close to Ivysaur's ear and whispered his genius strategy.
"Actually, a powerful Aerodactyl like this is the easiest to deal with. Just wait for it to fly over, and you hit it with a Grassy Glide..."
Ivysaur: "?"
(end of chapter)