Chapter 78: Together we are invincible (2)
Kangaskhan's fist smashed past his tail and slammed into his abdomen.
Boom!
Ryū was sent crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust.
"How does this Kangaskhan know Ice-type moves counter Dragon-types? And how does she even know I'm a Dragon-type?" he grunted, climbing painfully to his feet. Pokémon had no innate concept of type matchups.
[Water Pulse]
He looked up at the descending Kangaskhan and fired another attack. She crossed her arms and took the hit head-on, barely sustaining a scratch.
"This won't do. I have to lure her away and run..."
"Scyther!"
Just as Ryū was about to retreat, his friends arrived. Six Scyther rushed over, their blades glowing as they used Swords Dance on the move—a technique Ryū had taught them.
"It seems there's no need to run anymore," Ryū breathed a sigh of relief.
"Scyther," the old warrior said, landing beside him to check his condition. After confirming Zubat was safe in the cave, he had rushed to the sounds of battle.
"That's the creature from the deep part of the mountain. Her mind isn't right. Be careful," Ryū warned.
"Scyther? (We're fighting?)"
"Of course. United, we are unstoppable. Besides, there are so many of us, we'll gang up on her!" At that moment, Ryū rediscovered the feeling of being a leader. If he couldn't win one-on-one, he'd call his subordinates. Plus, the Scyther all knew Fighting-type moves, which were super-effective against the Normal-type Kangaskhan.
"Scyther," the old warrior nodded. There was nothing more to say.
"I'll draw her fire! You all use Focus Energy and Brick Break!" Ryū commanded, charging forward with Agility.
"ROAR!!!"
The Kangaskhan, seeing so many opponents, didn't run. She opened her mouth, and a beam of ice-blue light shot out.
[Ice Beam]
"She really knows Ice-type moves counter me!" Ryū thought, now completely certain.
He whipped his tail to create a [Twister], disrupting the beam just enough to dodge and approach from the side. The Kangaskhan anticipated this and charged with another Headbutt. This time, Ryū didn't dodge. He first spat out a blast of [Icy Wind] to stiffen her muscles, then met her charge head-on, absorbing the impact with his body while using [Wrap] to firmly bind her.
Even a creature as huge as the Kangaskhan was coiled four or five times by his massive body.
"ROAR!!!"
She struggled with all her might, nearly tearing his body apart, but Ryū held on. Seeing that she couldn't break free, she used [Crunch], her sharp fangs piercing his scales and sinking deep into his flesh. An intense, agonizing pain shot through him.
[Thunder]
While she was biting down, Ryū unleashed his own attack. The powerful electric move had a 100% chance to hit a wrapped opponent. A bolt of golden lightning shot from his body into the sky, then crashed down onto the Kangaskhan's head, paralyzing her and forcing her to release her jaw.
At the same time, the six Scyther, now fully powered up, surrounded the stunned Kangaskhan. They raised their scythe-like arms and simultaneously smashed a devastating [Brick Break] onto her head.
Bang!
The six super-effective attacks hit their mark. The mighty Kangaskhan finally collapsed, fainting without another sound.
The battle was over. Ryū's condition was also critical; he had taken a Rock Tomb, an Ice Punch, a Headbutt, and a Crunch from a Pokémon nearly ten levels higher than him.
"Scyther?" the old warrior asked, gesturing toward the unconscious Kangaskhan. His meaning was clear: should they finish her?
Ryū was hesitant. He didn't want to kill her, but if she recovered, she would be a threat again. What should he do?
"Zubat, Zubat~"
At that moment, Zubat flew over from the cave. And following beneath him was a tiny purple creature. Ryū looked closer. Wasn't that... a baby Kangaskhan?
He looked at the baby, then at the unconscious mother, and almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
'You couldn't have come earlier?!'
The sheer absurdity of the timing was the final straw. Ryū, who had been holding on by a thread, finally leaned back and fainted.
When he opened his eyes again, it was the next morning. He turned his head and saw the mother Kangaskhan sitting in the corner, awake and holding her baby, doting on it fiercely.
"This one is a real monster," Ryū blinked. She had recovered from those injuries even faster than he had.
"Kangaskhan," she said, her sanity restored. Seeing Ryū awake, she repeatedly apologized while hugging her child.
"...How did you know Ice-type moves could counter me?" Ryū asked, now more concerned with this question than anything else.