Chapter 301: Eevee's Counterattack
"Slowking, use Yawn!" Jon Dickson shouted.
Scizor charged forward at blinding speed, yet Slowking remained utterly calm. It stretched its mouth wide, inhaling deeply until tears welled up and a giant snot bubble puffed out of its nose—a ridiculous, almost comical sight.
But Scizor only glared coldly. Its body blurred as it closed in, slamming a fist into Slowking's jaw and sending the bulky Pokémon flying. Slowking tumbled across the battlefield like a windmill before finally rolling to a stop.
When it got back to its feet, multiple scrapes and bruises already marred its body. It had clearly taken serious damage.
"A direct hit! That looked heavy! Slowking might be slow to react, but that doesn't mean it's immune to damage!" the announcer cried, though worry crept into his tone.
Jon Dickson, however, merely smiled. On the other side, Yozora's expression grew grim. His Scizor had already inhaled Slowking's Yawn—things were about to get troublesome.
And sure enough—
Scizor's body suddenly wavered midair.
In its mind, images of Slowking's lazy yawn and that absurd snot bubble replayed over and over, like a looping reel. Its neural signals dulled, muscles loosened, eyelids grew unbearably heavy…
That was the power of Yawn! Planting the seed of drowsiness within the foe, forcing it to blossom into sleep the following turn.
"Wait—Scizor looks drowsy? Is this because of Yawn?" The announcer widened his eyes in feigned surprise, though he understood perfectly. He was deliberately stoking the crowd's excitement.
And it worked. The arena erupted with cheers.
Many trainers only now realized such a move even existed.
Jon Dickson's grin widened. He had been willing to let Slowking take damage just to ensure the seed of sleep was planted. It was a trade well worth it.
After all, Slowking had only lost about a third of its stamina. But once Scizor fell asleep? It would be nothing more than a defenseless target.
Three seconds later, Scizor's movements ceased. Its head drooped, and its breathing deepened into the rhythm of slumber.
It was completely asleep.
Jon Dickson's eyes lit up. He had been waiting for this exact moment. "Slowking, Water Pulse!"
Before the battle, Jon Dickson had studied Yozora's Scizor carefully. He knew its speed was extraordinary. Landing an attack like Water Pulse—even one enhanced with Psychic power—would be nearly impossible against it while awake.
But now Scizor was asleep. Accuracy was no longer a concern.
"Slowking, take your time. Gather your strength—unleash the strongest Water Pulse you can." Jon Dickson smiled faintly.
A sharp glint shone in Slowking's eyes. It raised both hands, calmly condensing a high-pressure water orb between them. The orb swelled larger and larger until it spanned two meters across.
Its eyes flashed red, psychic energy hurling the massive sphere forward.
The giant Water Pulse smashed into Scizor with an explosive roar. Torrential waves erupted like a storm surge, engulfing Scizor and flinging it skyward.
Still half-dreaming, Scizor never even had time to scream before crashing lifelessly to the ground.
"Scizor is unable to battle! Slowking wins!" the referee's flag slashed through the air.
The stadium thundered with cheers.
Jon Dickson's supporters multiplied by the second. Slowking had just pulled off a two-on-one, its sheer might captivating the crowd.
Now, the match stood tied at three to three.
Jon Dickson still had three Pokémon, including Slowking. Yozora also had three left.
"Slowking is just too strong. What will Yozora do now?" The announcer cast the question dramatically toward the young trainer.
In the audience, Ye Yue leaned forward, eyes shining.
"Incredible! Both Yozora and Jon Dickson are monsters!"
Having already defeated Ash, Ye Yue had secured his spot in the semifinals. Which meant the winner of this quarterfinal would become his next opponent. He needed to study both of them carefully.
And seeing their strength, he had already decided: in the semifinals, he would bring out his old Hoenn squad.
Until now, aside from his Blaziken, he had relied mostly on the new team he'd caught during his Johto travels. That team was strong—but still a step below his veteran partners.
"Slowking's already taken two wins. Yozora's advantage is slipping away. Did he really not register Ampharos for this match?" Brock muttered, analyzing from the sidelines.
"Relax! Yozora's fine. Even without Ampharos, he still has Dragonite and Eevee—and they both know Electric moves." Ash waved dismissively, brimming with confidence in his rival. He had battled Yozora firsthand and knew just how terrifying his strength truly was.
"Go, Eevee!"
Sure enough, as Ash predicted, Yozora's fourth Pokémon was none other than his Eevee.
"Eevee?"
Jon Dickson blinked in disbelief. Was Yozora joking? In the quarterfinals—of all places—he was sending out an unevolved little Eevee?
"This is the sacred Top Eight stage! And you're fielding that?"
He snorted. "If you're so eager to lose, I'll oblige. Slowking, finish it quickly—Water Pulse!"
"Hoooh!"
Slowking growled, conjuring a standard-sized Water Pulse and hurling it at the tiny fox.
"Dodge, then close the distance with Agility," Yozora ordered calmly.
Eevee's nimble body twisted midair, slipping past the wave with elegance. Then, paws flashing across the ground, it surged toward Slowking with astonishing speed.
But Water Pulse didn't dissipate—it curved suddenly, homing back in from behind.
The crowd gasped, many instinctively leaning forward in worry.
Yet Eevee's eyes held nothing but confidence.
Linked by unshakable bond, it shared Yozora's awareness. Through his perspective, it already knew the attack was tailing it.
Why look back? Why fear?
In a blur, Eevee closed in on Slowking.
"Now! Jump!" Yozora's voice rang out.
"Fwoosh!"
Eevee leapt gracefully—and the Water Pulse, still charging forward with full inertia, slammed straight into Slowking's face.
The audience exploded in awe.
They couldn't fathom the true depth of trainer-Pokémon resonance, but what they saw was dazzling teamwork.
Eevee's performance radiated one truth: absolute trust.
This was the bond of trainer and Pokémon.
"Hmph. Did you think I wouldn't see that coming?" Jon Dickson sneered.
He never underestimated Yozora. A trick used once would not fool him twice.
"Slowking, use Psychic to redirect the Water Pulse!"
Scarlet light blazed in Slowking's eyes. The projectile jerked violently, swerving aside at the last instant before looping back toward Eevee yet again.
It chased endlessly, like a nightmare that refused to end.
"Eevee, Shadow Ball—counter it!" Yozora commanded.
A black sphere surged from Eevee's mouth, colliding head-on with the incoming Water Pulse.
BOOM!
Energy erupted violently. The watery shockwave swept Eevee off its paws, tumbling it backward several meters before it managed to land on all fours.
The crowd held its breath. But aside from being knocked around, Eevee looked unharmed, eyes still burning with resolve.
Jon Dickson's smirk deepened. "If Psychic-guided Water Pulse won't do it, then we'll end this properly—Slowking, Hydro Pump!"
Unlike Water Pulse, Hydro Pump was raw, overwhelming power.
"Fwoooosh!" A colossal torrent blasted from Slowking's maw. But Eevee, small and quick, weaved aside effortlessly.
Again and again Hydro Pumps roared across the field—each one missing by a whisker.
"What incredible agility! Slowking can't land a single hit!" the announcer cried.
Jon Dickson scowled. "Fine! Slowking, bind it with Psychic—then finish it with Hydro Pump!"
Slowking's eyes gleamed crimson again. An invisible force seized Eevee like iron chains, locking its limbs in place.
The crowd gasped. Eevee writhed desperately, but the psychic grip was too strong. A devastating Hydro Pump gathered in Slowking's throat—
This was it. The end.
"Eevee!" Yozora's voice rang with confidence, not fear. "Break free—and use Thunderbolt!"
"Thunderbolt?!" Jon Dickson froze. The announcer, the crowd, even Brock and Ash all stared wide-eyed.
Impossible. Eevee couldn't possibly—
But in the next instant, reality shattered their doubt.
Eevee's body shimmered with light—then burst forth as Jolteon.
Its level surged. Strength flooded its frame. The psychic chains snapped like brittle twigs.
With dazzling speed, Jolteon sidestepped the Hydro Pump, sparks crackling across its spines.
Then came the thunder.
Bolts of golden lightning tore from its body, slamming into Slowking with earth-shaking force.
"Wha—without a Thunder Stone?!" Jon Dickson's composure finally cracked. "Eevee evolved into Jolteon on its own?!"
"Reflect, now!" he barked, but it was too late.
Slowking conjured a shimmering barrier—but Jolteon's lightning obliterated it instantly. The remaining current engulfed the desert beast, its wise, stoic face twisting with agony before collapsing in defeat.
"Slowking is unable to battle! The winner is… Jolteon!" the referee's flag slashed through the air once more.
The crowd went berserk.
Yozora had turned the tide. Three Pokémon still stood at his side.
Jon Dickson was down to two.
"Unbelievable!" The announcer's voice boomed over the chaos. "Yozora's Eevee evolved into Jolteon at the most critical moment, and took down Slowking in one strike! Could Eevee truly evolve without the aid of a Thunder Stone?!"
The audience roared with shock and awe. Only Jon Dickson remained grim-faced.
"…So that's your hidden ace." His eyes narrowed. "Very well. Fortunately, I prepared for this."
He raised a Poké Ball. "Go, Meganium!"
Light burst forth, revealing a towering Grass-type. Resembling its prior forms Chikorita and Bayleef, Meganium bore a massive red flower blooming proudly around its neck, standing tall and majestic.
As a Grass-type, Meganium resisted electricity with ease.
Though weaker than Slowking, only at lower Elite level, it was nonetheless the perfect answer to Jolteon.
The battle was far from over.
(End of Chapter)