Sandshrew, huh?
There are two kinds of Sandshrew. The other one is the Alolan Sandshrew, which is Ice and Steel type instead of Ground type.
Eichi also sent out his Pokémon.
"Come out, Scyther!"
Scyther flew forward with a fierce stance.
Johnny grinned with determination. "Scyther, huh? My Sandshrew isn't afraid!"
Eichi activated the Eye of the Bug Emperor. Inside Sandshrew's body, its green flame was only the size of an egg.
Its talent grade was Ordinary, and its strength was Rookie. From this, it was clear Johnny was a beginner Trainer.
A faint smile curved on Eichi's lips.
Johnny was the first to order an attack.
"Sandshrew, use Defense Curl!"
Sandshrew's entire body began to glow silver for a moment before the light vanished. Its Defense increased.
Seeing this, Eichi commanded, "Scyther, use Focus Energy."
As Sandshrew used Defense Curl, Scyther also focused its energy.
Although Eichi gave his command a moment later, both moves finished at nearly the same time.
"Scyther, use Quick Attack!"
Scyther turned into a green flash, darting straight toward Sandshrew.
Johnny shouted, "Sandshrew, use Sand Attack!"
Just as Scyther approached, Sandshrew began to claw rapidly at the ground.
Sand burst into the air, and Sandshrew threw it toward Scyther's face.
Scyther crossed its scythes in front of its eyes to block the sand.
It tried to push forward to attack, but Sandshrew kept using Sand Attack. More and more sand filled the air, forcing Scyther to retreat step by step.
Scyther was pushed back to its starting point, shaking off the sand on its body.
Johnny took the chance. "Sandshrew, use Defense Curl again!"
While Scyther was still recovering, Sandshrew used another Defense Curl.
Now its Defense was quite impressive.
"Scyther, use Vacuum Wave!"
Johnny decided it was time to go on the offensive. "Sandshrew, use Rollout!"
Scyther beat its wings and raised its glowing scythes, white light swirling around them.
Sandshrew curled into a ball and rolled toward Scyther.
Their attacks collided with a loud impact.
To the surprise of the onlookers, Sandshrew was the one pushed back.
Both Pokémon were forced to retreat, but Scyther only took a single step, while Sandshrew stumbled back several.
"What?!"
Johnny was stunned. His Sandshrew had used Defense Curl twice; its Defense should have been solid. Why was it pushed back?
Eichi seized the opening. "Scyther, use Leer!"
Scyther's already intimidating gaze became sharper.
Sandshrew met its eyes for just an instant and trembled, its Defense dropping sharply.
"Now, Scyther, another Vacuum Wave!"
Johnny called out, panicking. "Sandshrew, use Rollout again! Come on, you can do it, don't give up!"
Sandshrew nodded firmly, curling into a ball once more as it rolled toward Scyther.
The two Pokémon collided again. Scyther's Vacuum Wave struck true.
This time, Sandshrew was completely blown away, landing in front of Johnny, unable to continue fighting.
Scyther, victorious, crossed its scythes and tapped them together before raising them proudly.
Eichi shook his head. "When did it learn that celebration?"
Johnny recalled his fallen Pokémon. "You did great."
He turned to Eichi. "I lost. Your Scyther is really strong."
Eichi smiled. "Your Sandshrew wasn't bad."
Johnny clenched his fist. "I'll keep traveling and training. Next time, I'll beat you!"
"Do your best," Eichi said simply.
Johnny waved and ran toward Nurse Joy for treatment.
By now, a crowd had gathered around them.
As soon as Johnny left, another Trainer stepped forward. "Can I battle your Scyther?"
It was a boy in a short-sleeved shirt. Seeing Scyther's battle spirit still burning, Eichi nodded. "Sure."
The boy threw his Poké Ball. "Go, Slugma!"
A red Pokémon with yellow eyes and two flame-like antennae appeared. Droplets of magma hung under its mouth.
The temperature around them rose instantly.
Slugma, the Lava Pokémon.
Abilities: Magma Armor, Flame Body.
Hidden Ability: Weak Armor.
Description: Its body is made of magma. If it cools down, it will harden and stop moving. It lives in volcanic regions.
Eichi said calmly, "A Fire type? It has a type advantage, but that won't help much."
He opened the Eye of the Bug Emperor again. Slugma's talent grade was Ordinary, and its strength was Rookie.
Trying to rely on type advantage to win?
The boy commanded, "Slugma, use Ember!"
A small fireball shot from Slugma's mouth.
"Scyther, use Agility to dodge," Eichi ordered.
Just as the fireball got close, Scyther vanished in a blur.
"Scyther," Eichi said quickly, "use Wing Attack and finish it."
Scyther's wings glowed white as it slashed toward Slugma.
Slugma was too slow to dodge. The boy shouted, "Slugma, use Ember again!"
But Scyther easily avoided it and struck cleanly.
A painful cry echoed as Slugma collapsed, unable to fight.
The boy stared in disbelief. He had lost, and so quickly.
Still, he had no choice but to accept defeat.
As Eichi recalled Scyther, another boy with a buzz cut stepped forward.
"I want to battle too! Go, Beedrill!"
Before Eichi could reply, the boy had already released his Pokémon.
Eichi had intended to decline, but when he saw it was a Beedrill, he thought for a moment and agreed.
Scyther turned back to glance at the Poké Ball on Eichi's belt that contained his own Beedrill.
Then it got even more excited, expecting a worthy opponent.
Scyther had grown up alongside Eichi's Beedrill. Having seen its strength, it assumed all Beedrill were just as powerful.
But that assumption was quickly proven wrong. Eichi used the Eye of the Bug Emperor again; this Beedrill's talent was Ordinary, its strength only Rookie.
During the battle, Scyther defeated it in a single move. It blinked in surprise. That weak?
It seemed its own Beedrill partner was simply too strong, and Scyther admired it even more after that.