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Hora had his own considerations: while his bond with Kakuna was strong, it was currently in its pupal stage, limited to using Harden and Tackle. Against Charmander's speed and flames, it would likely be forced into a passive defense.
Bulbasaur, though a new addition, possessed the Chlorophyll hidden ability. With the sun currently out, triggering this ability would double its speed, potentially allowing it to bypass fire attacks. Furthermore, Bulbasaur knew Poison Powder. Even with a low proficiency of 4%, a successful hit could slowly whittle away Charmander's stamina—an advantage Kakuna didn't have.
Most importantly, he wanted to use this battle to observe Bulbasaur's reactions in live combat. Since he planned to raise it as a core member of his team, exposing weaknesses in a high-intensity battle early on would allow for targeted training. Even if he lost, he would still gain the System's achievement title, so it wasn't a total loss.
"Choosing Bulbasaur?" Red reacted with newfound interest. He knelt down and patted the top of Charmander's head. "Charmander, let's take this seriously too!"
Charmander let out a howl and returned to the center of the field, the flame on its tail burning brighter. It let out a sharp cry at Bulbasaur, as if issuing a challenge. Bulbasaur immediately trotted to its position and stood firm, the seed on its back swaying slightly as its vines flickered at its sides, ready for battle.
"It looks like both of you have chosen your partners!" Professor Oak's voice rang out again, filled with anticipation. "Hora vs. Red, one-on-one! The battle ends when one Pokémon is unable to fight! Begin!"
As the referee's voice fell, Hora took a deep breath and issued the first command: "Bulbasaur, start with Vine Whip! Test the distance!"
Bulbasaur immediately lashed out with two green vines, whipping them rapidly toward Charmander. The move was somewhat unrefined—a clear reflection of its 21% proficiency—but the speed was faster than Hora had anticipated, likely due to a slight bonus from its Hardy nature.
Red's eyes narrowed, and he responded instantly: "Charmander, use Ember against the vines!"
Charmander exhaled a string of sparks toward the incoming vines. The red sparks, carrying scorching heat, traced small arcs in the sunlight before colliding with the vines. The collision happened in the center of the field; the green vines lashed at the red sparks, which in turn scorched the vegetation. Tiny fragments of flame splashed everywhere, igniting the remaining dry grass at the edge of the field.
"Well, that saves me the trouble of clearing the weeds," Professor Oak remarked dryly from the sidelines, though his eyes were shining with excitement. The rhythm of this battle was entirely different from Red's match against Gary; the increased variables clearly piqued his interest.
Hora could see clearly that Red's strategy against him was completely different from the one used against Gary. Against Gary, Red relied on environmental manipulation and tactical positioning; against Hora, he chose a direct, frontal assault.
This was partly due to the obvious type advantage Fire had over Grass, and partly because Charmander had just finished a battle. Its stamina was lower than the fresh Bulbasaur, making a quick victory the optimal solution.
After several exchanges, the disadvantage of the type matchup became apparent. Bulbasaur's vines were now marked with black scorch marks, their vibrant green color turning dull, and the speed of its strikes slowed as the heat took its toll.
Hora's gaze shifted slightly. Even though he was prepared for a "strategic defeat," he had no intention of surrendering outright. This battle was for the achievement title, but it was also to test Bulbasaur's true potential; he had to show his real strength.
He looked up at the sky. The sunlight was even stronger now, its warmth palpable—the perfect time to trigger Chlorophyll.
"Bulbasaur, retract your vines! Charge toward Charmander and use Poison Powder!" Hora shouted.
Bulbasaur's reaction was lightning-fast. Its vines, still tangled with sparks in mid-air, snapped back instantly. Its small body flickered and dodged through the continuous embers. As the sunlight hit its skin, the emerald green surface seemed to glow with a faint light, and its speed nearly doubled!
This was the effect of Chlorophyll, perfectly compensating for the Grass-type's speed disadvantage against Fire.
"Such speed!" Red was inwardly shocked, his gaze toward Bulbasaur turning solemn. He hadn't expected this Bulbasaur to have a hidden ability, nor did he expect Hora to seize the moment the sun peaked to trigger it.
He quickly adjusted his command: "Charmander, use Smokescreen to block its vision!"
But he was a step too late. Just as Charmander opened its mouth to exhale black smoke, Bulbasaur reached it. The seed on its back swayed, and a cloud of pale purple powder erupted instantly. The Poison Powder drifted precisely into Charmander's open mouth.
Charmander's body stiffened. It began to shake its head uneasily, and the flame on its tail flickered. It was poisoned; a bit of purple-tinged saliva even leaked from its mouth, and its body twitched slightly with every breath.
"Poisoned?" Professor Oak raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Hora actually managed to land a Poison Powder during the gap in Red's command while at a type disadvantage. He's meticulous."
Red frowned slightly. He looked at his poisoned Charmander, whose condition was visibly declining, and then at Hora. Hora showed no trace of arrogance; he remained calm, clearly calculating his next move.
A surge of intense battle spirit suddenly rose in Red—a feeling he hadn't experienced even during the fight with Gary. Hora's composure, Bulbasaur's agility, and the well-timed poison attack made him realize this wasn't just a "guaranteed win" due to types, but a battle that required his absolute best.
"Charmander, endure the poison! Continue with Smokescreen!" Red adjusted his tactics without hesitation. Since the poison was already in effect, dragging the fight out would only hurt Charmander; he had to use smoke to create chaos and force an opening.
Enduring the pain of the toxin, Charmander exhaled a massive cloud of thick black smoke, swallowing both itself and Bulbasaur. Before the smoke could even settle, Red's command came again: "Charge into the smoke! Infuse your claws with sparks and use a continuous Scratch!"
This was an all-or-nothing offensive. A Scratch infused with fire not only increased in power but utilized fire damage to suppress the Grass-type Bulbasaur. If it landed just a few hits, the battle would end quickly.
Inside the smoke, orange-red flashes of fire flickered, accompanied by the "whoosh" of claws cutting through air and the occasional sound of swaying vines. Standing on the sidelines, Hora couldn't see the specifics, but the System panel showed Bulbasaur's status shifting from "Healthy" to "Minor Burn".
He didn't rush to stop the match. He stared into the smoke, wanting to see how far Bulbasaur could endure in a desperate situation, and just how sharp Red's tactics really were.