Chapter 4: Battle Against Cynthia!

“Hey, Zhao Fang, do you want to have a battle with Cynthia?” Yujia, just back at her own home, approached Zhao Fang with a mischievous smile, speaking to him in a mysterious tone.

“Huh?” Zhao Fang’s expression twisted oddly. He even wondered if this scholar named Yujia had hit her head. Challenging Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion, with only two badges under his belt as a rookie trainer? That was practically courting death.

He quickly and decisively shook his head. His current strength was far from enough to make Cynthia bring out her main Pokémon. Most likely, she would use some of her swapped-out Pokémon against him. But Zhao Fang didn’t think he was strong enough to even challenge Cynthia’s reserve lineup.

“Tch, no ambition. How can you think like that? You should know that many trainers in Sinnoh aspire to face Cynthia,” Yujia tried to egg him on, but Zhao Fang refused again. For the weak to draw their sword against the oppressor is a hymn to courage; but for an unarmed person to climb into a tiger’s cage and challenge the tiger—that’s just asking for death.

“What if Cynthia only uses Togekiss?” Hearing Yujia’s suggestion, Zhao Fang frowned. Of course, he knew Togekiss—one of Cynthia’s main Pokémon and quite formidable. Facing such harsh weather earlier, Togekiss had calmly led them down safely.

But after all, Togekiss was one of Cynthia’s core Pokémon. Defeating it would be a daunting task.

“If you agree to challenge Cynthia’s Togekiss, I can teach your Gyarados the move Hurricane,” Yujia offered an enticing incentive. This immediately caught Zhao Fang’s attention. He had often lamented how to teach Gyarados a Flying-type move. After all, it was a Water/Flying Pokémon that couldn’t learn any Flying moves—wasn’t that a joke?

However, the methods to learn moves were monopolized in the League. Zhao Fang wasn’t even sure he could learn it. Now, Yujia was willing to teach him, so Zhao Fang nodded in agreement.

Cynthia quickly accepted this seemingly playful battle and even added a new condition.

“Though the League battle rules have changed, I’m still more accustomed to the old rules. How about this: I’ll battle you under the old League rules, and you’ll have unlimited move usage,” Cynthia said with a smile. Zhao Fang nodded; he understood that Cynthia was giving him a bit of a handicap. Togekiss’s move pool was indeed vast.

Yujia arranged for the battle to take place in her own training ground, where she would also serve as the referee.

“Zhao Fang, do you know why Yujia is hosting this battle?” On the training field, Cynthia suddenly winked playfully at Zhao Fang.

“Huh?” Zhao Fang was momentarily stunned and glanced at Yujia—could there be some hidden reason?

“Cynthia! You rascal! You promised not to tell!” Yujia glared at Cynthia, clearly wanting to call a biased foul.

“Then let her tell you after the battle. Togekiss, show off your graceful moves!” Just a moment ago, Cynthia had smiled cheekily at Yujia; now, her demeanor shifted completely. With a swift throw of a Poké Ball, the Togekiss that Zhao Fang had once ridden appeared on the field.

Facing this imposing Togekiss, Zhao Fang felt a surge of pressure. Is this what battling the Champion feels like?

At that moment, Zhao Fang’s entire body trembled. Yujia looked on worriedly, wondering if she had put too much pressure on him. But then she noticed a faint smile appear on Cynthia’s otherwise serious face.

“So, I’m actually trembling with excitement,” Zhao Fang thought, feeling his shaking body and burning determination.

“Go! Gyarados!” Zhao Fang immediately threw out his Poké Ball. Gyarados roared ferociously, glaring at the Togekiss before it.

Togekiss looked indifferent, even waving its wings casually at Zhao Fang. Zhao Fang found it hard to suppress a smile but quickly composed himself.

Togekiss was a Fairy/Flying-type Pokémon, but what concerned Zhao Fang most was its ability. Togekiss had three possible abilities, and depending on which it had, the suitable move combinations could vary greatly. Now, it was up to Cynthia’s tactics.

“Togekiss, use Thunder Wave!” Cynthia commanded directly. Togekiss shed its previous lazy attitude and let out a cute cry as a bolt of electricity shot swiftly toward Gyarados.

Zhao Fang’s pupils contracted sharply—too fast, faster than he could react. It was as if Togekiss anticipated Cynthia’s command, leaving Zhao Fang no time to instruct Gyarados to dodge. The Thunder Wave struck Gyarados, which trembled and became paralyzed.

Zhao Fang gritted his teeth. He never expected to fall into such a predicament right after entering the battle. Paralysis would slow Gyarados, making it difficult to maneuver against Togekiss.

“Gyarados! Don’t give up! Use Aqua Jet and move quickly!” Zhao Fang resolved to train Gyarados to resist paralysis in the future. A Water/Flying-type like Gyarados was just too vulnerable to Electric moves.

Gyarados let out a pained roar, slamming its tail against the ground as it struggled to move swiftly.

“Togekiss, don’t give your opponent any chance! Use Air Slash to exploit its opening!” Cynthia showed no mercy. Though she agreed to limit herself to four moves, she was fully focused on the battle.

The worst part was, despite Gyarados’s efforts, paralysis hindered it severely. It stood painfully still as the rapidly approaching Togekiss’s Air Slash struck its neck—a critical hit.

Gyarados collapsed on the ground. Zhao Fang was devastated. Though he knew the gap between him and Cynthia was large, he hadn’t expected it to be this vast. Without seeing any other moves from Cynthia, just a Thunder Wave and an Air Slash had rendered Gyarados unable to fight.

Zhao Fang gave a bitter smile and shook his head. Forget about a two-for-one trade; his new goal was to force Togekiss to reveal all four of its moves.

“Gyarados has lost the ability to fight. Zhao Fang, would you like to switch out?” Yujia raised the flag, but before she finished, she stared in surprise at Gyarados.

Zhao Fang clenched his Gyarados’s Poké Ball tightly and looked over. To his shock, Gyarados stood up again, its eyes glowing a deep crimson.