Chapter Ninety-Three: Qiansha's Final Pokémon

“Ah, I’ve faced plenty of challengers, but this is the first time I’ve met one as unusual as you.” Chiesa wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes; she had just laughed until she cried, and Zhao Fang could only smile helplessly, as though he were the one bullying the Gym Trainer.

“Then let us continue. I still have one Pokémon left. If you can defeat my last one, then you win.” Chiesa straightened her posture and fixed Zhao Fang with a bright, intent gaze. Zhao Fang nodded, already considering which Pokémon to send out next.

At first, he had wanted to let Frigibax have some practice, but as an Ice- and Rock-type, Frigibax was four times weak to Fighting. If it took a single blow from a Fighting-type Pokémon, it would likely suffer severe damage. In the end, Zhao Fang decided to send out Drakloak first and see how the battle went. If Drakloak could not win, then he would have no choice but to bring out Frigibax.

“This is my last Pokémon, and she will not fail my expectations. Show our challenger what the power of yoga looks like! Makuhita!” Chiesa stroked her Poké Ball, holding it in her hand, her eyes fixed on Zhao Fang like a wolf staring at its prey.

When Zhao Fang looked at the little garlic-headed Makuhita on the field, he was a little surprised. He had imagined many possibilities, but he had not expected Chiesa’s final Pokémon to be such a distinctive one.

“Makuhita, then? I’m counting on you, Drakloak!” Zhao Fang threw out his own Poké Ball as well. Drakloak gave a cheerful cry, then circled around Zhao Fang and nuzzled against him affectionately.

“Fight well. Beat that guy, and I’ll make you roast duck.” Smiling, Zhao Fang patted Drakloak’s little head. After this period of special training, Drakloak had successfully learned two moves, and Zhao Fang intended to test them in battle.

“What... is that Pokémon?” Chiesa looked at Drakloak with some surprise. She had never seen a Pokémon like it before.

Zhao Fang smiled but said nothing. In a Pokémon battle, intelligence was crucial. For example, if Ash had known that his opponent’s Charizard had the Water Absorb ability, then the outcome of that battle would have been uncertain. If Drakloak could catch its opponent off guard, it could also deal a severe blow to Makuhita. Zhao Fang only needed to seize the opportunity quickly; if his opponent realized that Drakloak was a Ghost type, the element of surprise would be lost.

“Drakloak, close in on your enemy and use Dragon Tail.” Zhao Fang issued the first command, and Drakloak shot forward at high speed toward Makuhita, its tail shimmering with draconic light.

“A Dragon move? Makuhita, dodge it and use Reflect!” Chiesa frowned at Drakloak. She did not know its typing, so for now she could only respond move for move.

“Take this chance and use Shadow Ball!” Seeing Makuhita set up Reflect, Zhao Fang’s eyes lit up. Drakloak was already very close to its opponent.

At Zhao Fang’s command, Drakloak cried out, then condensed a sphere of ghostly energy in its mouth and hurled the Shadow Ball toward Makuhita at high speed.

“Yoga Pose!” Chiesa was startled. For Makuhita, a Ghost-type move like Shadow Ball was highly dangerous.

Zhao Fang looked at her in confusion. Yoga Pose, of course, he knew it: it could raise Makuhita’s Attack. But with the Shadow Ball already in front of it, what use would Yoga Pose be now? Could it be that she simply wanted to die in a more graceful posture?

While Zhao Fang was still puzzled, Drakloak had already fired the Shadow Ball. It raced toward Makuhita at tremendous speed, but Makuhita suddenly twisted its body and struck a strange pose, narrowly evading the attack. Even so, the ghostly energy splashing across the ground still left a look of pain on Makuhita’s face.

“Makuhita, read it!” Chiesa did not hesitate. From the moment she shouted Yoga Pose, she had known her Makuhita could probably avoid the attack. What she needed now was for Makuhita to see through Drakloak; otherwise, neither Fighting-type nor Normal-type moves would be able to hit a Drakloak that might be a Ghost type.

“Drakloak, no need to hide. Use Pursuit to close in on your enemy, then use Shadow Ball!” Zhao Fang quickly issued the order. If Read succeeded, Drakloak would face even greater difficulties.

Watching Drakloak rush in at top speed, Chiesa drew a sharp breath. That speed was simply too fast. She felt that even if Breloom came out and used Mach Punch, it might not be able to hit Drakloak. With no other choice, she could only have Makuhita use Yoga Pose again to dodge the Shadow Ball hurled at it.

Zhao Fang clicked his tongue. It looked as though, with the Shadow Ball currently at his disposal, defeating Makuhita would be impossible. But Zhao Fang had another way.

“Drakloak, Pursuit, then use Shadow Claw!” Zhao Fang did not give Chiesa time to catch her breath. He had to take this round before she could devise a countermeasure, and Shadow Ball and Shadow Claw were the source of his confidence.

As Drakloak surged forward at high speed, a deep violet glow rose around its hand. Makuhita might be able to evade Shadow Ball with Yoga Pose, but there was no way around the close-range Shadow Claw. Even with Reflect in place, it would not fare well against a super-effective strike.

And things turned out exactly as Zhao Fang had expected. The Shadow Claw landed with considerable force on Makuhita, and for reasons known only to Drakloak, this attack had actually been aimed at Makuhita’s legs, greatly restricting its speed.

With its speed hampered, Makuhita became utterly powerless before Drakloak and was ultimately defeated.

“The challenger wins the third round. Since one side has no Pokémon left, this match goes to the challenger.” After checking the field, the referee announced the result directly.

“What a wonderful battle. You’ve raised this Pokémon exceptionally well... By the way, what was your third Pokémon?” Chiesa’s face showed a flicker of disappointment, but it vanished quickly. Looking curiously at Zhao Fang, she asked the question.

“Frigibax.” Zhao Fang had no intention of hiding it. This senior Trainer was a very good person, and he quite liked that side of her personality.

“Huh? Another Pokémon I’ve never seen before. Next time, I definitely won’t lose to you!” Chiesa’s eyes lit up. She looked at Zhao Fang with delight, clearly eager for another battle.