Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 564: I’ll Take on All Ten!

Leon's kite-flying tactic with Dragapult failed. When it came to raw speed, Dragonite was hardly inferior to Dragapult.

But with Extreme Speed — or rather, a modified form of it — Dragonite completely overwhelmed Dragapult in terms of speed.

Finally:

"Dragapult is unable to battle!"

The referee announced loudly, his voice filled with excitement.

He felt that today's battlefield was so safe — nothing like the danger his colleagues had warned him about. Easy day at work!

"Good job, Dragapult."

Leon recalled it gently back into its Poké Ball.

Thud—

Meanwhile, on the big screen, the Poké Balls representing Inteleon and Dragapult dimmed next to Leon's portrait — two Pokémon down!

Although Johan's side still had Ceruledge, Gengar, and Dragonite active, with all three Poké Balls still lit up, both Ceruledge and Dragonite had taken considerable damage.

Ceruledge from the fierce clashes with Cinderace.

Dragonite from the intense duel with Dragapult.

Johan had the advantage, but it wasn't as overwhelming as it might have seemed.

Leon's fighting spirit remained high.

He still had a big chance.

After a brief consideration, Leon tossed his fourth Poké Ball.

At the same time, Johan also recalled Dragonite.

It had done more than enough.

BOOM BOOM—

With heavy drumbeats, a massive, dark brown gorilla-like Pokémon with green leafy patches on its head, wrists, and waist appeared on the field.

Rillaboom!

Rillaboom grabbed what looked like a wooden stake, which instantly expanded into a massive drum.

It grabbed two wooden drumsticks, and bam-bam-bam —

the powerful drumbeats echoed.

Bam bam bam—

The rhythmic beats spread out, causing a lush green grassy terrain to overgrow the battlefield.

Grassy Terrain!

Leon's Rillaboom clearly had the Grassy Surge ability.

[Grassy Surge: Upon entering battle, the Pokémon creates a Grassy Terrain.]

This ability was similar to the Psychic Surge that Johan's Indeedee had — except this one summoned grass, not psychic fields.

In the Pokémon world, there were abilities to summon weather — hail, sandstorms, harsh sunlight —

and there were abilities to summon terrains — grassy, psychic, misty, etc.

These features expanded a Pokémon's natural strengths significantly.

"Rillaboom, the Drummer Pokémon, Grass type. Known for steady personalities and strong emotional control. Their drumbeats can be loud enough to shake the ground—Rotom!"

Compared to Leon's previous Pokémon, Johan was much more familiar with Rillaboom, a frequent powerhouse in Pokémon Battle tournaments.

Bam bam bam—

Rillaboom's drumming echoed across the field.

Gengar was even bouncing along to the beat, seemingly appreciating its musical skills.

After confirming Leon's fourth Pokémon, Johan, still maintaining the tactical advantage of sending out Pokémon after seeing Leon's pick, threw out his fourth Poké Ball.

"Oowoo~~"

Amid the lush greenery, snowflakes began to fall, gradually blanketing the field.

Graceful, ethereal — a mystical figure danced between ice and grass.

Ninetales!

"As expected — Ice Ninetales versus Grassy Terrain!"

Commentator Raihan was back on form.

Earlier, when Dragonite's Extreme Speed broke logic, he was left speechless.

But now — he could finally analyze again.

Ice attacks were super effective against Grass types.

However, Rillaboom wasn't helpless either; Grass moves could hit Ice Ninetales neutrally.

This would be a proper duel.

Also, while Johan had the advantage of counter-picking, Leon now held the first move advantage.

Sure enough—

"Rillaboom, Fake Out!"

Bam bam bam—

With an urgent rhythm, two thick brown vines shot up from the grassy terrain, slapping at Ninetales.

Using Fake Out's priority, the vines smacked Ninetales before it could react!

Wham! Wham!

Hit successful!

"Rillaboom, Taunt!"

Leon immediately followed up.

Bam bam—

Rillaboom pounded the drum, then cocked a finger at Ninetales provocatively.

Taunt —

prevented the opponent from using status moves for a time, blocking abilities like Aurora Veil or Nasty Plot.

"Leon is very cautious,"

Raihan observed.

Normally, after Fake Out induced flinching, you'd want to attack again immediately.

But Leon prioritized Taunt instead, fearing Johan's tricks.

Against Johan, caution was justified.

Sure enough—

Even before Taunt fully landed, Ninetales shook off the flinch.

A Pokémon raised by a professional Pokémon psychologist wouldn't have weak mental fortitude.

Leon's caution had paid off.

"Tch."

Johan clicked his tongue slightly.

Very cautious indeed.

"Rillaboom, Drum Beating!"

Leon pressed the advantage.

Bam bam bam—

Two more vines lashed out toward Ninetales.

Even though Rillaboom focused on physical offense, using vines via grassy terrain made it unpredictable.

"Evade!"

Johan said calmly.

"Oowoo~~"

Ninetales, although Taunted, moved with lithe elegance, dodging the slashing vines easily.

"Blizzard!"

WHOOOSH—

Arctic winds surged.

What had been gentle snow now transformed into a blizzard of sharp ice blades!

Rillaboom tried to Grassy Glide across the field to avoid the onslaught.

But—

"Oowoo!!"

With a proud howl, Ninetales amplified the blizzard, expanding it to cover the entire field.

Without the protection of Aurora Veil, Ninetales felt somewhat vulnerable—

thus, it unleashed everything.

The blizzard's power—

"Incredible! So strong!"

Raihan exclaimed.

Facing Johan in battle was way different than just watching from commentary.

The Blizzard now was even more terrifying than what he had faced.

Crack crack crack—

Frost began creeping up Rillaboom's body.

Still, it stubbornly pounded its drum.

Wham! Wham!

The vines struck at a Ninetales—

only for the target to collapse into snow!

"A Substitute? No! A Snowman!"

Leon immediately realized.

Taunted Ninetales couldn't use Substitute —

but building snowmen as decoys using Blizzard?

Allowed.

"Rillaboom, Boomburst!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM—

The drumbeats grew thunderous.

A massive sonic wave blasted outward, shaking off the ice from Rillaboom's body,

scattering all the snowmen and clearing the field!

"Battle Cry!"

"ROAR!!"

[Battle Cry: Lowers the opponent's Attack and Special Attack.]

Johan breathed a faint puff of white mist.

"Ninetales—Blizzard again."

WHOOOSH—

The second Blizzard was even stronger, aided subtly by psychic power.

"It's using Psychic energy?!"

Caitlin gasped from the spectator stands.

Ninetales wasn't just controlling snow.

It was directing it with psychic precision!

Frost mist shrouded Ninetales, its pale blue eyes shimmering.

Not safe.

Better use 50% strength.

A layer of fine mist surrounded Ninetales' body.

"Am I seeing things?!"

someone in the stands cried.

"The soundwaves... FROZE?!"

another shouted.

There, midair—

The ripples of Rillaboom's Battle Cry were trapped in a sheet of ice!

Even Leon and Rillaboom were stunned.

Regardless of whether they understood it,

The double Blizzard overwhelmed the field!

"Rillaboom, Wood Hammer! Smash through the ice!"

Bam bam bam—

Huge vines slammed around furiously.

Leon chose a direct brawl.

Either freeze Rillaboom entirely, or smash through to Ninetales.

But—

Johan smiled faintly.

"Ninetales, Ice Shard."

Amid the freezing storm, a sharp chunk of ice shot from Ninetales' tail. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

WHAM!!

Like snapping a frozen spring water bottle,

Rillaboom was instantly covered in crystal ice!

"Rillaboom is unable to battle!"

The referee announced.

Ninetales had won!

Ninetales paused, sighing softly.

So close to messing up...

Better ask Johan to help me train anti-Taunt responses later...

Thud—

Rillaboom's portrait darkened.

Leon had lost another Pokémon.

"Such a shame,"

Raihan shook his head.

Honestly, Leon and Rillaboom had fought brilliantly.

But Johan's Ice Ninetales was simply on another level.

Leon silently recalled Rillaboom.

Now the disadvantage was stark.

Most importantly—

Johan still held the counter-pick advantage.

That was suffocating.

Leon had to change the tempo!

Huff.

Leon exhaled, slapping his cheeks lightly.

There was still hope!

"Go, Cinderace!"

Once more, Cinderace returned to the field.

Fwoosh!!

The intense flames around it weakened the snowstorm dramatically.

Johan's eyes flashed.

"Gengar."

"Ka-kaah?"

Me again?

Gengar stepped up eagerly.

At the same time, Ninetales nimbly leaped back to the sidelines, tapping Gengar's hand with her tail.

Clap!

"Ka-kaah,"

Gengar blew warm breath onto his icy hand,

then smirked mischievously at Cinderace.

Cinderace vs. Gengar?

"Cinderace, Quick Attack to close in!"

Leon called.

ZOOM—

Cinderace's hair turned white; it zipped toward Gengar.

Its type changed to Normal.

Normal > Ghost?

Was Leon planning something?

"U-turn!"

Leon shouted as Cinderace neared.

Ah—

Quick Attack to reposition,

then U-turn to escape and reverse the tempo!

Smart!

However—

Johan smiled faintly.

"Gengar, Skill Swap!"

"Ka-kaah!"

A dark tendril from Gengar's shadow latched onto Cinderace.

Abilities swapped.

Now:

Cinderace had Cursed Body.

Gengar had Libero!

Immediately afterward, Cinderace disappeared back into its Poké Ball.

On the field:

Johan and Gengar wore near-identical mischievous smirks.

Libero acquired.

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar danced joyfully across the battlefield.

This was a "snatch the treasure" moment!

Gengar even donned sunglasses dramatically:

"Ka-kaah-ka-kaah~! (▼⊿▼)"

This time, I'll take on all TEN of you!

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Powerstones?

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