Chapter 13: No, Did the Exposed Puffball Mushroom Also Harbor Darkness?

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All the above analysis assumes ordinary circumstances, but this match...

A game of strategy?

Xia Chi chuckled softly.

Did I send out the Twin Stars of the starter trio just to play nice?

“Gorilla Slam, Flaming Roar Tiger, use the Double Slap surprise attack on them!”

On the screen, a massive gorilla, its head crowned with dark green bushes, brandished a drumstick and charged forward, slapping before the hairy giant troll could react.

Then, a fierce crimson tiger roared loudly, rushing out to deliver another slap aimed at Brimwen.

Smack—

Smack—

The sharp claps echoed in quick succession, leaving both Pokémon in a [flinching] state, unable to use their moves.

A plain and straightforward Double Slap surprise attack, outright refusing to engage in a drawn-out battle!

The audience, having never seen the double slap tactic before, erupted with laughter, their comments flooding the screen.

Yet, some voiced skepticism.

“The damage from Double Slap isn’t high and it can only be used once. Besides stalling, what’s the point?”

Xia Chi remained silent, focusing solely on issuing commands.

“Target Brimwen. Gorilla Slam, use Leaf Slide. Flaming Roar Tiger, use U-turn!”

The flinch effect from Double Slap lasts only moments.

The hairy giant troll quickly snapped out of it and, using its prankster ability [Mischievous Spirit], promptly set up Trick Room.

Meanwhile, Gorilla Slam slid aggressively under Brimwen’s skirt.

Leaf Slide, the signature move that crowned Gorilla Slam as the top starter of the eighth generation, was terrifyingly powerful.

Before its nerf, it rivaled Flamethrower in damage and, within the grassy terrain, it gains priority from the ability.

Every aspect showcased the sheer might of its stats.

Of course, Leaf Slide’s damage in this game was nerfed, but with the grass-type STAB and terrain boost, it still packed a punch.

Gorilla Slam’s sturdy sweeping kick dealt significant damage to Brimwen, whose physical defense was frail.

Nearly half of Brimwen’s health vanished instantly.

Then, Trick Room was successfully activated.

The battlefield’s speed order became chaotic. The slower Brimwen managed to act before Flaming Roar Tiger.

A magical flash burst forth; the type-disadvantaged tiger’s health visibly dropped by nearly half.

Fortunately, it then used U-turn to exit the battlefield, escaping with its life.

Brimwen’s fairy typing mitigated some damage; otherwise, even pure psychic Pokémon might not have endured that U-turn.

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Replacing Flaming Roar Tiger was none other than Sporeshroom.

With a momentary lull, Xia Chi explained, “Second Trick Room strategy: use low-speed Pokémon. As long as I’m slow enough, your swapped Pokémon will also be slow.”

Trick Room reverses the speed order of all Pokémon on the field.

Upon Sporeshroom’s entry, the opponent’s giant troll’s speed visibly dropped.

In contrast, Sporeshroom transformed swiftly into a nimble mushroom.

Xia Chi commanded briskly, “Gorilla Slam, use Wood Hammer targeting Brimwen. Sporeshroom, use Spore on the giant troll.”

Without a doubt, Sporeshroom became the fastest on the field. Its mushroom cap trembled, spraying a cloud of dark green spores onto the troll’s face.

The sleep-inducing spores took immediate effect; the giant troll collapsed, succumbing to a baby-like slumber.

Brimwen followed up with a Psychic Shock, aiming at the already weakened Gorilla Slam.

Sadly, the non-super effective Psychic Shock failed to bring down the remarkably durable Tapu Gorilla.

Instead, the latter retaliated with a devastating Wood Hammer, forcing Brimwen to retreat in anguish.

First Blood!

“666, as expected from Prison Water, still playing so annoyingly.”

“Those two are bulky and fierce, so why is Water Teacher playing so sneakily?”

“Who still doubts the Double Slap surprise attack? Just learn from Water God’s playstyle!”

“Can someone mute that Water God fangirl? It’s making me sick.”

“......”

Xia Chi ignored the teasing comments and remained focused on the match.

“Pokémon: Champion’s Road” emphasizes real-time commands far more than the turn-based battles of the past.

Besides, Pokémon in this game have no autonomy; unlike real battles, they won’t act without player direction.

If a player stops commanding, a Latios might actually get beaten down by a Caterpie.

Quickly withdrawing the injured Gorilla Slam, Xia Chi sent out the last reserve Pokémon — the “main character” of the team —

Pachirisu!

Just kidding, but winning a match with it would be worth a Master Ball!

If it doesn’t come out now, what if the opponent surrenders?

The petite electric squirrel’s appearance sent the chat into a frenzy, while the opponent was left stunned.

After a long moment, they recalled the fallen Brimwen and sent out Mason.

Xia Chi pondered, “Mason, huh? Looks like their last Pokémon should be Rhyperior.”

Rhyperior is quadruple weak to grass, naturally unwilling to face the firepower of two grass-type Pokémon.

But whether it's Rhyperior or Mason no longer mattered.

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“Sporeshroom, use Spore on Mason!”

Both Pokémon were faster than Sporeshroom, but under the still-active Trick Room, their speeds reversed, making them slower.

The dark green mushroom spores sprayed again, this time targeting Mason’s deeply wrinkled face.

Mason’s raised concrete pillar arm suddenly dropped, wobbling as it collapsed towards Sporeshroom’s body.

With this, both opposing Pokémon fell into an infant-like sleep.

This meant the opponent could only wait for one of the two to awaken.

What?

Sending out Rhyperior now?

Is it because having too few sleeping Pokémon on the field is a problem?

Unfortunately, luck was not on their side.

Despite Pachirisu’s Volt Tackle and Sporeshroom’s Sludge Bomb relentlessly pounding the two sleeping Pokémon, they remained sound asleep.

Watching this unfold, the opponent fell silent for several seconds before angrily surrendering.

The enormous word “VICTORY” filled the screen. Xia Chi stretched and spontaneously composed a haiku:

“The mushroom’s power,
Sleeping troll then sleeping mason,
Even Dan defeats.”

——————

“Most obnoxious!”

“Most hopeless!”

“Most disgusting!”

“Most ruthless!”

Opponent: “How can there be such a vile Sporeshroom Pokémon?”

“Did they surrender just because they didn’t send out Rhyperior? Are they a fan of Professor Tree?”

“What good would Rhyperior do? It’s still slower than Sporeshroom. Let Prison Water be even sneakier!”

“Ultimately, it’s because they didn’t bring my ant god. If Mason were replaced by the slower Rhyperior, it would’ve been crushed by Earthquake already!”

“Ha! Truly! Ant God forever, Ant Gate!”

“Ant Gate!”

“......”