"Archeops, I'm counting on you!"
As N threw his Poké Ball, a shrill, feral cry tore through the air. A vibrantly feathered Pokémon unfurled its wings, hovering before N—it was Archeops! One of the few Pokémon with the infamous "Glass Cannon" trait.
Everyone knew that a Pokémon's strength came from many aspects, but when it came to battling, things became a lot more nuanced.
And one factor that could never be overlooked was Abilities. Most Abilities were beneficial, boosting a Pokémon's strengths.
Even if some were cryptic, they rarely harmed their user. But… there were three glaring exceptions.
"Archeops, huh…" Dylan's expression twisted strangely at the sight of it.
Slaking's Truant, Regigigas's Slow Start, and Archeops's Defeatist—these three were in a league of their own.
Not in a good way.
Everyone knew about Truant—it forced Slaking to loaf around every other turn. Pure sabotage.
Then there was Slow Start—cutting Regigigas's Attack and Speed in half for five turns after entering battle. Absolutely debilitating.
Regigigas, the mythic giant who created the legendary titans—Regirock, Regice, Registeel, and even the OP Regidrago and Regieleki—yet ironically, it couldn't even make it into banlists in competitive play.
There were even rumors that Slow Start was punishment from Arceus… Dylan made a note to ask Regigigas about it someday.
And finally—Defeatist, Archeops's curse.
Compared to Slaking and Regigigas, Archeops's Ability wasn't quite as punishing, but still awful.
Defeatist: When HP falls below 50%, Archeops becomes demoralized—its Attack and Special Attack are halved.
And Archeops was built entirely around high Attack and blistering Speed. Once Defeatist kicked in, it was basically done for.
Even worse, Archeops had paper-thin defenses. In the games, just sneezing on it was enough to trigger Defeatist.
A truly cursed Ability.
But ironically, in the real world, Archeops actually performed pretty well—unlike the other two.
See, both Slaking and Archeops were given such handicaps because their base stats were absurdly high.
Archeops was no exception. When not hindered by Defeatist, it was incredibly strong—especially in physical offense.
Couple that with top-tier Speed and solid Special Attack, and you had a fast, powerful glass cannon—perfect for high-speed burst tactics.
Beep~ Archeops. Rock/Flying-type. First Bird Pokémon.
Ability: Defeatist.
Moves: Headlong Rush, Uproar, Dragon Claw, Crunch, U-turn, Rock Slide, Acrobatics…
Description: Said to be the ancestor of all bird Pokémon. Its wing muscles are still underdeveloped—it must get a running start to fly.
"A double-edged sword, that one…" Alder muttered.
"But Archeops is really strong! And it's perfect for countering that Salazzle."
Iris had a different take. She had a main team Archeops herself—she knew what she was talking about.
Salazzle was a fast, special-attacking glass cannon. The best way to handle a nimble threat like that was with an even faster, more aggressive attacker.
Plus, Archeops had type advantage.
"True, but…" Alder still shook his head.
On the battlefield—
"Archeops, Quick Attack!"
N gave the command sharply.
Archeops let out a piercing screech, its eyes gleaming as it dove like a missile, white light trailing behind it.
"Sweet Scent."
A mischievous smile tugged at Dylan's lips.
Salazzle smirked and swiped her claw through the air, releasing a fragrant pink mist—Normal-type move, Sweet Scent.
Bang!
Archeops shot straight through the mist and slammed into Salazzle, sending her skidding backward with a grunt.
That hit hurt. Archeops's raw power was nothing to sneeze at.
Salazzle dug her claws into the dirt to steady herself, her slitted eyes narrowing at the flapping bird above.
That damn bird hits like a truck.
"Didn't use Defog? Didn't inherit it, or just trying to KO Salazzle first?"
Dylan narrowed his eyes slightly. Archeops could learn Defog, and with Toxic Spikes on the field, it was a valid counter. But maybe it was a calculated risk—Archeops wasn't touching the ground, after all.
"Rock Slide!"
N called out again.
Archeops shrieked and conjured massive stones, then hurled them down with a powerful flap of its wings.
"Dodge."
Salazzle twisted and slithered with uncanny agility, weaving between falling rocks.
Every single one missed. Salazzle's mobility was simply too high.
N frowned. It was time to take a gamble.
"Quick Attack!"
Archeops dove again with blinding speed.
"Evade," Dylan replied calmly.
Salazzle backpedaled into the pink mist of Sweet Scent, which still lingered in the air.
Archeops closed in fast.
"Thunder Wave."
Salazzle crackled with electricity.
N's eyes narrowed. "Archeops!"
But it was too late. The aroma in the air had dulled Archeops's reactions slightly. Its wings sliced through the mist—and it crashed into Salazzle, legs striking her and pinning her to the ground.
Salazzle hissed in pain. Her frail defense made even Quick Attack sting.
But the electricity washed over Archeops, paralyzing it mid-action.
Archeops's body froze. Its feet remained planted on Salazzle's chest, preventing her from standing.
"That Thunder Wave… Archeops still has a shot though."
Alder's eyes lit up. Iris nodded excitedly.
Salazzle glared, her narrow eyes burning.
"Earthquake!" N shouted.
Four times effective. If it hit, Salazzle was done.
Archeops recovered, wings flapping as it rose—and slammed back down with a thunderous impact.
"Salazzle," Dylan called softly.
Salazzle tried to twist away, but Archeops was too quick. The Earthquake hit squarely.
BOOM!
Salazzle screamed as the shockwave exploded outward. The impact zone quaked violently.
A devastating blow.
"That's one hell of an Earthquake," Dylan murmured with admiration.
N relaxed slightly—finally, a win. Sure, Archeops was paralyzed, but its offensive power remained formidable.
He opened his mouth to speak—
"But it's still not enough," Dylan said with a grin.
"???" N blinked, confused—until his expression suddenly changed.
As the dust settled, Salazzle lay crumpled under Archeops, seemingly defeated…
But suddenly, a black claw clamped around Archeops's leg.
Archeops's eyes widened in shock.
Salazzle was still conscious—gasping for breath, barely hanging on—but alive.
It was as if she'd returned from the dead.
Even Archeops looked like it had seen a ghost.
Iris was stunned. "No way!!"
That was quadruple super-effective Earthquake! From N's Archeops, no less! How was Salazzle still alive?!
"There's a way," Alder said, eyes narrowing. He glanced toward Dylan.
Iris furrowed her brow—then her eyes lit up.
"Endure," N whispered, already piecing it together.
The Normal-type move that lets the user survive a lethal hit with 1 HP.
"Salazzle, Headlong Rush!"
Dylan gave the command immediately.
Salazzle hissed, body glowing white as she threw herself into Archeops with reckless abandon.
"Archeops!" N cried.
Archeops tried to fly away—but Salazzle held its leg, and the paralysis kicked in.
BAM!!
Salazzle slammed into Archeops like a missile.
Archeops let out a shrill, pained screech as it was sent flying across the field.
Headlong Rush—in the real world, it functioned like a berserk desperation move. The more battered the user, the more devastating the impact.
And Salazzle was hanging on by a thread.
The impact sent Archeops crashing to the ground—right into the waiting Toxic Spikes.
Its body glowed a sickly purple as it convulsed in pain.
Then…
Nothing.
The poison took hold.
Archeops collapsed, unconscious.
Silence.
The entire gym went still.
Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn.
"Ahem… Archeops is unable to battle. Salazzle wins," Alder finally announced after clearing his throat.
Dylan nodded with satisfaction. "As expected of one of my earliest Pokémon."
N, on the other hand, looked like he'd just been smacked with a shovel.
He stared blankly at his unconscious Archeops, then at the black-scaled lizard across the field.
He'd… been one-shot…
Was this the kind of battle he had envisioned?
End of Chapter 380.