Cubone didn't wait for a second command. With a shout, it jumped high and charged straight at Pidgey, who quickly flapped its wings and flew into the air to lead the fight away from its trainer.
Pidgey's wings cut through the wind, and it quickly launched a Gust. The air swirled around Cubone, but the small ground-type Pokémon didn't flinch.
It pushed forward, swinging its bone like a hammer and smashing through the gusts. As it landed, Cubone's eyes glowed with determination.
Kay noticed that every attack Cubone used was heavy, much stronger than usual. Kay thought that maybe while Cubone had been hiding in the trees, it had used moves like Swords Dance or Focus Energy to raise its stats to a high level.
Kay had also noticed that this Cubone was strong and unique, as it was carrying two bones in its hands, every bone in a hand.
Pidgey dove in again with a Quick Attack, but Cubone sidestepped it and swung its bone with full force.
The blow clipped Pidgey's wing, sending it off-balance. The bird cried out but didn't fall. It turned sharply in the air and shot out a Sand Attack, blinding Cubone slightly. That gave it a few seconds to rise higher into the trees.
But Cubone wasn't finished. It slammed its bones on the ground, then used Bonemerang, sending two spinning bones through the air.
One hit the tree trunk near Pidgey, while the second one nicked its tail feathers, forcing it lower. Cubone caught both bones as they came back and rushed forward again.
The battle continued like this; Pidgey using speed and air advantage, while Cubone relied on raw power and the boost it had gained earlier.
Every time Cubone attacked, the ground shook slightly. Kay knew that if Pidgey took a direct hit from any of those strikes, it would be over.
Still, Pidgey was clever. It never stayed still, always circling, always moving. It tried a Wing Attack, hitting Cubone from behind.
The attack connected, and Cubone stumbled but quickly turned and threw its bone like a whip. Pidgey was ready this time and dodged it mid-air.
Kay watched closely, impressed by both Pokémons, but he wished that Cubone would accumulate some injuries to simplify his job later.
Kay remained completely still, hidden behind a thick wall of bushes as he watched the intense Pokémon battle unfold in the clearing ahead.
His heartbeat was steady, and his eyes were sharp, observing every movement with focused precision.
Now that Pidgey and Cubone had moved close enough, Kay activated the system embedded within his consciousness.
'System,' he whispered in his mind, 'show me Pidgey's status.' A semi-transparent screen appeared, floating just in front of his vision, displaying the detailed data of the avian Pokémon.
The system showed:
**
Pidgey:
Potential: Light Red
Stage: Superior Steel
Moveset: Sand Attack, Wing Attack, Gust, Double Team, Quick Attack, Work Up.
**
Kay raised his eyebrows with slight surprise. A Light Red potential was rare and promising, especially considering Pidgey still had two evolutions to go.
With such fast movements, high potential, and still two evolutions left, this Pidgey had the foundation to grow into a truly formidable force.
It had solid battle instincts too; Kay could tell by the way it handled itself against Cubone's attacks.
Unfortunately, the biggest disadvantage today wasn't its strength but was the opponent it faced; a fully buffed Cubone prepared to crush anything in its path.
Without wasting time, Kay turned his attention to Cubone and ordered the system to check its stats next. A new screen loaded with its information:
**
Cubone:
Potential: Dark Orange
Stage: Superior Steel
Moveset: Sand Attack, Bonemerang, Dig, Swords Dance, Double Kick, Thunder Punch, Bone Rush.
**
Kay's eyes narrowed as he read through the list. This Cubone was something else. Its moveset was strategic and versatile.
With Swords Dance, it could boost its attack power to high levels. Sand Attack could mess with an opponent's accuracy.
Bonemerang and Bone Rush were powerful Ground-type attacks that worked well with their natural strength.
On top of that, it had Dig to escape or surprise enemies and Thunder Punch, a rare move for a Ground-type, allowing it to surprise and counter Water-types, Cubone's biggest weakness.
Kay couldn't help but admire the planning behind this Cubone's training. Player 27 had clearly built it for versatility and surprise, and it was paying off in this fight.
As Kay turned his gaze back to the battlefield, it became obvious that Pidgey was now on the losing side.
The energetic, darting movements it had shown earlier were beginning to slow down. Its flaps weren't as strong, and its flight path began dipping slightly every few seconds.
Kay realized the turning point had been when Cubone managed to land a clean hit on one of Pidgey's wings.
That single strike had ruined Pidgey's key advantage; its speed. Now, the bird Pokémon was struggling to keep distance from Cubone's relentless attacks.
The little Ground-type was not giving it any breathing room. Two bones spun and sliced through the air at deadly angles, forcing Pidgey to use every ounce of energy just to avoid being hit. The situation was turning desperate.
Then, Cubone paused for a brief second, crouched slightly, and spun both arms. With a strong yell from its trainer, it used a double Bonemerang.
Two bones shot through the air with frightening speed and accuracy. Pidgey managed to respond quickly, summoning a strong gust of wind with Gust, which stopped the first spinning bone mid-air.
But before it could dodge the second one, it was already too close. The injured wing slowed Pidgey down just enough to prevent a clean escape.
The second bone slammed into its side, sending Pidgey spiraling through the air before crashing to the ground. It didn't move. From the way it lay, there was no doubt that it had fainted.
Kay sighed silently. His plan to wait for Cubone to get injured through battle had completely failed.
He had hoped that Pidgey would do enough damage to tire or weaken Cubone, giving Kay a better shot in a direct confrontation.
But Pidgey hadn't landed anything meaningful. Cubone had dominated the battle from start to finish, taking advantage of its attack boost and using its wide variety of moves smartly.
Yet Kay didn't panic. He reminded himself that buffing moves like Swords Dance didn't last forever.
Just like when someone flexes their muscles, they might look stronger and feel stronger for a while, but eventually, the strength starts to fade, and their body tires.
It was the same with Pokémons. Those temporary stat boosts couldn't last an entire match.
As Cubone proudly caught both of its bones and returned to its trainer's side, Kay remained hidden, making a mental note.
'I need to train Eevee to learn some boosting moves too.'
This battle had shown him the value of having that extra edge. If Eevee could raise its stats at the right moment, it could overcome even stronger opponents.
Buffing wasn't just useful; it was often the key to winning a fight before it even began. For now, Kay would stay put, carefully watching, waiting for the right moment. He would attack once the buffs wore off and the playing field was equal again.
See you in the next chapter...
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