Chapter 290: Showed Up, Got One-Shot
Faced with the opponent's unsportsmanlike conduct, Arthur was no fool.
"Greninja, use Lick!"
When you have to use a move, you use a move.
The Ghost-type move: Lick. The purpose wasn't damage, nor was he hoping for a lucky paralysis.
The real goal was to use this move to change Greninja's type to Ghost!
The Ghost type is massively immune to the Fighting type!
This would effectively nullify the Fighting-type energy imbued in every one of the enemy's punches and kicks.
Of course, in reality, there's no such thing as complete immunity.
The raw power boost and the pure physical damage from Close Combat's punches and kicks couldn't be negated.
But Greninja wasn't afraid of that!
"If we're talking about that, then I'm wide awake."
The humanoid Mienshao, upon closing the distance, swung a palm forward. The skill-enhanced power was immense. Before the palm even arrived, the force of the blow was already howling through the air!
But Greninja was fearless!
It suddenly leaped mid-charge. With the superior jumping ability of a frog, it soared several meters into the air, right over Mienshao's head. While airborne, it whipped its long tongue backward, lashing it across Mienshao's face like a soft whip!
It had not only dodged Mienshao's attack but had also flawlessly executed Arthur's "Lick" command to change its type.
And in a single exchange, it had used pure skill to viciously slap Mienshao across the face!
The damage was minimal, but the humiliation was extreme.
Mienshao's face flushed red with anger on the spot!
It immediately spun around to continue the pursuit!
But now that Greninja had changed its type, it was no longer afraid.
"Try to cut into its center line!"
Greninja understood Arthur's hint instantly!
It crossed its arms, one horizontal and one vertical, to block a sweeping sleeve-strike from Mienshao.
Then, it immediately stepped forward, closing the distance into Mienshao's guard, and slammed an elbow into its chest!
Don't be fooled by Mienshao's slender figure. Its arms, when extended, were over half its body length, giving it a huge reach advantage. But its torso was very thin, similar to its real-world counterpart, the weasel. It had no pecs, no six-pack abs. The durability of its core was actually quite average.
In battle, it primarily relies on skill to block and create distance, using leverage to deflect impacts.
It can't handle powerful, direct physical blows.
Like Greninja's strike to its center line!
Knocked back by the elbow, Greninja pressed its advantage, showing no mercy!
Even without a skill buff, it was fighting more fiercely than the skill-boosted Mienshao!
Ducking low and sliding to the side, Greninja dodged another of Mienshao's sweeps. It then straightened up and delivered an uppercut that once again made Mienshao cry out in pain.
Its other hand shot out in a straight jab to the face, which Mienshao blocked with its long arm.
Greninja immediately opened its hand, using its large, webbed palm to grab the opponent's arm and pull it aside. It then swung its body forward, slamming a headbutt that made Mienshao see stars.
This was followed by a knee strike, once again aimed at Mienshao's center!
Greninja has white, hemispherical bubbles on its elbows and knees, which make its elbow and knee strikes even more powerful.
For a moment, Mienshao was beaten back step by step, completely overwhelmed. Its pained cries were a near-continuous stream, echoing across the arena.
It was completely unexpected!
"Heavens! This is incredible!!" The host had now also joined the "amazing!" chorus.
"We're seeing that even after using the Fighting-type ultimate, Close Combat, the enhanced Mienshao is still being beaten back by Greninja!! Look at this silky-smooth combo, these fluid strikes, this terrifying pressure! Arthur's Greninja has once again forcefully proven its dominance in the realm of close combat!"
The host was roaring with excitement, the audience was watching with passion, and on the players' bench, Shirou was so angry he could spit nails!
How could this be?!
"Mienshao, hold your ground! Hold on!! If you have to, just trade blows with it!" he commanded repeatedly, his voice growing more and more frantic.
He had originally planned to use this match to step on Arthur's fame and make a name for himself!
His Mienshao was a pure Fighting-type Pokémon, and one that specialized in skill over brute force. Unlike Pokémon like Machamp or Primeape, who rely on pure power and muscle, Mienshao was often called the kung fu master of Fighting-types.
And his Mienshao had undergone long, professional training. Even the highest-ranking martial arts instructor at their club had praised his Mienshao as having the potential of a martial saint!
Long before Arthur appeared, his Mienshao had already made a name for itself in the professional circuit. People used to praise its invincibility in close combat, though the hype wasn't as exaggerated as what Arthur was enjoying now.
It was because they excelled in the same area, and even their titles clashed, that Shirou had grown jealous of the newcomer, Arthur.
Even though he had watched the match where Arthur brutalized the Nidoking in thirty seconds, before they had actually fought, he had always felt the praise Arthur received was overblown.
It was just one match, right?
Maybe that Nidoking was just trash?
It couldn't be helped. There are many details in close combat that can't be fully appreciated from a post-match recording. When watching others' achievements, it's easy to fall into the illusion of "I could do that too."
This was human nature.
And Shirou was no exception.
So, for this exhibition match at the All-Stars, he came!
He came with his heart full of confidence and pride, with the assurance and glory of a senior!
And then he showed up, got one-shot, and what else was there to say…
Because the ultimate move had a long cooldown, opening with Close Combat meant that Mienshao had no skills for the next dozen or so seconds. So, strictly speaking, they had only exchanged one move.
And that one move had nearly taken half of Mienshao's health…
About six or seven seconds into the exchange, the martial aura from Close Combat on Mienshao's body flickered out.
The power boost from the skill faded with it.
And now, it had even less of a chance to fight back…
"Greninja is pressing its advantage with a continuous flurry of attacks! Mienshao is struggling more and more to parry! Is this duel going to be decided so quickly?"
Then, Greninja sent Mienshao flying with a spinning whip kick. It spun three and a half times in the air, almost getting kicked out of the arena.
In the stands, Arthur's fans were celebrating like it was a holiday.
"It's a good thing Arthur is kind. If he had laid down some Spikes beforehand, the opponent would probably be singing a sad song about his sore backside right now. That's not how you fight, Master Mienshao."
They spoke with a tone of deep concern, but it was dripping with sarcasm.
The few of Shirou's fans in the crowd didn't dare make a peep.
You were the one who suggested a contest of martial arts.
In terms of type, you're a pure Fighting-type, while he's just Water/Dark.
In terms of seniority, you're the veteran. You debuted and made a name for yourself much earlier.
And now it's come to this!
What a disgrace.
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