Whenever the weather type changes, a Pokémon Trainer should always pay attention to whether the opponent's newly switched Pokémon can take advantage of the boost. This is basic battle knowledge.
As an academy-trained trainer, Hiroshi should have understood this principle well.
Hiroshi's confidence was his greatest strength, but also his greatest weakness.
He had full faith in Metang's defensive abilities. After taking virtually no damage on entry, he was under the illusion that he could greedily attack a few times before switching.
Indeed, this is a reasonable strategy: gather some information first, then switch, which can provide considerable advantages for the remainder of the battle.
Unfortunately for him, he was facing Houndoom.
A Houndoom that had trained relentlessly every day, refusing to give in to age.
Like Cyrus, it never considered itself too old, at least in spirit and fighting will.
The frailty of the body could not crush its yearning for strength, its desire to rise above all others.
This desire never decays with age, instead, it grows even more vibrant.
Just like the Fire Blast Houndoom unleashed now, seemingly containing a terrifying power capable of burning everything, with such immense energy that even Hakuya couldn't help but cheer.
Physical aging isn't frightening. What's truly terrifying is when one's will to win and strive for strength extinguishes, when one has no direction, choosing instead to shrink into a corner and live comfortably day by day.
Spiritual decay is far worse than the aging of the body.
Perhaps Cyrus didn't have much time to train Houndoom, but he strengthened its belief and perseverance.
Metang couldn't withstand such an attack. The flames scorched its metallic body; as a Steel-type, it was exceptionally sensitive to this searing pain.
Its twisted cries made Hiroshi shiver. Metang collapsed in the flames.
Houndoom raised its head and howled endlessly to the sky, as if sweeping away the bitterness of being abandoned and wandering alongside Cyrus.
This was a Houndoom that had spent its life striving yet endured hardship, treated as nothing more than a display model for Bulk Up by its previous owner.
A Houndoom that had wasted half its life, willing to set aside its desire to grow stronger, wanting only to stay by its former trainer's side until death.
It had been cast out for being "too old," wandering the wilds, yet it protected other homeless Pokémon, standing up for those injured in the chaos of reckless experiments.
Do good people always get rewarded?
With Luther, they must.
Houndoom looked back at Luther. Even in its aged state, its eyes carried a childlike plea.
Its meaning was clear:
"Praise me."
"That is probably the most powerful Fire Blast I've seen so far. Got any other tricks? Show me."
Houndoom wagged its tail furiously, clearly pleased.
Hiroshi rushed into the field, for the first time doubting the referee's judgment. Seeing that Metang had not revived finally cleared his thoughts.
Luther hugged Houndoom and smoothed its fur, his own blood rushing from the excitement. Mai leaned over the judges' table, waving and cheering loudly for Houndoom.
Junna and Nurse Joy looked at Hakuya, hesitant to speak.
Finally, Joy broke the silence: "That Metang belonged to Hiroshi's father… and it went down in a single hit? He's really a Rookie Pokémon Trainer?"
"Since when have I ever called Luther a Rookie Pokémon Trainer?"
Hakuya raised his notebook and continued writing rapidly.
"He's not much weaker than me. In the future, he may well be someone I can only deal with at full strength. Don't think we made him a judge just because he's my friend," Hakuya declared, his pen flashing across his notebook.
"I, Hakuya, separate work and personal matters clearly. Luther deserves this position."
The other spectators hadn't yet realized what had happened, but the judges' table was very clear: the outcome of this battle was no longer in doubt.
Based on the level of Pokémon Luther had displayed so far, he didn't even need to use anything special, just relying on sheer stats alone, he could completely overwhelm Hiroshi.
If Hiroshi wanted to win, he could only hope that Luther would go easy on him.
The stands cheering for Hiroshi, filled with his family and friends, were still waving flags and shouting his name. Elsewhere, the crowd chanted Luther's name.
After finishing brushing Houndoom's fur, Luther stood up and called out: "What's the matter? Don't want to continue?"
"Show the courage you had when you confessed to Mai. The match isn't over yet, this is a six-on-six full battle. You still have four Pokémon left. Using your own words, give it your all."
Luther had muted the microphone while saying this.
"Are you mocking me?" Hiroshi's voice echoed through the arena.
With Metang recalled, Hiroshi glared at Luther: "Or do you already think you've won, so you're just bragging?"
Hiroshi sent out Ninjask, a Pokémon he had relied on to get through the earlier rounds, a Pokémon he was particularly proud of.
"Ninjask is a Bug/Flying-type Pokémon, extremely disadvantaged against Houndoom. What's Hiroshi trying to accomplish here?" Even the commentators were baffled.
Luther, however, understood, Hiroshi had clearly identified Houndoom's weakness.
"Agility."
With Ninjask's Speed ability combined with Agility, Luther could barely see its movements, only catching fleeting afterimages as it zipped through the air.
Seeing that Luther hadn't commanded Houndoom to respond, Hiroshi gleefully had Ninjask use Metal Claw.
The lightning-fast Ninjask attacked Houndoom, who, relying on sheer experience, narrowly dodged several Metal Claws. However, Ninjask's speed advantage was overwhelming, giving it a clear upper hand.
Houndoom, pushed back by the Metal Claws, bared its teeth and glared fiercely at the sky.
"Just as I thought, your Houndoom is an aging Pokémon," Hiroshi said, pleased to have his judgment confirmed. "Although it has plenty of battle experience, its stamina and endurance are poor. Raise the intensity even slightly, and it can't keep up with the rhythm."
"Swords Dance."
Ninjask leapt into the air, executing Swords Dance and significantly boosting its physical attack.
"You're speeding me up and increasing your attack power. You really have no solution for Ninjask, huh?"
Both Luther and Houndoom exchanged smiles and said in unison:
"Here's a tip. In unrestricted battles, there are many ways to counter the Baton Pass strategy. Even in the newer Limit Four (four-move limit) battles, most Pokémon Trainers save a move slot for a final countermeasure against it."
"Fortunately, my Houndoom knows one of those moves. Simple, brutal, but effective."
Hakuya recalled the strategy he used with his Ursaring during his battle with Luther and nodded in anticipation.
"Houndoom, Roar."
(End of chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395