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Dragonite?
Mammon raised an eyebrow, looking at the Dragonite Ash threw out.
Where did Ash get a Dragonite?
Admittedly, Ash in the Journeys anime did have a Dragonite, and it was the kind that loved hugs, which was very cute.
But that was during the Journeys period.
Alright, the plot has long been 'tattered beyond recognition,' so it's not strange for Ash to have a Dragonite. Maybe he even has a Gengar?
Mammon looked at Paul. To be honest, Paul's strength has improved incredibly fast since joining Team Rockets, shockingly so.
It must be said that Paul himself is a Trainer with excellent talent.
Most importantly, he is truly willing to put in the effort.
Normally, Paul almost uses all his free time for special training, so much so that even Platinum feels ashamed of her own diligence.
I wonder if Paul can defeat Ash today.
"Using Dragonite against Drapion, huh? But there really isn't a better choice," Brock analyzed after a moment of contemplation. After all, Ash doesn't have any Ground-type Pokémon, so trying to counter Drapion with type advantage isn't realistic.
And Dragonite at least has an aerial advantage.
On the field, Drapion raised its head and growled at Dragonite, waving its two ferocious pincers in a show of defiance.
Dragonite widened its eyes, glaring unhappily at Drapion. Dragonite's expression showed human-like anger at Drapion's provocation.
"Dragonite, use Hurricane!" Ash commanded, waving his hand forcefully.
Dragonite let out a cry, its two wings, small in comparison to its body, flapped rapidly, and a powerful hurricane swept towards Drapion.
"Pin Missile!" Paul ordered in a deep voice.
Drapion's two pincers glowed white and swung heavily, launching One by one white beams. Dense Pin Missiles met the Hurricane.
Boom!
Pin Missile and Hurricane fiercely stalemated in mid-air, with an incessant roar.
Although the Hurricane continued to advance, the successive Pin Missile beams constantly exploded, blocking the Hurricane.
With the final violent roar, the Hurricane was finally exhausted by Pin Missile, and a strong air current swept open, filling the air with smoke and dust.
"What is this Pin Missile?!" Ash was shocked.
This Drapion actually managed to block Hurricane with Pin Missile? That's too absurd.
But the next second, Ash immediately gave another command.
"Dragonite! Extreme Speed!"
Dragonite's body glowed white, and it shot into the smoke like lightning, charging towards Drapion.
"Toxic Spikes."
Drapion raised its two pincers and brought them together, forming a dark purple Toxic Spikes sphere.
Seeing this, Mammon chuckled lightly.
Bang!
Dragonite's Extreme Speed slammed heavily into Drapion's head. Drapion grunted and endured the hit, sending the Toxic Spikes into the air.
"Excellent! Fire Punch!"
Dragonite's right claw ignited with raging flames and smashed towards Drapion's head.
Drapion immediately raised its pincers horizontally, blocking Fire Punch.
Boom!
Flames erupted, and the immense force caused Drapion's massive body to be knocked back, its four feet sliding backward on the ground, leaving four marks.
At the same time, Toxic Spikes exploded in the air, and streams of dark purple fluid fell down, seeping into the entire battle arena.
A single dark purple, eerie light flashed across the battle arena, and then it returned to normal.
"Great! Dragonite is suppressing Drapion."
Misty was delighted.
"No, this Toxic Spikes..." Brock, however, frowned.
Suppression? Brock didn't think so. Drapion had only forcefully endured Dragonite's attack just to successfully use Toxic Spikes.
"Toxic Spikes, I remember it's a field control move that poisons Pokémon?"
Ash also looked at the calm field. This was the first time he had seen the move Toxic Spikes. When he challenged Koga, the Gym Leader of Fuchsia Gym, Koga hadn't used it.
So he really didn't have much of an impression.
But it wasn't a big problem. Toxic Spikes is a field control move, as long as you don't land, you won't be affected by Toxic Spikes.
And Dragonite has flying ability.
"Dragonite! Extreme Speed!"
His thoughts raced, and Ash once again commanded Dragonite.
The priority move Extreme Speed is simply too useful for rushing in, and Dragonite is inherently a strong close-range Pokémon.
"Iron Defense." Paul was very calm.
Drapion growled, and its body began to glow with a metallic sheen.
The Steel-type Iron Defense can greatly increase the user's physical defense.
Bang!
Extreme Speed rushed forward again, hitting Drapion's head once more. Drapion cried out in pain.
The metallic luster receded into its body, and Drapion successfully used Iron Defense.
"Dragon Claw!"
This time, Ash didn't let Dragonite use Fire Punch. After all, whether it was Fire Punch or Dragon Claw, they would both deal normal damage to Drapion.
Ash had figured it out. This Drapion's fighting style was basically a stand-up brawl, relying solely on its strong physique.
In that case, it would be better to use Dragon Claw. A Same Type Attack Bonus Dragon Claw would definitely deal more damage.
Dragonite's claws glowed with a sharp green light, and Dragon Claw fiercely tore at Drapion.
"Grab it!"
However, at this moment, Paul suddenly ordered.
"?" Ash was stunned.
Dragonite's Dragon Claw hit Drapion's head, but Drapion endured the pain and took the hit.
Because Iron Defense greatly increased its physical defense, the damage from this Dragon Claw was actually not very high.
And the next moment, Drapion's pincers on either side of its face suddenly extended, clamping onto Dragonite's arm, which had not yet been retracted.
Dragonite struggled, trying to pull free, but Drapion held it tightly.
"Hydro Pump!"
Ash frowned. It was indeed caught, but it didn't matter.
Dragonite took a deep breath, its cheeks puffed out, and a blue watery light appeared, a Water-type Hydro Pump.
But just then, a whooshing sound rang out.
Drapion's pincer tail swiftly attacked with lightning speed, directly locking onto the unsuspecting Dragonite's throat and forcefully pressing it towards the ground.
Hydro Pump shot out, but because it was restrained by Drapion's pincer tail and forced backward, Hydro Pump completely missed its target.
Boom!
Dragonite was heavily pressed to the ground, and the violent impact made the ground tremble.
"What?!"
Ash was startled, looking at Drapion's extended pincer tail. It could do that?
And as Dragonite touched the ground, the surface glowed with a dark purple poisonous light. Toxic Spikes were triggered!
The eerie poisonous light spread throughout Dragonite's body, causing Dragonite to whimper in pain from the Toxic Spikes' poison damage.
"It's over."
Mammon couldn't help but click his tongue at this sight. He was very familiar with this scene because in the anime, Paul used this Toxic Spikes strategy to have Drapion sweep Ash's team.
In reality, many moves are very different from how they are in the game. After all, games serve mechanics, but reality is different.
A typical example is this Toxic Spikes.
The Poison-type Toxic Spikes, in the game, is a entry hazard move like Spikes, causing opposing Pokémon that switch in to step on the spikes and get poisoned. However, it only affects grounded Pokémon, so Poison-types, Steel-types, and Flying-types are not affected by Toxic Spikes.
But in reality, Toxic Spikes is not limited to affecting only switched-in Pokémon.
Instead, as long as the opponent lands, the poison damage from Toxic Spikes will be triggered, and the same Pokémon will not only trigger it once.
And it is also effective against Flying-type Pokémon; as long as a Flying-type Pokémon lands, it will also trigger Toxic Spikes.
Just like Ash's Staraptor in the anime, it used Aerial Ace but was almost dodged at close range by Drapion, then caught by Drapion's tail and slammed to the ground, triggering Toxic Spikes' poison damage.
"Dragonite!"
Ash was very worried looking at Dragonite, which had taken poison damage.
"Ice Fang!" Paul's voice remained calm.
Drapion forcefully lifted Dragonite, and a dense, icy blue cold Aura Heart rose from its sharp teeth as it bit down on Dragonite.
Ash's pupils constricted. Oh no!
Dragonite had just taken Toxic Spikes' poison damage, making it very difficult to dodge. Most importantly, it was still being choked by Drapion's pincer tail.
Dragonite watched helplessly as Drapion's head approached. Although it struggled to dodge, it was firmly pinned to the ground by Drapion.
Crack!
The chilling Ice Fang directly bit into Dragonite's body, and a large patch of frost instantly formed at the bitten location.
Dragonite let out an excruciating cry of pain, and its Aura Heart instantly weakened. The Ice-type Ice Fang dealt too much damage to it.
"This..."
Misty was completely stunned, seeing the situation turn around in an instant.
Dragonite is 4x weak to Ice!
"Return, Dragonite!"
Ash unhesitatingly took out a Poké Ball, wanting to recall Dragonite.
"Crush Claw."
However, Paul gave no chance, and Drapion followed up with another Dark-type Crush Claw.
Toxic Spikes' poison damage + Ice Fang + Crush Claw, with this combo, Dragonite couldn't hold on.
Dragonite's legs kicked once, and its body instantly went limp.
Seeing this, Ash clenched his teeth tightly, his expression very grim.
"Dragonite is unable to battle. Drapion wins."
Platinum announced the battle result.
"Ash was too careless," Caitlin commented.
"Indeed, he doesn't seem to understand Drapion's fighting style, giving Paul an opportunity," Platinum, who had walked back, agreed.
"If we're purely talking about strength, that Dragonite is stronger than Drapion."
Platinum looked at Ash, but battles aren't simply about strength.
When battling Drapion, one must be wary of its retractable pincer tail. It was clear Ash didn't understand this.
But it's not surprising, as Drapion primarily inhabits Sinnoh.
And because of its terrifying and ferocious appearance, not many people use Drapion as their main Pokémon.
Paul is one of the few who uses Drapion exceptionally well.
Brock: "..."
Misty: "..."
"Sorry, Dragonite, it's my fault. You should rest well now," Ash said, recalling Dragonite and comforting it.
"Is this all you've got?" Paul calmly said to Ash.
"You don't understand the opponent's Pokémon, you don't try to probe for information, and you just recklessly launch one attack after another, mindlessly impulsive, fighting purely on a surge of passion."
"Are you truly a qualified Trainer?"
Paul's words can sometimes be truly venomous. At least, veins were popping on Ash's forehead at that moment.
"You, you just got a slight advantage. This is a full battle, and it's just getting started. What are you so proud of?"
Ash was furious.
Damn it, what kind of person is this! The battle just started, and he defeats one Pokémon and immediately starts acting so arrogant???
"I'm just stating facts. If you only have this much skill, the battle will end very quickly," Paul's tone remained calm.
"Heh heh~" Ash chuckled in anger.
"My bond with my Pokémon isn't that fragile! You better open your eyes and watch carefully!"
Ash forcefully threw out his second Poké Ball.
"Gengar! I'm counting on you!"
White light landed, accompanied by an eerie low chuckle, a purple fatty appeared in front of Ash, making a big scary face at Drapion.
It was Gengar.
But Paul didn't care about that. Instead, he frowned slightly.
"Bond?"
Paul softly muttered these two words, his gaze towards Ash growing more and more disgusted.
Bond...
Is he another one of those guys who constantly talks about 'bond' and 'friendship' all day long?