Chapter 177: Special Jonin vs. the Will of Fire!
2024-05-15 Samsung Charmander
"Thwack!!"
Ariados's two spiked legs brutally pierced Pidgeotto's body. The dual assault of stabbing pain and poison made the Pidgeotto, trapped in the Spider Web, let out a piteous wail. Its body and wings struggled constantly, feathers disheveled, but it could not break free.
The situation was grim.
Koga, however, watched this scene without batting an eye. As a Ninja, he had seen plenty of things like this; he'd even done quite a few himself.
"Ariados, use Infestation!" he continued to command.
"Hiss!"
Ariados began to frantically stab at Pidgeotto with its four colorful, spiked legs, striking several times in a row, each strike landing on a vital spot.
This move was similar to Fury Swipes, but the damage from the spider spikes was higher, and it looked much more frightening.
Even Brock and Misty below couldn't bear to watch and looked away.
"Pidgeotto!!"
Ash was still trying to recall it with his Poké Ball, but to no avail. All he could do was stare blankly as his Pidgeotto was repeatedly attacked by the spikes.
Pidgeotto was clearly in a Near Death State, yet this Ninja still hadn't relented. This was the first time he had encountered such a battle. The cruelty of combat in the Pokémon World was beginning to take root in Ash's heart.
"Use Poison Fang!" Koga said coldly.
"Hissss."
Ariados stopped the movement of its legs. Its mandibles were now a deep purple, suffused with the thick aura of a potent poison, as it slowly approached Pidgeotto.
If that bite landed, Pidgeotto wouldn't just be in a Near Death State—it might actually end up with a grave mound right on the spot.
The kind where the Utility Bird is immortalized, its face and voice living on only in memory.
"Pidgeotto!!"
Ash was on the verge of jumping up to tear the Spider Web apart himself.
But just as Ariados's fatal Poison Fang moved to within half an inch of Pidgeotto, it stopped. The purple glow on its mandibles instantly dissipated.
"Youth, this is the cruelty of Pokémon battles. Do you understand?"
Koga spoke slowly, his Ninja physique standing perfectly still, his tone devoid of any emotion. The words seemed directed at Ash, but also at his own daughter, Janine.
In his final battle before leaving the Kanto Region, he wanted to teach his daughter one last lesson.
As a Gym Leader, even with an overwhelming advantage in strength, abusing an opponent's Pokémon could lead to complaints or even have his Gym shut down by the Pokémon League, let alone intentionally killing one. Naturally, he wouldn't truly deliver a fatal blow.
But for a moment, Ash truly thought he was going to lose his Pidgeotto.
"Let it down."
At Koga's words, Ariados swung its bladed legs a few times, cutting through the Spider Web restraining Pidgeotto. The latter's stiff body immediately fell from mid-air, hitting the floor with a "thud."
Ash rushed forward to check on it. Fortunately, it was still breathing, and its injuries weren't as bad as he had imagined.
"Ash, leave it to me. Just focus on your battle!"
Brock and Misty quickly carried Pidgeotto to the side, slathering Super Potions and Full Heals on it. It seemed to be out of any serious danger.
"Pidgeo…"
It's just that its sharp eagle eyes had become somewhat dull and vacant. This bird had clearly been terrified by the dangerous Bird-catching Spider, and was left with considerable mental trauma.
"So strong…"
Ash looked at the motionless Koga and Ariados, his brow deeply furrowed as sweat dripped from his forehead. A thought unconsciously surfaced in his mind.
"Brother Red."
"Yes, you've guessed correctly. This person is the strongest Trainer you've met so far, far surpassing all the others," Brother Red replied slowly from within his Soul.
Although the Pokémon he was using was of mediocre strength, he could tell that this Trainer named Koga, like that Zeus they had met before, was at the level of an Elite Four Member.
He was on a completely different level from half-baked individuals such as Archer or Lambda.
He had seen this person in the Digital World before. At first, he was just an ordinary Gym Trainer, and his few Pokémon combined had barely managed to wear down one of Red's own Pokémon by a single drop of blood.
But three years later, for some unknown reason, he had suddenly become one of the Johto League's Elite Four. Only then did Brother Red realize how deeply that Ninja had hidden his true self.
He hadn't expected it to be the same in this World.
But he hadn't sent out his main Pokémon, and his goal was just to test a Trainer's level, not to command with his full strength. With Ash's current strength, there's still a chance to win!
Across the field, Koga's tone suddenly paused, and he said:
"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. Although I classify my Ariados at the Chunin level, to be more precise, its strength is infinitely close to the Jonin level. You could call it something else: a Special Jonin."
In front of him, his Ariados brandished its spider-claws, poised to strike.
Seeing this, Ash simply tipped his hat. His expression wasn't fearful; on the contrary, he became spirited once more and yelled:
"A Special Jonin, huh? Then let me show you my Will of Fire!!"
The strongest opponent yet?
The corner of Ash's mouth curled up, his battle intensity flaring!
With that, he violently threw a Poké Ball. A red light flashed, and a surge of fire and a ferocious roar erupted at the same time, faintly carrying the aura of a dragon's roar.
A fiery red, dragon-like Pokemon appeared before Ash, breathing scorching fierce flames from its mouth.
Charmeleon!!
Fighting at a Type Disadvantage is just for fun. When it's time to get serious, you have to rely on Type Effectiveness. The enemy was stronger than any he had faced before, forcing Ash to give it his all!
Right now, whether it was Charmeleon's own power or its Fire-type Suppression, it was the perfect choice.
"It's a Charmeleon! He can definitely win this time!"
"He's using a Type Advantage? My youth is now complete."
"Father…"
Brock, Misty, and Janine all stared with wide eyes, curious to see how this battle between the Special Jonin and the Will of Fire would unfold.
The battle began.
Ash glanced at the spider webs strewn all around and shouted:
"Use Fire Spin on the surroundings!!"
"Roar!!"
Charmeleon spat out a deep red flame, then twisted its neck. The pillar of fire followed its movement, becoming a fiery vortex that swept through every corner of the room.
"Sizzle—"
The previously tough spider webs were quickly burned to black crisps under the flames.
It was worth noting that the surrounding wooden floor and walls showed no signs of catching fire or even being scorched. Although they didn't feel solid to step on, they were clearly made of a special fire-retardant material.
Ash continued to shout, "Charmeleon!!"
Charmeleon understood, nodding its head. It retracted the widespread Fire Spin, concentrating it into a single pillar of flame that shot straight toward Ariados.
As it got closer, the shape of the flames changed again, transforming into a terrifying Fire Spin that spread out, enveloping Ariados's entire body.
Inside the flames, Ariados, which should have been panicked by its Fire Type weakness, remained as calm as a Ninja, completely undisturbed by the approaching fire.
Koga suddenly commanded, "Ariados, use Cross Poison!"
Ariados raised the two spider legs on the front of its abdomen, which were now glowing with a dense, unsettling purple light. It brought them together and lashed at the surrounding flames, actually managing to scatter the raging Fire Spin completely and carve out a path.
The Cross Poison on its front legs had yet to dissipate when its two rear spider-claws also began to move. They scraped against the ground, moving at extreme speed as they charged toward Charmeleon.
Cross Poison!!
"Rawrr!!"
Seeing this, Charmeleon simply dispersed the fierce flames it was breathing. It swung its two large claws, which were instantly enveloped in a coat of dark energy that formed terrifyingly sharp spikes. Without hesitation, it stomped on the ground and charged at its enemy.
Infernal Thrust!!
(end of chapter)