Surpassing the limits of its species—Totem Trapinch, a Totem Pokémon!
In the original games, Totem Pokémon were simply larger in size and could summon allies, but in truth were not much different in strength from their ordinary counterparts.
Reality, however, was clearly not the same.
Totem Pokémon were born with massive bodies that granted them overwhelming power and tremendous defense, far beyond their kin.
Thus, every Totem Pokémon possessed extraordinary potential.
Of course, potential was one thing; whether a Trainer could guide and unleash it was another matter entirely.
[Totem Trapinch] (Ground): Senior Level Peak, Pseudo-Legendary potential.
"Pseudo-Legendary potential?"
Glancing at Totem Trapinch's stat panel, Yozora's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
As expected of an official Indigo League Conference match—this place was filled with hidden monsters.
This was only the first round, and he had already encountered such a creature…
Fortunately, it was "only" a Trapinch. Its level was still low, capped at Senior Level Peak.
If it evolved twice more into a Totem Flygon, now that would be truly terrifying.
"Trapinch, this is your first time appearing on such a grand stage. Show them your best performance!"
Arms folded across his chest, Hayate basked in the audience's screams stirred by his Trapinch. A smug satisfaction welled up inside him, and he couldn't help but smile.
For a Trainer, owning a rare Pokémon was something to flaunt—an invitation for gasps of shock and cries of admiration. That alone was a source of pride.
Otherwise, having a rare Pokémon and hiding it away was no different than wearing brocade robes in the dead of night—luxury unseen, glory unshared.
In the preliminaries, Hayate had kept Trapinch hidden, saving it for this moment in the official rounds to deliver a stunning surprise.
And indeed—he had achieved the exact effect he wanted. Already, he noticed countless cameras turning toward him and his Totem Pokémon, capturing every moment.
"My goodness, this is incredible! Even an ordinary Trapinch counts as a rare Pokémon, but a Totem Trapinch?!" The host's voice cracked with astonishment, tripping over his words.
The audience erupted into thunderous cheers.
Totem Pokémon were so rare that sometimes years passed without a single sighting.
"If only that Totem Trapinch were mine…"
Off-stage, Ryūnan stared at the creature with burning eyes, nearly drooling with envy.
For when a Totem Trapinch reached its final evolution, it became a Totem Flygon—a Ground/Dragon-type.
And as a Dragon-type Pokémon, nurtured under his Draconic Power, it would surely ascend to heights never before imagined.
It seems… once this match is over, I'll need to take action. No matter the cost, I want that Totem Trapinch!
A sharp glint flashed across Ryūnan's gaze.
On the battlefield—
The referee's whistle blew, and Yozora's first official match against Hayate began.
Hayate struck first with a sharp command: "Trapinch, use Dig!"
"Grrnk!"
At Hayate's command, Trapinch used its special ability to soften the earth beneath its feet, turning the ground into yielding sand.
In an instant, the Totem Trapinch burrowed underground and vanished from sight.
This was the natural gift of a Ground Dragon's larval stage—Trapinch's innate ability to manipulate terrain. Its normal movement speed was slow, but once using this gift, it became a skilled digger.
"It's gone! Trapinch's Dig is too fast! Where will it surface to strike?!" The host exclaimed in alarm.
The crowd roared with excitement.
Everyone was eager to witness the Totem Trapinch's display. Since it was a Totem Pokémon, surely its Dig attack would unleash tremendous power!
"No. This move has no effect on Yozora." Off-stage, Ryūnan shook his head.
He had fought Yozora before and knew his secret—he possessed the Aura, enabling him to sense and lock onto the position of any energy.
Though Trapinch had disappeared underground, Ryūnan was certain: as an Aura Guardian, Yozora could track it perfectly.
And reality unfolded exactly as he predicted.
Through his Aura, Yozora could pinpoint Trapinch's subterranean position as if it were in plain view. Calm and steady, he remained patient, his Kangaskhan—linked to him in mind and heart—mirroring his composure.
Trapinch's digging speed was indeed fast, but that speed applied only to the act of tunneling.
Once underground, its actual movement remained sluggish.
Yozora's expression stayed cool as he waited, letting the Trapinch inch closer and closer…
Only when it was directly beneath did he give his order:
"Now, Kangaskhan—use Earthquake!"
Boom!
Kangaskhan stomped the ground, unleashing shockwaves of earthen force that rippled outward. On the surface, such a move inflicted heavy damage.
Underground, the impact doubled.
Normally, a Pokémon using Dig could not be hit. But Earthquake was the exception—it always landed, and always struck twice as hard.
Crash!
With a tremendous blast, the massive Totem Trapinch shrieked in pain as it was blasted out of the earth, spiraling through the air before crashing to the ground.
Its eyes swirled. It had fainted.
Despite being a Totem Pokémon, compared to Yozora's Kangaskhan, its level was far too low. One strike was all it took.
"Trapinch is unable to battle! Kangaskhan wins!" the referee declared coldly.
The crowd, however, felt unsatisfied.
It was a rare treat to see a Totem Pokémon in action. Many had expected a thrilling performance from the Totem Trapinch—
Yet in the end, it had shown nothing. Defeated instantly. Too great a pity.
"The match is decided! Earthquake's power was overwhelming. If only Trapinch had managed to leap out in time…" the host sighed with regret.
Hayate, on the other hand, looked entirely unconcerned as he recalled his fallen Trapinch.
To him, it was merely a new addition to his roster—neither his core fighter, nor his ace.
Sending Trapinch out was simply for show. A win would be nice, but a loss hardly mattered.
Shrinking Trapinch's Poké Ball and clipping it back onto his belt, Hayate pulled out another, enlarging it before tossing it high into the air.
"Your turn to perform—go, Mightyena!"
From the burst of light emerged a sleek, jet-black Mightyena, its posture fierce and dignified.
As expected of a Hoenn native, the Pokémon Hayate sent out carried a clear regional flavor. Both Trapinch and Mightyena were iconic species of Hoenn.
"Awooo—!"
Mightyena let out a guttural howl, its menacing glare aimed directly at Kangaskhan.
Clearly, this one possessed the ability Intimidate.
Unfortunately for it, Kangaskhan was unaffected. Far from flinching, it bellowed back, its roar so forceful that its eyes grew colder, its presence more imposing.
"What? Intimidate had no effect?" Hayate frowned in surprise.
As an experienced Trainer, he could instantly gauge Kangaskhan's level—just at the threshold of the Overlord class.
His Mightyena, on the other hand, was already at high Overlord level, with both strength and aura far surpassing that Kangaskhan.
He knew well how his partner's Intimidate talent worked. Mightyena delighted in frightening foes, and more often than not, it succeeded.
Against weaker Pokémon, like Rattata or Oddish, the intimidation alone could make them collapse without fighting.
From observation, Hayate had learned that Intimidate worked well on foes of equal level.
Against lower-leveled opponents, it sometimes outright crippled them.
And yet—despite the clear level gap, his Mightyena's Intimidate had completely failed.
What he did not know was that Yozora's Kangaskhan possessed the Scrappy ability.
Pokémon with Scrappy never succumbed to Intimidate.
Moreover, their Normal- and Fighting-type moves could strike even Ghost-types without fail.
"Tch, no matter. Against overwhelming strength, Intimidate is just garnish…"
Hayate smiled faintly, full of confidence. Even if Intimidate had failed, victory was still certain.
"Go, Mightyena—use Sucker Punch!"
"Rrragh!"
At his order, Mightyena snarled and lunged forward, moving with blinding speed.
Its body became a blur of shadow, and before Kangaskhan could even react, it slammed into her, sending the great Pokémon skidding backward across the battlefield.
…
…
(End of Chapter)