Chapter 143: Battle Against Muzi, A Tacit Match

After a two-hour rest, the grand finals of the Unova League Higaki Conference officially began.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the next match is the grand finals of the Unova League Higaki Conference. The competing trainers are Itsuki Mutsuko from Opelucid City and Kazuki Chengcheng from Fortree City. Let us see who will emerge victorious and win the conference championship."

"The grand finals are about to begin. Both sides will use six Pokémon. When all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle, the other side wins. Trainers, please send out your first Pokémon."

"Chengcheng, let's send them out together."

"Alright."

"Go, Altaria!"

"Go, Lunatone!"

Pokémon: Altaria
Type: Dragon / Flying
Level: 54
Ability: Natural Cure
Hidden Ability: Cloud Nine
Base Stat Total: 490
Combat Power: 5540
Moves: Growl, Peck, Astonish, Sing, Fury Attack, Safeguard, Haze, Round, Natural Gift, Tackle, Refresh, Dragon Dance, Dragon Breath, Cotton Guard, Dragon Pulse.
Tutor / TM Moves: Aerial Ace, Roost, Draco Meteor.

Pokémon: Lunatone
Type: Rock / Psychic
Level: 58
Ability: Levitate
Base Stat Total: 440
Combat Power: 5870
Moves: Tackle, Harden, Confusion, Rock Throw, Hypnosis, Psywave, Moonlight, Psychic, Hidden Power, Future Sight, Explosion.
Tutor / TM Moves: Protect, Psyshock, Stone Edge, Flash Cannon.

Upon seeing each other's Pokémon, Chengcheng and Mutsuko both wore a slight smile at the corners of their mouths. Sure enough, both of them had prudently chosen powerful and well-rounded Pokémon, allowing them to smoothly respond to whatever the opponent might throw at them.

Moreover, judging by the current situation, Lunatone and Altaria possessed nearly equal combat power, meaning this would be a closely matched battle.

"Lunatone, use Stone Edge."

Lunatone gathered a multitude of sharp stones and hurled them toward Altaria.

"Altaria, dodge it."

Altaria swiftly evaded all the incoming stones.

"Altaria, use Aerial Ace."

"Lunatone, use Hidden Power."

Lunatone's Hidden Power successfully struck Altaria, but Altaria's Aerial Ace managed to hit Lunatone as well.

"Lunatone, use Stone Edge again."

Lunatone unleashed Stone Edge once more, but Altaria agilely dodged every single one.

"Altaria, use Dragon Pulse."

"Lunatone, use Hidden Power."

Hidden Power and Dragon Pulse collided, creating a powerful shockwave. Both Pokémon were forced to put some distance between them to avoid the shockwave's damage.

"Lunatone, use Psychic."

"Altaria, use Safeguard."

Safeguard successfully neutralized the effects of Psychic.

"Lunatone, Flash Cannon."

"Altaria, use Draco Meteor."

Chengcheng hadn't expected Altaria to have learned Draco Meteor, but this presented a golden opportunity.

"Lunatone, use Flash Cannon."

Flash Cannon blasted toward Altaria. At that moment, Altaria was busy channeling Draco Meteor and had no way to dodge.

Soon, Draco Meteor was launched high into the sky, where it shattered and rained down meteors toward Lunatone. Meanwhile, Flash Cannon successfully struck Altaria, and Lunatone was pelted by the meteors as well. Both sides sustained heavy injuries.

"Altaria, use Aerial Ace."

Altaria rushed forward at high speed.

"Lunatone, use Explosion."

Right as Altaria was about to charge in, Chengcheng commanded Lunatone to use Explosion.

A massive explosion rang out, and both Pokémon simultaneously crashed to the ground, both rendered unable to battle.

"Lunatone and Altaria are both unable to battle. Trainers, please send out your next Pokémon."

"Chengcheng, let's send them out together again."

"No problem. Go, Deino."

"Go, Slowbro."

Chengcheng sent out Slowbro, while Mutsuko sent out Deino. Type-wise, Mutsuko had the upper hand, but Slowbro possessed a higher level. The outcome remained entirely unknown.

Pokémon: Deino
Type: Dark / Dragon
Level: 47
Ability: Hustle
Base Stat Total: 300
Combat Power: 4767
Moves: Tackle, Dragon Rage, Focus Energy, Bite, Headbutt, Dragon Breath, Roar, Crunch, Slam, Dragon Pulse, Work Up, Take Down.
Tutor / TM Moves: Dark Pulse, Shadow Ball.

Pokémon: Slowpoke (Slowbro)
Type: Water / Psychic
Level: 50
Ability: Oblivious
Hidden Ability: Regenerator
Base Stat Total: 315
Combat Power: 5330
Moves: Curse, Growl, Water Gun, Confusion, Bind, Headbutt, Water Pulse, Zen Headbutt, Slack Off, Amnesia, Psychic, Rain Dance.
Tutor / TM Moves: Protect, Psyshock, Hydro Pump, Mega Punch.

"Deino, use Dragon Rage."

"Use Hydro Pump."

Dragon Rage and Hydro Pump collided, yet the relentless Hydro Pump easily overpowered Dragon Rage, striking Deino directly.

"Deino, use Take Down."

Deino used Take Down, charging straight at Slowbro.

"Slowbro, Mega Punch."

Mega Punch landed squarely on Deino's head, and both combatants took a step back.

"Deino, use Crunch."

Deino clamped its jaws onto Slowbro's arm, eliciting a cry of pain from Slowbro.

"Slowbro, Hydro Pump."

Slowbro unleashed a point-blank Hydro Pump directly onto Deino, blasting it backward.

"Deino, use Shadow Ball."

"Slowbro, use Hydro Pump."

Hydro Pump surged against Shadow Ball.

"Deino, use Dark Pulse."

Following right behind, Dark Pulse fused with Shadow Ball, clashing fiercely with the Hydro Pump. The two opposing forces locked in a deadlock, evenly matched.

Chengcheng hadn't anticipated that Dark Pulse could continuously fuel Shadow Ball with momentum. Now it simply came down to which side could hold out longer.

Ultimately, Slowbro proved stronger; the Hydro Pump, carrying the Shadow Ball through, slammed into Deino. Even so, Deino still had the strength to keep fighting.

"Deino, use Take Down."

Here it comes again, whatever!

"Slowbro, use Hydro Pump."

Slowbro chose not to use Mega Punch to block Deino this time, knowing full well it would just get bitten again.

However, this time Deino miraculously plowed straight through the Hydro Pump and slammed into Slowbro, sending Slowbro flying.

At that instant, Slowbro suddenly lunged forward and delivered a Mega Punch onto Deino. Deino's neck bent sharply as it retaliated with a Crunch, sinking its teeth straight into Slowbro.

Just like that, the two Pokémon descended into a brutal brawl, leaving both Chengcheng and Mutsuko unable to intervene.

In the end, Deino collapsed. However, Slowbro was covered in wounds and had very little battle readiness left either.

"Deino is unable to battle. The winner is Slowbro."

Slowbro was overjoyed upon winning, though it was clearly in no condition to continue battling any further. Chengcheng recalled Slowbro into its Poké Ball.

"Chengcheng, let's send them out together again."

"Alright."

Chengcheng felt that releasing their Pokémon simultaneously every round was fairest for both competitors.

"Go, Trapinch."

"Go, Chimecho."

Pokémon: Trapinch
Type: Ground / Dragon
Level: 40
Ability: Levitate
Base Stat Total: 340
Combat Power: 3980
Moves: Sonic Boom, Sand-Attack, Feint Attack, Arena Trap, Mud-Slap, Bide, Bulldoze, Rock Slide, Supersonic, Screech, Dragon Breath, Earth Power.
Tutor / TM Moves: Hidden Power, Protect.

Pokémon: Chimecho
Type: Psychic
Level: 54
Ability: Levitate
Base Stat Total: 425
Combat Power: 5001
Moves: Wrap, Growl, Astonish, Confusion, Tackle, Uproar, Yawn, Psywave, Take Down, Heal Bell, Safeguard, Psychic.
Tutor / TM Moves: Protect, Psyshock, Hypnosis.

"Trapinch, use Sonic Boom."

Trapinch fired off a Sonic Boom.

"Chimecho, dodge it."

Chimecho swiftly evaded the incoming Sonic Boom.

"Chimecho, use Psywave."

"Chime..."

Chimecho's Psywave echoed out, dealing damage to Trapinch.

"Trapinch, use Rock Slide."

Suddenly, a barrage of large rocks plummeted from above Chimecho's head. Fortunately, Chimecho managed to dodge them quickly.

"Trapinch, use Feint Attack."

Abruptly, Trapinch darted forward, feinting right in front of Chimecho. Chimecho immediately sidestepped, only to find itself struck by Trapinch regardless.

"Chimecho, Psychic."

Psychic struck Trapinch dead on, sending it crashing to the ground.

"Chimecho, use Hypnosis."

Chimecho cast Hypnosis. Trapinch, already battered by Psychic, promptly drifted off to sleep.

"Chimecho, Take Down."

Chimecho dashed swiftly toward the ground, slamming hard into Trapinch. Trapinch was instantly rendered unable to battle.

"Trapinch is unable to battle, so the winner is Chimecho."

"Return, Chimecho."

"Return, Trapinch."

Chengcheng and Mutsuko both recalled their Pokémon. Next up, they would each send out their fourth Pokémon.

"Chengcheng, let's do it together."

"No problem."

"Go, Beartic."

"Go, Gothorita."

Pokémon: Beartic
Type: Ice
Level: 39
Ability: Snow Cloak
Hidden Ability: Swift Swim
Base Stat Total: 485
Combat Power: 4003
Moves: Growl, Powder Snow, Bide, Icy Wind, Fury Swipes, Brine, Endure, Swagger, Slash, Flail, Icicle Crash, Blizzard.
Tutor / TM Moves: Ice Punch.

Pokémon: Gothorita
Type: Psychic
Level: 40
Ability: Frisk
Hidden Ability: Shadow Tag
Base Stat Total: 390
Combat Power: 3900
Moves: Pound, Confusion, Tickle, Fake Tears, Double Slap, Psybeam, Embargo, Feint Attack, Psyshock, Flatter, Future Sight, Heal Block, Psychic, Telekinesis.
Tutor / TM Moves: Protect, Psyshock.

Another pair of evenly matched Pokémon. One had to admit that Chengcheng and Mutsuko shared an uncanny synchronicity in certain aspects.

"Chengcheng, why don't you just lose to me?"

"Not a chance."

"How can you be like that? Just lose to me!"

"You two, if you don't start battling right now, you'll be disqualified for delaying the match."

Hearing the referee's warning, Chengcheng and Mutsuko finally locked in with dead seriousness.