Pokémon: Rebron as Red, The Strongest Champion - 292

Chapter 292: Momentum Shifts on the Field

“Clefable, use Disarming Voice.”

On the battlefield, Clefable opened its mouth and let out a sweet, enchanting cry. Even when Charizard tried to cover its ears, the sound still washed through it and rattled its composure.

Charizard shook its head in irritation, trying to clear the cloying notes from its mind.

Just then, Clefable began to wiggle its fingers. It followed Leaf’s instructions and used Metronome.

“Charizard, use Flamethrower now!”

Ash could not predict what Clefable would pull from Metronome, but the confidence in Leaf’s eyes was a bad sign.

A surge of blistering fire roared from Charizard’s jaws, blasting straight toward Clefable.

Leaf remained calm, trusting in Clefable’s strength. Clefable’s expression was equally composed as it continued wiggling its fingers, never once interrupting the channeling for Metronome.

Under the crowd’s tense, expectant gaze, Metronome finally triggered.

“It is Rock Slide!” Gary blurted, astonished at Leaf’s good fortune.

Countless sharp stone blades floated into being around Clefable, then, under its command, shot up to collide with the descending pillar of flame. In moments, the fire was broken apart by the stones, which then slammed into Charizard.

“Rooaaar!”

Charizard roared in fury. The quadruple-effective Rock-type damage made it impossible to stay calm. It slashed the remaining stones apart with Dragon Claw.

Then, ignoring Ash’s shout from behind, Charizard dove straight for Clefable, intent on tearing into it with its sharp talons.

“Clefable, tank the Dragon Claw and then use Double Slap,” Leaf said in an even tone, as if everything was unfolding according to plan.

Charizard’s emerald-lit claws raked across Clefable’s body, but the blow did not harm it at all. Clefable shrugged the attack off completely.

“Pa-pa-pa-pa—”

Staggering back a couple of steps from the impact, Clefable immediately struck back, smacking Charizard across the face with a rapid flurry of slaps. Charizard’s cheeks flushed red, more from anger than from pain.

“Charizard, calm down. Do not fall for Leaf’s trap. Dragon Claw does not work on Clefable,” Ash called, desperate to reel in what reason remained.

Hearing Ash’s voice, Charizard barely reined itself in and waited for the next command.

“Charizard, use Air Slash.”

At Ash’s command, Charizard beat its wings and launched a volley of cutting wind blades down at Clefable.

The force of the Air Slash made Clefable’s eyes widen in fear. It could no longer keep its composure.

“Clefable, dodge!”

Clefable scrambled, running frantically around the arena to avoid the attacks, but the slicing gusts still clipped it and drove it stumbling.

“Charizard, now use Seismic Toss!” Ash shouted, elation rising as momentum swung back to his side.

“Rooaaar!”

Charizard bellowed. At last, it could vent its anger properly. It surged forward with powerful wingbeats, closing on Clefable. Under Clefable’s terrified gaze, Charizard’s talons locked on and hoisted it off the ground.

“Clefable, keep using Disarming Voice.”

Seeing that Clefable could no longer resist Charizard’s onslaught, Leaf chose to have it wear down Charizard’s stamina for as long as possible, setting the stage for her ace, Nidoqueen.

Charizard grimaced through the cloying cries, shot skyward, then spiraled to disorient Clefable. In a sudden drop, it dove straight down and slammed Clefable into the ground with a crushing back throw.

“Clefable is unable to battle!” the referee declared.

“Thank you, Clefable. I will not let you down,” Leaf said as she recalled her fainted partner. Her eyes sharpened as she hurled her next Poké Ball.

“I am counting on you, Nidoqueen!”

The white light faded to reveal Nidoqueen, her body clad in hard blue scales and a thick tail sweeping the dirt.

“Nidoqueen, use Rock Blast!”

Nidoqueen gathered solid rock in her hands and hurled it in quick succession toward the circling Charizard above.

“Charizard, block it with Dragon Claw.”

Charizard’s foreclaws spread wide, green light coursing over the talons as it slashed. One after another, the incoming stones shattered into pebbles and rained down harmlessly.

“Nidoqueen, now use Thunderbolt.”

Nidoqueen released a surge of electricity that shot up and struck Charizard.

“Roar—!”

Charizard screamed in pain and nearly lost its ability to stay aloft.

“Nidoqueen, set up—use Stealth Rock.”

Seeing Ash eyeing Charizard’s Poké Ball, Leaf changed course and gave her order.

Countless jagged stones floated into the air, then anchored themselves around the edges of the battlefield, lying in wait.

Ash did not fully understand the specifics of Stealth Rock, but to protect his trump card, he recalled Charizard all the same.

“Once more, I am counting on you, Primeape!”

The instant Primeape’s feet touched the arena, the surrounding stones pulsed and streaked inward.

Bang!

The surprise assault hit cleanly, and Ash had no time to warn Primeape. Even so, Primeape gritted through and halved the incoming damage.

“Nidoqueen, use Drill Run!”

Nidoqueen roared and charged headlong, aiming to gouge Primeape with the horn on her brow.

“This is bad. Drill Run’s power is no joke,” Gary said, worried.

He remembered what Nidoqueen’s Ability was—Sheer Force, which boosts the power of moves with secondary effects by a full thirty percent.

“Primeape, use Cross Chop!”

Ash did not recognize Nidoqueen’s Ability. He assumed he could fire Primeape up as usual and take the initiative.

Primeape crossed its glowing arms and met Nidoqueen head-on.

“How—?!”

In the brief clash, Primeape lost ground. Nidoqueen’s Drill Run struck it squarely.

“Nidoqueen, press the advantage! Iron Tail!” Leaf shouted, giving no room for Ash or Primeape to recover.

After bowling Primeape aside, Nidoqueen twisted and whipped her thick tail. It gleamed silver as it slammed into Primeape’s body.

Iron Tail also benefitted from Sheer Force, its power boosted by thirty percent.

Bang!

The resounding crack echoed around the battlefield. Primeape’s eyes spiraled as it toppled, unable to continue.

“Primeape is unable to battle!” the referee announced.

“I cannot believe Primeape lost just like that…” Ash muttered, guilt tightening his voice as he recalled his fallen partner.

(So this is Leaf’s trump card…)