“Now beginning the Gym battle between Gym Leader Brawly and the challenger Ash from Pallet Town!
Each side will use two Pokémon!”
With the referee’s announcement, the match officially began.
“Go, Machoke!”
Brawly sent out his first Pokémon.
[Machoke]
[Ability: No Guard (All moves used by either side will always hit.)]
[Strength: Elite peak]
Ash’s mouth twitched.
If he remembered correctly, Brawly was supposed to use Machop in the original story.
It seemed that Ash’s performance had made Brawly take him more seriously.
“Go, Taillow!”
“Taillow~!”
“Taillow, use Wing Attack!”
“Machoke, take it head-on.
Then use Thunder Punch.” Brawly smiled as he watched Taillow attack.
Machoke somehow used its surfing technique to redirect and disperse part of the attack’s force.
“What’s going on?
Why is Wing Attack so weak?
That shouldn’t be possible!” (・_・?) Max asked in confusion.
“Is it using its surfing technique to deflect the force?!
I see!” Ash finally understood the secret behind it.
“That’s right, Ash.
So how are you going to break through it?” Brawly asked with a smile.
No Guard combined with that damage-dispersing technique was indeed troublesome.
Taillow’s advantage had vanished, and it was impossible to drag the battle out.
“The simplest way!
Break all techniques with absolute power!
Let’s decide the match in a single strike!
Use Quick Attack, then Brave Bird!”
“What?!
Machoke, use Thunder Punch!”
BANG!
Machoke fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
“Taillow~!”
Taillow was also badly injured and collapsed shortly afterward.
“Thank you, Taillow.
I saw your courage.
Come back!”
“Machoke, you did great too!”
“Taillow and Machoke are both unable to battle!”
“Ash, your Taillow has tremendous spirit.
You really are strong!” Brawly praised him, then sent out his next Pokémon.
“Go, Hariyama!”
It was the same Hariyama that had gone surfing with Brawly the day before.
“Then I choose Primeape!”
“Chaah~!”
“Primeape, this is your first Gym battle.
Let’s start with a victory!”
“Chaah~!”
“Fighting versus Fighting, huh?
I like it!
Hariyama, Bullet Punch!”
“Primeape, counter with Mega Punch!”
The two Pokémon began trading punch after punch.
Their fists collided directly, and the intense close-range battle had Brock, May, and Max watching with great excitement.
“Haha!
It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a battle this much!
Ash, it looks like your Primeape has been specially trained!
Hariyama, Zen Headbutt!”
“Primeape, let’s give it everything we’ve got too!
Rage Fist—the twentieth time!”
“Chaah~!”
Primeape unleashed all the rage it had accumulated in a single punch, sending the charging Hariyama flying!
Blue-white light suddenly appeared around Primeape as its body began to change.
“It’s…” Brawly stared at Primeape in surprise.
“What?!
Primeape can evolve?!” Max felt as if his brain simply could not process it anymore.
“Chaah~!”
The light of evolution shattered around Primeape.
Its fur flew wildly, its skin darkened, and its crimson eyes became filled with a fierce, savage intensity.
[Annihilape]
[Type: Fighting/Ghost]
[Ability: Defiant]
[Strength: Late Gym level]
[Moves: Shadow Punch, Rage Fist, Tera Blast…]
[Tera Type: Ghost]
That was right.
The secret weapon Ash had prepared for Primeape was Rage Fist.
Primeape normally could not learn the move, but the system could provide a Primeape-exclusive Rage Fist learning machine, allowing it to break past its original limits.
“Congratulations, Annihilape!”
“Chaah~!”
Annihilape gave Ash a thumbs-up.
May took out her Pokédex and scanned it.
No data available.
“Annihilape…?
Ash, what exactly is this?” Brawly voiced the question that everyone was thinking.
“Annihilape is a Fighting- and Ghost-type Pokémon and Primeape’s evolved form.
Primeape can evolve after using Rage Fist twenty times.
As far as I know, only Primeape from the Paldea region should be able to learn Rage Fist, so I have no idea why my Primeape can use it,” Ash explained.
“I see.
I think one of your Primeape’s ancestors must have come from the Paldea region.
Perhaps those genes were passed down and awakened in it.
You’re really lucky!”
Brawly had practically perfected Ash’s lie for him.
Ash genuinely wanted to hug Brawly and thank him for the help.
“Then let’s continue our battle, Mr.
Brawly.” Ash smiled at him.
“Hariyama, use Zen Headbutt with all your strength!”
Now that Brawly knew Annihilape was part Ghost-type, there was no reason to keep using Fighting-type moves.
Psychic-type moves were also super effective against it.
“Annihilape, full-power Shadow Punch!”
“Chaah~!”
BANG!
Hariyama was knocked down!
“Hariyama is unable to battle!
Pri—no, Annihilape wins!
The winner is Ash from Pallet Town!”
“That was amazing, Annihilape!”
“Chaah~!”
“Ash, thank you for letting me witness Primeape’s evolution.
Here is the Knuckle Badge.
You’ve earned it!”
Brawly stepped forward and handed Ash the Knuckle Badge.
“Yes!
I got the Knuckle Badge!”
Ash accepted the Badge and raised it high.
“Pika~!”
“Chaah~!”
[Ding~ Knuckle Badge obtained.
Reward: 1,000 points.]
————Pokémon Center————
“Ash, let us see Annihilape!” (*≧▽≦)人(≧▽≦*) Max and May looked eagerly at Ash.
“All right, but Annihilape gets even angrier than Primeape, so you two need to be careful.”
Max and May nodded rapidly like pecking chicks.
“Come on out, everyone!”
Ash released all his Pokémon so they could meet Annihilape.
Everyone, both human and Pokémon, curiously stared at Annihilape.
Eventually, Annihilape could no longer stand all the attention and returned to its Poké Ball.
“That’s such a shame.
I still wanted to see more!” May lowered her head in disappointment.
“There will be plenty of chances in the future.
I’m going to switch some Pokémon at the Pokémon Center.
I can also let Professor Oak check on Annihilape while I’m at it.”
After comforting May, Ash headed toward the Pokémon Center.
“Great!
I understand!
Don’t worry, I’ll give Annihilape a thorough examination!
Hehehe!
Ash, if you need anything in the future, just come to me!
I’ll do everything I can to help you!”
Professor Oak patted his chest and made his promise.
“All right.
Thank you, Professor Oak.”
Seeing the look on Professor Oak’s face, Ash immediately understood what he was thinking.
He silently apologized to Annihilape.
{Ash’s updated team:
Pikachu, Quilava, Bayleef, Noctowl, Croconaw, Charizard, and one Pokémon Egg.}
Ash had brought Noctowl over because he planned to use it in the next Pokémon Contest.
Afterward, Ash reunited with Brock, May, and Max.
“Ash, we heard from Nurse Joy that Mr.
Steven really is on the island!” Max said excitedly.
“Mr.
Stone is Steven’s father.
How could he possibly have been wrong?” Ash replied, the corner of his mouth twitching.
“Uh, no!
That’s not what I mean!
Mr.
Steven seems to be inside Granite Cave!” Max quickly explained.
“All right, then let’s go take a look!”
Ash made the decision.
He once again left the Pokémon Egg with Nurse Joy, since there was no telling what dangers might be inside Granite Cave.
Soon, everyone headed toward Granite Cave.
Meanwhile, at Professor Oak’s Laboratory…
“Hehehe!
An Annihilape from Paldea!
I’ve never researched one before!
Perfect timing!
Beautifly has just finished evolving, so I no longer have a research subject.
And now you’ve come straight to me!”
“Come on out, Annihilape!”
“Chaah~!”
Annihilape stared at Professor Oak angrily and felt a strong urge to punch him.
Then, suddenly, it sensed an extremely powerful presence locking onto it.
“Hehe!
Old friend, keep an eye on it.
Annihilape, here I come!”
Annihilape: Save me!
I knew I shouldn’t have evolved.
(╥﹏╥)
While Ash was on his way to Granite Cave, Team Rocket attacked him.
May and Jessie ended up having a Wurmple-versus-Wurmple battle.
After the brief encounter passed without any major trouble, Team Rocket was blasted off, and Ash’s group finally arrived at Granite Cave.
To be continued…