Outside Eterna Forest, Pokémoer

  “Your Pokémon have been fully healed.”

  Nurse Joy handed a tray with six Poké Balls to Paul.

  “Thank you.”

  After seg all the Poké Balls, Paul expressed his gratitude politely.

  “You’re wele! By the way, I noticed during the treatment that your Pokémon undergo quite a lot orous training. Make sure to pay attention to their nutritional needs!”

  Nurse Joy smiled and reminded him.

  “Uood.”

  Paul nodded ahe Pokémoer.

  Eterna Forest was vast, and the distao Eterna City was siderable. Along the way, there were other Pokémoers, with this one being the closest.

  The reason for ing here wasn’t just for healing and adjustments—it was also to fa uping battle.

  “You’re so slow, Paul! I’ve been waiting fes! At this rate, I should charge you a penalty!”

  Standing on an open patch of nd outside the Pokémoer was Barry, a boy with spiky blonde hair, who shouted impatiently.

  “If you’re in such a hurry, you could’ve left first. I didn’t ask you to wait for me.”

  Ign Barry’s pints, Paul walked over calmly and took his position.

  “I’ve been waiting one or two days for you! Leaving now would be a huge waste!”

  Barry pouted, pulling a Poké Ball from his pocket. “Hurry up! Get ready to battle—I’m going to crush you!”

  “Fine. Battle rules: 3 vs. 3. Pokémon substitutions are allowed. The first side to have all their Pokémon uo battle loses.”

  As he spoke, Paul already had a Poké Ball in hand.

  “Sounds good to me! Let’s do this!”

  Barry readily agreed, throwing out his Poké Ball. “Heracross, I choose you!”

  “Herraaa!”

  With a mighty cry, Heracross—a beetle-like Pokémon with a huge horn—emerged, ready for battle.

  “Ursaring, get ready.”

  Paul also tossed out a Poké Ball.

  “Ursaa!”

  The moment Ursaring nded, it let out a roar that sent a shiver through Heracross, exuding an overwhelming presence.

  “Herra…”

  Heracross’s fident demeanor wavered as it faced Ursaring.

  “No way! You’re using Ursaring right from the start? Isn’t that your stro Pokémon?”

  Barry thought to himself, This huge Ursaring must be Paul’s ace.

  Starting the battle with it felt like a sign of respect, but Barry didn’t think he’d lose. After all, Heracross had the advantage of its Fighting type.

  “This match is mine!”

  “Heracross, use Arm Thrust!”

  Heracross fpped its wings and charged at Ursaring, its arms glowing white as it unched a full-force Arm Thrust.

  “Catch it.”

  Instead of using a move, Ursaries massive paw and intercepted Heraid-attack, gripping one of its arms tightly.

  “Bam!”

  Caught off guard, Heracross tried attag with its free arm, nding a solid Arm Thrust on Ursaring’s body to force it to let go.

  Heracross’s strength was formidable, and the Arm Thrust dealt signifit damage.

  But Heracross hadn’t anticipated that Ursaring, hardened from stant group battles, had developed araordinary level of endurano matter how hard it pushed, Ursaring didn’t budge an inch.

  “Fire Punch!”

  A menag grin spread across Ursaring’s face as fmes ignited around its free paw. It swung down with immense force.

  “Boom!”

  The punded squarely on Heracross, who was lifted off the ground before being smmed back down by Ursaring’s grip.

  It’s super effective!

  Ursaring had trais Fire Punch tless times, and its power was evident in this strike.

  “Heracross, stay strong! Use Brick Break!”

  Desperate, Barry anded Heracross, who mao open its eyes despite the pain. It swung its free arm, exeg a Brick Break aimed at Ursaring’s arm in an attempt to escape.

  “Release it and use Hammer Arm!”

  Just before the Brick Break could ect, Ursaring released its grip, dodging the attack. Raising both of its massive arms, it brought them down in a devastating Hammer Arm.

  “Bam!”

  A loud crash echoed as Heracross cried out in pain, leaving a crater in the ground where it y motionless.

  With its stamied, Heracross appeared uo titling.

  “It’s over…”

  Paul thought the battle was decided and turned his attention to Barry, whose expression seemed odd.

  Looking back at Heracross, Paul realized something was wrong—it wasn’t defeated!

  “Now’s our ce—Reversal!”

  Barry shouted excitedly.

  “Herraaa!”

  Heracross’s body glowed red, unleashing an immense fighting spirit. eling all its remaining strength, it unched a powerful terattack.

  Reversal increases in power the lower the user’s HP!

  With Heracross’s health at its limit, the move would deal massive damage. If it nded, even Ursaring would struggle to endure.

  “Don’t let it happen—use Ssh!”

  In the critical moment, Ursaries cws, which gleamed like bdes, and struck Heracross.

  Heracross also unleashed its full force, and the two collided.

  “Boom!”

  The resulting explosion was incredible, sending Ursaring flying five meters into the air.

  When the dust settled, Heracross y motionless on the ground, finally uo battle.

  Ursaring, however…

  “Ursaa…”

  It crashed back to the ground but struggled to its feet, its red-tinged eyes refleg pain aermination.

  Clearly, Ursaring was also severely injured.

  “Return, Heracross. You did great.”

  Though Barry had lost his first Pokémon, he wasn’t disheartened.

  Using a newly caught Pokémon to severely injure Paul’s ace was a result he could accept. The Pokémon would easily finish the job.

  “Tch… Careless.”

  Paul, oher hand, was frustrated. A match he thought would be an overwhelming victory had nearly ended i.

  Upon closer iion, it was clear what had happened.

  Heracross had used Endure as Ursaring’s Hammer Arm nded, allowing it to survive with just 1 HP. This set the stage for a devastating Reversal.

  Had Paul or Ursaring paid more attention and delivered a finishing blow, or if Paul had recalled Ursaring earlier, the oute would’ve been perfect.

  Unfortunately, he missed the opportunity.

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