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In the bustling town of Cinnabar, inside a large battle facility packed with noise and spectators, Sato was engaged in a fierce Pokémon battle with another trainer on the A-Zone battlefield.
On the rocky terrain of the battlefield, a Growlithe engulfed in flames was locked in a heated clash against a Rhyhorn cloaked in thick rock armor.
Compared to the Rhyhorn, which was as massive and imposing as a heavily-armored tank, even though Growlithe was more developed than average, it still looked incredibly small—like a child facing off against an adult.
Faced with Rhyhorn's wild and relentless charges, Growlithe had no choice but to repeatedly evade its attacks.
Fortunately, Growlithe was fast enough to dodge each of Rhyhorn's ferocious strikes. But even so, it remained in a difficult position.
Rhyhorn's charges were not only vicious but also backed by explosive power and endurance that didn't match its bulky frame. Even when it missed, it left Growlithe with no opening to counterattack.
Every time Growlithe dodged a charge and prepared to retaliate with a burst of flame, the next wave of Rhyhorn's assault would already be upon him.
Relying on its natural Rock typing to resist Fire-type moves, its heavy stone armor powered by Rock energy, and the glaring, earthy yellow horn on its snout…
Rhyhorn, whose Ability was Rock Head, didn't fear Growlithe's Flamethrower at all when using Double-Edge. It charged through the flames head-on.
Under its trainer's command, the Ground-type energy wrapped around its horn began to spin rapidly, forming a swirling yellow vortex centered on the horn, surrounded by whirling white air currents.
This Rhyhorn was clearly powerful. With its trainer's careful nurturing, it had mastered the skill of multitasking—executing Drill Run and Double-Edge simultaneously.
(Note: Rock Head — This Ability prevents recoil damage from the Pokémon's own moves.)
(Note: Double-Edge — A Normal-type physical move, Power 120. The user receives significant recoil damage.)
(Note: Drill Run — A Ground-type physical move, Power 80. The user drills into the opponent while spinning, with a high critical hit ratio.)
Growlithe's Flamethrower was significantly weakened by the spinning energy vortex on Rhyhorn's horn, and the remaining flame was almost entirely neutralized by its thick stone armor.
Seeing the tank-like Rhyhorn charge so fiercely again, Growlithe had no choice but to abandon the brief counterattack and quickly leap aside.
Both Sato and Growlithe were well aware that a Rhyhorn using Double-Edge was like a semi-truck with its accelerator floored—Growlithe in comparison was just a regular person standing in the way.
If Growlithe took a direct hit, the consequences would be disastrous.
Once again, Growlithe narrowly avoided Rhyhorn's rampaging charge. Its massive body couldn't brake in time, and its head slammed into a large rock behind where Growlithe had just been.
A moment later—BOOM!!!—a deafening crash rang out.
The massive boulder, nearly twice Rhyhorn's size, was instantly shattered by the impact of its head. Chunks of rock exploded in all directions.
And yet, Rhyhorn acted as if nothing had happened. As its momentum slowed, it sharply turned and began another charge toward Growlithe, dodging falling debris mid-air.
"Flamethrower!"
By this point, under Sato's command, Growlithe had already retreated to another boulder. A searing orange-red jet of flame shot from its mouth, hot enough to distort the air, and hit the charging Rhyhorn squarely.
"Hmph! Futile struggle. Keep using Drill Run with Double-Edge! Go, Rhyhorn!"
Seeing Sato once again use boulders to try to injure his Rhyhorn, the opposing trainer sneered and shouted with contempt.
However, this time the trainer had grown impatient. He didn't notice that the boulder Sato had guided Growlithe to was part of a trap.
"Roar!!!"
With a glint in its eyes, Rhyhorn roared in response.
Then, as if receiving a subtle signal from its trainer, the muscles in Rhyhorn's legs swelled suddenly—its limbs doubled in thickness.
In an instant, its speed surged. If it was a freight truck before, now it was a full-throttle bullet train.
Deep, heavy hoofprints formed on the ground behind it as Rhyhorn's sharp horn tore through Growlithe's Flamethrower, closing in with astonishing speed.
The sudden burst of speed caught both Sato and Growlithe by surprise.
Unfortunately for Rhyhorn, despite its acceleration, it was still not fast enough in Growlithe's eyes. With the cumulative boost from Flame Charge, Growlithe had reached the maximum six-stage speed increase.
Rhyhorn's boost couldn't make up that kind of gap.
A sharp whoosh sliced through the air.
Just before Rhyhorn could strike, Growlithe's eyes narrowed, its muscles tensed, and with explosive power, it vanished—leaving behind only a brief afterimage.
A moment later, Rhyhorn crashed into the boulder. Like the others before it, the rock exploded under the force, unable to halt its charge.
But this time, things were different—there were more boulders behind this one.
From an aerial view of the battlefield, one could see that behind Growlithe were seven or eight boulders lined up in a near-straight row.
Around them lay the debris of shattered rocks—evidence of Sato's ongoing strategy.
A single boulder couldn't stop Rhyhorn's charge, but the combined resistance of several managed to do just that. For the first time, Rhyhorn's charge was hindered.
After smashing through four boulders, its momentum dropped sharply, and it came to a stop in front of the fifth.
To make matters worse, its horn had become lodged in the rock—it couldn't pull free immediately.
"Finally paid off. Now's our chance! Growlithe, Flamethrower, full power!"
After being chased around the field, Growlithe—a Fire-type Pokémon—was already burning with frustration. Hearing Sato's command, its flames roared to life.
In an instant, the flames around Growlithe flared and shifted color—from orange-red to pale white.
The temperature surged by at least two to three hundred degrees Celsius, and the nearby fragments of stone even showed signs of melting.
A massive jet of pale-tinged orange flame erupted from Growlithe's mouth, striking Rhyhorn directly on the rear.
"RRAAAUGH~~~!!!"
Under the intense heat, Rhyhorn's relatively soft backside turned bright red—like a baboon's—and it let out a bloodcurdling scream.
It was clear Growlithe had hit a vital spot—possibly even endangering its, well, essential bits.
In the end, with low special defense, Rhyhorn's rear bloomed from the Flamethrower—its eyes rolled back, and it collapsed in a dead faint.