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Although Ash caught Totodile, he sent it and Wartortle back to Professor Oak. Clearly, this Totodile was still young. While its strength was decent, it was still weaker than Bayleef and Quilava. Ash sent Wartortle back as well, wanting Wartortle and Slowpoke to act as mentors, guiding and training it. Just like Charizard in Charicific Valley, it would continuously grow stronger under the training of its same-type seniors.
"Alright, Totodile and Wartortle have been received here. I'll make sure they undergo special training!" He heard that Professor Oak was also a powerful trainer in his youth.
Emerging from the Pokémon Center, Ash and his companions ran into a young boy rushing to treat his Pokémon. The Growlithe in his arms looked severely injured.
"Why are you so flustered? What happened?" Misty asked, concerned.
"I lost a Pokémon battle!" the boy replied candidly. "That opponent was too strong!" Ash immediately became interested. "Where is this powerful trainer?"
"He's on that bridge at the top of the mountain! So I advise you, if you're heading that way, it's best to avoid that bridge!" Was Ash the kind of person who would avoid a fight just because he heard someone was strong? Clearly not, so they immediately ascended the mountain and found the bridge. They saw that on the opposite side of the bridge stood a tall young woman.
Brock immediately dashed over, grasped her delicate hand, and said emotionally, "Hello, Miss! My name is Brock! If you don't mind, please tell me your beautiful name!" Misty was about to step forward to intervene, but unexpectedly, this time the young woman actually allowed Brock to hold her hand and replied to him, "My name is Mika!" The young woman's reply instantly made Brock ecstatic, completely immersed in happiness. "What a lovely name! Come, come, this place might be dangerous at any moment. Let me accompany you on your journey!"
"I have a question for you: do you have any Fire-type Pokémon?" This time, the young woman didn't respond to his advances, but instead asked this abrupt question. Brock nodded without hesitation. "Of course I do." He indeed had a Fire-type Pokémon. It was a Vulpix that Ms. Yuki, a Pokémon beautician and top breeder, had entrusted him to care for!
"Then I'm counting on you!" The young woman's expression suddenly turned cold. She took out a Poké Ball and retreated to a suitable distance. "One Pokémon only. Let's battle!" So, the trainer who challenged Fire-type Pokémon at the bridge was her! This was like a bucket of cold water poured over Brock's head. He quickly calmed down. "As long as you don't mind, I'd be glad to be your opponent!"
Mika sent out her Pokémon first. It was a large bird completely covered in steel feathers, named Skarmory! It was a Steel/Flying-type Pokémon! Steel-type Pokémon had excellent resistances. Out of 18 types, 10 types of attacks were not very effective against it, and Poison-type attacks had no effect at all. Only three types were super effective against it: Ground, Fighting, and Fire. Furthermore, Steel-type Pokémon could not be poisoned or badly poisoned, nor could they be harmed by sandstorms! Among the three types super effective against Steel, Skarmory, being a Flying-type, gained a weakness to Electric but became immune to Ground-type moves and gained a resistance to Fighting-type moves. This meant Skarmory only had two type weaknesses: Electric and Fire!
"Then why are you deliberately looking for Fire-types to battle?" Misty asked curiously after Ash explained all this.
Mika looked at Ash, then said proudly, "Because it has already battled Pokémon of other types! I saved the hardest, Fire-type, for last, to conclude its mountain training!"
"I see!" Brock's face darkened as if facing a formidable enemy. "This opponent looks very strong! I must also show my training spirit."
"Go, Vulpix!" This Vulpix, entrusted by a Pokémon beautician, was not skilled in battle! It was certainly no match for Skarmory. Under Skarmory's Swift attack, it was quickly beaten and forced to flee in disarray. Finally, it was finished off by Skarmory's Steel Wing, losing its ability to battle.
"It's indeed strong. I surrender!" Steel Wing was a good move. One had to remember that Steel-type moves were super effective against Rock-types, and Rock-types countered Flying-types. If a Flying-type Pokémon could learn Steel Wing, it could effectively strike back against Rock-types!
Mika, not having had enough, asked, "Do you have any more Fire-type Pokémon?" Brock didn't, but Ash did, and two of them!
"I'll take the challenge!" Ash stepped forward. After some thought, he threw out Houndour's Poké Ball. After these few days of daily training, Ash and this Alpha Houndour had integrated very well; after all, their compatibility was high from the start!
"What a fierce Pokémon!" Houndour's appearance startled Mika. Houndour already had a ferocious appearance, and Ash's Alpha, with its battle scars on its face, looked even more sinister!
"Alright then, Houndour, use Odor Sleuth!" This was a common move for canine Pokémon, making moves that wouldn't affect Ghost-type Pokémon and opponents with high evasion easier to hit!
"Don't try any tricks, Swift!" Mika's current battle style was very similar to Ash's former self: just attack, attack, attack! Relying on Skarmory's high resistances, she charged head-on!
"Use Flamethrower!" The scorching pillar of fire shattered the Swift stars. But at this moment, Skarmory had ascended into the air and was diving down, intending to use the speed gained from its high-altitude dive to impact. This had always been Mika and Skarmory's forte! However, this time they were facing the Dark-type Houndour!
"Houndour, use Sucker Punch!" Even though Skarmory's dive speed was very fast, Ash and Houndour showed no panic! The moment Skarmory descended, Houndour's figure suddenly vanished from its spot, then reappeared in front of Skarmory, slapping it down!
"Now, Flamethrower!" Skarmory was knocked to the ground, losing its aerial advantage. Ash seized the opportunity and quickly had Houndour deliver the finishing blow!
"How could this be?! Skarmory, fly up!" However, the wicked flames successfully engulfed Skarmory, rendering it unable to battle!
"I lost. It seems my training isn't enough!" Mika reluctantly admitted defeat, as Skarmory lost its ability to battle. Brock consoled her, "You don't need to worry too much; it's just that Ash and Houndour are too strong!" But regardless of victory or defeat, Mika was ready to conclude her training and descend the mountain to continue her journey. It turned out she was also participating in this year's Johto League Silver Conference. She was a very strong opponent!
Houndour: 155/200