Houndoom let out a furious roar. Combined with its piercing glare of Leer fixed directly on Jumpluff, the power of the King's Rock was triggered. Houndoom's intimidating presence became even more overwhelming, instantly frightening Jumpluff into freezing in midair, its body stiff and unable to move.
"Houndoom… Overheat," Tetsuya said coldly.
Houndoom's Leer contained the buff of Nasty Plot, so its Special Attack had already been boosted. Overheat was also a Special Attack powerful Fire-type move. A massive pillar of fire shot toward Jumpluff with a whoosh.
Only a single second-long shriek could be heard.
Then Jumpluff fell from the sky, its entire body already charred black.
In just ten minutes, Kenny had already lost both Cacturne and Jumpluff. On the surface, it was still a two-on-two battle, but Frenzy Plant consumed too much stamina and energy. Venusaur and Meganium simply could not keep it up for long. The wisest choice would have been to stop using it.
However, Frenzy Plant was on the verge of accomplishing something, so there was no way Kenny was willing to give it up…
It turned out that when Golurk had just used Magic Coat, Frenzy Plant had seized the opportunity to bind Golurk. More than twenty dead vines from Frenzy Plant had wrapped arround Golurk; its body was now completely hidden from view.
"Houndoom, [Blightfire Assault]."
Tetsuya gave the order. He would let Venusaur and Meganium desperately keep Frenzy Plant focused on Golurk. Houndoom's next move was the true finisher!
As for Golurk, there was no need to worry about its safety. Six layers of energy protected it, and both its Attack and Defense were exceptional. Once it used its might, there was no way Frenzy Plant alone could keep it restrained.
Houndoom had been holding back its frustration for a long time and was finally ready to vent its pent-up anger. Inferno and Smog burst out one after another. Then it used Double Team, creating ten Houndoom that charged into the raging flames. Its Flash Fire Ability activated, and the flames mixed with the Smog, enveloping every Houndoom.
Ten moving volcanoes cloaked in purple poisonous miasma rose across the battlefield…
The scene was even more spectacular than when Weezing had detonated Poison Gas!
Kenny had already lost all composure. He swallowed twice, his throat dry, and kept retreating. Yet what happened next made him realize even more clearly just how terrifying Tetsuya's Pokémon truly were…
The massive bundle of Frenzy Plant suddenly began to rise. Then an opening appeared among the dead vines, growing larger and larger. A rocket-like jet of flames came into Kenny's view. Soon afterward, the enormous Golurk wrapped in Frenzy Plant was slowly lifted upward, gaining more and more impulse.
Crack… Crack… Crack…
As Golurk used all its strength to ascend, every vine of Frenzy Plant was torn apart by its overwhelming power. What remained draped over Golurk were nothing more than lifeless dead vines. They no longer possessed any strength and all fell away with a slight shake of Golurk's body.
"T-This… This… That's impossible!"
Kenny was completely dumbfounded.
At that moment, Houndoom's [Blightfire Assault] struck first, targeting Meganium directly.
Golurk let out a roar from midair, signaling Houndoom to leave one opponent for it. Then Golurk clenched both fists together. The fireball surrounding its fists had reached a full meter in diameter!
Meganium was sent tumbling through the air after being brutally struck by Houndoom's volcano-like assault. Its flower was already completely ruined.
Venusaur was driven halfway into the ground by Golurk's Fire Punch, while the plant on its back was burned pitch-black.
Kenny no longer had any Pokémon able to battle. He kept retreating, recalled the Pokémon from the ground, then turned and ran straight toward the forest without looking back.
"Trying to run…? Tehe… It won't be that easy."
Tetsuya spoke coldly. Blue light flickered in his eyes. The evening sky appeared even clearer now as his psychic power swiftly locked onto Kenny.
Though Kenny tried to flee as fast as he could, he could not move forward even a single step. Tetsuya pulled him back with his psychic power and slammed him onto the ground!
Several bottles of perfume he had just bought spilled out, releasing all kinds of fragrances.
"My perfume… My perfume…" Kenny looked at the spilled perfume on the ground with obvious heartache.
Even at death's door, he was still thinking about such trivial things. Tetsuya could not help but laugh. Heh… perhaps Kenny believed that no matter what, Tetsuya would never actually kill him.
"Tell me… Where is Aoi Maiko!?¹[1]" Tetsuya demanded.
"H-How… how would I know where that old Jynx is!? I left her a long time ago. She was such an old woman, yet she expected me to wait on her every day!? I couldn't stand it anymore! We split up three years ago," Kenny said firmly.
"Hmph. You were actually willing to leave an Elite Four~" Tetsuya mocked sarcastically.
"Why nooot!? That old Jynx had already become the target of everyone's resentment in the Johto League. Humph! Asking her to resign was simply the council giving her some face," Kenny snorted coldly.
Tetsuya nodded. At least Maiko leaving the Johto League did not sound like a lie. Siegfried's departure had mainly been because of Aoi Maiko's improper and disgraceful conduct. She had constantly thrown the entire Johto League into chaos, giving rise to endless rumors and gossip. If it had been him, he would not have kept such a person either.
After all, Maiko had held an Elite Four Position. With so many privileges attached to her office, how could she possibly have resigned so easily? Joining Team Rocket afterward was probably nothing more than a move born of desperation.
"Then who was involved in plotting against me back then?" Tetsuya pressed.
"Who besides the three Elite Four could have taken part in something like that!? I only found out about it by accident… Sigh, I can leave now, right?"
After speaking, Kenny got back to his feet, brushed the dust off his clothes, and prepared to head toward the outskirts.
He was not trying to enter the forest. It seemed he had deliberately lured Tetsuya here with ill intentions. If Tetsuya had not been stronger than him, there was no telling what outrageous things someone like Kenny might have done…
"Sludge Bomb."
With a thought from Tetsuya, a shadow suddenly rose up. A Sludge Bomb shot out from within it and struck Kenny squarely in the back, blasting his flesh open.
Kenny glared viciously at Tetsuya, pointing his right hand at him. "Why…? Why are you killing me!?"
Tetsuya let out a cold laugh. "Because you deserve to die!"
"No,Pleas-!"
Then he had Gengar follow up with another Shadow Ball, killing Kenny on the spot. Someone like him absolutely could not be allowed to escape.
Besides, Tetsuya could only believe half of what he had said. Who could guarantee that he no longer had any connection with Aoi Maiko? Knowing that Tetsuya held a grudge against her, Kenny had deliberately spoken ill of her just now, which in itself was already suspicious.
Now that he was dead, everything was settled. Very soon, the toxicity of the Sludge Bomb completely corroded Kenny's body. Houndoom then reduced everything, including his clothes, to ashes with a burst of fire.
Just like that, this person vanished from the world…
After returning to the city, Tetsuya found an inn, took a bath, and only then went out to find something to eat. By the time he had filled his stomach and fed his Pokémon, it was already getting late.
Fortunately, today's battle had not left his Pokémon with any serious injuries. After using some Potions they should recover quickly. Both Tetsuya and his Pokémon turned in early. They needed to maintain their condition for tomorrow's battle.
•.
•.
¹. WHERE IIIS SHE!!!?
…I know is "Where are they" but… C'MON GUYS!
Batman type shi'
[1] WHERE IIIS SHE!!!? … I know is "Where are they" but… C'MON GUYS!