Pokémon：Trainer's Gambit Chapter 304 - 0304 A Knight Never Dies Unarmed

Two beams of light erupted from the Poké Balls.

On the field stood dicham—a nimble, humanoid Pokémon balanced in a perfect ditate stance, its baggy pants fluttering like a yogi master's.

"What an... interesting posture," Natsu muttered, checking his Pokédex.

[dicham - Fighting/Psychic

Ability: Pure Power

Gender: ♀

Held Item: Expert Belt

Moves: Force Palm, Zen Headbutt, High Jump Kick, Mind Reader...]

The setup matched his predictions.

That Pure Power ability was particularly troubleso, massively boosting its physical strength.

The dual typing also resisted Fighting moves—

not that Natsu planned to use any.

"Sirfetch'd." He glanced at his Sirfetch'd, already puffing its chest.

"Sirfetch'd!" It eyed dicham disdainfully.

Even with Inner Focus, dicham tensed under its gaze.

This opponent... is a seasoned warrior.

Maylene tightened her bandaged nose.

No retreating—even against Natsu-sensei!

"dicham, ditate!"

The Pokémon clasped its hands, aura swirling as its power doubled.

In the stands, Brawly grinned. "I battled her before."

"Didn't expect her ditite to evolve for this tournant."

Chuck studied Sirfetch'd's calm deanor.

Not his aura Pokémon... yet that pressure...

"Is this synchronization between trainer and Pokémon?" he murmured.

Natsu had no intention of letting Maylene set up.

"First Impression!"

Sirfetch'd's leek glead as it lunged—

faster than Quick Attack.

A monocle chain dangled from its right eye, boosting critical hits.

Strike first, strike hard!

Maylene smirked. Perfect.

"Zen Headbutt!"

A super-effective counter—

or so she thought.

"Too reckless!" Brawly gasped.

"No," Chuck narrowed his eyes. "Both are feints."

Maylene had prepared for Natsu's counterplay.

If Sirfetch'd blocked, her High Jump Kick would finish it.

But then—

"Leek Toss!"

The Sirfetch'd hurled its weapon like a javelin.

THWACK!

dicham staggered, clutching its side.

No poison? Maylene rallied. "Zen Headbutt, again!"

dicham blurred forward—

BAM!

Sirfetch'd skidded back, barely shielding in ti.

...

"Natsu-sensei anticipated High Jump Kick," Brawly noted.

"But without its leek, how does Sirfetch'd fight back?"

"It doesn't need to."

Chuck pointed at the shield now gleaming tallic.

"Iron Defense!" Natsu commanded.

Maylene's eyes widened.

The leek toss wasn't offense—

it bought ti to fortify.

"People focus on the leek... and forget the shield."

Natsu smiled. "After all, Sirfetch'd shares Aegislash's title—'Sword and Shield Legendary'!"

"Knock Off!"

With two Iron Defenses, Sirfetch'd tanked another Zen Headbutt.

HP critical, it charged—

"Sirfetch'd! (σ;Д)σ"

This ti... I'LL carry!

SLAM!

The shield smashed dicham's wounded side—

SNAP! The Expert Belt flew off.

Knock Off's damage doubled against held items...

Plus a critical hit.

TRIPLE DAMAGE.

dicham collapsed to its knees—

but mustered one last Force Palm.

"Sirfetch'd!" The Sirfetch'd casually swatted the energy blast aside—

then bonked dicham's head with its shield.

BOOM!

"Winner: Natsu!!"

Silence—then deafening cheers.

Brock stared. "That Sirfetch'd was just caught, wasn't it?"

To execute commands flawlessly...

To land a match-winning crit through sheer will...

How did they sync so fast?!

Maylene gulped at Sirfetch'd's serene expression.

It looked... effortless?

Was it toying with ?!

She sighed. "...Expected, I guess."

Natsu, however, noticed Sirfetch'd's trembling legs.

That Force Palm should've KO'd it...

Unless—

His eyes widened.

Sirfetch'd had pretended to retrieve its leek—

standing motionless mid-reach—

before finally collapsing.

"Holy crap, that's savage!"

The crowd roared with laughter.

"Even fainting with style! Typical Natsu-sensei's Pokémon!"

Returning Sirfetch'd, Natsu whispered:

"Good job, 'Leek Pancake.'"

The Premier Ball stayed still—

it had given its all.

But to spectators?

That dramatic faint cented Sirfetch'd as the ultimate showoff.

"SIRFETCH'D IS KING!!"

"NATSU-SENSEI, KEEP STOMPING!"

A red beam flashed—

Squirtle erged, adjusting its sunglasses.

"Squirtle?!"

An opponent strong enough to defeat Sirfetch'd?!

Sweating, it clenched its tiny fists.

Fine.

I'll handle Natsu's next battle!

...

Gurkinn's breath hitched at Squirtle's aura.

At my age... I can't fully draw out Korrina and Lucario's potential.

If she trained under him...

He shook his head.

"Without proper tribute... how could I ask?"

This power... humbled even him.

anwhile—

Brawly shadowboxed wildly. "I NEED to battle Natsu-sensei!"

Chuck sighed.

Only one trainer cos to mind who could match him...

"Perhaps... Blue Oak."

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