Pokemon: Reborn as a Pokemon 9. Battle

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"ROAR!!"

From within the massive crater, a powerful figure stood tall.

It had the fra of a human, but its body shimred with a rocky gray-purple skin that radiated strength. Three jagged plates crowned its head, and its lizard-like face bore fierce eyes and bared fangs, exhaling hot breath like steam from a volcano.

Bulging muscles rippled across its entire body, and on its biceps, six crimson marks glowed faintly badges of battle-hardened might.

This was Machoke Bali's ace Pokémon.

At the edge of the crater, Bali was urgently treating Herdier's wounds, but his eyes kept flicking toward his longti partner. The trust and belief in that gaze were unmistakable.

Back in his youth, Bali had dread of being a pro trainer.

But those dreams didn't pay the bills. Harsh reality forced him to give up the League circuit and take over the family ranch.

Still, Machoke was the Pokémon he had poured everything into training and he knew exactly how strong it was.

Kael stood at a distance, watching the two opponents face off with growing tension.

Across the field, the Midnight Lycanroc licked its fangs, eyes gleaming with amusent but inwardly, it was on high alert.

That crater? One punch had caused it.

"If I'd been half a second slower..."

"Grrr...." (Weak)

The Lycanroc's smirk sharpened. A flicker of savage excitent flashed in its blood-red eyes.

Machoke's muscles surged with fury. He glanced briefly at the bloodied Herdier behind him.

Exhaling through his nose, he saw visible mist in the cold air. His anger burned so hot it practically shimred.

"Let's see you laugh after I cave in my punch in your face."

BOOM!

Explosive force erupted as Machoke lunged forward.

His foot left a deep print in the earth. Wind howled behind him as he barreled ahead, fist cocked and glowing with dark, concentrated energy.

"[Knock Off]!"

Lycanroc narrowed its eyes and suddenly closed them.

A sinister, oppressive aura leaked from its body. When it reopened them, a grotesque wolf-like face seed to overlay its real one tongue lolling, eyes crazed.

"[Scary Face]!"

For a second, Machoke faltered. Even with his warrior's heart, the sudden ntal image shook him like prey caught in a predator's gaze.

That split-second hesitation was all Lycanroc needed.

It vanished and reappeared directly in front of him.

"[Crunch]!"

Dark energy surged across its jagged fangs as it clamped down on Machoke's shoulder. His iron-hard skin offered little resistance.

Machoke grunted in pain, but swung a powerful fist at Lycanroc's ribs, forcing it to disengage.

The first exchange ended Lycanroc had the edge.

Machoke staggered back, clenching his wounded arm. He tried to flex and seal the injury but sothing was wrong.

There was a corrupting force within the wound, malicious energy that refused to let it close.

Lycanroc licked the blood from its teeth and sneered.

"You think this'll be easy?"

Machoke narrowed his gaze. That last hit confird it this enemy was no pushover.

He couldn't hold back.

Grabbing the golden belt around his waist, Machoke pressed down.

Click.

With a twist and a snap, the limiter ca undone.

A torrent of raw power exploded from his body. His muscles swelled, veins bulged, and the crimson stripes on his arms glowed brighter. Heat radiated off his skin, creating wisps of steam.

Machoke's species possessed strength so overwhelming that they wore special belts to suppress it. But when it was ti to go all-out...

"RAAAH!!"

He hurled the belt aside and bellowed into the sky, a shockwave rippling from his throat.

The Midnight Lycanroc's ears flicked.

Sensing danger, it launched a volley of glowing yellow stones.

"[Rock Throw]!"

Machoke's muscles tightened. He swung a fist, releasing a snapping sound through the air, and shattered the incoming rocks effortlessly.

BOOM!

Suddenly, he vanished from sight.

Lycanroc's pupils shrank.

The danger sense scread.

"Behind —!" ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novelꜰire

He spun—

"[Double Team]!"

His body flickered, creating shadowy clones.

One clone was obliterated instantly, pierced through the chest by Machoke's incoming punch.

But it was a fake.

"Dodged it—?"

"Gotcha."

A voice whispered in his ear.

Panic struck.

WHAM!

Machoke's follow-up blow detonated against Lycanroc's face, sending it flying through the air like a ragdoll.

It crashed across the grass, bouncing violently.

Dazed, Lycanroc instinctively cast one of its few defensive techniques.

"[Protect]!"

A translucent red barrier appeared in front of it.

CRACK!

Machoke dropped from above, twin fists glowing with brown force, and slamd into the shield. It shattered like glass.

Lycanroc howled.

Desperate, it activated a counter:

"[Howl]!"

"[Stone Edge]!"

Its rocky mane erupted, hurling razor-edged stones in all directions.

BOOM!!

Shockwaves clashed in the air.

Bali shielded Herdier's unconscious body, his hair whipping in the blast.

Farther back, Kael squinted against the wind. His eyes burned, but he refused to blink.

I can't miss a second of this.

Watching the intense, primal clash stirred sothing deep in his chest.

His hunger for strength had never felt stronger.

THUD!

Machoke landed with a crash, knees bent and breathing heavy.

His arms trembled slightly from the recoil but he stood tall, glaring into the dust.

He wasn't finished yet.

Across the field, Lycanroc's silhouette slowly erged battered, bloodied, but still smiling.

Its blood-red eyes glead with sadistic delight.

And it laughed.

"Heh... heh... hehehe..."

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Thank you so much for reading!