Chapter 163: The Strong One is the Person Wielding the Sword
Previously, during the series of battles within Star Brilliance Alliance territory, it wasn't just Honedge that was exerting effort and growing.
Frogadier was also continuously learning and training all along the way!
Frogadier, with its strong-willed personality, was never willing to fall behind.
It was, after all, a frog aspiring to become a Greninja!
Back in Star Brilliance, its most frequent training partner was Kevin's Honchkrow, and using smoke tactics and clones was precisely that crow's specialty.
During their daily joint training sessions, Frogadier gradually mastered the micro-control of Double Team, enabling its clones to make more rich and varied expressions and actions, thereby using this technique to pass off fakes as real.
This duel just happened to be a small test of its new skill, and it instantly managed to deceive Poliwrath's eyes.
Of course, in this process, Arthur's judgment was also extremely precise.
He had completely pre-read the opponent's luring enemy tactic, secretly giving orders and laying out an ingenious plan.
Poor Young Master Wilson had his underwear seen through yet was still unaware.
With "Circle Throw" missing, the real Frogadier seized the opportunity to rush out of the smoke, catching the opponent in the gap before they could retract their move. A swift spring kick landed squarely on Poliwrath's stomach, kicking it back repeatedly.
Powerful leg explosive force is the standard configuration for frog-type Pokémon!
Given Poliwrath's short little legs, Frogadier would absolutely not recognize it as a kinsman!
"Hold steady, Poliwrath!"
Although Young Master Wilson was shouting "hold steady," his own voice was clearly already rushed.
He was finally beginning to feel the pressure.
However, this is just a disadvantage right now, not yet time to admit defeat, he thought.
"Stand firm! Defend first! Find a chance to grab him!"
He continued to give Poliwrath instructions.
The "Circle Throw" skill just now had missed; currently, Poliwrath was still in its recovery period. Young Master Wilson chose to play it safe for a moment.
As for trying to grab the opponent, it was clearly to pave the way for a subsequent skill.
Poliwrath possessed a signature skill called "Infernal Roll"!
When it truly got rolling, it was said to be an attack that recognized no kin; given Frogadier's slender arms and legs, it wouldn't be easy to withstand.
However, Arthur, speaking at the same time as him, had once again seen through his thoughts in advance.
"Use Shadow Sneak!"
After kicking Poliwrath away with a spring kick, Frogadier didn't rush to pursue. Instead, it steadied itself, took a step back, and used the skill.
From the shadow behind Poliwrath, a black silhouette instantly darted out. The black shadow's three fingers were pressed together, and it fiercely stabbed at a position on Poliwrath's midsection similar to its lower back!
This skilled kidney strike technique... one look and you could tell Frogadier was an old hand at "tax evasion" (a veteran at such moves).
Young Master Wilson's face darkened once again.
Arthur's command had been given at the exact same time as his; their voices were almost indistinguishable in timing.
Yet, the other party had once again pre-read his thoughts.
He was thinking of defending and grappling, but the other party directly used a ranged move.
In front of Arthur, he felt as if he were simply a blank sheet of paper...
This feeling was truly terrible!
Fortunately, at this moment, Poliwrath's recovery period was also almost over. Conversely, the opponent had just used a skill.
So, he hadn't given up yet.
"Advance! Attack!"
Having skills ready gave him confidence in his heart.
Under Young Master Wilson's command, Poliwrath advanced with large strides.
Although "Shadow Sneak" had a fast activation speed and was hard to defend against, its power was generally average. Poliwrath, having taken the hit, could still withstand it.
It pressed towards Frogadier with an imposing aura, its eyes glinting fiercely!
It didn't rush to use a skill first, to prevent this slippery enemy from dodging again.
Press forward steadily!
First, regain the advantage in terms of momentum!
Next, as long as Poliwrath could grab that fellow—just once, just one grab—it would definitely make him—
However, just as Young Master Wilson's lips curved into a smile as he was fantasizing, the next moment, a crisp "Pa!" sound from the field once again slapped him in the face.
Clearly still in its recovery period, Frogadier, instead of retreating, advanced, proactively meeting the opponent.
Subsequently, it nimbly dodged Poliwrath's bear hug attempt and, with a backhand, slapped Poliwrath's body, producing a "Pa!" sound.
Although Poliwrath didn't have a head, this strike still gave the direct visual impression of a slap across Poliwrath's face...
Thinking of holding back skills to gain an advantage?
Sorry, Frogadier's slap directly stated its attitude—
Not a chance!
In a no-skill suppression contest where both sides weren't using moves, Frogadier completely outclassed Poliwrath!
At this moment, Frogadier was also feeling smug inwardly—
Are you kidding me? Don't you even look at who I usually train martial arts with? With the speed of those short legs of yours, in front of Master, you'd be lying down in less than three seconds~
Yes, it just looked down on Poliwrath's short little legs; in its eyes, this was practically a disgrace to the frog species.
At this, some elders at the edge of the field finally couldn't hold back and sighed, "This young man's Frogadier... it's been raised really well!"
By this point, everyone could see: this Frogadier had definitely undergone very professional training.
Regardless of its highly efficient and accurate execution of its master's commands, its previous micro-control details of the "Double Team" skill, or its current exquisite no-skill combat techniques—every single aspect was the result of deliberate, professional training!
Because the fighting style of wild Pokémon is mostly crude; they use skills when available and run when not, always fighting based on instinct.
Very few wild Pokémon understand the techniques of no-skill suppression.
This has always been an ability that only Pokémon trained by humans could possibly master!
This Frogadier had clearly undergone a period of professional and outstanding cultivation.
This couldn't help but make many people puzzled.
"But I remember from the news that kid's main Pokémon isn't Honedge?"
"How old is he? He's actually already raised two such outstanding Pokémon?"
"Could it be he started learning Pokémon nurturing while still in the womb?"
If the coordination between Arthur and Frogadier had been clumsy, perhaps they would have found it easier to accept.
Because then they could assume Frogadier was trained by someone else at Arthur's expense; such things were not unheard of.
But the problem was, watching the battle just now, the man and frog showed perfect tacit understanding; the response to commands was extremely fluid, with not a single moment of awkwardness in the middle of the battle.
This made it even more unbelievable.
In the news, this kid already has an "evil sword"; how come any random Pokémon he pulls out is also this formidable?
At this moment, at the scene, only Levi wore an expression that said, "as expected."
Indeed, his guess wasn't wrong in the slightest.
From the very beginning, what was strong was fundamentally not the sword...
But the person wielding the sword!
Talk of "evil swords" and the like was purely baseless nonsense.
On the field at this moment, seeing Poliwrath consistently unable to catch Frogadier, and even being completely outplayed by the opponent's agile movements, Young Master Wilson finally knew this advantage was not to be had.
In a no-skill duel, Frogadier's skills were enough to bully Poliwrath to the point where it couldn't fight back at all.
He could only go all out!
"Poliwrath, use Belly Drum!"
This time, he was going to stake everything on this!
Belly Drum: A Normal-type buff move.
It's one of the few buff skills that can be instantly applied. Its effect is to stir up energy, greatly strengthening one's own attack for a short period, though the strengthening effect rapidly decays with the cumulative number of attacks.
The next moment, Poliwrath was seen forcefully slapping its own belly with one palm, hitting itself so hard it coughed up blood.
Everything has its price.
The secret to this buff skill requiring no delayed casting and being able to be applied instantly lies in: it's a self-harm type skill...
Before harming the enemy, one must first harm oneself!
(End of Chapter)
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