Chapter 555: Vs. Factory Head Thorton
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Battle Zone – Battle Factory]
Thorton ignored the comment, stepping onto the battlefield. The announcer declared, "The battle will now commence! Each trainer will use three Pokémon. The challenger will rotate their Pokémon between battles, while the Frontier Brain will follow a pre-determined sequence based on statistical probability."
Azure called, tossing his Poké Ball, "Alright, Loudred, you're up!"
*POP-WHOOSH*
With a flash of red light and a resounding whoosh, the large, bipedal Pokémon with enormous ear-like speakers materialized, letting out a guttural, "Loud-RED!"
Thorton, ever the pragmatist, immediately returned his gaze to his device. He tossed his Poké Ball casually, saying, "Very well. My first choice is… Tyranitar."
*POP-CRASH*
With a thunderous CRASH, the colossal Rock/Dark-type Pokémon appeared, its mighty roar shaking the very foundations of the arena. Its Sand Stream ability immediately kicked in, conjuring a swirling WHOOSH of sand that began to lash at the battlefield, obscuring visibility slightly.
Gengar exclaimed, her spectral form shimmering, "Whoa! A Tyranitar right off the bat? This guy means business!"
Pikachu squeaked, sparks crackling nervously, "Pika-Pi… (Intense.)"
Azure commanded, "Alright, Loudred, let's start strong! Stomp!"
*THUD-CRACK*
Loudred, despite its bulk, moved with surprising agility, its heavy foot slamming down. The impact resonated through the arena, sending shockwaves through the ground. Tyranitar, caught off guard, stumbled, its massive frame wavering. It roared in defiance, but it was clear the blow had landed.
Thorton, however, remained impassive. He stated, his voice monotone, "Crude strength alone will not guarantee victory."
*SHOOOM*
Tyranitar, with a guttural growl, pushed itself back up, its eyes glowing crimson. It lunged forward, a whirlwind of rock and muscle, shoving Loudred back with immense force. Loudred skidded several feet. Azure countered, with a knowing glint in his eye, "Not bad, Loudred! Now, let's clear the air a bit! Roar!"
Loudred's chest swelled, and it unleashed a deafening, "LOOOOOOAAAAR!"
*POP*
The sound waves permeated the arena, not just a move, but an actual sonic force. Tyranitar, momentarily disoriented, began to recoil. Suddenly, its Poké Ball, still clipped to Thorton's belt, glowed red, and with a soft POP, Tyranitar was forcibly recalled!
*CLINK*
The Poké Ball then flew from Thorton's belt and landed with a CLINK at his feet. Thorton blinked, a flicker of annoyance crossing his otherwise placid face, muttering, "An unexpected turn of events. Forcing a switch… quite unconventional."
He bent down to retrieve the Poké Ball. He threw his next choice, uttering, "Very well. Then my data suggests… Ledian."
*POP*
With a snap, he sent out the multi-limbed Bug/Flying-type, Ledian, which hovered gracefully above the sandstorm. Gengar cackled, pointing a spectral finger at Thorton, "Ha! Nice one, human! He's already annoyed!"
Pikachu cheered, pumping a tiny fist, "Pika-Chu! (Loudred is strong!)"
Thorton commanded, already adapting, "Ledian, use Supersonic!"
*ZZZZRRRRRTTT*
Ledian zipped forward, emitting a high-pitched, disorienting sound aimed directly at Loudred. Azure smirked, boasting confidently, "Don't even bother, Thorton! Loudred, stay strong!"
To Thorton's visible surprise, Loudred remained completely unaffected, shaking its head slightly as if swatting away a fly. The Supersonic attack simply washed over it, doing nothing.
Thorton's glasses glinted. He mused, stunned, tapping his device, and exclaimed, "Impossible. My calculations indicated a high probability of confusion. Its ability… Soundproof, if I recall correctly. Remarkable. What other sound-based moves would your Loudred be immune to, then?"
He looked up, a genuine flicker of curiosity in his usually analytical eyes. Azure leaned forward, a smug grin spreading across his face, and said, "Oh, you want the full list, Thorton? Alright, prepare to be schooled!"
He took a deep breath. Then spoke as he finished, a triumphant flourish in his voice, "Besides Supersonic, Loudred's Soundproof makes it immune to Perish Song, Uproar, Bug Buzz, Boomburst, Chatter, Clangorous Soul, Clanging Scales, Confide, Disarming Voice, Echoed Voice, Grass Whistle, Growl, Heal Bell, Howl, Hyper Voice, Metal Sound, Noble Roar, Parting Shot, Relic Song, Roar, Round, Screech, Snarl, Snore, Sparkling Aria, Struggle Bug, etc. When Soundproof is active. Did I miss any?"
Thorton stared, his mouth slightly agape. A rare human expression. He murmured, his device beeping rapidly as it processed Azure's impromptu lecture, "Such… extensive knowledge. My data banks indicate this information is not commonly disseminated among trainers. How did you acquire such comprehensive data?"
Azure replied cryptically, winking, "Let's just say I did my research."
In truth, his Earth-world gaming experiences had given him an encyclopedic knowledge of Pokémon mechanics. But he wasn't going to say that.
Thorton quickly regained his composure and ordered, "Impressive. However, knowledge alone is not enough to secure victory. Ledian, Focus Punch!"
*FWOOSH—WHAM*
Ledian, abandoning its sound strategy, zipped directly at Loudred, its fists glowing with concentrated energy. The attack was swift and powerful, connecting squarely with Loudred's chest. Loudred staggered, a cry of pain escaping its speakers, and then, with a final groan, it collapsed, swirls of faint energy surrounding it.
*THUD*
The announcer declared, "Loudred is unable to battle!"
Gengar grumbled, pouting, "Aww, man! Loudred almost had it!"
Pikachu looked down sadly, "Pika-Pi… (Damn it…)"
Azure said calmly, recalling the Pokémon praising it for its efforts, "You fought well, Loudred. Take a good rest. Alright, Thorton, two down. Your turn to be surprised. Kadabra, let's go!"
*POP*
Azure tossed his second Poké Ball. With a flash, the Psychic-type Kadabra appeared, its two spoons clutched in its hands, its eyes glowing with psychic energy.
Thorton, ever calculating, opted for a switch as he declared, "Ledian, return. Tyranitar, continue the offensive!"
*POP-CRASH*
With another CRASH, Tyranitar reappeared, its Sand Stream ability immediately reigniting the sandstorm. Azure commanded, wasting no time, "Kadabra, Psycho Cut!"
*SWISH-SWISH*
Kadabra's spoons glowed, and it unleashed sharp blades of psychic energy toward Tyranitar! Thorton scoffed, a rare display of confidence as he scolded, "Futile. Dark-type Pokémon are completely unaffected by Psychic-type attacks. Your Kadabra's efforts are-"
*WHAM*
The psychic blades struck Tyranitar square on, eliciting a surprised groan from the colossal Pokémon. Tyranitar flinched, even taking a step back.
Thorton froze, his eyes widening, and exclaimed in a shocked tone, "What?! My data clearly states—"
Azure interrupted, a triumphant grin on his face, "It's called Miracle Eye, Thorton! Before Kadabra unleashed his Psycho Cut attack, it used Miracle Eye! It negates any evasiveness boosts and makes Dark-type Pokémon susceptible to Psychic-type moves for a short time! Your Tyranitar is wide open!"
Thorton stood stock-still, his device whirring frantically as it tried to reconcile this new information muttered, "Incredible… you possess not only extensive knowledge but also the tactical foresight to apply it in sequence… You truly are a formidable trainer."
He looked genuinely overwhelmed, his analytical mind struggling with the unexpected variables. However, Thorton quickly regained his footing. He pointed a precise finger and stated, "Nevertheless, you are not the only one capable of executing tactics the opponent has not foreseen. Observe your Kadabra, Azure Sky."
Azure glanced at Kadabra. The Psychic-type was already starting to look a little worse for wear, tiny flecks of sand clinging to its skin. He realized with a jolt that the sandstorm, conjured by Tyranitar's Sand Stream ability, was slowly but surely chipping away at Kadabra's HP.
Thorton explained, his voice returning to its calm, analytical tone, "The Sandstorm has been active since Tyranitar entered the field. Residual damage. A reliable tactic to rapidly reduce a Pokémon's HP, as you witnessed with your Loudred."
Azure's eyes widened. He had been so focused on his own strategy that he'd almost forgotten about the passive damage!
Kadabra, as a Psychic-type, had no natural resistance to the continuous Rock-type damage from the sandstorm. He was in a pinch.
The announcer boomed, the tension palpable in the arena, "The challenger's Kadabra is taking passive damage from the ongoing Sandstorm! Both trainers are now down to two Pokémon each!"
A small, spherical robot guide, equipped with two screens for eyes, floated next to the announcer. It intoned in its synthesized voice, "Query: Will Trainer Azure Sky switch out his Pokémon to avoid further Sandstorm damage?"
Azure gritted his teeth. He looked at Kadabra, which, though weary, still held its spoons firmly. He thought about his remaining Pokémon: Qwilfish.
But Qwilfish, a Water/Poison type, would fare no better against the Sandstorm. Azure declared, his voice firm, "No! Kadabra, we fight through this! Zen-Headbutt!"
*WHOOSH*
Kadabra, with a surprising burst of speed, darted forward, its head glowing faintly with psychic energy. It closed the distance before Tyranitar could react, slamming its head into the colossal Pokémon.
*SHII-BASH*
Tyranitar, already weakened by the Psycho Cut, roared in pain and, with a shuddering slump, finally toppled over, defeated…
*THUD*
Gengar cheered, floating down to pat Kadabra on the back, phasing right through it, "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"
Kadabra huffed, slightly winded but triumphant, "Kadabra-bra!"
Pikachu bounced excitedly, "Pika-CHU! (Kadabra is amazing!)"
Thorton's usual stoic expression fractured. He looked down at his device, then at the fallen Tyranitar, then back at Azure, muttering, "My calculations… off again. This trainer… Azure Sky… defies my predictive models."
*Tmp-Tap-Tmp*
He tapped at his device furiously, muttering to himself, "I could execute thirteen different strategies to defeat him from this position… but which is optimal?"
He looked up, a decision made. He declared, "Ledian, once more!"
*POP*
With a swift motion, Thorton sent Ledian back onto the field.
Azure blinked. He frowned, sensing a deeper play at hand, muttering under his breath, "Ledian? Again? Against a Psychic-type?"
Ledian buzzed back onto the field. It began circling Kadabra at high speeds.
Azure called back his Pokémon, "Kadabra, return! Qwilfish, take the stage!"
*POP*
The prickly pufferfish appeared, floating defiantly.
Then Azure commanded, "Qwilfish, Rollout!""
*VRRRRRRRR*
Qwilfish tucked its fins in and began to spin like a spiked bowling ball! It launched itself at Ledian…
*SMACK*
Ledian took the hit, but Thorton smirked. Before Qwilfish could fully charge its attack, Thorton recalled Ledian...
*POP*
Azure's confusion deepened uttered, "What in the world…?"
Thorton, however, finally allowed himself a small, satisfied smirk and declared in a resolute tone, "You are suspicious, Azure, and rightly so. But this is all part of my strategy. My final Pokémon… Ursaring!"
*POP*
He tossed his last Poké Ball. With a mighty ROAR and a blur of brown fur, the formidable Normal-type Ursaring appeared.
Ursaring, a powerful bear-like Pokémon, immediately began to circle Qwilfish. Its movements were astonishingly fast, a brown blur around the pufferfish Pokémon. The announcer exclaimed, surprised, "Whoa! That Ursaring is fast!"
Azure's mind raced as he thought, baffled, 'Fast… but how? Ursaring isn't usually that quick… unless…'
Thorton, seeing Azure's realization, nodded. "Indeed. My Ledian, upon its brief return, executed Agility, then immediately utilized Baton Pass, transferring its speed boost to Ursaring. Now, Ursaring, Earthquake!"
*THOOOOM*
Before Azure could react, Ursaring slammed its massive paws into the ground. The arena floor buckled, cracks spiderwebbing outwards. A violent tremor swept through the battlefield, sending rocks and dust flying.
*THUD*
Qwilfish, caught in the epicenter, was thrown violently into the air before crashing back down, its small body unable to withstand the immense force. The announcer declared, his voice filled with awe, "Qwilfish is unable to battle!"
Eevee squeaked, burying its face in Pikachu's fur, "Eevoi! (No! Qwilfish!)"
Gengar groaned, shaking her head at the scene, "He got us with the Baton Pass! Smart… too smart!"
Thorton pointed a finger at Azure, a rare hint of triumph in his voice, "You see, Azure? Your Qwilfish was defeated not by brute force alone, but by a combination of agility and power. A tactic that factored in speed to overwhelm its defenses."
He then motioned to send out his final Pokémon, his confidence soaring. He tossed the Poké Ball, declaring, "Now, for the final match, I shall send… Ledian!"
However, nothing happened...
*Click*
The Poké Ball simply clicked. Thorton frowned, tapping it. He brought the Poké Ball to his device, "Analysis indicates… a malfunction."
*BEEP*
The screen flashed red as it explained aloud for all to hear, "Warning: Pokémon unable to battle. Status: Poisoned."
Thorton blinked as he muttered, "Poisoned?"
He reviewed the battle data, then exclaimed in shock, "Ah. Qwilfish's Poison Point ability inflicted poison damage upon contact when it used Rollout earlier. The residual damage was sufficient to cause Ledian to faint, unnoticed by my real-time analysis systems."
He sighed, a faint puff of air as he said sheepishly, "Another miscalculation. My apologies. My Ledian has already fainted."
The audience gasped.
Azure, though shocked, couldn't help but grin as he thought, 'Thorton, the master of data, had overlooked a simple status effect!'
The announcer declared, the excitement reaching a fever pitch, "Well, then, it's down to Kadabra versus Ursaring! The final round is upon us!"
Thorton, though momentarily flustered, quickly regained his analytical edge. He sounded confident, almost smug, "Kadabra, already weakened by the Sandstorm and continuous battle, stands no chance against my Ursaring's boosted speed and brute strength. My victory is assured."
Gengar whispered, nudging Azure over his shoulder, and said in a sagely tone, "Human, he's starting to sound like one of those arrogant young masters courting death till they get their just deserts you always smash!"
Pikachu encouraged, "Pika-Pi… (Don't give up, Kadabra!)"
Azure yelled, knowing this was it, "Kadabra, endure!"
Ursaring roared, charging with incredible speed. It threw a devastating punch! Kadabra, surprisingly, didn't try to dodge. Instead, it met the attack with its own, a quick, focused punch of its own.
*WHAM-CRACK*
The two Pokémon became a whirlwind of blows, trading punch for punch. Ursaring's mighty swings, Kadabra's quick, precise jabs. It was less a Pokémon battle and more a boxing match. The announcer shouted, his voice hoarse, "Incredible! They're just slugging it out!"
The robot guide beeped, its twin screens flickering with interest, "Observation: This engagement closely resembles a standard pugilistic contest."
*KRAK-THOMP*
Ursaring, with a final, guttural roar, unleashed a colossal punch, a haymaker aimed directly at Kadabra's head. Kadabra was thrown back, stumbling…
*CLINK*
With a soft clink, one of its precious spoons fell from its grasp, skittering across the battlefield. Kadabra swayed precariously, its eyes glazed over, barely standing. Thorton declared, a rare, wide smile spreading across his face, "That's it! Victory! Ursaring has won! I've beaten the 'Uncrowned Champion'!!"
Just as the announcer was about to confirm, a new voice, booming and jovial, cut through the air, "OBJECTION!!! HOLD IT!! Hold it right there, Thorton! I believe it's the challenger who wins this one!"
Everyone turned. Standing at the entrance to the arena were two figures: a tall, imposing man with a distinctive mustache and a confident grin – Palmer, the Tower Tycoon. Beside him, a woman with a no-nonsense expression and sharp eyes – Argenta, the Hall Matron, came to the scene.
Thorton's smile vanished. He scowled, particularly annoyed by Palmer's presence as he argued, "Palmer? Argenta? What are you doing here? And what do you mean, Palmer? My Ursaring clearly delivered the finishing blow!"
Palmer chuckled, stroking his chin as he corrected him, "Ah, Thorton, my boy. Speed and power of punches certainly have an impact. But the type of punch matters even more, wouldn't you agree?"
He winked at Azure as he knowingly said, "When Kadabra was punching… it wasn't just hitting. It was absorbing Ursaring's health!"
Thorton's eyes darted to Kadabra, then to Ursaring. His device whirred frantically, recalculating. His face went pale muttered, "No… it couldn't be…"
*THUD*
Kadabra, though barely standing, managed a faint, knowing smirk. Ursaring, on the other hand, suddenly swayed. Its mighty legs buckled, its roar dying in its throat. With a heavy THUD, the powerful Pokémon collapsed, utterly defeated.
The announcer gaped, utterly stunned, "Ursaring is unable to battle! Which means… Kadabra wins! The victory goes to Azure Sky!"
A deafening cheer erupted from the stands!
Pikachu, Eevee, and Pichu jumped up and down excitedly. Gengar let out a triumphant cackle, flapping around the stands, yelled, "See! I told you, human! You always pull a rabbit out of the hat!"
Thorton stood frozen, his device slipping from his grasp and clattering to the floor. His eyes were wide, a mixture of disbelief and profound frustration. He began to tremble, his hands clenching into fists.
*BANG*
Thorton exploded, slamming his fist onto the ground with a resounding BANG!
His usual calm demeanor shattered, replaced by a furious outburst, "I… I won't tolerate this! I had superior knowledge! My calculations… my data… they were superior! How could I be defeated?!"
*SMACK*
Argenta, without a word, delivered a sharp, open-palmed punch to the side of Thorton's head. It wasn't a harsh blow, but it was enough to make him yelp and snap out of his fit. Argenta said, her voice stern, crossing her arms, "Enough, Thorton. What good is knowledge if one cannot apply it properly? Or, more to the point, if your own devices betray you?"
She glanced at Azure, a knowing look in her eye, and added, "I believe Azure knew something about his Kadabra's ability to interfere with technology. I've experienced it myself: a faint electromagnetic aura that causes minor malfunctions."
Thorton rubbed his head, still dazed. He muttered in disbelief, "I… I knew that. Kadabra's unique brainwave patterns can sometimes… but my device is specifically shielded for such—FZZZT! POP!"
*BOOM*
As if on cue, Thorton's meticulously crafted device, lying on the ground, suddenly sparked and then blew a small fuse, emitting a puff of smoke. Palmer burst into laughter, a hearty sound that echoed through the arena, "Hahahaha! Looks like even your tech knows when to give up, Thorton! Now then, don't keep the young man waiting. Give him his Factory Print!"
Azure grinned, stepping forward. Thorton, still looking utterly bewildered, slowly retrieved a silver and green plaque from his pocket and, with a sigh of resignation, handed it to Azure as he said defeatedly, "Here. The Factory Print. You earned it, Azure Sky. Though my algorithms will require significant recalibration after this encounter."
Pikachu leaped onto Azure's shoulder, nuzzling the new print, "Pika-CHUUU!"
Gengar snickered, "We did it, human! We totally broke his brain!"
Azure said calmly, genuinely respectful of the Frontier Brain's unique style, despite the frustration he clearly caused, "Thank you, Thorton. It was an amazing battle."
Palmer then strode over, a wide smile on his face as he replied casually, "Azure Sky, was it? A truly magnificent performance, young man! The way you used that Kadabra… brilliant! I'm Palmer, by the way. My son owes you a great deal, you know."
Azure's eyes widened. He asked, a knowing smile playing on his lips, "Your son… You mean Pearl, right?"
He remembered the excitable, often clumsy, but undeniably passionate trainer he'd traveled with. Palmer's smile grew as he said happily, "The very same! You've certainly left an impression on him. Said you taught him more than a dozen Gym Leaders combined! High praise, that."
He slapped Azure playfully on the shoulder. Argenta stepped forward, her gaze sharp but not unkind as she introduced herself, "And I am Argenta. Hall Matron. A pleasure to witness such cunning. Say, Azure, mind looking out that window?"
She gestured to a large observation window overlooking a vast, shimmering lake. Azure turned and looked out. Nestled on the far shore of the lake was a grand, ornate building, gleaming white against the verdant hills.
He recognized it instantly – the Battle Hall, her domain. He chuckled. He turned back to Argenta, a confident glint in his eye as he said, "The Battle Hall, huh? My next stop, then. I'd be happy to challenge you next, Matron Argenta."
Palmer, however, interjected with a childish whine. He puffed out his chest as he childishly complained, "Aww, come on! Why can't I be next? I'm the Tower Tycoon! The biggest, baddest challenge!"
Azure simply smiled. He replied casually to Palmer, "Don't worry, Palmer. I like to save the best for last."
Palmer's face immediately flushed a deep red, a wide, goofy grin spreading across his face. He preened, clearly flattered, "Oh! Oh, well, I… I suppose I can wait, then!"
Azure, in his mind, genuinely meant it. Pearl's father, the legendary Tower Tycoon, was indeed a formidable opponent, one he looked forward to testing his full team against. But for now, with three prints in hand, he was ready for the whimsy and challenge of Argenta's Battle Arcade. The Sinnoh Battle Frontier was proving to be an even greater challenge than he had anticipated. He grinned as he thought, '3 down. 2 more to go.'
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!