Rakesh POV
The moment the Orange-ranked Typhlosion emerged, the entire battlefield changed.
The groups of Cyndaquil and Quilava that had been harassing us moments earlier immediately retreated, creating a wide circle around their leader. Even the air seemed hotter as waves of heat rolled from Typhlosion's body, causing the moisture left behind by the morning rain to evaporate into thin wisps of steam.
Its bloodshot eyes swept across the battlefield before settling on us.
The pressure it emitted was immense.
This was completely different from battling academy students or even the instructors I had faced yesterday.
This was a genuine Orange-ranked Pokémon.
A creature that had survived countless battles in the wild and ruled over an entire territory through strength alone.
"Remember the plan," Apoorv said calmly.
I nodded.
The strategy had been decided the moment we received our assignment.
Charmeleon would act as the frontline tank.
Prinplup would be the primary source of damage.
Meowth would focus on disruption and harassment.
Totodile would provide support wherever necessary.
None of us were expected to defeat Typhlosion.
Our job was simply to contain it until Aakash finished his own battle.
"Let's go!"
The battle erupted instantly.
Prinplup attacked first.
A powerful Bubble Beam surged forward, the stream of water cutting through the heated air toward Typhlosion.
The giant Fire-type twisted aside.
The attack missed.
But the reaction itself told us something important.
Typhlosion hated water attacks.
Not because they seriously injured it.
The difference in strength between us was still too large for that.
But every successful hit disrupted its rhythm and irritated it considerably.
"Again!"
Prinplup fired another Bubble Beam.
At the same time, Charmeleon charged forward.
The clash between the two Fire-types shook the battlefield immediately.
Typhlosion's greater size and strength were obvious from the first exchange, but Charmeleon wasn't trying to overpower it.
His job was to keep its attention.
To occupy it.
To give Prinplup opportunities to attack.
Meanwhile, Meowth darted around the battlefield like a shadow.
Whenever Typhlosion committed to an attack, he would appear from a blind spot and slash at its legs or tail before retreating again.
The attacks barely caused damage.
That wasn't the point.
The constant harassment made it impossible for Typhlosion to focus entirely on one target.
Totodile completed the formation.
Whenever Charmeleon was forced back, Totodile stepped in with Water Gun attacks.
Whenever Prinplup needed space, Totodile provided it.
Whenever Meowth created an opening, Totodile exploited it.
The four Pokémon fought surprisingly well together.
For several minutes, the strategy worked.
Typhlosion remained suppressed.
Not injured.
Not weakened.
But controlled.
Every attempt to advance was met by Bubble Beam.
Every attack required dealing with Charmeleon first.
Every moment of focus was interrupted by Meowth.
Every mistake was punished by Totodile.
The giant Fire-type grew increasingly frustrated.
Its flames burned brighter.
Its movements became more violent.
Its roars echoed throughout the territory.
Then everything changed.
Typhlosion suddenly lowered its body.
Heat gathered around it.
"Watch out!" Apoorv shouted.
Flame Charge.
The Fire exploded forward.
The speed shocked all of us.
Charmeleon reacted immediately and moved to intercept.
The collision was brutal.
Typhlosion slammed into him like a living missile.
Charmeleon was thrown backward across the battlefield, crashing through several bushes before finally coming to a stop.
My heart skipped a beat.
That single attack had accomplished what several minutes of fighting had failed to do.
The frontline was gone.
But something was wrong.
Typhlosion didn't follow up.
It didn't attack Totodile.
It didn't chase Meowth.
It didn't even target Prinplup.
Instead—
Its blood-red eyes locked onto Apoorv.
For a brief moment, nobody understood.
Then realization struck.
The enraged Typhlosion had identified me as the source of its frustration.
And now it wanted me gone.
The giant Fire-type launched itself forward.
Another Flame Charge.
This time aimed directly at me.
Everything seemed to slow.
Prinplup reacted immediately.
Too far.
Totodile tried to intercept.
Too slow.
Apoorv moved instinctively.
There wasn't enough time.
My eyes widened.
The distance disappeared rapidly.
Then—
Meowth moved.
The Pokémon had noticed the danger the moment Typhlosion shifted its focus.
He sprinted across the battlefield with every ounce of speed he possessed.
Yet even he knew he wouldn't reach Apoorv in time.
The gap was simply too large.
But Meowth didn't stop.
He pushed harder.
Faster.
Further than he ever had before.
Something changed.
A white glow suddenly enveloped his body.
The familiar light of evolution.
Meowth continued running.
His body lengthened.
His limbs changed.
His movement became smoother.
Faster.
More powerful.
The bipedal sprint transformed into a graceful quadrupedal charge.
The white light intensified.
Then shattered.
A sleek cream-colored body emerged from within.
Sharp eyes.
Elegant fur.
A red gem gleaming upon its forehead.
Persian.
The newly evolved Pokémon never slowed down.
The gem on its forehead began shining brilliantly.
Energy gathered.
Focused.
Compressed.
Then released.
"Persian!"
A brilliant Power Gem erupted across the battlefield.
The attack struck Typhlosion from the side moments before it reached Apoorv.
The impact wasn't enough to defeat it.
But it was enough.
Enough to interrupt the charge.
Enough to force it off balance.
Enough to save Apoorv.
Typhlosion skidded across the ground in surprise.
Its attack ruined.
Its target safe.
For a brief moment, confusion appeared in its eyes as it searched for the source of the attack.
Then something hit it.
Hard.
A black fist surrounded by dark energy slammed directly into its side.
The impact detonated like an explosion.
Typhlosion was launched bodily across the battlefield and sent crashing back toward the center of its territory.
Only then did I see who had attacked.
Primeape.
At some point during the battle, he had abandoned his own fight and arrived here.
Dark energy still lingered around his fists.
Rage Fist.
The attack had clearly landed with terrifying force.
Primeape glanced toward us briefly.
Almost as if checking whether we were alive.
Then he snorted.
Apparently satisfied with the answer.
Without saying a word, he immediately turned around and sprinted back toward the Pinsir territory.
His punching bag was waiting.
The entire exchange had taken only seconds.
Yet it had completely changed the battle.
Beside me, Persian stood protectively in front of Apoorv, breathing heavily after both the evolution and the Power Gem.
Apoorv slowly lowered the hand he had instinctively raised in defense.
Neither of us spoke for several moments.
Instead, both our gazes shifted toward the edge of the battlefield.
Toward Aakash.
He stood atop a nearby rise overlooking the conflict.
Arms folded.
Expression calm.
Completely relaxed.
As though Primeape appearing at exactly the right moment to save us had been expected all along.
And somehow—
That realization was even more shocking than Meowth's evolution.