"Come out... Machamp!"
"Come out... Hariyama!"
Max and Steele threw out their Poké Balls at the same time.
Max's Fighting-type Pokémon was a humanoid Pokémon with four arms, black trunks, and a championship-style belt. It looked like a freakishly muscular wrestler.
It was none other than Machamp.
Steele's Pokémon, meanwhile, looked like a sumo wrestler, with a huge body and a pair of massive palms.
One slap from those hands could probably send a person flying.
It was none other than Hariyama.
Both Pokémon were Gym-level, and their strength was roughly equal. The winner would come down to how well their Trainers commanded them.
...
The first battle of the Fighting Tournament opened with Machamp and Hariyama.
"Machamp... use Bulk Up!"
Max rubbed his shiny bald head and shouted.
"Ma-champ!"
Machamp let out a low roar. A faint red glow lit up around its body as it flexed in place.
"Hmph... Hariyama, interrupt it! Use Fake Out!"
Of course, Steele would not just sit back and let Machamp power itself up. He immediately gave his order.
Fake Out was an incredibly annoying move.
It struck extremely fast, but it could only be used right after a Pokémon entered the field.
On top of that, it could make the opponent flinch, disrupting their rhythm.
"Ha-riyama!"
Hariyama let out a low roar. White light shone from one of its massive palms, and its huge body moved with surprising agility.
In an instant, it appeared in front of Machamp.
SMACK!
A palm strike landed cleanly across Machamp's face.
The slap rang out sharply.
Fake Out had only 40 base power and was a Normal-type move, so it did not deal much damage to Machamp.
But while the damage was low, the humiliation was tremendous.
Machamp was stunned by the slap, and its Bulk Up was interrupted on the spot.
When Machamp came back to its senses, anger flashed through its eyes.
"MA-CHAMP!"
Machamp let out an enraged cry.
"Machamp... grab it, then use Low Kick!"
Max's expression was ugly too.
His Pokémon had been slapped in the face.
How was that any different from slapping him?
He immediately shouted to Machamp.
"Machamp!"
Machamp stretched out its four powerful arms and firmly grabbed Hariyama.
Then white light lit up around its right foot, and it kicked viciously at Hariyama's leg.
"Hariyama... break free from Machamp's grip!"
Steele's expression changed slightly, and he quickly shouted.
Low Kick dealt more damage the heavier the opponent was.
If the opponent weighed more than 200 kilograms, its power could reach 120.
Hariyama weighed a full 250 kilograms, so this Low Kick would be devastating.
"Ha-riyama!"
Hariyama struggled wildly, but its two hands were tightly held by two of Machamp's arms.
Machamp's other two hands pressed down on Hariyama's shoulders.
Two hands were no match for four.
Hariyama could not break free from Machamp's hold at all.
It was struck directly by Low Kick.
BOOM!
A heavy crash rang out as Hariyama's massive body slammed onto the ring.
"HARIYAMA!"
Hariyama let out a painful howl.
With 120 power plus the same-type attack bonus, the 180-power Low Kick dealt massive damage.
Fortunately, Hariyama's HP was extremely high. Otherwise, that one move might have finished it off.
"Good... Machamp, Brick Break! Finish it!"
Max rubbed his head excitedly and shouted.
"Machamp!"
Machamp roared. White light shone from one of its hands as it charged toward Hariyama.
"Hariyama... get up!"
"Use Close Combat!"
Steele's expression was grim as he shouted.
"Ha-riyama!"
Hariyama gasped for breath and endured the pain in its body. Red light flared around it.
It charged straight toward Machamp, completely abandoning defense, and collided head-on with it.
BOOM!
A loud impact rang out.
One figure was sent flying.
It was Machamp.
"MACHAMP!"
Machamp let out a cry.
A 70-power Brick Break was no match for a 120-power Close Combat.
"Keep pressing it... Hariyama, use Drain Punch!"
Steele was going all in now.
Because of Close Combat, Hariyama's Defense and Special Defense had already dropped.
If it took another solid hit, it would fall.
So it had no choice but to keep attacking.
"Hariyama!"
Hariyama let out a low roar. White light shone over its fist as it punched toward Machamp.
"Machamp... use Double Team!"
Max hurriedly shouted.
"Then finish with Cross Chop!"
"Machamp!"
Machamp let out a low roar, and its figure instantly split into several identical afterimages.
Hariyama's Drain Punch struck one of the Double Team afterimages and scattered it, absorbing nothing.
At that moment, Machamp's real body had already crossed its arms in front of itself. Red energy lit up around them.
It unleashed Cross Chop at Hariyama.
BOOM!
An explosion rang out.
"HARIYAMA!"
Hariyama let out a pained wail as its huge body slammed heavily onto the ground.
Its eyes turned into spirals.
It had completely lost the ability to battle.
"Hariyama!"
Steele's expression changed, and he cried out anxiously.
But Hariyama had already fainted.
It could no longer answer him.
"Hariyama is unable to battle. The winner is contestant Max!"
The referee waved the flag and loudly announced the result.
"Machamp!"
"Machamp!"
"Machamp!"
In an instant, deafening cheers erupted from the stands.
They surged like wave after wave, rising higher and higher.
This was the passion of Fighting-type battles.
This was the charm of Fighting.
...