Bab 492: Changing Hearts
Zoroark's words left Liepard and Purrloin in disbelief. No one knew better than them how much their mother (wife) despised humans. However, the words she spoke now lacked the hesitation that had always been there.
Upon hearing Zoroark's voice, Yuga couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile. His words had successfully broken through a corner of this family's hearts.
With a puzzled expression, Zoroark brought the confused Zorua closer to Purrloin and Liepard. She whispered something to them, causing both Purrloin and Liepard to lower their ears in a somewhat dejected manner.
"How about it? Have you made up your minds? I can assure you that your future will be much better if you follow me," Yuga continued to entice them with his words, seeing a softening in the expressions of Purrloin and Liepard.
At this point, Liepard leaned in and whispered a few words into Purrloin's ear. Then, Purrloin made a decision, taking a few steps forward.
"Purrloin, Purrloin!"
If you want us to follow you, you must defeat me in battle.
Yuga looked surprised. "But you should know that you're no match for Gengar."
"Purrloin, Purrloin, Purrloin!"
You're not allowed to use Gengar. You'll battle me with that bird.
Purrloin arrogantly pointed at Chatot. Just like Chatot wasn't familiar with Purrloin's species, Purrloin didn't recognize Chatot's either.
Chatot hadn't expected to be challenged by Purrloin. It smiled and said, "Little one, are you sure you want to battle me?"
Although Chatot had previously showcased its abilities in front of Purrloin, Purrloin hadn't discerned Chatot's true strength at the time, merely assuming that Chatot was much weaker than Gengar. However, what Purrloin didn't anticipate was that, compared to its own level below 40, Chatot was significantly stronger.
Yuga chuckled and said, "Since it's your request, I have no reason to decline."
"Haha, little one, today you'll learn just how formidable your grandpa is."
The Chatot rapidly flapped its wings, provocatively addressing the Purrloin.
Faced with the Chatot's challenge, the Purrloin responded with a snarl, showing its intention to retaliate.
With the Purrloin determined to battle the Chatot, both sides prepared on a patch of open ground within the abandoned factory.
On the Chatot's side, it gently flapped its wings while observing the Purrloin across from it, refraining from launching an immediate attack.
After all, challenging the Purrloin to a fight was already a case of a stronger opponent taking on a weaker one, and launching a preemptive attack would have been considered excessive. In the future, they would become colleagues, so it wouldn't be appropriate to go too far. As a senior figure in the YoYo Day Care, it didn't want to compromise its dignity.
The Purrloin darted beneath the Chatot, lightly tapped it with both front paws, then leaped to a height equal to the Chatot and struck it with Fake Out move.
Fake Out was a preemptive attack, and the Chatot didn't have time to defend itself before being hit. However, the flinch effect that came with the Fake Out didn't trigger.
The flinch effect relied on the element of surprise, causing the opponent to feel fear, confusion, or nervousness, thereby inducing a momentary mental lapse. If Purrloin and Chatot were at similar levels, the flinch effect would undoubtedly trigger. However, since Chatot was much stronger than Purrloin, it had no fear of Purrloin, and thus the flinch effect naturally didn't activate.
Purrloin was quite pleased when it saw Chatot being hit. It had used the "Fake Out" move successfully multiple times before, with remarkable results. It assumed this time would be no different.
Just as Purrloin was feeling triumphant, Chatot, who had been knocked back, instantly halted its backward trajectory. It forcefully flapped its wings, unleashing a powerful Hyper Voice, larger than its own body, hurtling toward Purrloin.
Purrloin still had a look of triumph on its face when Chatot's Hyper Voice hit it. Purrloin was like a meteor plummeting at high speed, slamming into the crumbling wall behind it, sending debris and dust flying in all directions.
Chatot's attack proved to be too powerful for Purrloin to handle. After falling from the wall, Purrloin struggled to get back on its feet for quite some time.
Onlookers like Liepard, Zoroark, and Zoroark were filled with worry as they watched Purrloin.
Perhaps due to the loud noise created by the earlier Hyper Voice, many other Pokémon living in the abandoned factory had been drawn to the scene. They hid in corners, quietly observing the battle between Chatot and Purrloin.
Purrloin, gritting its teeth, finally managed to climb back up from the ground. It looked at Chatot with a perplexed expression, feeling like it had seriously underestimated its opponent. No wonder that human had agreed to its request so easily.
With its two front paws extended, Purrloin revealed the sharp claws hidden within its paw pads. It quietly used Hone Claws to enhance its attack power and accuracy.
Chatot had a keen sense thanks to its Keen Eye ability, allowing it to easily notice Purrloin's subtle movements. However, Chatot didn't stop Purrloin; it simply watched as Purrloin completed its move.
Having completed Hone Claws, Purrloin extended its right front paw and lunged forward. Dark, sinister energy enveloped its claw as it aimed a fierce strike at Chatot.
This time, Purrloin used the Dark-type move Night Slash.
Watching Purrloin approaching rapidly, Chatot flapped its wings, and a rolling Heat Wave engulfed the oncoming Purrloin.
Since its revival by Ho-Oh, Chatot found that it had become even more proficient in using Flying-type moves, and its sensitivity to Fire-type energy was particularly heightened. This move, Heat Wave, was its signature Fire-type technique.
Purrloin, caught within the fiery Heat Wave, let out a piercing scream as it was scalded. When the heat finally dissipated, Purrloin lay unconscious on the ground.
"Zorua."
Big brother.
Young Zoroark, seeing his brother injured, jumped over to his side, tears welling up in his eyes as he stared at the unconscious Purrloin.
Behind Zorua were Liepard and Zoroark, who also approached Purrloin, their expressions filled with concern.
"Don't worry, Purrloin will be fine," Yuga said as he released Chimecho. He walked over to Purrloin and spoke to Zoroark's family.
Chatot hadn't used excessive force, so Purrloin's injuries, although appearing severe, weren't actually life-threatening.
Seeing the one responsible for Purrloin's injury (Yuga) approaching, Zoroark's family didn't react strongly. Purrloin had initiated the battle on its own, and its defeat was due to its own lack of strength, not someone else's wrongdoing.
With Chimecho's healing, Purrloin, whose injuries were not as severe as they seemed, woke up after a short while.
Seeing the awakened Purrloin, Yuga smiled and said, "So, have you decided? You've lost, isn't it time to fulfill your promise?"
Saying this, Yuga took out a Poké Ball and placed it in front of Purrloin.
Purrloin glanced at Yuga, nodded, and then pressed the button on the Poké Ball, returning itself into the ball.
As Purrloin was captured by Yuga, Liepard, Zoroark, and Zorua didn't resist and allowed themselves to be captured into Poké Balls as well.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone