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After successfully capturing Staravia, the young Trainer released it again and promptly sprayed some Potion on its wounds.
However, the Staravia appeared severely injured; even with the Potion, it remained lethargic and unfriendly towards the young Trainer. If not for its injuries preventing flight, it likely would have already escaped.
Some Pokemon exhibit this behavior - initially resistant to their new Trainer after capture. Over time, through interaction and the binding connection of the Poké Ball, they gradually become more affectionate towards their Trainer.
As Lian observed the Axew from earlier, he felt tempted. He still hadn't used his combat rating points for today, and if he could defeat all the young Trainer's Pokemon, he believed there was a chance to earn significantly high combat ratings.
Dealing with just one Axew wouldn't be too challenging, but it was clear that the young Trainer wasn't inexperienced, having at least two or more Pokemon.
Although this Axew was strong, its speed wasn't exceptional. With Lian recently mastering Dragon Breath, which effectively counters Axew, he felt confident in defeating it.
However, without knowing about any other powerful Pokemon the Trainer might possess, risking a potential upset could lead to disastrous consequences.
If Lian were defeated, his Pokémon would be captured by a Poké Ball and become part of the young Trainer's collection—a significant risk.
After some thought, Lian decided to cautiously follow this Trainer, observe first, determine which Pokémon they had, and then decide whether to engage or not. He wouldn't enter a battle without confidence.
The young Trainer didn't leave immediately, clearly indicating that, like Kalia, he was here to train his Pokémon in the Kana Mountains, capturing Staravia being just an opportunity along the way.
Lian carefully trailed behind him. It was still early, with plenty of time before lunch. If the opponent's Pokémon proved too strong, he would simply abandon the idea.
The young Trainer didn't venture far, starting battles nearby. Once he released his Pokémon, Lian got a clear view: the Trainer had three Pokémon in total—an Axew, the injured Staravia, and a bronze-colored Bronzor.
Lian's eyes lit up. The Bronzor floating in mid-air indicated it possessed the Levitate Ability rather than Heatproof, meaning it would suffer significantly from Fire-type attacks.
Bronzor is both Steel and Psychic type; although it has excellent defense and Special Defense, its offensive capabilities are relatively weak. Lian sensed an opportunity, as Dragon Breath effectively counters Axew, while Ember counters Bronzor.
The only concern was Axew, which had already learned Dragon Claw, making it quite formidable. With Lian's current defense, he couldn't withstand even one hit from Axew's Dragon Claw. If struck, he would likely be incapacitated instantly.
Fortune favors the bold, and Lian believed his chances of success were high. It was worth giving it a try, potentially scoring higher than his previous gym battle performance.
Let's do this.
Lian made up his mind, pretending to casually pass by within view of the young Trainer.
With its striking orange-red color, Charmander immediately caught the Trainer's attention. Missing a Charmander swiftly passing right under your nose would practically make you blind.
"Charmander?!" The young Trainer was stunned, rubbing his eyes, unsure at first glance. But there it was—the vibrant orange silhouette with a flaming tail—undeniably a Charmander.
The young Trainer felt blessed by the goddess of luck; this fortune came unexpectedly quickly after just capturing a Staravia, only to encounter a wild Charmander immediately afterward.
He sensed it was practically handed down from the heavens, destined for him to capture. Missing this opportunity would be unforgivable.
With determined pursuit and an ecstatic expression, the young Trainer chased after the Charmander, feeling that today was his lucky day.
Lian noticed the approaching Trainer and intentionally slowed down, otherwise, they wouldn't have stood a chance to catch up.
It's about time.
As Lian reached near a rocky cliff, he turned around to face the young Trainer, giving the impression that there was nowhere else to run.
"Charmander, let's battle!" The young Trainer's excitement surged as soon as he saw the Charmander stop, and he shouted eagerly.
In the next moment, he sent out his Axew. As a Dragon-type Pokemon, it could resist Fire-type moves, making him confident that defeating this Charmander would be effortless.
Hooked.
Lian immediately focused, recognizing this as a critical moment. The greatest threat was undoubtedly the Axew, so he had to strategically reveal his speed advantage at the opportune time.
Axew scurried forward on its short legs, and promptly, the young Trainer commanded, "Axew, use Dragon Claw!"
The Trainer's plan was straightforward - aiming to swiftly defeat Charmander with Dragon Claw and effortlessly capture it afterward.
Unfortunately for him, while he sought to capture Lian, Lian was also anticipating his moves. As soon as Axew charged, Lian unleashed Dragon Breath, denying Axew any chance of initiating first.
Dragon-type energy exuded dominance; when Lian breathed out forcefully, an invisible yet intense wave surged towards Axew like a torrential tide.
Sensing imminent danger, Axew found itself too close, caught off guard by the unexpected knowledge that this Charmander had already learned Dragon Breath. Consequently, the Trainer couldn't warn Axew in time to dodge.
In the next instant, the powerful blast sent Axew flying, causing continuous damage and forcing it painfully to the ground.
"Axew!" The young Trainer was equally taken aback by Charmander's sudden Dragon Breath move and quickly checked on Axew.
Axew struggled to its feet, bearing numerous injuries. As both Pokemon were of the Dragon type, Dragon moves inflicted greater damage, clearly leaving Axew severely wounded.
However, Axew was not yet defeated, just as Lian had anticipated - one Dragon Breath wasn't enough to overcome it.
Lian patiently waited for Dragon Breath's cooldown period. Using Ember might be risky, as he couldn't determine how much energy Axew still had left; if Ember failed to incapacitate Axew, it would only waste valuable time.
After standing up, Axew remembered its Trainer's command and charged towards Lian, with Dragon Claw manifesting around its short claws.
Realizing that speed was now crucial to maintain distance, Lian recalled watching Kalia direct Treecko to evade opponents' attacks using agility. He decided to mimic her strategy, directly applying it to his situation.
Lian's Speed ability value had already surpassed 300, while this Axew's Speed ability value was merely in the mid-50s. Without specialized speed training, there was no way Axew could outpace him.
Indeed, as Lian sprinted at full speed, Axew couldn't keep up and could only watch helplessly as the distance between them widened.
"How can this Charmander be so fast?" the young Trainer exclaimed in surprise. Although Axew wasn't known for its high speed, he was well aware of his Pokemon's capabilities, expecting it to be at least on par with Charmander.
Yet, even before evolving, this Charmander displayed remarkable agility, faster than his newly captured Staravia.
"Axew, use Taunt!" Realizing that Charmander seemed intent on fleeing, the young Trainer hastily commanded Axew to employ the Taunt move.
Taunt is a Dark-type move where a Pokemon uses body language to provoke anger in its opponent, compelling them to attack directly. It effectively prevents the enemy from escaping or using certain status-changing moves.
Upon hearing the command, Axew swiftly changed tactics, abandoning Dragon Claw in favor of Taunt.
Lian felt a surge of malevolence directed towards him, impossible to evade. Turning to face Axew, a wave of fury instantly engulfed him-an effect of the Taunt move, unavoidable by design.
Lian knew he shouldn't let anger control him, but deep down, his fury could not be suppressed, seeking an outlet.
"Perfect opportunity! Axew, use Dragon Claw." The young Trainer seized the moment as Charmander paused, quickly commanding Axew to unleash its Dragon Claw move.
Although Lian was affected by Taunt, his thoughts remained clear. Despite his rage, he had no intention of fleeing from the battle.
His Dragon Breath ability was nearly ready again. As Axew approached, Lian opened his mouth wide like a roaring dragon and unleashed a fierce Dragon Breath fueled by his anger.
The young Trainer was momentarily stunned. How could this Charmander release Dragon Breath so swiftly? Wild Pokemon typically lack formal training, and those that gain extensive combat experience usually evolve before mastering moves with such proficiency.
This Charmander, however, was truly peculiar - not only astonishingly fast but also remarkably skilled at using Dragon Breath. It seemed illogical.
Could it already have a Trainer?
The thought crossed the young Trainer's mind, but it appeared highly unlikely. Which Trainer would casually release their Pokemon into the wild, especially one as rare as a Charmander?
While the young Trainer was astonished, the battle had already concluded. Dragon Breath has a significantly longer range than Ember, and before Axew could even reach Lian, it was blasted away by the Dragon Breath, rendering it unable to continue fighting.
"Return, Axew."
The youth observed his battered Axew and promptly recalled it into its Poké Ball for rest. Then, he turned his attention towards Charmander.
He still had a Bronzor and an injured Staravia, but currently, Staravia did not obey his commands, leaving only Bronzor available for combat.
Letting this Charmander go might be his biggest regret. Although Fire-types have an advantage over Bronzor, defense is one of Bronzor's strengths, making it worth a try.
Additionally, he possessed a small Revive fragment that could instantly restore Axew's energy and combat capability. However, any medication requiring internal consumption can cause some harm to Pokemon, as most drugs have potential side effects. Typically, Trainers prefer visiting the Pokémon Center for healing their Pokémon's injuries.
This Revive fragment was purchased from a store in a major city by a friend at a hefty price.
But now, determined to capture the Charmander, he couldn't afford to worry about such consequences.