CHAPTER - 26 { DIG Tactic }

After getting permission from Professor Oak, Kota took his pokemon to the forest between Pallet Town and Viridian City.

This was also the location where Ash and Misty met for the first time, and her bicycle was also destroyed here.

In Kota's case, he caught Gyarados as a Magicarp and Fearaw as Spearow in this forest.

The spot that Kota chose to train his pokemon was in an open area near a waterfall exactly the same where he once trained Gyarados.

"Okay, everyone come out."

Kota then started letting out all his pokemon one after another in the open.

His OG team, the newly caught pokemon in Johto region and some more from Kanto.

"Gaaa!"

Remembering the memories after seeing the broken trees near the water pool of the waterfall, Gyarados roared loudly.

"Fearow!"

The same for Fearow, he flew up in the sky and let out a cry which made the surrounding flying pokemon frightened.

This area was mostly inhabited by Spearow and some boss Fearow.

'Suicune is literally a Legendary pokemon so it can't grow stronger, there's a limit to its power.'

'That means, I should mainly focus on evolving Croconaw and Sentret so later I can have stronger and evolved pokemon.'

Kota quickly made plans, then called Croconaw and Sentret.

"Croconaw, you will be using the Hydro Pump to target Fearow in the sky. Until you land a hit on him, you will not rest. And I need no excuses."

Ordered Kota harshly with an indifferent expression on his face to Croconaw. He then took Sentret with him to the woods.

Croconaw stared at Kota's back with his lips shaking but then a roar from Gyarados caused him to flick.

"Gaaa!"

Gyarados asked Croconaw to get started. Fearow flew in the sky and looked down at Croconaw with a mocking look.

He has been doing this for months, even Gyarados could barely land a hit on him.

While Sentret was trying to hit Fearow with the Hydro Pump, Gyarados was watching. Other pokemon started their training except Larvitar and Suicune.

The two didn't know much so Suicune just played with Larvitar: a game of catch.

* * *

After walking around for a while, Kota finally found an open land with hundreds of boulders in various sizes.

Scattered all around the field, it was a very suitable location for training Sentret.

Sentret, there was nothing special about this pokemon. Its stats were not much higher than a tiny Rattata.

No, there were many times when even the tiniest Rattata could defeat a Sentret.

So, Kota didn't have much confidence in Sentret's strength. Last time, in the gym battle Sentret could only win because the gym leader didn't do a head on clash.

He gave Sentret time to gather and circulate her energy and land a hit on Spinarak.

So, Kota couldn't rely on the fact that the next opponent would give Sentret time to use self boosting moves such as Focus Energy.

"You are fast, and quick. That's your only advantage against other pokemon."

Said Kota to Sentret with a serious face. Sentret nodded her head attentively.

"You will be using a special tactic that I have prepared only for you. So use that speed and agility in this. Now listen."

Kota explained the tactic to Sentret with even the smallest detail not left out.

"Sentret!"

Understanding, Sentret saluted Kota then jumped up in the air. As her body started falling, she adjusted herself and brought her hands before her body.

Boom!

With explosive dexterity, Sentret dug the ground and disappeared from Kota's sight.

This tactic that Kota explained, was named DIG.

In DIG, Sentret will dig multiple underground holes, connected at some points.

Then beneath the opponent's pokemon, she will hollow the ground so it wouldn't be able to hold on the pokemon's weight and then crack.

Once the pokemon was stuck in the grave, it would be an easy victory for Sentret.

Now, for this tactic to work. There were some specific requirements such as the weight, speed and reflexes of the opponent's pokemon.

If a light weight pokemon was to face this tactic, it could easily avoid that ground once it learns about it.

And if they are faster, then before Sentret could completely hollow the ground, the pokemon would move away.

"That's the best I can help you with."

Said Kota with a sigh. The ground underneath one of the medium sized boulders started shaking.

Then,

Boom!

The ground broke apart and swallowed the boulder in the hole. Only the tip of the boulder could be seen from where Kota stood.

"Sentret!"

Next, Sentret appeared through the ground by making a hole near the boulder. Her body while in mid air, faced towards the direction of the boulder.

Now with everything set, she opened her mouth and shot multiple rays of bright light in the shape of stars, this move was Swift.

It's also said to be infinitely accurate, i.e. unavoidable by the opponent.

"Very good. Now continue. I want you to use this same tactic on every boulder in this field."

Kota found a spot and sat down. From time to time he observed and checked Sentret's performance.

She was fast.

'But… We can't use this in all types of battlefields.'

Kota pondered with a bitter look on his face. For the use of this tactic, the ground had to have soft soil.

Ice fields, rock fields, magma fields, these types of battlefields make DIG tactics unusable.

"Nothing can be done about that."

Kota shook his head and threw these thoughts at the back of his mind.

* * *

Swoosh!

Fearow flew to his left and dodged a weak beam of Hydro Pump from Croconaw.

It's been six hours, and they were still going on with the training. For Fearow, he could do this for at least two days straight.

On the other hand, Croconaw was already at the verge of fainting from exhaustion and throat pain.

He must have used Hydro Pump more than a thousand times in total. Out of which, obviously none could hit Fearow.

It was not about accuracy, more than half the shots he made were perfect and right on target.

Unfortunately, Fearow was experienced and quick to dodge them in a matter of a split second.

"Cro… Co… Naw!"

Croconaw's voice sounded harsh and rough. Even when moving his mouth, he felt sharp pain.

"Gaaa!"

On the side, Gyarados roared loudly and told Croconaw to continue with the Hydro Pumps.

Because he knew that no matter what injury or wound Croconaw would get from doing this training, Kota could just take him to the Pokemon Center for treatment.

Gyarados still remembers the time he first did this training, he couldn't hit Fearow the entire day.

Those days, Kota was just a dark entity. He didn't let Gyarados eat for two days before Gyarados could finally land a hit on Fearow.

To make it fair, Kota had told Fearow that every time he was hit by the Hydro Pump, he would starve for that many days.

And so, Fearow did his best to avoid getting hit, and Gyarados did his best to hit.

"Croco… naw…"

Unable to endure the exhaustion, Croconaw fell on the ground unconscious.

Seeing this, Gyarados went quiet. There was disappointment and pity in his eyes as he looked at Croconaw.

Woosh!

Suicune almost vanished in an instant, as he dashed forward in the woods in search of Kota.

When they returned, Charizard was already prepared with Croconaw in his arms.

"Let's go."

Kota said as he leaped and climbed on Charizard's back. With a few flaps of wings, Charizard and Kota disappeared from the pokemon's sight.

Their destination was the nearest Pokemon Center which was in Viridian City not far from the forest they were in.

It only took a few minutes for them to reach Viridian City, then finally arriving before the Pokemon Center.