Fighting the Senior Grunt

The basics, as the name implies, weren't that complicated.

In formal battles, two Pokémon would face off against each other, exchanging attacks until one emerged victorious. However, battles weren't always fair—sometimes, one Pokémon could be ganged up on by several others.

It's basically the same as what Allen did earlier when he cut the grunt's commands.

While typical trainers focus on one-on-one matchups, deciding which moves to use and how to counter their opponent's strengths, in street fights, the one who strikes harder and faster usually wins.

Fighting criminals is basically just like a street fight. These battles are lawless. It's a no-holds-barred brawl, often decided within the first few moments.

Hypno was skilled in hypnosis, but it was completely thrown off by Hisuian Zoroark's rapid movements. The speed was so overwhelming that it couldn't focus enough to land a Confusion on the Pokémon.

The same went for Azumarill, whose speed was lacking in the first place.

As for Vibrava, the moment the flying Pokémon tried to land, Allen quickly intercepted with a well-aimed rock, as his Marshtomp had already been wary of the flying Pokémon.

Now, the situation was at a stalemate.

The senior grunt had to manage control over three Pokémon at once, causing him to lose focus. Allen, too, was dealing with three grunts, but two of them were hiding.

This confirmed Allen's suspicion that these two were likely newbies, as they didn't have Pokémon at hand after Marshtomp defeated theirs earlier.

It seemed like this was an impromptu operation by the three of them alone, not an official mission from Team Aqua. This gave Allen even more confidence that he could take them down.

That said, it didn't mean these two were completely useless, though.

In the old days, it wasn't just the Pokémon that fought; trainers did too. It was primitive, brutal, and merciless. But now, people tend to look down on such fights. At the end of the day, why bother using hands and feet when you can fight with fire and ice?

Now, there are probably only one or two who still use such crude Pokémon fighting methods. Of course, things are kept moderate, especially in regulated areas. The Association ensures the safety of civilians, and every criminal also avoids attracting the attention of the Pokémon Association.

This is why strength is essential for some who choose the path of danger, and the only way to grow stronger is by battling.

From time to time, the senior grunt glanced at his two subordinates, probably signaling them to look for an opportunity.

"Useless," he muttered.

"Hypno, Confusion! Right there!" he pointed at the spot where Hisuian Zoroark was.

Hypno followed the order, unleashing a burst of psychic waves at the location.

"Yokai, Shadow Sneak! One-hit KO!" Allen instructed with conviction.

Hisuian Zoroark hissed at Allen's command. It wasn't clear whether it agreed or not, but soon, two shadows emerged from its feet and rushed toward Hypno so quickly that, by the time Hypno realized it, the shadows had already intertwined.

Hypno was shaken before being thrown out of the battle instantly, as Psychic was a weakness to Ghost-type moves.

Allen's eyes lit up. "That's good, Shikamaru!"

"Zorrrr~!!!" Hisuian Zoroark hissed at Allen, and the distraction was enough for Azumarill, who had been overlooked, to land an Aqua Jet right into Zoroark from behind.

"Hahaha, good job, Azumarill!" the senior grunt laughed out loud.

Hisuian Zoroark was probably one of the late-stage Pokémon with low HP. Thankfully, it was just a normal hit, so Hisuian Zoroark managed to stay on its feet. 

The attack from behind however only fueled Hisuian Zoroark's anger.

It reminded the Pokémon of the filthy humans who only knew how to attack its tribe from all directions, bringing fire and destruction. Thinking about what had happened in the past, the Pokémon let out a long shriek.

The energy of death seemed to permeate its core, causing the Ghost-type Pokémon to growl even more sinisterly.

A sudden chill swept through the atmosphere, and Allen felt the familiar cold spread across his skin, instantly recalling the events that were almost identical to what had happened back in the cave.

"Shit!" Allen exclaimed, alarmed. His left hand quickly reached for a Pokéball.

"Shika—no—Yokai, stop!" Allen barked at Hisuian Zoroark, then immediately shifted his focus to Marshtomp. "Use Mud-Slap on Azumarill again, be quick!"

With Hypno out and Vibrava still needing time to descend, only Azumarill remained. The next few seconds would be critical.

Allen gave a malicious smile. "Marshtomp, make it wide!" Marshtomp's eyes gleamed with the same predatory look his trainer had, before he unleashed a spray of mud, covering a wide area of twenty feet.

Azumarill, who had just landed and was preparing for another Aqua Jet, was caught off guard. This time, the mud spread across a wide area, leaving it no chance to dodge. It twitched as its lower body was completely drenched.

"Azumarill, Water Gun!"

However, the senior grunt wasn't about to give up so easily. He made a quick judgment, and Azumarill shot a blast of water, quickly aimed at Marshtomp. The stream hit Marshtomp square in the face, causing it to stumble back.

But for Allen, it was worth it!

Water-type attacks weren't very effective against Marshtomp, and as it shook off the hit, the Water-type Pokémon snapped back into the battle with a growl, baring its teeth.

The senior grunt narrowed his eyes as he stared at this.

Marshtomp had used the mud to trap Azumarill, and with Hypno out of the picture, only Vibrava remained. It was now 2 vs. 1. Moreover, the mud shot just now was different from the one Marshtomp used earlier when he launched the mud like a missile.

'That meant Marshtomp had understood this kid's command the moment he heard it! This kid is a skilled trainer!'

While the senior grunt was caught in his thoughts, Allen seized the opportunity to dash toward the two newbie grunts hiding behind the bushes.

"Bastards, put that basket down!" Allen shouted.

The shout snapped the senior grunt out of his daze, and he quickly turned to see Allen already reaching his two subordinates. When he saw them actually daring to put down the basket and flee, his eyes bulged in disbelief.

"You two are useless! Why did you abandon the basket and run?!" His heart ached.

When Allen reached the basket, he sighed in relief. All the Mudkids were safe. He crouched down and saw the little Mudkids, their innocent faces staring up at him, wide-eyed and bewildered. He gave them a bittersweet smile. "Didn't you know you were about to be kidnapped?"

A chorus of "Mud~Mud!" answered him, making Allen smile in amusement. Their innocent little voices were enough to melt his heart.

Seeing that Allen had already freed all the Mudkids, the senior grunt snapped, "Vibrava, kill that ki—" but then he froze. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he felt something creeping behind him.

Hearing the grunt's words cut off in the middle made Allen realize something was about to happen, and sure enough...

Claws. Sharp claws.

"Yokai, NO!!!" Allen shouted urgently, his eyes catching sight of Hisuian Zoroark unsheathing its claws, preparing to strike at the senior grunt's neck!

'Oh no, please don't kill him, especially not with the rare Hisuian Zoroark!'

"Lotad, Water Gun!!!"

Thankfully, Professor Birch, who had arrived and was still processing the chaos unfolding behind his lab, quickly snapped into action. With a swift decision, Lotad launched a blast of water that struck the senior grunt square in the chest.

"Pfft!" he spat out blood before being thrown into the river, swept away by the current.

Azumarill, seeing its trainer in danger, became anxious. Without waiting for a command, it instinctively used Aqua Jet to break free from the mud that had trapped it. The Water-type Pokémon dove into the river, rushing toward where its trainer had fallen.

Vibrava, equally panicked, didn't know what to do. In a desperate move, it released a light blue beam from its mouth, sending it in all directions.

"Watch out!" Professor Birch shouted in warning.

"Shit, Dragon Breath!" Allen quickly panicked before leaping and rolling out of the way. But in his rush, he forgot the basket of baby Mudkids in his hands.

As the basket tumbled, the little Mudkids near the edge clung onto the rim, their tiny mouths biting down with all their might to keep it from falling. But the middle of the basket couldn't hold up, and soon it began to roll across the ground, bouncing and tumbling.

A few of the Mudkids were tossed out in the chaos, and one small, round one—because it was the tiniest and most chubby—slipped right out and plopped into the river with a tiny splash. It floated away, swept by the current, its big eyes wide with surprise as it paddled desperately with its little arms.

"Mud~!" it squeaked in a tiny voice, its round belly bobbing along the water like a little floatation device.

"MUDKID!!!" Allen screamed, panic rising in his chest as he watched them disappear into the rushing water.