The Art of Playing from Behind (BONUS)

"Johan, please give us your guidance!"

For his second match, Johan faced Jasmine and Maylene, the famous hungry duo.

Since they had already won one battle, they no longer felt pressured about securing their meal.

So when they faced Johan, they were relatively calm and composed.

At the referee's signal, both sent out their Pokémon.

"Go, Steelix!"

"I'm counting on you, Medicham!"

Jasmine's Steelix was her signature Pokémon.

Though she was also known for her Ampharos "Light", it was her Steelix that truly earned her the title of "The Iron-Walled Girl".

Meanwhile, Maylene's Medicham had a distinctly humanoid appearance, resembling a yoga master with its wide, red pants and matching red hair—an iconic Fighting-type Pokémon.

"Medicham, the Meditative Pokémon! A Fighting/Psychic-type! It uses mental power to predict its opponent's movements and is said to be able to meditate for a whole month without eating, Loto!"

Having returned to the Rotom Dex, Rotom resumed its "narrator" role.

Notably, Medicham's ability to go a month without eating was an uncanny match for Maylene's lifestyle.

As the two Pokémon appeared on the battlefield, Johan released his own Poké Balls.

"Draaa!!"

"Ku!!"

With a flash of red light, Johan's Dragonite and Kubfu landed on the battlefield.

Their appearance alone sent a ripple of excitement through the audience.

After all, Dragonite was the pseudo-legendary of Kanto, a Pokémon of great fame.

And Kubfu was even rarer—so much so that most people in the crowd couldn't even name it without someone else explaining.

"Johan is getting serious," Flint muttered to Volkner.

He had witnessed firsthand both Dragonite's overwhelming strength and Kubfu's masterful grasp of Fighting techniques.

Especially—

Dragonite's "Controlled Outrage".

Back when Regigigas was taken down by Tinkaton, it was Dragonite's devastating impact that had set up the final blow.

Even without Flint's comment, Volkner could feel the intensity radiating from Johan's Pokémon.

It wasn't just them—

Jasmine and Maylene felt it too.

But unlike Jasmine—who was more cautious—Maylene was excited.

Finally!

A chance to test herself against "Fighting Master" Johan!

Even if it wasn't a direct physical battle, this was still a duel.

"Johan! We'll give it our all!" Maylene clenched her fists, full of fighting spirit.

Jasmine, though too shy for dramatic pre-battle declarations, nodded firmly.

Their teamwork had been honed over multiple tag battles, their synergy unquestionable.

Once the referee confirmed readiness, the match began.

"Battle, START!"

—

"Steelix, Autotomize!"

Jasmine, despite her timid demeanor, was razor-sharp when it came to battles.

She immediately commanded her Steelix to shed excess metal, reducing its weight and sharply boosting its speed.

"Rooooar—!!"

With a mighty cry, chunks of metallic plating fell from Steelix's body, making it lighter and faster.

"Cha?!"

In the audience, Tinkaton flinched—eyes locked on those falling metal pieces, clenching its fists.

Johan was suddenly relieved that he hadn't sent out Tinkaton for this battle.

Otherwise…

Tinkaton might have "helped" Steelix become even lighter.

—

"Medicham, Reflect!"

Maylene immediately followed up.

Medicham dashed in front of Steelix, sweeping its arms downward, forming a translucent barrier around their side of the battlefield.

One side was buffing its speed.

The other was fortifying defenses.

And notably—

Neither of them needed verbal or visual confirmation.

Their synergy was flawless.

In double battles, a two-person team had an inherent advantage.

They could divide responsibilities—

One Trainer focusing on offense, the other on support—

Making their reaction speed and battle pacing much smoother than a single Trainer controlling both Pokémon alone.

Of course—

That was only true for average Trainers.

For Johan?

Controlling two Pokémon at once was effortless.

"Dragonite, Dragon Dance!"

"Draaa!!"

Dragonite flapped its wings, whipping up powerful gales as its attack and speed steadily increased.

Kubfu, however—

Did not move.

It simply stood in front of Dragonite, remaining motionless.

Not because Johan couldn't command both at once—

But because he chose not to.

Johan was confident in his reaction speed and real-time strategy.

Kubfu's stillness wasn't hesitation.

It was bait.

Flint and Volkner immediately understood.

But most of the audience didn't.

Instead—

They assumed Johan was struggling.

—

"Steelix, Bind!"

Jasmine struck first.

BOOM!

Steelix—despite its gigantic size—moved shockingly fast, coiling its body around Kubfu.

"Dragonite!"

Dragonite flashed white, vanishing just before Steelix's tail could grab it, countering with Extreme Speed.

But—

Jasmine smirked.

Steelix's true target had never been Dragonite.

It had always been Kubfu!

The entire plan was to lure Dragonite into a counterattack, while eliminating the real threat—Kubfu!

Johan's eyes gleamed.

"Move."

Kubfu dodged—

But not fast enough.

Steelix caught it!

Flint's eyes widened.

Even Volkner looked surprised.

Had Johan finally miscalculated?

The audience exploded.

"Johan is struggling!"

"Well, he's fighting two Gym Leaders! Even he has limits!"

"Is Johan finally gonna lose?!"

"I'm kind of excited!"

…These "fans" were way too eager to see Johan take a loss.

—

On the battlefield—

Dragonite's attack was intercepted by Reflect.

Maylene saw her chance.

"Medicham, High Jump Kick!"

Johan smirked.

"Knew it."

"Cha-RAA!!"

Medicham launched itself into the air, bending its knees inward, before springing forward—

A full 130 base power Fighting move, boosted by Pure Power, a one-shot kill against almost anything.

Except—

"Detect."

"Ku~! (－ω－) zzZ"

Kubfu—

Slept.

Briefly.

Then snapped awake, shifting its body just enough to avoid Medicham's attack entirely.

BOOM!!

Medicham slammed into the ground, taking severe recoil damage.

—

The crowd erupted.

"He countered THAT?!"

"That was a setup! There was NO way to escape!"

"Even against two opponents, Johan is still this dominant?!"

Volkner narrowed his eyes.

"He wasn't just reacting—"

"He was waiting for that exact moment."

Flint let out a deep exhale.

"Johan didn't fall into their trap—"

"He set up his own."

—

Johan adjusted his glasses.

"Checkmate."

"Dragonite—Aqua Tail!"

Dragonite spun—

Its water-cloaked tail smashing Steelix aside.

Kubfu broke free and—

Unleashed the final blow.

Steelix was down.

And with Medicham weakened by recoil—

The battle was decided.

Johan had turned the tables.

And he had done it playing from behind.

—

"This…"

"This is the art of counterplay."

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates