Chapter 212: What the—? Does This Count as a Two-on-One?!

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"That Arbok really does seem different from the norm... What was that golden light leaking from its body earlier? I've never heard of anything like it... Agatha, do you have any idea? As an expert in training Arbok, do you know what just happened?"

Elite Four member Bronson leaned against his Rhyhorn, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he glanced at Arbok—now returned to its PokeBall—with curiosity on his face. He turned and asked Agatha directly.

"Don't ask me," Agatha replied, equally puzzled. "I'm just as in the dark as you are... But I can say this for certain: Liam's Arbok may have broken through some mysterious boundary and become something beyond the usual limits of its species... I'd love to study it in detail, hehehe..."

Her face was full of wonder as she looked at the PokeBall now clipped back to Liam's waist. Then she suddenly let out a chilling laugh.

"Pidgeot is unable to battle! Arbok is the winner! However, it too has lost the will to fight. The challenger has already recalled it. Since challengers are allowed to switch Pokémon at any time, as long as Arbok regains its will to battle before all matches conclude, it may return to the field! Now, both sides, please send out your next Pokémon!"

Charles Goodshow announced in a solemn voice to both Professor Oak and Liam. His tone was entirely emotionless—although it seemed a bit harsh, this was exactly the kind of impartiality a true referee ought to uphold.

"Well done, Liam! Arbok's progress has once again exceeded my expectations! Now let me see how strong your other Pokémon have become! You're up next—Kangaskhan! Let those fists fly!"

Professor Oak looked at Liam with obvious satisfaction, then quickly tossed a PokeBall. With a flash, a brown Kangaskhan appeared on the battlefield. It roared at the sky, and from the pouch on its belly, a baby Kangaskhan poked out its head and stared at Liam with curious eyes.

"Kangaskhan, huh... that should be one of Professor Oak's main battlers."

Its strength was beyond question. Liam knew this Kangaskhan well—it was the very one that once defeated Agatha's Gengar. Not only was it immensely powerful, but it likely had the Scrappy ability, which allowed it to hit Ghost-types with Normal or Fighting-type moves—explaining how it had overcome Agatha's Ghost Pokémon and taken the championship.

"Come out, Nidoking! Go wild!"

"Nido!!"

Liam nodded slightly as he watched Kangaskhan appear on the field. He tossed a PokeBall, releasing Nidoking onto the platform. 

Nidoking let out a fierce roar upon entering the battlefield. When it noticed Professor Oak across from it, Nidoking's face broke into a happy grin and it nodded politely in greeting.

"Heh, Nidoking's always been the polite one. Unlike Arbok, who didn't even acknowledge me just now—after all that time I spent taking care of it..."

Professor Oak smiled at Nidoking's gesture, then gave a resentful sigh as he thought back to how Arbok had completely ignored him earlier.

Liam sweatdropped at Prof. Oak's words, unable to forget the times when Prof. Oak had been tied up, bitten, and paralyzed on the floor thanks to Arbok. Just recalling those incidents brought cold sweat to his forehead.

"Alright! Both Pokémon are ready! The second round begins now!"

"It's starting! Nidoking, greet them after all this time—with Flamethrower!"

"Nido!!"

As soon as Charles Goodshow gave the signal, Liam shook his head to get rid of those mental images and smiled as he gave his command. Nidoking wasted no time. It opened its jaws wide and unleashed a powerful Flamethrower straight toward Kangaskhan.

"Kangaskhan! Smash the ground with Mega Punch! Use it to block the flames!"

The cheerful look vanished from Professor Oak's face. He remained calm and issued a command without hesitation.

"Kang! Kang!"

Kangaskhan's right fist suddenly glowed with a brilliant white light. It slammed its fist into the ground in front of it. With a deafening boom, the arena exploded into chunks of rock. The debris flew up and shielded Kangaskhan, completely absorbing the Flamethrower.

"Kangaskhan! Charge forward with Comet Punch!"

As the fire cleared and Nidoking stopped the attack, Oak's eyes flashed. He shouted out another order just as Nidoking paused.

"Kang!"

Kangaskhan quickly dashed out from the scattered rocks, charging toward Nidoking with unexpected speed. Its fists shone as it launched a flurry of blows from both sides.

"Nidoking! Block it with Shadow Claw!"

"Nido!"

Long, dark claws extended from Nidoking's arms, intercepting the flurry of punches. But Comet Punch was a multi-hit move—Kangaskhan withdrew its fists briefly before launching another set of punches.

The rapid assault pushed Nidoking back.

"Nidoking! Thunderbolt! Quick!"

Seeing Nidoking get pushed into a corner, Liam responded instantly.

"Nido!!"

Nidoking didn't hesitate. Catching one of Kangaskhan's arms with a Shadow Claw, it released a surge of electricity from its horn.

"Kang!!"

Kangaskhan cried out in pain from the electric shock. Enduring the currents spreading through its body, it countered with a heavy left hook to Nidoking's face, sending it tumbling backward and halting the Thunderbolt.

"Nidoking! Double Kick!"

Seeing his opportunity, Liam quickly gave another command—a Fighting-type move, super effective against Kangaskhan's Normal type.

"Nido!!"

Nidoking swung its thick tail, smashing the ground for support, then launched a fierce side kick. Its foot slammed into Kangaskhan's side, causing it to grunt and slide across the arena.

Without delay, Nidoking raised its other leg for a follow-up strike.

"Kangaskhan! Use Sucker Punch!"

Just then, Prof. Oak shouted from the sideline.

The baby Kangaskhan suddenly leapt from its mother's pouch and, with its tiny fist, punched Nidoking directly in the face. Caught off guard, Nidoking staggered and missed its second kick, crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Kang Kang~~"

The baby, thrilled by its success, completely ignored the fuming Nidoking on the ground and happily bounced back into its mother's pouch, chirping excitedly.

"Now's our chance! Kangaskhan—use Dizzy Punch!"

Seeing Nidoking downed, Professor Oak immediately seized the opportunity.

"Nidoking! Use Poison Sting!"

"Nido!!"

Liam hadn't expected the baby Kangaskhan to launch an actual attack. Realizing too late, he called for a quick, small-scale move to mount a defense.

Even a minor attack could be effective now.

Nidoking let out a furious roar, opened its mouth, and shot out a hail of Poison Stings. The widespread needle attack not only targeted Kangaskhan but also some needles flew toward the baby in the pouch.

Given the close distance, there was no way Kangaskhan could dodge. It had to abandon its Dizzy Punch and shield its pouch with both arms, taking the full brunt of the poisonous attack. Purple blotches spread across its body, and it groaned in pain from the poisoning.

"Now's the time, Nidoking! Get up and use Thunderbolt again!"

"Nido!!"

Responding instantly, Nidoking leapt back to its feet and growled. Sparks flared around its body, and a golden lightning bolt shot out, striking Kangaskhan squarely in the chest once more.