Chapter 88: Pangoro the Rascal Panda

Chapter 88: The Rogue Panda

A sky full of searing sparks drifted through the air like pollen.

Bursting flames roared with such fury that they seemed intent on burning every last thing in the world to cinders.

Roar—

Raging with blazing fire, Typhlosion landed heavily on the battlefield.

Yes, after careful consideration, Lani had chosen to send out the strongest member of his team, aside from Lu Yun: Typhlosion.

He had his reasons for doing so.

Lani was extremely confident in Typhlosion’s strength. As long as the first Pokémon sent out by the other side was not Norn’s hidden ace, Lani believed he could seize the initiative and score the opening advantage.

And even if Norn did unleash his ace as his first Pokémon, Typhlosion would still be able to hold out as best it could and wear down its opponent’s stamina as much as possible.

On the other side, Norn’s Pokémon emerged from its Poké Ball and landed on the black ground.

It was a huge, humanoid panda.

Black-and-white fur grew in a wild tangle over its body, while a pair of dark pupils glared at its opponent with fierce irritation. A slender bamboo leaf hung from its mouth, the emerald blade swaying gently in the breeze across the field.

"Pangoro!"

Lani’s heart lifted.

From what he had learned earlier, Norn’s Pangoro was not one of his ace Pokémon.

To a certain extent, his battle plan had already succeeded.

All that remained was to have Typhlosion defeat the opponent as quickly and efficiently as possible.

"The fiery, powerful Fire-type Typhlosion faces the ill-tempered and formidable Pangoro!"

"The championship favorite, Norn, and the dark horse challenger, Lani—who will lift the trophy at the end of this contest?"

"Let us watch and see. An exceptionally exciting Pokémon battle is about to begin!"

Over the broadcast, Audrey’s voice rang out with fervor, eagerly stirring the crowd’s emotions.

The battle began!

"Pangoro, use Bullet Punch!"

Even after realizing that he had already fallen into a disadvantage at the very start with his opening choice, Norn kept his gentle smile.

His calm voice issued the command.

Pangoro suddenly bent its right arm, the knotted muscles swelling violently as the Steel-type energy deep within its cells was awakened from slumber.

A dazzling silver-red radiance covered the entirety of Pangoro’s right arm.

Its right leg stepped back slightly.

Then its knee bent, and it kicked off hard.

Bang!

The tremendous explosive force left a deep footprint in the solid floor beneath its foot.

The powerful impact accompanying Bullet Punch granted Pangoro a strange speed utterly unlike what its body size suggested.

With fierce wind howling around it, it charged straight at Typhlosion.

"Flamethrower!"

Facing Pangoro’s ferocious assault, Lani showed no fear at all.

Flamethrower was one of the most powerful Fire-type attacks Typhlosion could currently unleash.

Its immense destructive force made it Typhlosion’s trump card in battle.

But it had one weakness: if Typhlosion’s own stamina decreased, the power of Flamethrower would decline as well.

In other words, the best time to use Flamethrower was at the very beginning of a battle.

At that moment, Typhlosion possessed abundant stamina and could release Flamethrower in its most perfect form.

A surging wave of heat burst forth from Typhlosion’s body, and the red flames fanning out behind it flared violently.

Masses of red Fire-type energy condensed together, and under extreme compression, they fused into liquid red-yellow magma.

As the energy surged forward, carrying a mighty force like a volcanic eruption, the explosive dark-red flames and thick magma tinged with yellow light shot toward the charging Pangoro.

The silver-white gleam of Bullet Punch cut through the air with a crisp metallic cry, while scorching heat rolled in like a tide.

With a glance from the corner of its eye, Pangoro even noticed a faint scorch mark beginning to appear on the leaf clamped in its mouth.

Its brow tightening, Pangoro had no choice but to face Flamethrower’s overwhelming power.

Its free left hand reached out beside its body, and a circular, pale shield formed around it.

"Protect!"

The burly body moved at high speed, and the whistling air stream sent the dense fur on Pangoro’s body streaming back.

Boom—

The red-and-yellow magma pillar formed by Flamethrower slammed violently into the sturdy barrier of Protect.

The enormous impact caused Pangoro’s rapidly moving body to come to an abrupt halt.

Its thick legs were planted in the ground like nails, the strong muscles of its lower body bulging as if ready to burst.

Step by step,

Pangoro gauged how much longer the shield could hold and pressed forward against the fire pillar.

Crack.

Like an eggshell under pressure, the circular barrier split with several lines of fracture.

Pangoro’s eyes sharpened, and it burst forth with agility and nimbleness utterly inconsistent with its massive frame.

With the shield’s final remnant of strength, it leaped sideways.

By now, the distance between the two had already been closed considerably.

Lani’s brow furrowed slightly.

Typhlosion was a powerful ranged attacker. If a Fighting-type Pangoro got too close, the situation could easily turn unfavorable.

He immediately ordered, "Smokescreen! Create distance!"

Whoosh—

With specks of crimson sparks mixed in, a great volume of thick black smoke was spewed from Typhlosion’s mouth, enveloping Pangoro completely.

Sizzle!

The intense heat carried within the black smoke scorched Pangoro’s dense fur black and charred, releasing a foul burnt stench.

Pangoro’s powerful arms lashed wildly through the smoke, as if trying to disperse it.

But under Typhlosion’s precise control, it was all in vain.

At the edge of the field, seeing its Pokémon in trouble, Norn continued his calm command.

"Use Drain Punch!"

A frightening light flashed from Pangoro’s fierce dark eyes.

Its three strong claws clenched, and a pitch-black field of force suddenly swelled in its palm.

Like a black hole in the universe devouring all things, a tremendous suction force surged out from the field.

Hoo—hoo—

The gale howled.

The black smoke gathered around Pangoro was whipped by tremendous force, spiraling like a vortex as it was drawn into the right fist wrapped in that dark field.

Scorching. Burning.

The black haze that had covered most of the battlefield was drawn together, and the searing heat caused even the steadfast Pangoro to frown.

Its eyes swept across the field and quickly caught sight of Typhlosion, hidden within the thinning smoke.

Its muscles bulged as it hurled the black mass of energy, now having absorbed a vast amount of heat, toward its target.

Too slow to evade it, Typhlosion was struck by the cloud of Fighting-type energy mingled with Fire-type power.

"Urgh!"

With a cry of pain, Typhlosion’s body lurched and faltered.

In an instant, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, Pangoro’s enormous black shadow enveloped Typhlosion.