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"Usopp, now! Let him have it!!!"
In the deserted gymnasium, Red shouted loudly at Usopp, who had used U-turn to avoid a frenzied grab from the Primeape.
"Got it!" Usopp responded immediately while still airborne.
Using the sprint effect of U-turn, he briefly hovered in mid-air where the Primeape couldn't reach him.
The next moment, a string of dark marbles suddenly appeared between his fingers.
Draw the slingshot and load the ammunition, all in one fluid motion!
"Eat this!!!"
"Special attack! Boogie Star Combo!!!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh...
Usopp's hand moved with incredible speed as he rapidly fired his homemade special ammunition from above, raining down on the Primeape.
In an instant...
A barrage of improvised bombs specially crafted using Gem's explosive substances flew out!
Like raindrops, they covered the entire area above the Primeape, making evasion impossible!
BOOM!!!
Blazing fire suddenly erupted in the center of the battlefield, with the impact of the heat wave sweeping up billowing smoke that spread in all directions.
Although the process of making this ammunition had been extremely unpleasant,
Since Gem's boogie was much smaller than ordinary gunpowder at the same explosive power level, and easier to work with,
Usopp had endured his discomfort and used his usual skills of crafting gunpowder stars to make a pouch of these special Boogie Stars.
While the explosive yield of each projectile remained the same,
The smaller size of the Boogie Stars allowed Usopp to shoot more ammunition at once.
This not only expanded the area of impact but also caused a qualitative change through quantitative accumulation, resulting in a more powerful explosion.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the battlefield,
Before the thick black smoke dissipated, a system notification flashed before Red's eyes:
[Usopp defeated the gym trainer's Primeape and gained: Experience Points +283]
[Completed command, evaluation: Average]
[Additional reward: Experience +57]
"Yes!"
Seeing this, Red immediately grinned and instinctively opened Usopp's status interface.
The experience bar suddenly flashed with white light, reset to zero and began filling again.
This indicated that Usopp had leveled up for the second time today, reaching level 23!
By now, more than two hours had passed since they entered the gym.
Using U-turn to maintain distance, Usopp had successfully employed various ammunition combinations to defeat all these Fighting-type melee opponents!
All damage had come from his ranged attacks.
This strategy had allowed Usopp, only level 21 when they started, to progress smoothly through a gym filled with level 30+ opponents!
After a series of intense battles, they finally arrived before the gym leader.
"Now, only the final opponent remains!"
Usopp, who had removed his goggles, revealed a rare determined expression as he gazed toward the deepest part of the gym...
There stood a martial arts master wearing a karate gi with his arms folded across his chest.
"How are you holding up? Need a break?"
Red approached Usopp and handed him a bottle of Super Potion and a PP Up, quickly restoring his stamina and Pokémon energy.
After all, Usopp wasn't a battle-hungry fighter like Luffy or Zoro, and all his opponents had been at least 10 levels higher than him...
Moreover, shooting consumed more energy than direct combat.
After continuous high-intensity battles, he was inevitably tired and battle-worn.
Usopp's performance today had exceeded Red's expectations.
However, after hearing Red's concern, Usopp immediately shook his head.
As the physically weakest member of the crew, he could admit his limitations, but he would never accept being left far behind by his comrades.
Today was finally his turn to enter the Pokémon world, and he didn't want to waste this opportunity!
Usopp said seriously:
"It's fine, I can continue!"
"Don't underestimate me, Red!"
"After all, I still have a secret weapon I haven't used yet!"
As he spoke, Usopp suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled out a Tabasco Star with a smirk.
Originally, due to cost concerns, he had been reluctant to use this special ammunition on non-essential occasions.
But now, after experiencing the effectiveness of Gem's explosive power, he was even considering using Tabasco Stars as his standard attack in the future!
Gem's arrival had successfully alleviated his anxiety about lacking firepower!
Now, given enough time, he could transform into a sniper with virtually unlimited ammunition in minutes!
So he was eager to continue!
He would use overwhelming explosions and flames to defeat all enemies on the battlefield!!!
Explosion is art!
"You're quite different from your usual self, Usopp~"
Seeing that Usopp remained energetic and excited, Red teased him playfully.
Then, without further delay, he walked directly toward the gym leader Kiyo, encouraging Usopp:
"If that's the case, then go ahead!"
The next moment, he triggered the gym leader's dialogue.
The martial arts master placed his hands on his hips, showing a look of disdain:
"Hmph! You're quite the daring one, coming here to challenge me!"
"I am Kiyo, the leader of this gym, but don't expect any mercy!"
"Prepare yourself!!!"
After speaking, the gym leader slowly descended the steps and walked purposefully toward the battle area.
"Geez..."
Seeing this, Red couldn't help but comment: "Even though you're not officially recognized, your presentation is really low-budget~!"
There was no cheering audience, and even the cutscene for challenging the gym leader consisted of merely walking to one end of the battlefield in a very plain manner.
"Why do I suddenly feel sorry for him?" Red clicked his tongue.
The next moment, the battlefield quickly materialized.
Kiyo on the opposite side promptly threw his Poké Ball.
"Go! Poliwrath!"
A red light flashed.
On the opposite side of the field, a large frog with muscular arms and a spiral pattern on its stomach suddenly appeared.
"Oh? It's actually a Water + Fighting Poliwrath!"
Seeing the Pokémon released by his opponent, a look of surprise flashed in Red's eyes.
The corners of his mouth raised involuntarily:
"How fortunate~ It's a Poliwrath that Usopp completely resists."
"And judging by its dry skin, it doesn't have Water Absorb!"
"Now, there's really nothing to worry about!"
Poliwrath is Water+Fighting, while Usopp is Bug+Grass.
Water-type moves are resisted by Grass-types and can only cause half damage.
Fighting-type moves are resisted by Bug-types, also causing only half damage.
However, Usopp's ammunition had nothing to do with his typing—it was pure fire + impact!
As long as the opponent didn't use moves with other types, Red couldn't see how Usopp would lose!
The battle was about to begin.
As the Fighting-type gym leader, Kiyo didn't command his Poliwrath to use the more advantageous long-range Water-type moves, but directly ordered:
"Poliwrath, use Close Combat!!!"
Whether he was aware of Usopp's fighting style or not, he actually instructed Poliwrath to use a move that would close the distance between them.
Close Combat works by sacrificing all defense to charge directly at the opponent!
It's a Fighting-type move with increased mobility.
But both Red and Usopp were well-prepared for the enemy's choice.
Before Red could give an order, Usopp had already acted skillfully.
"U-turn!"
Swish!!!
Usopp's figure transformed into a swift blur as he instantly vacated his position.
After evading Poliwrath's attack, he showed no intention of stopping.
Instead, he sprinted toward Poliwrath's previous position.
In the blink of an eye, man and Pokémon had exchanged offensive and defensive positions.
U-turn was technically a Bug-type attack that allows the user to switch out after striking.
But in Usopp's hands, it became a tactical skill that allowed him to rapidly create distance from his opponents!
"Usopp, use Tri Attack!"
"This time, try incorporating Pokémon energy into your ammunition!"
At this moment, Red urgently instructed Usopp.
It wasn't that he wanted to increase his presence; he had noticed the ammunition in Usopp's hand...
It was the Tabasco Star that Usopp had just revealed.
Red feared that without specific direction, Usopp might miss out on the additional command experience after the battle.
However, what Red didn't expect was...
The moment he finished speaking, three distinct colors—red, yellow, and blue—suddenly appeared in Usopp's palm as he held his slingshot.
They clearly corresponded to the triple effects of burning, paralysis, and freezing represented by Tri Attack!
But in the next second, under Usopp's control, the red and blue energies surprisingly dissipated.
Only the yellow energy fluctuations, exuding a thunderous aura, remained.
Perhaps drawing on experience from when he helped create Nami's ClimaTact...
Usopp had actually separated the electric power from Tri Attack and instantly channeled it into the ammunition at his fingertips.
"This is..."
Usopp, controlling Pokémon energy for the first time, showed a look of surprise.
Then, his face lit up with excitement as he shouted:
"Take this!"
"Usopp Special! Super Kill - Thunder Tabasco Star!!!"
The jet-black projectile seemed to ignite in advance, suddenly releasing a terrifying heat wave as it rushed toward Poliwrath!
The ferocious flames engulfed Poliwrath directly like a demon!
And at that moment...
A blazing current of electricity suddenly emerged from the fire, combining with the explosive impact to surge through Poliwrath's body.
Although the electrical element was still relatively weak, at this moment, it became the final decisive factor against Poliwrath.
When the frog Pokémon staggered out of the explosion's black smoke, its body was already covered with burns.
Golden electric currents periodically flashed across its skin.
Thud!
Poliwrath, having lost consciousness, trembled and suddenly collapsed to the ground.
Usopp had successfully defeated a Poliwrath that was 11 levels higher than himself!
The winner was—Usopp!!!