Chapter 84: Riolu, I Choose You!, Part 2
Despite the continuous whispers from the surrounding crowd, Ming Rizhao showed none of the stage fright or panic of a rookie Pokémon trainer.
She took a deep breath and immediately issued her first command.
"Ruru, use [Double Team]."
The opening move was to increase her own evasion rate. It seemed Psychic-type Pokémon were indeed quite afraid of other Pokémon getting into close combat, especially a Fighting-type Pokémon renowned for its close-quarters fighting.
In Rio's vision, Ralts moved quickly left and right, and several afterimage clones mixed in with its real body, making it impossible for him to distinguish which one was real.
The principle of [Double Team] was to create afterimages through rapid movement, preventing the opponent from accurately striking the real target.
"If I had a wide-area attack move, I could easily break through [Double Team]. Unfortunately, I don't have such a move."
"However..."
Rio placed his right hand above and his left hand below, and azure blue energy began to gather.
Seeing Rio strike this pose, Ming Rizhao had a bad feeling and decisively continued to command, "[Confusion]!"
From among the several real and fake afterimages, a pink psychic wave spread out.
"I even broke through Mewtwo's psychic power..."
Rio held up the continuously humming energy ball with his right paw, sharp claws emerging from his left paw, and then, he quickly dug into the ground beneath him.
Norman, who had been watching the battle, had a glint in his eyes.
"This Pokémon... without a trainer's training, it can actually use two moves at once? And that energy ball, what kind of energy is it? It doesn't look like Fighting-type energy, nor does it look like any other energy. Could it be..."
Vaguely, a very old legend came to Norman's mind.
Regardless of the thoughts stirring in Norman's mind, Rio's [Dig] move was like a stroke of genius, allowing him to dodge the sweeping psychic wave.
"Where is it?"
Seeing Rio disappear from his spot, Ming Rizhao immediately looked around warily.
"Behind? No! Ruru, to your left!"
A figure burst out from the ground with great momentum, its right paw clutching the energy ball, about to strike Ralts.
However, Ralts, having been warned by its trainer, was already prepared. The afterimages created by its rapid movements became even more numerous. At a glance, half the battlefield was filled with Ralts's afterimages.
In contrast, the energy ball in Rio's hand was only the size of a fist. Amidst this dazzling pile of afterimages, how would he find Ralts's real body?
Thinking of this key point, Ming Rizhao also relaxed slightly.
"So many clones, it's enough to dodge this move... What!!"
Finding the real body was impossible. Don't forget the true nature of a Fighting Pokémon; it's all about being reckless.
So, facing so many afterimages, a lv1 Riolu would have to choose. But Rio...
I! Want! Them! All!
"Boom—" The energy ball in Rio's hand suddenly expanded. In a very short time, it grew from the size of a fist to about the size of a giant boulder.
The overflowing energy even made the surrounding crowd of onlookers gasp in amazement.
"Wh-what is this move?"
"It looks so powerful."
"It's over! Should we run for cover?!"
The words of the last onlooker caused a small commotion. People unconsciously moved back a few meters, but their eyes were still glued to the Pokémon battle, especially on the mysterious Pokémon that had used an unknown move.
Only Rio knew that the actual power of this large energy ball in his hand was not as terrifying as people imagined.
Because when the energy ball was the size of a fist, that was when it was strongest. After all, all the energy was compressed to an extreme point. The extremely concentrated energy would produce terrifying power the moment it was unleashed. Now, it looked imposing, but in reality, the energy that was supposed to be compressed was expanded outwards. The volume increased, but the total amount of energy remained unchanged, so the concentration of energy decreased, and its power was naturally not as strong as when it was extremely concentrated.
However, to clear out Ralts's afterimage clones, it was more than enough!
"There's nothing in this world that can't be solved by one Rasengan. If there is, then use a super-huge Rasengan to solve it!"
"Super! Great Ball Spira... bah, [Aura Sphere]!"
The Aura Sphere, filled with an azure blue glow, mercilessly crashed down among the host of afterimages.
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only an outwardly expanding aftershock of vibrating air. The numerous afterimages burst like bubbles, all of them cleared away in the explosion of Aura energy.
Only a single, lonely Ralts was left, seeming a bit dazed from the impact.
"Good chance! [Quick Attack]!"
Opportunity knocks but once. Rio, without stopping, transformed into a flash of lightning, intending to end the battle with this move he was most skilled at.
Suddenly, he saw Ming Rizhao, who had been silent and hadn't issued a command, have a triumphant smile flash across her lips.
"[Disarming Voice]."
Ralts, who had been standing blankly, suddenly looked up. Its eyes, hidden under its green hair, sparkled with small pink hearts. It clasped its small hands in front of its body and at the same time, let out a sweet and delicate cry.
Caught off guard, Rio was directly hit by this move.
Instantly, an image of a delicate and cute Ralts appeared in his mind. His originally fierce momentum couldn't help but pause.
"Damn it, I actually fell for it... Ahh~ Little sister is so cute~"
The future "steel straight man" who would possess the Steel type, Riolu, at this moment also had his eyes filled with little hearts.
He felt his heart had been wounded and was in urgent need of a hug from sister Ralts.
It should be known that the Fairy type possessed a major hidden characteristic: their Fairy-type moves had a doubled effect on the opposite gender. After all, Pokémon that usually had the Fairy type were often the dream goddesses, gods, or cute next-door neighbors of other Pokémon. After all, who would be so cruel as to hit their goddess in the face with a [Hyper Beam], right?
Of course, if you were talking about Granbull, the Forces of Nature, or Grimmsnarl, then pretend the author didn't say that.
But it couldn't be ruled out that some Pokémon liked that flavor. After all, the world is large and full of wonders.
Getting off track. Back to the battle.
Seeing Rio affected by [Disarming Voice], Ming Rizhao waved her hand, ending the duel.
"Ruru, use [Hypnosis]!"
Although the success rate of [Hypnosis] was low, facing Rio, whose mind was already unguarded under the charm, it naturally had its due effect.
"@"
This time, it was Rio's turn to get the swirly-eyed effect.
Hit by [Hypnosis], he could only lie limply on the ground, not wanting to get up without at least ten thousand kisses.
Although he wasn't defeated by a direct attack move, Rio, having been put to sleep, could only be at the mercy of others.
The surrounding onlookers cheered, satisfied after having enjoyed this spectacular battle, and then dispersed.
And Norman also clapped his hands lightly.
"Remarkable battle sense. Facing an opponent with a much higher level, she didn't use combat moves to clash head-on, but instead used [Double Team] and [Confusion] first to attract the opponent's attention. Then, when the opponent carelessly approached, she used the sure-hit [Disarming Voice] to break the opponent's mental guard, and finally used [Hypnosis] to give her Pokémon the ability to deliver the final blow."
"Splendid, truly splendid."
"I look forward to you challenging the Gym."
After taking one last deep look at the young girl and that mysterious Pokémon, Norman also left.
"…"
The girl, with slightly trembling hands, took out a small Poké Ball from her person. She lightly clicked the button in the center, and "pop," the Poké Ball instantly grew larger.
"Go, Poké Ball!"
The red-and-white Poké Ball drew a wobbly curve in the air.
Strictly speaking, this was the first time Ming Rizhao had tried to throw a Poké Ball to capture a Pokémon.
On the other side, the awakened Rio, watching the arc of the thrown Poké Ball, had many chaotic thoughts flash through his mind.
Mew... Sunrise Valley... the evolving Squirtle... Mewtwo... Team Rocket... the black smoke... his own future... the unknown quests... about his own past...
He looked again at the other side.
The decisive and brave young girl... the cute Ralts (Rio: (～￣▽￣)～ The charm status hasn't worn off yet)... and the warmth of being protected in her arms...
Finally, he shook his head with a carefree air.
"Why think so much..."
Looking at Ming Rizhao and Ralts's nervous yet expectant expressions, Rio smiled lightly, actively leaped up, and reached out to touch the Poké Ball that had been thrown short and was about to fall.
"Swish!" A light flashed, and Rio transformed into a beam of light and was drawn into the Poké Ball.
"Beep."
The Poké Ball landed on the ground, the button in the center flashing red, and wobbled slightly.
"Beep, beep."
The Poké Ball continued to wobble.
"Beep, beep, beep—da."
The flashing red light disappeared, and the Poké Ball settled down.
Ming Rizhao, who had been watching the Poké Ball with an uneasy heart, excitedly picked up Ralts and cheered, "Yeah!"
"Pop!" Rio, who had been drawn into the Poké Ball, popped out on his own and waved at the somewhat stunned Ming Rizhao.
"No, you're not celebrating like that correctly."
"Huh?"
"Here, learn from me."
"…"
"Riolu..."
"Ri-Riolu..."
"I Choose You!"
"I Choose You?"
And so, Riolu, seriously teaching Ming Rizhao the classic catchphrase, and the girl, being taught by her own Pokémon in a daze, and Ralts, snickering on the side, formed a beautiful picture.