Axel was not praising Togepi for nothing. Togepi was the strongest among the new Pokemons that Axel had gotten recently. Yes, training and upgrading a fairy-type Pokemon was harder than other types. But Togepi somehow was able to be at the top.
It was hard working but it was also intelligent. It was using all its training time very effectively. Axel had not seen such a thing from any of his Pokemons who were just 5 months old.
The thing that surprised Axel was its new move 'Egg defense'. This was a new move that Togepi had learned itself. Axel had not even helped it in learning this move. This showed how special Togepi really was.
---
Egg defense: Togepi would curl up its body inside the egg and a fairy aura would evenlop the egg sharply raising its physical and special defense. This would consume a lot of stamina and could only be used 1 time at the current stage.
---
Croagunk was definitely going to lose this battle. He just wanted to see how powerful Togepi really was.
"Let the battle begin!!!", shouted Liza as she volunteered to be the referee of this battle.
"Croagunk, start with 'Dynamic punch'" shouted Frank.
"Togepi, first use 'Nasty plot' and then use 'Extrasensory'", said Axel.
Togepi changed its facial structure while Croagunk was going to use its move.
Now both of them were common rank Pokemon and the distance between them was very long. So, it took some time for Croagunk to come near Togepi. By that time Togepi had already used 'Nasty plot' one time. As of right now, it could use this move 2 times.
When it came closer, Togepi used 'Extrasensory' which fortunately made Croagunk flinch. Togepi also rolled on the right side to avoid the attack but it didn't need to.
"Now use 'Wish' and 'Sunny day'", said Axel.
It used both of the moves. Croagunk only had physical type moves so it needed to come closer to Togepi. Frank told it yet again to use the same move.
Togepi had already used both of the moves.
"Togepi, now use 'Flamethrower'", said Axel.
It was going to use it but it was hit by 'Dynamic Punch'
BANG
Togepi instinctively curled up in its egg shell and it was flown off by the attack. It didn't get confused but it was hurt.
Togepi made a serious face and fired up 'Flamethrower' in Croagunk's face.
"Croagunk, use 'Quick guard' now!!", shouted Frank.
Now 'Quick Guard' would help a Pokemon defend itself and its allies. Since it covered a larger area, its defensive powers were not so great. So, even though Croagunk used the move, it was hit by a powerful 'Flamethrower'. Due to the effect of 'Sunny Day' and 'Nasty Plot', the power of 'Flamethrower' was huge.
"Croagunk, use 'Poison Jab' and 'Poison sting'", said Frank. Frank could say that they were going to lose this battle cause this Togepi was very strong.
Croagunk also realized this issue. But it was not going down without a fight. So, it used its full power and rushed towards Togepi.
"Togepi, use 'Egg defense'", said Axel.
Axel could tell that Togepi could not dodge this move. So, it told it to use its new move. Togepi curled up inside its eggshell and a pink aura enveloped the whole egg.
The egg was hit by a powerful 'Poison jab'. Croagunk also used 'Poison Sting' during that time.
Due to its hidden ability 'Poison touch' and the moves 'Poison jab' and 'Poison sting', Togepi was finally poisoned. Togepi was not hurt so much due to 'Egg defense' but it was now poisoned and Axel needed to finish this battle as fast as he could.
"'Metronome'", said Axel.
Togepi started to wave its tiny hands in the air and then suddenly, the ground under Croagunk erupted with fire and a volcano mixed with pointy rocks.
Croagunk had fainted and the move was 'Earth power'.
'Metronome' was a very tricky move. Axel wanted to find out how it worked and how could he predict the moves of 'Metronome' but he just could not. This had been one of the topics for his ongoing research.
However, what he did know was that Togepi was extremely lucky. This was due to it being a fairy type and he knew that when Togepi was in a pinch, there was a high chance that 'Metronome' would help.
'Earth power' was a ground-type attack that was supper effective against Croagunk. So, the move just came at the right time.
"Croagunk has fainted. Togepi and Axel have won this battle.", announced Liza.
"Good fight, but do you know the mistakes that you have made?", asked Axel.
"No, I trained Croagunk on its physical stats like you told me to and also trained it in some of its moves. Your Togepi is just stronger than my Croagunk."
"You are wrong. You did train it well but you didn't choose the move very wisely. Frank, it is your Pokemon, so I don't have the right to train it or give you advice on training it.
But I will say this, if Togepi didn't have status moves like 'Nasty plot' and 'Sunny day', it would have taken a lot of time to defeat your Pokemon. Status moves are very important. You should think about it.
Also, your Croagunk only had physical-type moves. Granted that it is a fighting type Pokemon, but it must have some special type moves to balance its move pool."
"Thanks, Axel for your advice."
"It is okay, I am your teacher. It is my job."
Axel then turned towards Togepi and said, "Now I can use an antidote for your poison but this is also training. Try to use 'Wish' and then try to resist the poison.
If you do this while you are poisoned, you will develop resistance to it. Tell me the time when you can't hold it in. I will then give you the antidote that time."
"CHukki… Chukkiii Turiii.."
Axel knew that Pokemons were not as weak as humans and they needed to be trained that way.
He then turned to Liza and then said, "Are you ready?"
"Yes,"
She had already come onto the stage. Frank had taken the referee position.
###
She was so excited about the battle that she didn't even ask who was going to send out their Pokemon first and directly sent out her Pokemon.
It was a short and chubby rodent Pokemon. It was covered in yellow fur with two horizontal brown stripes on its back. It had a small mouth, long, pointed ears with black tips, and brown eyes. Each cheek was a red circle that contained a pouch for electricity storage. It had short forearms with five fingers on each paw, and its feet each had three toes. At the base of its lightning bolt-shaped tail was a patch of brown fur. It was classified as a quadruped, but it had been known to stand and walk on its hind legs.
The Pokemon was Pikachu.
Yes, the iconic Pikachu, Ash's first Pokemon.
To be brutally honest, Pikachu was hyped in the anime. It was not such a powerful Pokemon. Ash's Pikachu was an anomaly. Of course, in the real world, any Pokemon could be powerful, but Axel was not excited to catch one of them.
Axel had the perfect Pokemon for Pikachu.
"Acron, it is your time. Win this battle for me.", said Axel.
---
Pokemon's name: Acron (Age- 3 months)
Pokemon Nickname: NA
Pokemon Rank: common rank
Ability: Pressure (20%)
Hidden ability: Unnerve (15%)
Potential: Black (Monstrous)
Health: 650/650 Attack: C+
Agility: D++ Defense: C
Sp. Atk: C Sp. Def: D+
Moves: Sandstorm (C) (Lvl 21), Dragon breath (C) (Lvl 24), Assurance (U) (Lvl 19), Wide guard (U) (Lvl 12), Bite (C) (Lvl 21), Stone edge (C) (Lvl 17), Rock polish (U) (Lvl 13), Stealth rock (U) (Lvl 14), Hyper beam (U) (Lvl 18), Iron tail (U) (Lvl 18)
---
Acron had trained a lot in the past month and all of its moves had leveled up. Its ability and hidden ability had also risen in mastery percentage and its stats had also been upgraded.
Liza didn't know what kind of Pokemon that really was but she simply didn't care. She knew that her Pikachu could win against it. Pikachu was her first official Pokemon and it was the strongest Pokemon in her team. So, she was very confident in Pikachu.
"Let the battle Begin!", shouted Frank.
"Pikachu, start with 'Thunder shock'", shouted Liza.
"Acron, use 'Sandstorm' and then 'Rock Polish'"
Sand began to brew and it started to spread out everywhere. This was the 'Sandstorm' of a common-rank Pokemon. So, it was not as powerful as Nidoking's or Steelix's 'Sandstorm' but it was enough for this battle.
Due to the sudden 'Sandstorm', Pikachu could not land a hit and Acron was able to use both of its moves. Its speed had also increased due to 'Rock polish'. Aerodactyl was known as the fastest rock type Pokemon and Acron was also very fast. It was not as fast as Pikachu but was still fast for a rock type.
"Pikachu, use 'Quick attack'", said Liza.
Pikachu started to show off its 'Agility' and started to run very fast. Axel knew that Acron may not be able to dodge it so he told it to hold its stand when the move hit it, he told it to use 'Bite'.
It was a rock-type Pokemon so it had excellent defense. So, the move 'Quick attack' didn't hurt it much.
Acron opened its big mouth and bit Pikachu on its stomach with its sharp teeth.
Pikachu was trying to get out of it but Acron was not letting it.
"Pikachu, use 'Thunder bolt' and get out of there", said Liza.
"PI.. Ka CHUUUUUU", it shouted. Its whole body was covered in yellow-colored electricity. There was a short blast of power and when the dust cleared, everyone could see that Acron was not affected.
"So, it is a rock-type Pokemon.", mumbled Liza.
She had suspected Acron to be a rock-type Pokemon as it was using 'Sandstorm' and 'Rock polish' but now she was confirmed. The battle had gone from hard to almost impossible for her now.
However, she was not going to give up on it.
"Pikachu, use 'Iron tail' and smack its head", shouted Liza.
"Acron, let it go and then use 'Stone edge'"
Acron threw it in the air and then gave a beastly roar. Pointy rocks started to come out of the ground and 2 of them hit Pikachu on the stomach.
Pikachu tried to stand up but it was unable to. After much trying, it finally stood up, ready for battle again. This Pikachu had very good defense.
However, by the time it was doing everything to stand up, Acron was already preparing a move for it. Due to the sandstorm, even Liza could not see it properly.
A yellow beam of light came and struck Pikachu and it was sent flying towards the wall and it continued till it hit the wall.
The move was 'Hyper beam' and Pikachu had fainted.
"Pikachu has fainted. Axel and Acron won the battle."
If this was a normal battle, Acron may have had some difficulty winning but it was immune to an electric-type attack, and due to Axel's experience it won very easily.
It came running towards Axel expecting to be praised. Axel patted its head for a job well done.
Meanwhile, Pikachu had to be sent to the hospital as it was injured. 'Hyper beam' was a powerful move but it had many disadvantages. However, Axel manipulated the battle in such a way that the disadvantages would not affect Acron.
"Since I won the first round, why don't you send out your second Pokemon? I will also change my Pokemon. I just want them to have some battle experience.", said Axel with a smile.
Liza was fuming after seeing Axel becoming so modest. She knew that she had acted stupid. If she had told Axel to flip a coin for the battle, she may have won. But there was no medicine in this world for regrets. She just had to win the next battle.