Rental Battle.
A rental battle involves using borrowed Pokémon instead of your own. It's an essential test for trainers.
After all, commanding someone else's Pokémon is quite challenging. Not knowing the Pokémon's abilities or moves requires trainers to be knowledgeable and adaptable. It's also a test of their quick thinking and ability to strategize.
In fact, rental battles are not uncommon in the Pokémon world.
Battle Factory, Battle Tent, Battle Tower—all have similar formats. In Pokémon Adventures: Emerald Chapter, one of the protagonists, Greta, is known to be highly skilled in rental battles and has an impressive 100-win streak.
It's not just trainers; Rangers also rely on wild Pokémon, which is a similar concept.
[Skarmory]
Type: Steel, Flying
Ability: Keen Eye
Known Moves: Wing Attack, Slash, Steel Wing, Payback, Drill Peck, Metal Sound, Spikes, Pluck, Stealth Rock, Whirlwind, Substitute, Roost, Taunt, Iron Defense, Protect, Toxic…
Mood: Excited, Anxious (Will this really work?)
Condition: Excellent (Ready for battle)
Friendship: 50 (We bathed together, after all)
This is the information Johan could see about Steven's Skarmory.
Steven really trained it well, especially with the sheer number of moves—evidence of his "money power."
Some of the moves included in Johan's strategy were already known by Skarmory and at a decent level of mastery. Johan had simply added a few more into the mix.
This preparation was part of what gave Johan confidence going into the battle.
During the time Lance was busy getting Aerodactyl back into battle shape, Johan took the opportunity to put Skarmory through a quick, one-hour intensive crash course.
It was to establish a basic sense of strategy and understanding between them for smoother coordination in the battle.
Of course…
This bond couldn't compare to what Steven shared with his Skarmory.
However, Lance's bond with Aerodactyl wasn't exactly flawless either.
Plus, Aerodactyl had just suffered a loss. Even if it had been healed up, it was far from being in peak condition without proper treatment at a Pokémon Center.
Not to mention, Skarmory had a type advantage.
All in all…
"The advantage is mine."
Nearby, Steven and Metagross had taken Johan's previous spot on the bench. Unashamedly, Steven reached into Gastly's popcorn bucket, grabbed a handful, and shared some with Metagross.
Crunch, crunch—
"Hmm? Why does this popcorn taste like sunflower seeds?"
"Ka-kah!" Stare!
Gastly glared at Steven's hand, its face full of discontent.
But, considering that Steven was Johan's student…
Just this once, it decided to forgive him. Definitely not because Metagross was watching…
"Hey, do you think Johan will win?" Steven asked.
"Ka-kah~~" Gastly shook its head. No idea.
Steven's expression twitched.
"Then again, Johan doesn't usually do things he's not confident about," Steven mused.
"Ka-kah~~" Gastly nodded in agreement.
At that moment, they saw Johan walk onto the battlefield and raise a single finger.
I'm only going to demonstrate this once.
Steven's face immediately turned serious.
He had always believed that the strength Johan showed wasn't just what he revealed on the surface. This feeling only grew stronger the more they interacted.
Especially when Johan handed him that strategy manual for Skarmory.
Johan, just how deeply have you hidden your strength?
On the battlefield, Lance had finished calming down Aerodactyl and was getting serious.
Anyone who earned praise from Drake was undoubtedly not to be underestimated.
While his bond with Aerodactyl wasn't at its peak, it was surely stronger than the bond Johan had with Steven's Skarmory.
Johan had also seen Aerodactyl battle against Metagross earlier. If he was still willing to borrow someone else's Pokémon for a fight, it meant he had confidence in his strategy.
Although the goal of the battle was to help Aerodactyl recover, as a trainer, Lance was getting excited.
He longed to face strong opponents. Both Steven and Johan were formidable foes who demanded his full attention and concentration.
"Kaa~~"
Skarmory flapped its wings, eyes gleaming sharply.
"Don't worry," Johan reassured it, gently stroking its metallic feathers.
"If we lose, it's my fault. If we win, it's all thanks to you. No pressure—just give it your best."
"Kaa!!"
Skarmory's respect for Johan grew even more.
"Begin!"
At Steven's signal, both Johan and Lance focused their attention on the battle.
"Aerodactyl, Stone Edge!" Lance commanded, sweeping aside his cape dramatically.
This time, instead of opening with Dragon Dance, he decided to take the offensive immediately.
Changing tactics?
Well, no matter how he changes it…
"Skarmory, block with Stealth Rock!"
Aerodactyl's body radiated an earthy glow, and sharp rocks seemed to sprout from its body. With a powerful flap of its wings, it sent the stone blades flying at Skarmory.
At the same time, Skarmory's eyes flashed yellow, and rocks also began to hover in midair before fading from sight, as if erased.
Aerodactyl's Stone Edge collided with these invisible rocks, producing a series of explosive sounds.
Using Stealth Rock for defense? Lance was taken aback.
Still, some of the stones pierced through and headed towards Skarmory.
"Take them head-on and use Iron Defense!" Johan's voice was calm.
His demeanor helped steady Skarmory's nerves.
Flapping its wings, Skarmory closed them around its body, blocking the incoming stones while its metallic feathers gleamed brightly.
Iron Defense greatly boosted its physical defense.
For a physically durable Pokémon like Skarmory, this was a substantial upgrade, creating pressure on Aerodactyl, which relied heavily on physical attacks.
"Aerodactyl, get in close with Thunder Fang!"
"Toxic!"
Speed-wise, Skarmory was no match for Aerodactyl, but the Stealth Rocks previously laid out served as obstacles.
In a one-on-one scenario, the typical "Spikes and Whirlwind" strategy wouldn't work.
After all, that strategy functions better in turn-based games, which differ significantly from real-world battles.
It could be borrowed but not copied exactly.
For example, Johan cleverly utilized Stealth Rock as both a shield and a hindrance to Aerodactyl's mobility.
Bzzzt!!
Golden electricity surged across Skarmory's body, dealing considerable damage.
Yet, the virulent toxins also seeped into Aerodactyl, causing its skin to take on a faint purple hue.
It had been poisoned with Toxic!
Lance's face darkened.
He realized he had to finish the fight quickly.
"Alright, Aerodactyl, use Fire Fang!"
This time, unlike the previous matchup with Metagross, where Steven had successfully exploited his advantage, Lance's aggressive tactics brought Aerodactyl closer, seizing the initiative.
"Skarmory, Substitute!"
Boom!!
Flames erupted, but they only burned through Skarmory's decoy feathers.
Lance had a sinking feeling in his gut.
The poison's effects were becoming increasingly evident on Aerodactyl.
However, he couldn't afford to panic, or he would lose focus.
"Aerodactyl, use Supersonic—"
"Taunt!"
Steven's eyes widened. "Did Johan 'read' Lance's move?"
Luck? Coincidence? Or a true prediction?
Aerodactyl's Supersonic was forcefully interrupted, causing its eyes to redden in frustration.
Yet Lance, being Lance, didn't lose his cool. He quickly adjusted his strategy. "Aerodactyl, Dragon Breath!"
Switching from Supersonic to Dragon Breath?
Impressive adaptation, Lance, Johan silently admired.
The rapid change in tactics demonstrated an increasing level of synergy between Lance and Aerodactyl.
"Skarmory, Protect!"
"Kaa!!"
A transparent green barrier appeared.
Bang!
The Protect move, however, has diminishing returns if used repeatedly, so even though Aerodactyl was temporarily blocked, it had to continue attacking.
"Fire Fang!"
"Iron Defense!"
Another head-on clash—though it strained Skarmory, the double boost from Iron Defense made it bearable.
Not to mention, Aerodactyl's attacks weren't even its STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves, allowing Skarmory to survive.
"Aerodactyl, Thunder Fang!"
"Skarmory, Protect!"
Lance: "…"
Defend, defend, defend with Protect and Toxic stalling until the opponent implodes.
Gastly partially covered its eyes.
It couldn't bear to watch.
But it still peeked through its fingers, eyes sparkling.
This is… the magic of the "Protect Toxic Substitute" combo?
Johan is demonstrating it for me!
Steven also wore a complex expression, both awed and conflicted by what he was witnessing. Yet, the gleam in his eyes was unmistakable.
If Johan had merely cracked open a door to a new world for him before…
Today, he kicked it wide open!
At this point, the effects of Toxic were taking their toll, and Aerodactyl was on the verge of losing control.
"Aerodactyl, hold on! Skarmory isn't in good shape either—finish it with Fire Fang!"
Lance's voice was filled with determination as a green aura seemed to envelop him.
"Roar!!"
Aerodactyl let out a fierce roar and managed to regain its composure.
Flames danced on its razor-sharp fangs as it lunged at Skarmory.
"Roost."
Johan's calm command reached Skarmory.
"Roost?" Gastly and Steven's jaws dropped in sync.
Critical hit.
That's a psychological crit, they could almost hear the mental blow to Aerodactyl and Lance.
Skarmory touched down, recovering its stamina.
Thanks to its double Iron Defense boost, it withstood Aerodactyl's flames yet again.
But…
"Ka-kah!"
That's so cheap, so ruthless, and I love it!
Gastly was ecstatic.
With another round of Protect-Iron Defense-Protect, Aerodactyl's condition deteriorated rapidly, and its stamina reached rock bottom.
"Ahh…" Johan sighed. "Let's not drag this out any longer."
"Skarmory, finish with Brave Bird!"
Brave Bird—a move that deals heavy damage in exchange for recoil.
Skarmory's massive defense stat, boosted thrice by Iron Defense, was maxed out.
Boom!
Aerodactyl crashed heavily to the ground, fully knocked out.
Letting it fall due to poison would've been disrespectful.
In this demonstration, Johan combined the "Protect-Toxic-Substitute" strategy with the "Iron Defense Brave Bird" combo, skillfully blending in techniques from the "Spikes and Whirlwind" method—making this "lesson" as thorough as could be.
For some reason…
Lance seemed almost relieved after losing.
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates