"Steven, you're here too?"
Around the "Tower Climb Zone," more and more people gathered. Initially, they were merely onlookers, but as time passed, their reactions shifted from casual curiosity to shock, then to stunned silence. Roxanne, dressed in a maid outfit, and Flannery, in a hip-hop outfit, squeezed through the crowd and found Steven standing at the front.
"What's… happening here?" Flannery asked, looking around.
Her gaze swept over the scene, taking note of the surprised expressions on the faces around her and the change of the number on the wall from "7" to "8." Finally, she focused on Johan and Haunter in the center of the stage.
"Professor Johan's Gastly… evolved?" Roxanne said in surprise.
With his arms crossed and his chin resting on his fingers, Steven smiled slightly.
He wasn't all that surprised.
In his understanding, Professor Johan's tactical prowess was unmatched. Neither Lance nor the Masked Royal could match Johan's abilities.
And "tower climbing" was an event that truly tested a trainer's strategic thinking—judging the situation, managing the Pokémon's status, and achieving the most with the least effort. This suited Johan perfectly.
Moreover, Haunter's evolution meant its strength had significantly increased.
Steven's lack of surprise didn't mean others shared his sentiment.
"Eight… Professor Johan has taken out eight in a row?!" Flannery blurted out.
To be more precise, Johan and Haunter had consecutively defeated eight Pokémon together!
Granted, these eight Pokémon were all part of the Academy's training team and not perfectly synchronized with Isaya's commands, but they were far from weak. Isaya herself was known for being adept at leading Pokémon battles using random choices.
On the battlefield, Johan looked at Haunter, who was laughing triumphantly, and asked:
"Haunter, how are you holding up?"
"Oowu?"
The Alolan Vulpix in Johan's arms also glanced over with concern.
"Ka-kah! (〝▼皿▼)"
Haunter licked its claws with confidence.
This is my hunting hour. Ready or not, I'll keep going!
Haunter's stamina seemed fine, and Johan could see from his visual interface that Haunter's overall condition wasn't bad.
What Johan was really asking was whether Haunter had had enough fun.
But clearly, Haunter wasn't satisfied yet.
However, the Pokémon Isaya sent out were getting stronger with each round.
"Ka-kah!" Bring on the next one!
"Ninth Pokémon," Isaya called out, holding a Poké Ball.
Despite being on the losing end, Isaya showed no signs of frustration. As the overseer of the "Tower Climb Zone," she understood the importance of keeping her cool to ensure fairness.
To be honest, she was also curious about how far Johan and Haunter could go.
She could sense that while Haunter hadn't sustained any major injuries, the continuous use of moves and abilities had to be wearing on its stamina.
Well, sort of…
Haunter occasionally pulled a "Toxic Orb" from its mouth and licked it like a snack, as if tricking itself into feeling better.
"Go, Hypno!"
The next Pokémon that emerged from the flash of red light was a humanoid Pokémon with golden fur, a white ruff around its neck, and a small pendulum in its hand.
"Suri."
A Psychic-type and a master of hypnosis—Hypno!
Upon entering the field, Hypno's eyes glowed with a deep blue hue, and it locked its gaze onto Haunter.
"Ka-kah!"
Haunter immediately folded its arms defensively and shivered in horror.
"Professor, there's a perv on the loose!" it seemed to say.
It felt like it was being completely seen through.
"'Forewarn' ability, huh?" Johan narrowed his eyes. "So, which move will you predict?"
Normally, "Forewarn" identifies the move with the highest base power. But in reality, it likely focuses on the move most threatening to Hypno.
At this moment, Hypno was confused.
The move it identified as the greatest threat was… Lick?!
Isaya was momentarily taken aback.
However, the battle couldn't pause for surprises. After quickly recovering her composure, Isaya called out:
"Hypno, use Hypnosis!"
"Suri."
Hypno's narrow eyes glinted slyly as it gently swayed its pendulum, sending ripples of hypnotic energy outward.
"Haunter, Hypnosis," Johan commanded in a calm tone.
Haunter let out a sinister chuckle and waved its hands as its eyes began to glow.
This was the secret code between Johan and Haunter.
When Johan said "use Hypnosis," Haunter would use the traditional move, Hypnosis.
But when Johan said just "Hypnosis"…
Ka-kah ka-kah ka-kah…
"Challenging a 'Hypnosis Specialist' at their own game?" Many spectators were baffled by Johan's choice.
Only Steven, who had witnessed Johan and Haunter's hypnotic prowess, kept a serious expression, waiting for the outcome.
Isaya didn't understand Johan's reasoning, but soon, she sensed something unusual.
Huh?
Under her astonished gaze, Hypno's body wobbled slightly.
Thud!
It collapsed to the ground!
"Whoa—"
The crowd collectively gasped, expressions of disbelief on their faces.
What just happened?!
A Hypno, a Pokémon specialized in Hypnosis, had been outmatched in its own domain by Haunter!
If they hadn't seen Hypno fall with their own eyes and witnessed its body twitching, no one would have believed what they saw.
"Ka-kah~~"
Haunter yawned and patted its mouth, a tear forming at the corner of its eye.
Whew, that was close. I almost fell asleep myself.
Then, Haunter smirked mischievously as it surveyed Hypno's body, its gaze finally landing on the hypnotic pendulum.
"Ka-kah~~"
"Oowu."
The Alolan Vulpix's eyes sparkled.
Is this… the fabled 'Hypnosis Technique' of the House of Johan?
"What just happened, Professor Johan?" someone in the audience couldn't hold back their curiosity and asked.
Johan gave a straight-faced, confident explanation: "Hypno's Hypnosis is a wide-area effect, while Haunter's is a direct, focused one."
Everyone nodded in understanding…
Not!
Boom!
The number on the wall changed from "8" to "9"!
Nine down!
Isaya took a deep breath, recalling Hypno and preparing her next Pokémon.
"Then… the tenth one."
A flash of red light was accompanied by a rumbling vibration in the ground.
The large, blue-scaled Gyarados stood tall, its eyes wide with fury as it unleashed an ear-splitting roar!
"Roooar—!!"
The Water/Flying-type Pokémon—Gyarados!
Johan frowned slightly.
In front of this massive creature, Haunter seemed quite small.
"Ka-kah—!! (〝▼皿▼)"
What are you roaring for? You startled me!
Haunter slowly sank into the shadows.
Facing such a behemoth head-on would be foolish.
"Gyarados, use Dragon Dance!" Isaya commanded, initiating with "Dragon Dance."
"Rooooar!"
Gyarados reared back, roaring as its power surged, whipping up small whirlwinds around the field with incredible speed.
In such a whirlwind of chaos, even approaching Gyarados would be difficult.
"Toxic!"
Haunter sneaked up behind the twirling Gyarados and spewed out a glob of sticky purple sludge.
"Here it comes, Professor Johan's 'Sub-Protect-Toxic' strategy!"
"Gyarados, use Aqua Tail and flush Haunter out of the shadows!"
Crash—
Water swirled around Gyarados's tail like a mighty whip as it smashed down at the ground where Haunter's shadow lay.
Boom!!
The ground exploded, water splashing everywhere, and Haunter was forced out, shattering a green protective barrier around it.
She must be holding onto 'Outrage' to counter 'Hypnosis'… Johan thought.
"Crunch!"
Seeing Haunter revealed, Gyarados roared menacingly, slamming its tail down and charging at Haunter with terrifying speed.
Boom!
Its jaws clamped down on an illusion—a Substitute.
Isaya's eyes flashed.
"Dragon Dance!"
She had predicted the standard pattern of the "Sub-Protect-Toxic" strategy—protect, don't protect, then protect. But…
Johan had anticipated her prediction.
"Haunter, Hex!"
Sometimes, strategies as simple as "Sub-Protect-Toxic" required flexibility. Following a rigid routine would be akin to throwing the match.
It had to be acknowledged that being able to see the opposing Pokémon's full move list and its proficiency level gave Johan a significant advantage.
This final move solidified the victory.
A few minutes later…
Boom!
Gyarados's massive form wobbled, then collapsed heavily to the ground.
Boom!!
The number on the wall changed from "9" to "10"!
Haunter pulled out a pair of sunglasses from nowhere and put them on.
It raised its head proudly and scanned the crowd.
"Ka-kah!! |ω)"
Who else wants some!!
Haunter had completed a streak of ten!
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Powerstones?
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