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Like Nidoran, Growlithe had enjoyed good food and care since meeting Sato. Growing rapidly, and being a bit older than Nidoran, Growlithe was now larger.
Growlithe measured 1.3 meters in length and 0.6 meters in height, with strikingly vibrant fur that gleamed under the light. His muscular build bore clear signs of rigorous training.
Undoubtedly, Growlithe, like Nidoran, reflected Sato's excellent training efforts.
Upon entering the field, Growlithe skillfully enveloped himself in flames, a move that amazed the surrounding spectators. Fully cloaked in fire, Growlithe exuded an imposing presence, putting immense pressure on his opponent, Scyther.
"What incredible talent! With the Flash Fire ability, Growlithe has absolute control over flames. Normally wild and untamed, these flames now appear calm and obedient," Sato thought to himself, smiling as he observed Growlithe easily wearing a layer of fire.
Though their training hadn't been long, Growlithe clearly inherited his father's fire-manipulation talent.
With PokeBlocks and Sato's high-quality, efficient training regimen, Growlithe quickly mastered the essence of Flame Charge.
As demonstrated, Growlithe could now drape flames over his body, and thanks to Flash Fire, the flames didn't harm him at all. Instead, they served as a protective layer, making it painful for any opponent to get close.
Growlithe had effectively converted Flame Charge from an active attack move into a passive skill, which Sato referred to as "Heating" (similar to Luffy's Gear Second).
However, based on Growlithe's current power, he could only maintain the Heated state for two minutes.
After that, his body would be unable to handle the high temperature, and he would have to deactivate Heating, entering a brief period of weakness.
Thus, in this Heated state, Growlithe needed to engage in a swift battle; if he couldn't quickly defeat his opponent, he would be left vulnerable.
"A Fire-type, that too a Growlithe? Damn it, who is this guy? He can't just be an ordinary Trainer," Fujita muttered, watching Sato summon such a powerful Growlithe.
As a part-time Pokémon hunter, Fujita knew well that Growlithe was a very rare Pokémon.
Few hunters would risk selling such Pokémon; typically, only those with some standing could acquire one, often through connections with the Jennys.
Combined with the highly trained Nidoran, skilled in numerous moves beyond its level, Fujita began suspecting that Sato was a noble offspring on a training journey.
His earlier resentment and envy, thinking Sato just a wealthy civilian Trainer, quickly faded, replaced by a hint of intimidation.
Yet a battle is a battle. Fujita had too much pride as a Trainer to back down. Even knowing his chances of winning were slim, he would still give his all.
"Scyther, be cautious—Growlithe is a Fire-type. Use Quick Attack to gain speed, then break through his fiery defense with the powerful airflow generated by Aerial Ace!"
Fujita had a strategy for handling Fire-types like Growlithe, so once the referee started the battle, he ordered Scyther to execute their practiced fire-countering move.
In an instant, Scyther pressed off the ground with force, his insect wings whirring furiously, leaving brief afterimages as he moved like a ghost behind Growlithe.
Simultaneously, Scyther's scythes, coated with intense Flying-type energy, churned up threads of white air as he swung down at Growlithe.
A resounding "clang!" echoed as a deep dent appeared on the ground.
Scyther's attack struck and split through what appeared to be Growlithe's fiery shield, but to Scyther's surprise, he'd only sliced through a lingering orange flame left by Growlithe. The real Growlithe stood to his left.
"Flame Wheel!"
"Protect!"
The next moment, Sato and Fujita's commands rang out one after the other.
Hearing Sato, Growlithe's orange-red flames flared up instantly as he transformed into a fiery rocket aimed directly at Scyther. But just as Growlithe was about to hit, Scyther activated Protect, defending himself.
A green energy shield quickly appeared around Scyther, successfully blocking Growlithe's Flame Wheel and shielding him from the intense flames.
However, the impact force and heat could not be entirely contained, and Scyther was sent flying back a considerable distance.
As Scyther flew back, the flames around his shield dissipated, and once the shield vanished, steam rose from his body, a clear sign of heat exposure.
"Go on, Growlithe, use Flame Wheel again!"
Sato's eyes showed a hint of disappointment as Fujita used Protect to prevent a finishing blow, but he instructed Growlithe to keep up the attack.
Unlike Nidoran, Growlithe had a natural advantage against Scyther's type and had speed-enhancing moves.
Growlithe had already dodged Scyther's Quick Attack and Aerial Ace, indicating his body was now fully heated and his speed even surpassed Scyther's.
"So fast! Don't let him close in. Quickly, fly into the air using your wings, then counter with Vacuum Wave!"
Seeing Growlithe rocket toward the weakened Scyther, who appeared to be suffering from heat exhaustion, Fujita shouted.
Despite feeling the effects of the high temperature, Scyther's fighting spirit remained strong, and he tried to take off. But as he attempted to push off, he realized his legs were not responding.
At this moment, faint purple spots started appearing on Scyther's skin, and the spots continued to spread rapidly.
"It looks like Nidoran's poison has kicked in. With that intense movement, the toxins spread even faster," Sato observed, recognizing that the poison was taking effect at a critical moment.
With a loud "boom," Growlithe's Flame Wheel struck Scyther, sending him flying with a pained cry. Even as Scyther crashed, orange flames continued to burn around him.
When Scyther finally hit the ground, the flames extinguished, leaving his body charred and motionless, signaling his loss of fighting ability.
"This Battle is over! Scyther is unable to fight. The winner of this match is Sato and his Growlithe!"
After a ten-second count, the referee promptly announced the result.
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