Pokémon Detective Case Files

Chapter 436 The Gap Before Death

Chapter 438 The Gap Before Death

There is a significant difference between professional trainers and ordinary people.

This gap cannot be easily bridged by reasons such as talent, intelligence, or powerful spirits; rather, it requires years of tacit understanding and conditioned reflexes.

To some extent, Pokémon battles are a game for those who work hard—what truly determines the difference in strength is neither the quality or rarity of the Pokémon, but rather the experience points accumulated little by little.

Trainers who can command their Pokémon with a single gesture will naturally have a greater advantage than those who need to shout out moves. Trainers who can anticipate the opponent's Pokémon's movements will have more sophisticated tactics than those who improvise hastily. Only trainers who have trained with their Pokémon for a long time and experienced countless battles can keep track of their partner's stamina in the midst of dazzling battles. Such trainers will naturally be able to judge the situation more accurately than non-professionals who cannot even grasp the power of moves, and their chances of winning in battle will naturally be greater.

Despite his background in the entertainment industry, Hatchik's acceptance of a personal invitation from former Ardek champion is enough to prove that he has never slacked off in his training as a trainer.

After officially becoming the Ice-type Gym Leader, he began to focus on honing his single-type combat skills. He not only trained a group of reliable partners from scratch, but also watched as the Strike Ghost, who served as his sparring partner, improved his skills as well. This kind of practical experience gained through rigorous training was naturally far superior to that of Yoggs, who spent his days buried in Team Plasma's paperwork and frequently traveling to ancient ruins for archaeological research.

However, at this moment, the sage in blue robes, seeing the sudden counterattack of Hachiku, showed no panic whatsoever—"Vulcan Moth, 'Hot Wind'!"

Having had most of its shell shattered by the Strike Demon, the Rock Palace Crab had lost its will to fight and scurried into the roadside bushes. Meanwhile, the culprit that caused this situation was now facing Volcano head-on.

With its hands tightly wrapped around its waist, as if rousing its spirit, it transformed its blue fist into a rock and, braving the "hot wind," quickly approached the "deity" in the desert ruins, launching a "sharp stone attack" to close in.

""fly"."

Joggs gave the instructions without hesitation. The battle between Volcarona and Strike before him seemed like a mirror image of the duel in the past. Since there was a textbook-standard answer, all he had to do was follow the steps. It was easy to deal with a Pokémon that the trainer was too busy to command.

The real challenge lies with Hatchku himself.

The reason why the Fighting Ghost was not personally commanded by its trainer is not because it was abandoned by its owner, but because the owner was fighting to the point of almost losing himself!

The Tundra's "Ice Pillar Slam" attack on Aerodactyl was blocked by the equally powerful "Rock Slide." However, just as the moves collided, the trainer, Hachiku, continued to charge forward, performing an almost acrobatic roll onto the other paw of the Tundra. The Ice-type Pokémon was then tossed into the air, sending the Ice-type Gym Leader soaring even higher than Aerodactyl's flight height!

This person wants to release even more spirits!

Yoggs instantly understood Hachiku's intention, his pupils contracted sharply, and he decisively roared at Aerodactyl, "Aerodactyl, watch out above! Attack the trainer with 'Ancient Power'!"

The fossil Pokémon, having just recovered from the clash of moves, did not hesitate and immediately created a projection of an ancient rock around itself. However, it was momentarily confused when it locked onto its target.

Is it a blind spot? No, predators that soared through the skies in ancient times could not have had such limited vision.

The sage in blue robes spotted a furtive hexagonal figure on the edge of the battlefield—a geometric snowflake!

Despite being severely injured by Volcarona's "Fire Blast", this Hatchling Pokémon returned to its trainer's side after defeating Rhyperior with "Solar Beam" and briefly obscured Aerodactyl's vision with a barely perceptible "Mist" move!

"Now!"

The "Ice Masked Man," who always presented a cold and aloof image, finally spoke again in the air. As he waved the sleeve of his single haori, a huge figure made entirely of ice appeared.

The next instant, an enormous blue fist, like a meteorite, slammed down on the top of the fossil pterosaur's head, right between its two horns.

"Frozen Fist"! A critical hit!

A Pokémon resembling the local Darmanitan, but with a snow-white body and a giant snowball on its head, appeared in the center of the battlefield—it was a Darmanitan from the Galar region.

Meanwhile, the Strike Demon, facing Volcarona's "Fly" attack, erected a "Protect" barrier, steadily blocking the attack, and then delivered a powerful "Low Kick" that precisely struck Volcarona's wing as it swooped down in front of it with "Fly"—a situation not recorded in Alder's "textbook"!

The situation shows absolutely no sign of improvement!

Here, Hachiku, falling from mid-air, was caught safely by the timely arrival of the geometric snowflake—although it was smaller in size, this ice crystal sprite still faithfully fulfilled its mission.

Meanwhile, the Aerodactyl that fell from the sky had not yet completely lost consciousness and tried to flap its wings to take off again, but it was finished off by the Tundra Bear's ready-to-go "Earthquake" on the ground. The Rock type, which had lost its ability to fly, was also doubly weak to ground moves, and under this double blow, it completely lost its ability to fight!

"Damn it!" Joggs almost ground his teeth to powder.

Rhyperior and Aerodactyl have completely fallen into a coma, and Crabtree has lost its will to fight. Among the Pokémon sent to the battlefield, only Volcarona, which has never faced Hatchling head-on, is still in relatively good health. Even this Pokémon has lost speed because its wing was hit by a low kick from a stun-ghost.

He had clearly set up an encirclement trap first, yet Hatchik, whose attributes were completely countered, completely turned the tables and was suddenly at a disadvantage of being outnumbered. How could he not be furious!

"Hey, haven't you had enough of the show? Why aren't you offering your help?"

Joggs covered his mouth with the sleeve of his robe and asked in a low voice into the communicator hidden in his hand.

"Heh heh"

Before there was a response from the other end of the communicator, a chilling laugh suddenly came from behind Hachiku.

"I initially thought the United States Alliance wouldn't be so foolish as to send only one person deep into enemy territory, so I stayed put and observed for a while."

A blue-robed figure, swaying like the moon's reflection in water, appeared eerily in the center of the battlefield. The voice of 'Soul Thief' Asura carried the chilling intent of an ancient monster spitting out its tongue: "I never expected—you actually made me wait in vain."

The next instant, four pitch-black ghostly hands appeared around Hachiku as if they were shadows.

"Majula, 'Shoot Down'!"

The Ice-type Gym Leader immediately took action upon noticing the anomaly.

With this command, a red and black figure burst out of the ball beside Hachiku, and Maraudon, with its claws imbued with Dark-type energy, lashed out with both hands, tearing at the incoming giant hand.

However, this sharp counterattack had no effect whatsoever. The four large hands vanished like bubbles the moment they were touched, like phantoms in the air.

"After all these years, you're still as impatient as ever—Master Hatchku."

Amidst Asura's mournful sighs, a coffin gleaming with golden light emerged from the swirling black mist.

The black Pokémon that attacked the Ice-type Gym Leader earlier was just a smokescreen; the real Pokémon had been hiding right next to Asura all along and had never moved!

"Ah—!"

At the same time the Coffin of Death appeared, without warning, Hachiku suddenly clutched his chest and knelt on the ground.

He clutched his shirt tightly to his chest, large beads of cold sweat rolling down the edge of his mask. This Ice-type Gym Leader, known for his unwavering resolve, was now trembling violently like a glacier under the scorching sun.

Amidst the excruciating pain, Hachiku suddenly looked up at the ghost-type elf beside the blue-robed sage, only to be met with a pair of smiling, scarlet eyes above the body of the Death Coffin.

Ghost-type move: "Curse".

When the user possesses the Ghost attribute, this move will reduce their HP by half and continuously damage the user.

"Curse" deals damage to the target!

"This scene is just like it was eight years ago."

As Hachiku coughed up blood, Asura, the "Soul Thief," slowly raised the corners of his lips, which were hidden by his goatee, with a smile identical to that of his partner beside him, as if he were watching his prey struggle in its death throes.