"Alright then, from now on, let's journey together. I'll be counting on you, Hawlucha."
Ash pulled out a Heal Ball. Hawlucha stretched out one of its fists and bumped it against the Heal Ball willingly—then disappeared inside with a flash of light.
"Whoa! You can capture a Pokémon like that? That's amazing! Dedenne, did you see that? Ash didn't even battle, and yet he caught Hawlucha!"
Bonnie's eyes were sparkling with excitement.
"Den~ne!"
Dedenne squeaked from atop her head, watching with wide eyes.
"Wild Pokémon, if they truly trust a Trainer, don't need to battle. As long as they agree, they can be captured right away."
Clemont patiently explained to his sister.
Click! The Heal Ball sealed shut without even a shake—the capture was a complete success!
"Perfect. Come on out, Hawlucha!"
[Pokémon]: Hawlucha
[Category]: Wrestling Pokémon
[Type]: Fighting, Flying
[Ability]: Limber
[Potential]: Red-tier
[Level]: 36
[Moves]: Detect, Tackle, Hone Claws, Karate Chop, Brick Break, Wing Attack, Roost, Aerial Ace, Fling, Bounce, Feather Dance, High Jump Kick…
[Signature Move]: Flying Press
"Lucha!"
Hawlucha gazed at Ash with a sharp cry.
"Ash, please take good care of Hawlucha from now on," Ranger Keaton said sincerely.
But just then—the same Ursaring from earlier returned!
And this time, it had brought backup! A Conkeldurr, and… a Machamp!
"That Machamp—that's the former champion of the forest!" Keaton exclaimed. "Looks like Ursaring tricked it into helping…"
"Well then, perfect timing. Hawlucha—this will be our first real battle together! Ready?"
"Lucha!"
Hawlucha's eyes gleamed as it nodded firmly.
"Chaaamp!"
The Machamp roared and charged in first.
"Hawlucha, counter with Karate Chop—don't back down!"
The two fighters clashed, palm against palm. Hawlucha endured Machamp's strike and forced back with equal force.
But Machamp wasn't an opponent to underestimate—it had four arms. Suddenly, its other pair of hands slammed down with a devastating Brick Break!
"Hawlucha, meet it head-on with your own Brick Break!"
Both moves collided, but Machamp's extra arms swung in another Karate Chop, sending Hawlucha flying back!
Machamp had been training endlessly since losing its role as forest king, honing its strength for a comeback!
"Use that tree behind you! Bounce off and accelerate into Aerial Ace!"
Ash's quick thinking lit Hawlucha's eyes with determination. As it was hurled toward a massive tree, it twisted, kicked off the trunk with explosive force, and shot forward like a bullet.
Aerial Ace!
Machamp was completely caught off guard—Hawlucha struck cleanly, sending it crashing to the ground.
Then, with a dramatic leap, Hawlucha perched atop a tree, striking a flamboyant, stylish pose before diving again.
"Now! Use Flying Press—just as I showed you!"
Hawlucha flipped midair, body spinning like a streamlined drill, momentum building at incredible speed.
Machamp's eyes widened. It recognized this move—but the speed was nothing like before!
BOOM!
Flying Press smashed Machamp into the ground with crushing force.
"Chaaamp…"
The mighty Machamp fell limp, unable to battle.
Ding! [Congratulations, Host. Hawlucha has defeated Machamp. 10x EXP Bonus applied! Gained 55,000 EXP!]
—Level 37!
—Level 38!
—Level 39!
—Level 40!
Because of its countless battles in the forest, Hawlucha's foundation was rock solid, allowing it to soar in levels effortlessly.
Ash smiled. Using the Tenfold EXP card was worth it!
Ursaring and Conkeldurr, who had been counting on Machamp's help, were completely dumbstruck.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go!
In their plan, Machamp was supposed to fight evenly with Hawlucha, and they would swoop in at the last moment to overwhelm it. Instead, Hawlucha crushed Machamp in style!
"Go, Garchomp! Take care of Ursaring and Conkeldurr!"
"Chomp!"
Ash released Garchomp, who immediately blocked the fleeing pair's path.
BAM! BAM! Two crushing Brick Breaks landed squarely on their bodies, sending them sprawling.
Ding! [Congratulations, Host. Garchomp defeated Ursaring and Conkeldurr. Tenfold EXP Bonus applied! Gained 785,500 EXP!]
Level 51!
Level 52!
Level 53!
Level 54!
With four whole levels gained in one swoop, Garchomp's strength skyrocketed once more.
When Machamp finally came to, it realized the truth. With a grunt, it grabbed Ursaring in one arm and Conkeldurr in the other, apologized to the group, and dragged the two troublemakers deep into the forest.
The balance of the woods would now be preserved, with Ranger Keaton and Machamp watching over it.
As for Ash and his companions—they continued their journey.
And soon, the landscape before them changed.
A colossal canyon stretched as far as the eye could see.
The Kalos Grand Canyon. They had arrived!
"Woooah! This is incredible! So this is the famous Grand Canyon of the Kalos Region!"
Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie's jaws dropped.
From the highest peak where they stood, the view spread endlessly before them—towering cliffs, jagged valleys, and colossal stone spires that rose like ancient guardians of the land. The scenery was both wild and majestic, breathtaking in its sheer scale.
"Alright, everyone, come on out! Time to introduce you to our new teammate!"
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T/N:
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