"Mm…"
The honor student stayed quiet for a while.
Staring at Marowak, dropped by a single Low Sweep, she didn't know what to say.
"Hitmonlee's legs extend and retract fast. In a situation like this, you still want close combat? Or do you think Fighting types can only brawl up close and have no ranged options at all?"
Grey lobbed a few barbs—each one right on target.
"Uh—"
She had just formed a word when Grey cut her off.
"If Marowak doesn't have tools to deal with Hitmonlee, why aren't you switching already?"
"Mm…"
In a daze, the honor student felt like she was back in front of her strict homeroom teacher.
Lessons flashed through her head.
Almost against her will, she recalled Marowak and sent out another ball. "Golduck, I'm counting on you!"
A blue-skinned duck Pokémon appeared, long yellow bill and a red gem set in its brow. It looked imposing.
[Pokémon: Golduck]
[Type: Water]
[Level: 33]
[Ability: Cloud Nine]
[Moves: omitted]
"Now that's more like it."
Grey glanced over the readout and nodded.
Marowak's fight had been way too sloppy—eaten by a single sweep, practically DOA.
Plenty of raw strength, but none of the right training.
"Hoo… Honor Student, you're top of the experimental class. You can't fold here…"
She cast Self-Motivate on herself, then looked back at Grey and ordered without mercy: "Golduck—start by testing the waters with Water Gun!"
"Gaa-gaa!"
A clear jet gushed from Golduck's beak—nothing strong, but fast off the mark.
Hitmonlee dipped at the waist and slipped past it with ease.
"Golduck, sprint and fire as you go! Watch Hitmonlee's legs—don't get tripped!"
Clear instructions this time—she flagged Hitmonlee's key trait and stayed wary.
"Gaa-gaa!"
Golduck spat one Water Gun after another while breaking into a run straight at Hitmonlee.
With that funneling pressure closing in, Hitmonlee braced and gathered power.
Seeing it, Grey called, "Sucker Punch!"
A black gleam flashed in Hitmonlee's eyes. Its outline blurred into afterimages.
"Not good!"
This was exactly the kind of move she hated. She aped a textbook response: "Golduck—sweep the Water Gun side to side!"
"Gaa-gaa!"
Golduck couldn't track Hitmonlee either. It swung its head, spraying wildly to screen out the assault.
But Hitmonlee seemed to read the lines perfectly—didn't catch a single drop.
Then that long, springy leg lashed out—booting Golduck in the face and twisting its features.
"That step just now was off. In a spot like this, trading blows is better. If Golduck had used Confusion or Zen Headbutt, it could've landed real damage on Hitmonlee."
Grey added, "Surf or Muddy Water—big area, big force—work too. Water Gun is undercooked. Even on hit, it wouldn't have stopped Hitmonlee's advance."
"So that's it… knowledge from outside school…"
She wasn't a blind bookworm—she'd just been stuck at school, fed scraps.
After Grey's pointers, she almost felt enlightened.
Before, she could beat Lt. Surge in the simulator.
Now, she figured beating the real Lt. Surge wouldn't be a problem!
(Lt. Surge: "???")
"Golduck, you good?"
She floated a plan, then checked its status.
"Gaa!" (Just a Sucker Punch. I'm fine!)
Golduck staggered back a few steps, steadied, wiped the dust from its face, and locked its sharp gaze on Hitmonlee.
"Looks like you're ready. Let's hope it's not just for show."
Grey arched a brow. As expected of a student—fast uptake.
"Of course."
The honor student exhaled, eyes fixed on Hitmonlee. "Golduck—Aqua Jet!"
"Gaa-gaa!"
Golduck sprang high, torrents surging over its body, a long tail of water snapping behind it!
Up near the dojo ceiling, it pulsed forward in quick, agile beats—dizzying to follow.
Hitmonlee tracked it tightly, lifting one leg, waiting for it to close.
Thump!
Golduck planted both feet on the ceiling, arms straightening. It sighted down at Hitmonlee—and dove!!
"Double Kick."
"Hitmon!"
As Golduck's speed ramped, Hitmonlee's raised left leg hammered upward. The air cracked with sharp reports!
Its foot sank into the water cloak and met Golduck's palms—
Just as it pushed, a chill stabbed up from its sole!
"Ice Beam!"
The honor student shouted, eyes shining. "Golduck!"
"Gaa-gaa!"
Cold roared out. Almost the instant it opened its beak, Golduck fired a frigid beam—freezing Hitmonlee's submerged left leg solid!
With its left leg iced, Hitmonlee's mobility crashed; even a normal kick was hard to throw.
[Yo that's clean—she can battle! Go, girl!]
[We might see the streamer eat dirt—go, Golduck!]
[Could it be—?!]
"Ho? Not bad."
Grey gave a thumbs-up. "Now that's more like it. Nice progress."
"Golduck, keep the speed—drive straight through!"
She saw a win line and couldn't keep the pitch out of her voice.
As long as—
As long as it landed, she could take Hitmonlee down!
Whooo—
The gale screamed. Ice crusted over Golduck's torrent—hitting even harder!
Hitmonlee, on the other hand, could only watch as its leg shrank back under the pressure of Aqua Jet, its movement hamstrung by the ice.
Everyone—stream and stands alike—was locked on Hitmonlee.
What counter would Grey pull?
[What can Hitmonlee even do now—hover on both legs?]
[Feels like he's going to eat the hit.]
[No High Jump Kick either—he's not seriously going to watch Hitmonlee get nailed, right?]
Golduck closed in.
For a heartbeat, chat held its breath.
Was Grey really going to do nothing?
And then—
"Hitmonlee—Bullet Punch!"
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