"Hitmonlee—Bullet Punch!"
Grey's call took everyone by surprise.
[Bullet Punch?!]
[Isn't Hitmonlee all about legs? Since when does it box?]
[C'mon—Wooper can throw an Ice Punch. Hitmonlee has hands. Why wouldn't it punch?]
Chat scrolled fast—most people had fallen into a name trap.
Just because it's called "Hitmonlee" doesn't mean it only kicks.
It's just better with legs.
Right now, Hitmonlee's spring-leg was being crushed inward; battle lust flashed in Golduck's eyes as it hit top speed.
The torrent around it froze into solid ice; cold bled into the air and spread.
"Hitmon…"
Hitmonlee's clenched fist gleamed with metallic light, the chill making it look even more menacing.
They locked eyes. With a sharp hiss, Golduck dove; its body began to spin, a corkscrew cone forming at the tip.
The air buckled; a crack of thunder rolled.
Hitmonlee drew in both fists—then Steel-type power poured out, a downpour of blows slamming forward!
Steel cold clashed with frozen surge; the colliding auras rattled the floor and punched a pit into the tiles!
BANG!!!
Ice chips sprayed; Hitmonlee's left leg came free and snapped back under it.
Golduck's speed only dipped a notch. It smashed into Hitmonlee's torso, and both crashed into the crater!
Dust billowed; for a moment neither side could see their Pokémon.
"Zen Headbutt!"
"Sucker Punch!"
They shouted at once.
Grey won the read—again.
"Gaa—!"
Inside the roiling dust, the gem on Golduck's brow burned with seven-colored light. Psychic power plated its skull—amplifying the strike!
Zen Headbutt!
Compared to Confusion, Zen Headbutt hits a lot harder.
But Grey had called Sucker Punch…
The honor student swallowed. Her eyes, fixed on the pit, tightened.
Would it land…?
Through that rainbow glow, a black flash tore out—unraveling it clean, ripping it to nothing.
"GAA—!!!"
A scream split the dojo. Golduck burst out of the dust cloud and tumbled across the air, scattering it.
Right behind came Hitmonlee, cloaked in Dark energy, twin pupils burning black.
"Mega Kick."
Grey's voice went cool.
"Hitmon!"
This time the right leg extended. White light flared off the sole—Golduck squinted up, too dazzled to mount a proper guard.
The kick detonated against its body, launching it to the dojo's ceiling like a shell!
It almost blew a hole through the roof.
Rattled and spent, Golduck fell and smacked the floor. It lay there gasping, arms limp, voice barely a croak.
Hitmonlee stepped in, hooked it with a leg on the way down, and set it gently on the ground.
"Gaa…"
Breathing hard, Golduck couldn't even lift its hands.
Hitmonlee, by contrast, still looked fresh.
That frozen Aqua Jet had looked fierce, but Bullet Punch shaved the force off; in the end, it wasn't that bad.
Plus Golduck had been eating hits already. Going down was inevitable.
"You've improved a lot since the start. But if that's all, you won't pass my bar."
Grey kept his tone soft.
Progress, sure—but not past the line.
If the opening was a zero, she was at thirty now.
That last sequence was a flash of insight—there was something there, just not much.
[Marowak, Golduck… what's the third going to be?]
[Feels weaker than… Gary.]
[Hard to say. Gary's first try was pure hubris—challenged Grey's Primeape and got humbled.]
[True. First challenge was the best shot at a badge. He threw it away. Grey's team just keeps getting stronger—it only gets tougher for the second young master from here.]
Chat bantered—and, as usual, roasted Gary for sport. That old blunder would feed jokes for a long time.
"Mm. I know."
The honor student recalled Golduck and rummaged in her bag.
What should she send? She'd brought six this trip, but only a few really threatened Fighting types.
"I'm counting on you—Venusaur!"
"Venu!"
A hulking toad Pokémon vaulted from its ball. Knobs studded its darker skin; the red flower on its back opened wide as its eyes fixed on Hitmonlee.
[Pokémon: Venusaur]
[Type: Grass/Poison]
[Level: 33]
[Ability: Overgrow]
[Moves: omitted]
Among the Kanto starters, Venusaur evolves early.
And it's one of the most recommended picks for a first partner in Kanto.
Reason's simple: it bullies Pewter and Cerulean.
(Of course, anyone bullies Cerulean; catching one or not hardly matters.)
"Let's go, Venusaur!"
She clenched a fist and cheered.
Marowak got farmed, Golduck popped off for a moment but got decked. Now all hope rested on Venusaur.
"Venu!"
It stamped the floor. The crater between them split the field in two, a hard line that kept them nose-to-nose at range.
"Razor Leaf!"
With that "river between kingdoms" helping her, the honor student seemed to hold the current advantage.
Venusaur tipped its head; green light gathered over the bloom.
Shnk, shnk!
Razor-sharp leaves snapped loose, knifing through the air toward Hitmonlee!
"Jump—clear it."
Grey's command was clipped.
Hitmonlee pressed down and sprung high, skimming past the blades—then its aura surged.
"Now—Vine Whip! Bind it!"
"Blaze Kick!"
They called together.
Broad leaves under the blossom wriggled—and six thick vines whipped out, the air booming under each crack.
Midair, Hitmonlee crossed its fists at its chest. Its left leg sighted in on Venusaur—smoke flared!
Friction screamed along the shin; fire roared up the limb—fierce, rolling hot!
Shff-shff-shff!
Six vine whips lashed out at once!
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