[Species: Raticate]
[Type: Normal]
[Ability: Guts (Attack increases when affected by a status condition)]
[Level: Entry-level novice-stage (Lv. 12, 20/100 experience points)]
[Status: Good]
[Potential: Elite-grade]
[Base stats: HP 55 (55), Attack 81 (81), Defense 60 (60), Special Attack 50 (50), Special Defense 70 (70), Speed 101 (97), Total 417 (413). Note: values in parentheses are the regular six base stats.]
[Moves: Tail Whip, Bite, Quick Attack, Tackle, Super Fang, Hyper Fang...]
[Description: The leader of a small group of its species, with pretty good Speed. Right now, it is enraged because the attack it was so confident in has just been blocked.]
...
As expected of the one they brought in to hold the line.
This Raticate's entry-level novice-stage rank.
Really was much stronger than all those other Rattata around it, who were only level two or three, novice-stage beginners.
Compared to himself.
It was a full five levels higher!
Five levels!
That was definitely not a gap you could casually brush aside.
Especially when Pokémon levels were still low.
That absolutely counted as a chasm that was hard to cross.
But even so.
Shiko still had the courage to fight it.
Not just because of his pride and self-respect.
But even more because he was confident he could win!
Just now, Raticate's surprise attack.
He had managed to handle it with ease.
For the clash coming next, a proper one-on-one head-on fight.
Shiko was confident he could completely defeat it!
"Squeeya, squeeya!"
Raticate's short forelimbs pawed at the air twice.
In its pair of beady little eyes.
There was nothing but rage and caution.
Just now, it had used Quick Attack chained into Super Fang as a combo for a surprise strike.
That was the attack it was extremely confident in.
But it hadn't expected Shiko to block it so easily.
And the rebound force from that clash.
Had almost made it take a nasty spill.
This was a troublesome opponent!
Raticate grew wary in its heart.
"Squeak!"
"Squeak!"
...
The cries of the Rattata rose and fell.
All jumbled together into a noisy mess.
Raticate bent its hind legs.
And sprang backwards in a long leap.
Putting a big stretch of distance between itself and Shiko.
Trying to run?
Seeing its stance, Shiko thought to himself.
How could he let it get away!
He gave a cold snort.
Shiko opened his mouth.
Dense flames of fire-type energy gathered.
In his mouth.
A scorching, dazzling orb of light rapidly took shape.
"Squeak!"
"Squeak!"
...
The surrounding Rattata saw this scene.
And were so frightened that they hurriedly scrambled back to open up some distance.
Shiko's gaze tracked Raticate's figure.
Watching that earthy yellow shape that kept rapidly closing in on him.
He finally understood.
This Raticate wasn't trying to escape.
It was opening up distance.
To let Quick Attack's speed and impact reach their peak.
The earthy yellow blur flashed forward like a bolt of lightning.
Raticate's two razor-sharp front teeth.
Were like a pair of keen daggers.
Daggers sharp enough to pierce through alloy steel plates!
Hyper Fang!
An even stronger move than the Super Fang it had used before!
Shiko's expression cooled.
So Raticate wanted to settle the match in a single blow!
The fire-type energy in his body compressed and condensed once more.
The energy sphere in Shiko's mouth.
Had already burned to an utterly extreme degree.
He didn't rush to fire!
He was still waiting!
Waiting for the very best timing!
For a precisely aimed, one-hit kill!
"Squeeya!"
The yellow lightning bolt skimming across the grass suddenly kicked off into the air.
With the impact of Quick Attack.
Plus the acceleration from gravity.
It planned to end this battle with those front teeth it was most proud of!
"Squeak!"
"Squeak!"
The watching Rattata all got excited.
Seeing their boss being so mighty!
They were bouncing and cheering nonstop!
By Shiko's side, Buneary was scared stiff by Raticate's imposing presence.
She lowered her head.
And buried her face into her own pink fur.
Now!
Looking at that yellow figure plummeting toward him at high speed.
Shiko's eyes narrowed sharply.
The flames he had been gathering for so long poured out of his mouth.
Flamethrower!!
A surging, roaring wave of scorching flame crossed more than ten meters in an instant!
In a single moment, it struck Raticate's front teeth dead on with pinpoint accuracy!
Terrifying!!
In this charged-up version of Flamethrower Shiko unleashed.
There was hardly any "flame shape" left to see.
It was practically a pillar of orange-red light blasting straight out!
Boom!!
The explosion rang out!
Sparks flew in all directions!
Within the blossoming flames.
Raticate, its whole body ablaze.
Plummeted straight down from midair.
Thud!!
It crashed to the ground, twitched twice, and then stopped moving.
Sizzle!!
The flames went out.
Wisps of charred smoke rose from Raticate's body.
With a light crack.
Something no one had expected happened.
Those two sharp, massive front teeth of Raticate's.
Actually shattered apart on the spot!
(End of Chapter)
If I see that this fanfic has support, I will upload 20+ chapters to Patreon!!
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]