Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 579: It’s Only Just Begun

Thud!

Gastrodon's icon dimmed beside Cynthia's on the giant screen.

Without hesitation, Cynthia drew her second Poké Ball, gave Johan a brief stare, and threw it.

"Graceful spirit of water, Milotic!"

"Woooo—"

An ethereal voice echoed. Beneath the rainfall, Milotic's dazzling scales shimmered like a rainbow, changing hue with every motion of its serpentine body.

The so-called "most beautiful Pokémon"—the Tender Pokémon, Milotic!

"Cynthia's second Pokémon, the elegant water spirit—Milotic!!"

"So beautiful..."

"No matter how many times I see it, Milotic really is stunning."

"Especially Miss Cynthia's Milotic—seems even more elegant than most."

"And standing next to Miss Cynthia... it's too perfect!"

Countless viewers were captivated by its beauty.

"Milotic, huh."

Johan smiled softly at the familiar Pokémon.

He remembered when it was a shy, homely little Feebas. Now, it had evolved into such a graceful Milotic—Johan had witnessed and played no small part in that growth.

"Return, Urshifu."

With a flick, Johan recalled his burned Urshifu—its fighting potential was compromised.

Compared to Gastrodon, Milotic had clearer weaknesses he could exploit.

"Your turn, Dragonite!"

"Oowoo~~"

The bulky, yellow-scaled Dragonite soared into the arena.

"Johan chooses to switch as well! His second Pokémon—Dragonite!!"

The battle continued.

Since both sides swapped, the initiative remained with Cynthia.

"Milotic, Icy Wind!"

"Woooo—"

Milotic coiled, opened its mouth, and unleashed a freezing blast toward Dragonite.

Being 4x weak to Ice, Dragonite was clearly the more vulnerable.

"Dragonite!"

Johan's arm swept up. "Dragon Dance!"

With a mighty flap, Dragonite tucked its wings in and spun at high speed, soaring skyward while conjuring air currents to counter the icy chill.

"The air from Dragon Dance disperses Icy Wind!!" the announcer shouted excitedly.

He seemed more hyped than either trainer.

Dragonite's momentum climbed rapidly.

Not only did it negate Milotic's attack, it gained a stat boost in return.

Flick...

One of Cynthia's Poké Balls trembled slightly on her belt.

Noticing, Cynthia smiled faintly and murmured, "Captivating Voice."

"Woooo—!!"

Milotic inhaled, then winked charmingly at the airborne Dragonite. A melodious, enchanting voice followed.

Even the audience swooned.

Dragonite, hearing it, immediately clutched its head and plummeted—confused!

"Captivating Voice hits its mark!!" the announcer exclaimed.

Not only a Fairy-type attack, Captivating Voice also confuses opponents with prior stat boosts.

Dragonite was confused!

Watching from the stands, Lance vividly remembered this move.

He'd once fallen for it too.

Dragon trainers love Dragon Dance—understandably, as it boosts both Attack and Speed.

Used skillfully, it also dodges enemy attacks—like Johan's Dragonite just did.

Lance was a textbook "Dragon Dance enthusiast."

But against Pokémon with Captivating Voice, it was a double-edged sword.

Dragonite plummeted.

"Milotic!" Cynthia called sharply.

Now was the time.

Milotic didn't hesitate.

Zzzap!

A beam of icy energy burst from its mouth, aiming straight at the falling Dragonite.

Meanwhile, Johan's eyes gleamed.

"Now, Dragonite!"

Hm?

Cynthia's eyes narrowed.

Just as the Ice Beam was about to strike, Dragonite's fall abruptly stalled. A glow engulfed it as it surged toward Milotic with blinding speed.

"Confusion... lifted?!" the announcer gasped.

Flint in the crowd just shrugged—typical.

"We emotional-style trainers fight like this," he said smugly.

"Johan's Dragonite can even shrug off Outrage confusion," Lucian added nervously. "Shaking off Captivating Voice is hardly surprising."

"Pokémon psychologist," Alder mused at the commentary table. "He knows how to stabilize Pokémon mentally on the spot."

Also, Dragonite's "Multiscale" ability dulled Captivating Voice's effects.

BAM!!

Dragonite smashed into Milotic with Extreme Speed.

"Wrap it!"

Despite being hit, Milotic didn't flinch—instead, it coiled swiftly around Dragonite, binding it tightly.

And as it squeezed, Milotic's aura surged.

[Coil: Increases Attack, Defense, and Accuracy by one stage each!]

A buff move, now used as a grapple tactic.

Dragonite's speed was lethal. If allowed free flight, it'd dominate.

But pinned?

This might've been Cynthia's ploy all along—feigning weakness to bait Dragonite in.

"Woooo!!"

Dragonite struggled as Milotic held on, gritting its teeth to maintain the hold.

Dragonite, Milotic, bindings—why did this feel familiar?

Johan felt déjà vu.

"...So you see," Professor Oak lectured nearby, "move characteristics can be used flexibly. Don't be bound to literal effects—adapt to your Pokémon's nature."

Blue frowned.

Honestly, Dragon Dance dodging Icy Wind, and Coil used like Bind—none of this was in textbook simulations.

It wasn't school-taught.

Red, on the other hand, nodded eagerly, eyes sparkling.

So battles could be this creative?

He'd just unlocked a whole new perspective.

If Johan knew that this moment sparked Red's future streak of "inhuman" plays, he might've been conflicted.

Back on the field—

"Gotcha! Milotic, Ice Beam!"

At such close range—against Dragonite, no less—of course Cynthia wouldn't bother with weaker moves.

"Dragonite, Thunder!"

If Dragonite couldn't break free, he'd trade blows!

"Oowoo!!!"

Golden lightning surged not from above—but from Dragonite's body itself.

Zzzap!

BOOM!

Ice and lightning clashed in a deafening blast.

"Tch. Both boosted physical attacks, but used special moves..." Alder chuckled, shaking his head.

But he wasn't critical—on the contrary, he admired it.

Battles weren't about fixed patterns. Real situations demanded flexibility.

As the dust cleared—

Still entwined.

Frost glistened on Dragonite's scales.

Sparks danced across Milotic's body—paralyzed.

"Damn! It's Dragonite and Milotic fighting, but why am I picturing Johan and Cynthia instead?!"

"You imagined Cynthia? You better stop right there!"

"Kids, look away!"

"Please, stop talking..."

Johan could only smile wryly.

Cabbage girl (Cynthia's nickname) knew his Pokémon far too well.

Dragonite's speed couldn't shine through.

Well, fine.

If we're doing this, let's do it properly.

No more games!

"Milotic—"

Cynthia's voice and Johan's overlapped.

"Outrage!"

"Oowoo!!!"

Dragonite's eyes turned crimson, and a dark red aura erupted.

Sensing the shift, Milotic's heart skipped.

It squeezed tighter—teeth clenched—but felt its coils forcibly unravel.

"Woooo—!!"

Dragonite roared and spread its wings and arms wide—breaking free!

"Dragonite escapes Milotic's bindings!!!"

Johan called immediately:

"Thunder Punch!"

Crack!

Lightning surged over Dragonite's fist and slammed into Milotic.

BAM!!!

The thunder cracked and Milotic was launched.

"Extreme Speed!"

SWOOSH—

Paralyzed, Milotic's movements were slowed.

Perfect timing.

A red streak zipped through the air.

WHAM!!

"Mil-Milotic is unable to battle!!" the referee gasped, raising his flag.

"Using Outrage and still landing clean moves?! This guy's cheating!"

"Johan going full throttle—pulling no punches!"

"Shut up already. It's a Pokémon battle, not a romance drama!"

"Sock him!"

Seeing Cynthia lose two Pokémon, her fans couldn't hold back against the mocking comments.

Cynthia closed her eyes, briefly reviewing the fight in her mind.

Conclusion—

Against Johan's "hacked" Dragonite, Milotic stood little chance.

But—

"You've done wonderfully, Milotic."

Cynthia retrieved her fallen Pokémon.

Without hesitation.

"Spirit of the frost—Glaceon!"

"Eeeyah!!"

A light-blue, ice-covered Pokémon appeared gracefully on the field.

"Cynthia's third Pokémon—Glaceon! How will it face Dragonite?"

"Glaceon, Blizzard!"

Outrage Dragonite was dangerous.

The rain had stopped—fierce wind and snow howled across the arena.

The frost on Dragonite's body thickened.

Johan frowned.

Dragonite's condition was deteriorating.

Outrage-boosted Dragonite was powerful, but had a major drawback:

Yes, it could use attacks—but expecting it to heal or Roost?

Unrealistic.

Flying moves, too, were tough in a blizzard.

"Stone Edge!"

"Oowoo!!!"

With one final roar, Dragonite slammed the ground.

RUMBLE—

The stadium shook. Cracks spread outward, stone spires shooting skyward.

"Glaceon, Detect!"

"Eeeyah!!"

Light on its feet, Glaceon danced through the blizzard, evading every pillar.

"Return, Dragonite."

Outrage ended, leaving Dragonite sluggish.

Against Cynthia, keeping it out wasn't worth the risk.

It'd already forced Glaceon to use Detect. Good enough.

But—

Just as Johan recalled Dragonite, Cynthia returned Glaceon too.

"Return for now, Glaceon."

She wanted to counter-pick.

Ice-type Glaceon could be checked by several of Johan's Pokémon.

By withdrawing, she avoided that threat—and waited to respond accordingly.

Johan looked mildly surprised.

Cynthia stood with one hand on her hip, idly brushing her hair, smiling sweetly.

She didn't say a word.

Just watched him expectantly—waiting for his next Pokémon.

Even with two down, to Cynthia—

The battle had only just begun.

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Powerstones?

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