Chapter 86: Attribute Clash (Part 1) (Patreon)

That sounded like it wouldn't be of much use.

After all, the Braver's Staff could only be used for a single day at most, and Renan, as Dragon Tamer Lance's nephew, could hardly commit the outrage of seizing one of Cameran Palace's treasures by force in the Pokémon world.

But there was something he shouldn't forget: a Key Stone was sitting in the boy's bag at this very moment.

And that Key Stone, if his sixth sense as a psychic wasn't mistaken, could help him achieve Mega Evolution!

The problem was that with the Development Abilities [Breathwork] and Meditate alone, Renan still couldn't get his mana to resonate with the Key Stone.

But if the Braver's Staff were added to the mix, things would be completely different.

Maybe a goal he'd figured would take several trips back and forth between the Pokémon world and the DanMachi world could be reached early, right after the Battle Festival ended!

As these thoughts churned through his mind, Renan looked at the young man beside him. "Hearing you put it that way, my curiosity about the Braver's Staff has been thoroughly stirred up too."

Riley didn't mind that someone else was competing for the same prize. He only smiled at the words. "Then let's each rely on our own methods and see who comes out on top."

Renan's mouth curved up as well. "Sounds good."

…

From the top eight down to the top four, the format shifted slightly again. It was now 3v3 singles.

Since anyone left could end up as his next opponent, Renan didn't go out to the fairs like he had earlier. Instead he stayed inside the royal city the whole time, watching the matches.

He had to admit it: even the weakest of the players who'd made the top eight had one mid-stage Elite class Pokémon and one early-stage Elite class Pokémon.

And Trainers like Riley, who had come a long way down the Trainer's road, brought two Gym-class Pokémon.

Luckily, Renan's luck held up well enough.

Of the three Pokémon today's opponent sent out, one had reached Gym-class strength, but the opponent was clearly running a Grass specialist team.

That was a natural matchup for Charizard, who, after several days of matches and training, had quietly reached Lv39.

Still, luck is a conserved quantity. It always balances out in the end.

The quarterfinal went easily, but the semifinal, top four down to top two, was agonizing for Renan.

The levels of the opponent's Pokémon were within the normal range: one early-stage Gym-class and two late-stage Elite class.

But it couldn't be helped that the early-stage Gym-class one was a Duraludon, an early bloomer that had come into its power ahead of schedule!

When he'd watched that steel dragon take the field from the spectator seats the day before, Renan had nearly lost his composure.

Until now, he'd been the one using tactics to make his opponents sick. Now he'd finally run into a tough nut to crack.

Fortunately, the Duraludon's Stamina Ability hadn't been developed yet.

On Renan's side, Nidoking's Spikes and Roar, together with Pidgeotto's Whirlwind, Substitute, Protect and Toxic, managed to take down the two late-stage Elite class Pokémon first.

Only then did he start gnawing at the hard bone that was the Duraludon.

Even so, by the time the match was over, Nidoking and Pidgeotto had both "died heroically," and even Charizard, who'd landed the winning blow, was in a precarious state, flickering like a candle in the wind.

It was the first time since he'd transmigrated that one of his Pokémon had lost the ability to fight entirely.

But as the Gyms he'd challenge next got harder and harder, it would clearly happen again.

The final day of the Cameran Palace festival, ten o'clock in the morning.

Inside the royal city's battle arena, Renan and Riley stood in the command areas on opposite sides.

Riley looked at the boy across the field, a faint smile rising at the corner of his mouth. "The last match of the festival, and it's really you and me in the lead roles, huh?"

Renan raised an eyebrow. "Can an Aura Guardian learn to foresee the future now?"

Riley shook his head. "I just didn't think a psychic like you would go down that easily in the earlier rounds."

Renan's mouth twitched. His mind echoed with the words of another Trainer who owned a Gym-class Duraludon:

"Then you really do think too highly of me."

After all, he'd only been traveling as a Trainer for a little over a season. Even with Dragon Tamer Lance behind him and a haul of resources, there was no way, under normal circumstances, he could have raised a Pokémon whose everyday strength reached Gym-class.

He'd only made the finals with a team that looked Elite class on the surface because Thunder Breathing boosted their physical fitness by the equivalent of an ordinary person's, a full extra measure.

Of course, Renan was never going to explain that to outsiders.

Even Misty, who spent every day with him, had guessed that her traveling companion's Pokémon had mastered some secret technique for strengthening their bodies. But since that was personal business, she had never asked a single question.

"Whether it's too high or not, we'll only know after we fight." As he spoke, Riley took out his Poké Ball, and his expression gradually turned serious. "Also, I won't be holding back."

"Funny, I wasn't planning to surrender either." Renan made the same motion.

Seeing the two had finished trading their tough talk, the referee standing to the side called out, "Will both of you send out your Pokémon at the same time."

Riley didn't hesitate. "Go, Poliwrath."

Renan tossed his Poké Ball as well. "Nidoking, I choose you!"

Riley was strong. Among the Pokémon he'd shown so far, Poliwrath and his partner Lucario were both early-stage Gym-class, and the remaining two were late-stage Elite class.

Nidoking, meanwhile, was only Lv35. Even counting the melee bonus from Thunder Breathing, he was still six or seven levels below Poliwrath.

That said, Renan had no intention of giving up and surrendering.

In the next instant, he and Riley gave their orders almost at the same time.

"Poliwrath, hypnosis."

"Protect."

For an Aura Guardian, Riley had a lot of "class" in battle, opening with a naked hypnosis.

Renan had watched the guy's matches a couple of days ago, which was why he'd made a point of preparing for it.

From here on, though, he'd have to answer each move as it came.

Riley gave another order. "Bulk Up."

He was sure Renan's Nidoking couldn't knock out Poliwrath in one hit, so he planned to just trade some HP and set up for a sweep.

But how could Renan let him pull it off? "Roar!"

A furious bellow tore out of Nidoking's mouth and blasted Poliwrath, which had just finished Bulk Up with Attack and Defense each raised by one stage, straight back into its Poké Ball.

Riley: …

"The others were right about you. You really are dirty."

Renan curled his lip. "Right back at you."

Once he finished speaking, Riley picked up his second Poké Ball. "Go, Blastoise."

This was a Pokémon he'd never shown in any of his earlier matches. Judging by its spiritual fluctuations, its strength was probably around late-stage Elite class.

But…

Another Water-type Pokémon?

Renan narrowed his eyes. Of his three generals, each was either countered by Water-type moves or afraid of Ice-type moves.

And Water-type Pokémon almost all knew either Ice Punch or Ice Beam.

"So, should I test it?"

The thought flashed through Renan's mind. At the same time he made a prediction play, using Telepathy to have Nidoking use Protect.

Sure enough, the next second…