Golduck's eyes glowed with an eerie blue light, and the red gem in the center of its forehead flickered as it used the Self-Suggest skill.
Self-Suggest is a normal status move that removes the user's stat changes and then applies Self-Suggest to itself, mirroring the opponent's stat changes.
The target of the skill was naturally the Speed Boost Sharpedo that was ambushing from beneath the lake!
Golduck's entire body steamed, its blue, oily skin shimmered with a faint red luster, its muscles bulged, and its speed increased to its limit.
Lin Yue pointed at the distant Sharpedo and commanded: “Golduck, deal with that long-range attacking Sharpedo!”
Golduck plunged into the water like a cannonball, creating a huge splash behind it.
After entering the water, Golduck quickly Lock-On to the Sharpedo with the normal ability that was using Scale Shot from afar, and it swam rapidly towards it.
Golduck's speed had increased significantly, but in terms of aptitude, combat power, and base speed stats, it still couldn't compare to the Speed Boost Sharpedo.
However, dealing with a normal ability Sharpedo that had lowered its physical defense after using Scale Shot was more than enough.
The Little Boss of the Water Blade Gang quickly ordered the Speed Boost Sharpedo: “Quick, stop Golduck. Aqua Break!”
Dr. Chen wouldn't let Golduck miss this opportunity, so he commanded: “Beheeyem, don't let him get away, Trick Room!”
A pink Energy Ball rapidly expanded outwards from Beheeyem's body, instantly creating a bizarre space where slower Pokémon could move first.
Sharpedo's charging body paused, unable to continue forward. It was trapped within the Trick Room, unable to provide support, creating a standoff with Beheeyem.
Why wasn't Trick Room used sooner? This is the real world, unlike in games where using Trick Room covers the entire battle area. The skill's range is limited and depends on the Pokémon's level, aptitude, and skill proficiency. It's not like you can set up the space and wait for the opponent to enter it.
Outside the Trick Room, Sharpedo felt the threat from Golduck. It immediately opened its massive maw, attempting to Bite Golduck.
However, Golduck's speed was extremely fast, and it easily dodged Sharpedo's attack.
The moment it approached Sharpedo, Golduck unleashed a skill that could be instantly used—Water Gun.
A water jet as thick as a bowl spewed from its mouth, directly hitting Sharpedo's body.
Lin Yue: “Golduck! Consecutive Aqua Jet!”
Little Boss: “Sharpedo, find your timing! Use Crunch!”
Sharpedo, suffering from the close-quarters combat, struggled painfully, constantly trying to catch Golduck's movements!
Little Boss: “Now!”
Sharpedo then flashed with a crimson light, seizing the moment! It bit down on Golduck's arm, and Golduck grunted in pain!
“Golduck!”
Sharpedo showed no sign of letting go; instead, it increased its grip, its sharp teeth sinking deep into Golduck's right arm, then with a fierce tug, it brutally tore off its right arm! Blood splattered everywhere!
Golduck was in immense pain, but it didn't retreat. Instead, it used all its strength to release a powerful stream of water, forming a fierce Aqua Jet that once again slammed hard into Sharpedo.
This attack made Sharpedo recoil, but Golduck was also pushed back by the recoil, creating some distance between it and Sharpedo.
Sharpedo was severely injured, covered in blood, but it chewed on Golduck's right arm with a horrifying crunching sound, then effortlessly swallowed it.
Sharpedo's eyes flashed with a bloody glint, completely unleashing the bloodthirsty ferocity of an Evil-type Pokémon!
Lin Yue looked at Golduck's one-armed back, his heart filled with self-reproach and pain. His eyes were blurred with tears, and his vision became hazy.
Golduck's figure swayed in front, as if it could collapse at any moment. And from the right side of its shoulder, crimson blood continuously seeped out, staining its originally blue body.
Little Boss: “Oh, oh, oh, the little kid is going to cry. Go home to your parents, or call your teacher to complain? Hahahaha.”
Lin Yue didn't lose his composure. He quickly reached for the Poké Ball at his waist, wanting to recall the injured Golduck. However, just then, Golduck suddenly turned its head, its gaze meeting Lin Yue's. He saw it slowly raise its left hand, give a thumbs-up, and its mouth curved slightly upwards, as if telling Lin Yue: “I'm fine.”
Lin Yue froze. He stared blankly at Golduck, the tears in his eyes no longer held back, sliding down his cheeks. At this moment, he deeply felt Golduck's strength and bravery, and also realized his own concern and reliance on it. Although Golduck was injured, it still insisted on fighting, unwilling to give up easily.
It instantly made Lin Yue understand that their bond had surpassed the typical relationship between a Trainer and a Pokémon.
He opened his mouth and commanded: “Golduck! Use Confusion to stop the bleeding from your right wound.”
The red gem between Golduck's eyebrows flickered, and its eyes glowed blue. A faint layer of blue Psychic energy covered its right shoulder, stopping the wound from bleeding.
Lin Yue and Golduck both grimly stared at the Sharpedo opposite, intending to suppress him with lightning speed, giving him no chance to breathe.
“Golduck, Aqua Jet!”
With its speed maximized, plus the instant-use, same-type priority move.
Golduck's speed was now comparable to that of the Speed Boost Sharpedo.
Little Boss: “No matter how fast you are, it's the same. I could heavily injure you at full strength, what are you now? Sharpedo! Find your timing and use Crunch!”
Sharpedo opened its massive maw towards Golduck, which was rapidly approaching, enveloped in a blue water jet.
Just as both skills were about to connect, the blue water jet enveloping Golduck suddenly shot upwards at a 90-degree angle, dodging Sharpedo's Crunch!
Lin Yue: “Confusion Cage!”
Golduck was now directly above Sharpedo. The red gem between its eyebrows burst with light, and fierce Psychic energy poured onto Sharpedo!
The Little Boss let out a chuckle: “Haha, go back to school and study. Is Psychic effective against Evil-type Pokémon?! Oh my god, it actually is…”
The Little Boss's voice abruptly cut off, as he found Sharpedo, along with the lake water, being lifted into the air by Psychic energy, forming a blue spherical cage.
Golduck did not use its Psychic skill on Sharpedo itself, but on the lake water, forming a cage.
Lin Yue: “Final Clear Smog!”
Immediately after, Golduck continuously unleashed several Poison-type skills—Clear Smog! The dark purple smoke, like a pool of Sewage, poured into the water prison. Sharpedo, suspended in the air, couldn't escape, and the poison from the Poison-type skill rapidly spread within the extremely confined space of the water prison.
Sharpedo was completely submerged in the toxic water flow.
This way of dying was utterly despairing, trapped in a cage of venom, but when dealing with villains, if you are soft-hearted, you will never find a burial place.
Finally, the water prison burst! Sharpedo was powerless to resist, fell into the lake, floated to the surface, and lost its life signs.
Golduck was also nearing its limit, barely able to gently paddle its left arm in the lake to keep itself from sinking.
