Chapter 742: Believe in Science!(Two-in-One)

In full view of everyone, Kurosawa jumped down from a stone pillar nearly ten meters high and landed without injury.

“Wasn’t that lightfoot kung fu?” Natsume demanded.

“It wasn’t,” Kurosawa shook his head.

“Then what was it?!”

“Footwork.”

Kurosawa’s robe fluttered as he smiled serenely. “Young man, you have to believe in science.”

Natsume: “……”

There’s nothing scientific about that at all!

Viewers watching the livestream were left open-mouthed and awestruck.

That kind of leaping power was even better than some Fighting-type Pokémon!

How is this a six-on-six? With a Trainer like this, it’s six against seven!

“I’ve never heard of Natsume-sensei having a record in no-holds-barred battles…”

“Watch closely—maybe he’s a Fighting Master too!”

Under the tense and expectant gaze of the viewers, Natsume and Kurosawa each moved to opposite ends of the stone forest.

A breeze lifted fine sand; craggy stones, weathered by time, stood in towering columns.

“Kurosawa, what type do you specialize in?” Natsume asked.

“Well… none in particular. But mainly Fighting,” Kurosawa replied.

The viewers were stunned.

“He just answered, just like that?”

“When he says he doesn’t specialize… maybe he means he’s good at all of them.”

“Here we go—my favorite trash talk strat!”

Unexpectedly, Natsume was totally respectful toward his elder; he nodded and said:

“I’m ready, Kurosawa.”

A beam of red light flared beside Natsume.

The formidable Arcanine, like a wall of steel, strode forward: “Arcanine!”

“Very good.”

Kurosawa’s eyes flashed with appreciation and grew sharp in an instant. He called out:

“Falinks—”

At his call, the stone pillar beside Natsume shuddered with a thunderous rumble.

Natsume turned and saw a crack at the base of the pillar, deep eyes shining within!

“Formation, march!!”

Falinks—six in formation, armored yellow spheres—disciplined, expert in team combat. Their habitat spans mountains, cities, ancient ruins; they pave roads, dig tunnels, and can shift formation in response to the enemy.

Right now, they formed a long line, bursting from the pillar’s base as the whole column quaked!

Natsume’s eyes narrowed.

Crap!

He dove out of the way, rolling as the stone pillar came crashing down, shattering into clouds of dust!

Rumble!!

The earth trembled, the commotion immense.

Arcanine shielded Natsume, blocking flying rocks and dust.

Natsume dropped to one knee, coughing loudly. “Isn’t that damaging the scenery, mister?!”

“Don’t worry—all artificial. I arranged the feng shui myself,” Kurosawa replied.

Natsume felt a mix of emotions.

Damn, so it’s home field advantage after all!

The Falinks had been hiding in the pillar beside me, then broke the base with ‘Rock Smash’ and brought it down.

Such is the no-holds-barred battle—exploiting every available part of the environment!

But my experience fighting other Trainers in this format is really lacking…

However, Natsume’s eyes grew sharp.

I’ve always fought legendary Pokémon!

As the dust settled, the Falinks stood squared off beneath the sun, golden armor gleaming.

“Arcanine!” Arcanine bared its teeth and let loose a furious roar at the Falinks.

But those deep eyes only grew deeper, with the horn atop their heads glinting coldly.

“This Falinks’s Ability is ‘Defiant.’”

Kurosawa stroked his beard. “If it faces ‘Intimidate,’ it actually boosts its own attack… be careful, young man.”

Natsume stood up, fixing his gaze on the Falinks charging straight at Arcanine, head horns glowing white!

“Arcanine, Flamethrower!” Natsume barked.

Arcanine opened its mouth, unleashing a torrent of orange flames!

Through the blaze, the Falinks charged straight on, suddenly snapping into a horizontal line, six horns gleaming, ramming as one!

“Arcanine…” Arcanine howled in pain, eyes furious.

Natsume was ready to command, to end the Falinks at once—when out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Kurosawa racing toward him with blinding speed, running as if on level ground!

Viewers on the live stream blurted out:

“Whoa!!”

“Charging the Trainer? Going for the KO?!”

“I summon my fist in Attack Position!”

“Arcanine, keep firing Flamethrower.”

In Natsume’s eyes, Kurosawa rushed forward, flexing his wrist.

You’re coming straight for me…

Fine, I’m a power-and-speed dual-A Fighting Master too!

Arcanine’s flames roared out.

Kurosawa casually recalled Falinks, then slipped a Poké Ball from beneath his robe—out came a boss-grade Pangoro, letting out a ferocious roar.

Pangoro folded its arms to block the fire, then beckoned with one finger, taunting Arcanine to stop it from helping Natsume!

“Arcanine! (╬`益´)” Arcanine lunged ferociously.

“Oh no!”

“Big dog’s too naive!”

Viewers cried out in alarm.

Kurosawa’s eyes flashed blue with Aura. Though sprinting, his breath was calm as a still well.

Waves of blue aura rippled around Kurosawa as he punched; he was already right in front of Natsume!

“Young man!”

BAM!!

A glint of surprise flashed in Kurosawa’s eyes.

Natsume crossed his arms, blocked the strike, then shifted its force aside and counterpunched!

Absorbing, redirecting, unleashing—this is the principle of countering Force.

A blue aura shimmered around Natsume’s arms, black hair tossing in the wind!

Kurosawa leaned back to dodge, wide-eyed.

Is Natsume not just an aura wielder, but a martial arts master too?

Natsume’s eyes were keen: “This move is called… Blue Aura Rush!”

The livestream chat exploded.

“Don’t go naming moves all weird and stuff!”

“Wait, you really know martial arts?!”

“This is what classic Trainers were like—I love it!”

Their gazes collided. At the same moment, both reached for their Poké Balls to recall their distant Pokémon.

They each took a step back, and swapped to their next Pokémon!

“Gengar——”

Natsume snapped his fingers. “Shadow Punch!!”

“Gengar!”

Gengar emerged from behind, levitating, swinging a barrage of phantasmal fists at Kurosawa!

“Ghost Pokémon, going for the Trainer KO—but—”

Kurosawa pulled a talisman-shaped ‘Curse Charm’, an item boosting Ghost moves and linking to his own Ghost-type Pokémon.

“Aegislash, King’s Shield!!”

Clang!

A piercing metallic clang—Aegislash appeared behind Kurosawa, folding itself into a shield to block Gengar’s relentless blows!

Bang, bang!

In Shield form, Aegislash perfectly deflected Gengar’s attack!

Natsume watched, face tensed, eyes narrowed. Another Ghost Pokémon? Kurosawa even knows how to wield a sword!

“Aegislash!”

Kurosawa called, gripping the hilt, twirling the blade, holding it center, and bellowed: “Holy Sword!”

Aegislash’s blade suddenly lit up with golden energy!

Livestream viewers put their hands to their faces, awestruck.

“Sword beams?!”

“Aegislash used this move?!”

“Where’s that ‘believe in science’ you promised, mister?!”

Natsume’s own feelings were tangled.

He’d pictured things like this—but seeing a Trainer actually wield Aegislash to unleash sword beams… it’s just not scientific!

The radiant sword beam slashed down.

Natsume shouted, “Gengar, Substitute!”

Kurosawa slashed with Aegislash, cleaving the Gengar plushie in two with a sizzling sound.

But Gengar’s real body was now gliding toward Kurosawa, grinning, eyes glinting an eerie blue!

Hypnosis?

Kurosawa smirked. “This move doesn’t work on an aura user!”

“I know, that’s why…”

At some point, Z-Bracelet had appeared on Natsume’s wrist—the pale pink crystal ablaze with dazzling light.

“This is Z-Hypnosis!!”

“What…” Kurosawa stiffened with shock.

I thought you were an aura wielder, now you’re a martial artist… At the end of the day, you’re actually a hypnosis master?!

With Psychium Z, Gengar’s blue-glowing eyes became even more intense—its grin was both wicked and oddly cute.

And unlike offensive Z-Moves, status Z-Moves didn’t require a silly dance, while packing extra effects.

With Z-Hypnosis, Gengar’s speed jumped another tier!

The viewers cried out:

“Dirty! Dirty! Dirty!!”

“Who uses Hypnosis in wild battles?!”

“So technically I could just—uh, never mind…”

“Officer Jenny warning!”

“All-in on sleep tactics… That’s Natsume-sensei!”

Kurosawa forced himself to stay awake and yelled:

“Aegislash, King’s Shield!”

Yet Aegislash didn’t switch forms.

Move failed!

Kurosawa’s eyes shrank. He looked over—Aegislash was bound tight by up-thrust shadows beneath Gengar's feet!

“What’s this?!”

Kurosawa demanded.

Natsume scooped his bag, shouting:

“Disable!”

Kurosawa: “……”

Never seen a Trainer this…

Resourceful, cunning, skilled in every art!

Z-Hypnosis landed. Kurosawa’s eyelids grew heavy; he struggled to shake it off.

But even an aura wielder can’t resist a Z-crystal-powered Hypnosis!

Thunk!

Kurosawa faceplanted to the ground.

“Gengar?” Gengar poked his hat with a branch, half-crouched.

Then Gengar glanced up at the aerial camera, flashing a big mischievous grin.

“Gengar~(￣▽￣)／”

The chat was flooded and livestream numbers soared.

“That was fast—I clicked in and he’d already finished?!”

“Know why Natsume-sensei’s so good at commands? Because if he fought himself, he might accidentally kill the Pokémon…”

“You thought they changed the format to protect Trainers? No—it’s to protect the Pokémon!”

As the sunset bathed the stone forest in crimson, Natsume gazed west at the burning clouds, caught in thought.

A year ago, I passed Professor Oak’s evaluation and got my special Pokédex.

That time I also relied on Hypnosis to turn the tables…

And what Professor Oak called me back then, was ‘Strategist’!

No magic, just skill.

Natsume sent out Blastoise to revive Kurosawa with Heal Pulse.

When Kurosawa awoke, he sighed deeply.

“In the end, it truly is your era, youngsters…”

“But… congratulations. You’ve cleared the fourth stage.”

Kurosawa smiled. “One last hurdle, then you may challenge Champion Ryo!”

So there’s one more challenger left?

Natsume nodded, then asked curiously,

“Mister, does your school have any moves for longevity, or to strengthen the body?”

“Nope.”

“Really nothing?”

“In a word, believe in science!” Kurosawa answered calmly.

Natsume’s feelings were mixed.

Wielding Aegislash to fire off sword beams—

So that’s… scientific… I guess!

……

The fourth stage of Victory Road came to a close.

Viewers now had a far more complete understanding of Natsume’s strength!

“Isn’t it only the honest and pure that can wield aura? What about Natsume-sensei…”

“See through the surface to the core! Natsume-sensei’s essence is utterly true!”

“Perish Song, hypnosis, toxic, Spikes, Minimize… That’s a strategist!”

Professor Oak’s evaluation of Natsume-sensei had once only circulated among a select few trainers.

But with this special battle—Natsume-sensei’s title began to spread among the audience, astonishing them all.

“Strategist? Dirty Tactician!”

“Natsume-sensei must have dumped all his accuracy points into sleep moves…”

“He hasn’t even used Gengar’s ‘Dark Void’ yet—‘Dark Void’ can sleep too!”

Champion Ryo watched the video, an odd look on his face.

Aura of Ripple, huh…

Damn, I’m jealous~o(╥﹏╥)o

To be fair, Champion Ryo’s abilities are impeccable, his strength unquestioned.

But he always plays by the book…

In an age where everyone has magic, a Champion like Ryo is worth respecting!

In the eyes of all.

Natsume had officially reached the final stage of Victory Road.

Clear Victory Road, and he could finally challenge Champion Ryo, battling beneath the Sacred Flame in the grand arena!

Natsume had been trying to find out who the fifth examiner was, but there wasn’t the slightest rumor.

Until one day, a slightly familiar girl in the hotel lobby asked for his autograph.

“Hello~ Natsume-sensei.”

Klara, with violet eyeshadow, a teardrop beauty mark, and a low neckline, leaned forward with a smile:

“I’ve always been one of your followers… Could you sign my Trainer Card?”

Beside Natsume, Bea—preparing to head out for training—tensed up.

“I can, but you have to win a cards battle first,” Natsume replied sternly.

“Eh?” Klara blinked in confusion.

Natsume frowned faintly, resting his chin on his hand. “By the way… are you a student at the Isle of Armor?”

“Bingo~ I’m a disciple of Master Dojo—Klara!”

Natsume: “……”

Isn’t she the one from the Isle of Armor storyline, who cheated with Toxic Spikes in battle to bully the junior apprentice…

“How come you’re here?”

“I came with my Master!” Klara clapped her hands. “The day after tomorrow, Master will serve as the next examiner!”

Natsume froze.

Klara’s master… Mustard?

That man who dominated Galar League for eighteen straight years in his youth, the so-called ‘Battle Legend’!

Even in decline, he still has Champion-level strength, and even regularly instructs Leon!

“Master is your next opponent?” Bea’s jaw dropped.

To a Galar martial artist, Mustard is a living myth.

Bea glanced up at Natsume-sensei, quietly thinking: But… I believe in Master…

“Thanks for the intel, Klara.”

Natsume smiled slightly. “I’ll make sure Sirfetch’d is ready.”

“Sirfetch’d? Why him?” Klara asked, puzzled.

“Because… Sirfetch’d is my strongest Fighting Pokémon!” Natsume said with pride.

Bea nodded vigorously.

Master’s Sirfetch’d can definitely stand up to Mustard’s Urshifu!

On Natsume’s belt, his Premier Ball suddenly shook.

“Sirfetch’d! (′︿‵)” Sirfetch’d knew it couldn’t escape this.

Because it was the only Fighting-type duck he had!