Chapter 240: Tinkatink's Battle, The Power of Ice Hammer

“Tinkatink~”

Tinkatink raised its newly forged hammer.

The small pink hammer gleamed brightly under the light.

“Tinkatink, let’s wrap the handle with this.”

Natsume pulled out some pre-treated dragon hide.

It was shed skin from a Dratini on Dragon Island.

Kommo-o scales for the hammerhead, and Dratini hide for the handle.

A hammer like this, if placed in legends, would undoubtedly be hailed as a divine artifact.

“Great! Hammer Girl, it’s finally done.”

Nearby, another Tinkatink, who had also finished crafting its hammer, leaped into its trainer’s arms.

Its trainer said happily, “Let’s find an opponent right away and test its performance in battle.”

“Tinkatink~”

At the same time, Natsume’s Tinkatink finished wrapping the handle.

Seeing this, Natsume extended an invitation. “If you don’t mind, would you like to battle us?”

The trainer of Hammer Girl was also a guy.

He glanced at Natsume, feeling like he looked familiar, but didn’t think too much about it.

“Sure, you can call me Atsushi.”

Atsushi looked at Natsume and said, “My goal is to become the world’s best Steel-type trainer.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Natsume.”

“Natsume?”

Atsushi paused, then realized. “Gym Leader Natsume?”

“Tinkatink~”

Tinkatink, now with a hammer it was satisfied with, looked full of energy.

It swung its little hammer, clearly eager for a battle.

“Natsume~”

Diancie and the others walked in from outside.

“Is the forging done?”

“Tinkatink~”

Tinkatink proudly raised its little hammer.

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

Diancie leaned in closer. “The pink color really suits Tinkatink.”

“Tinkatink~”

Natsume smiled. “We’ve arranged a battle.”

“Let’s head out together.”

“Yes~”

Since it was mealtime, the factory wasn’t very crowded.

As Natsume and the others walked out, they found an empty battle arena.

Natsume led Tinkatink onto the arena.

Atsushi also stepped up with his Hammer Girl.

Atsushi’s Tinkatink was level 23, three levels higher than Natsume’s Tinkatink.

In terms of talent, it was a bit lacking, only at Gym Leader level.

The referee stepped forward. “The battle rules are 1v1. The match ends when one side’s Pokémon is unable to battle.”

“Now, let the battle begin!”

“Tinkatink, Rock Smash!”

Natsume commanded, “We’ll use Rock Smash too.”

As soon as the battle started, both Tinkatink charged at each other.

They swung their hammers, aiming directly at their opponent.

No fancy techniques, just a straightforward test of strength and hammer durability.

Bam~ Bam~

The Tinkatink weren’t specifically trying to attack each other; they were more focused on clashing their hammers.

Natsume watched the battle and said, “Looks like this will be a relatively easy battle.”

For the Tinkatink, the battle’s outcome seemed less important than proving whose hammer was better crafted.

However, for the trainers, it was a different story.

In a battle, of course, they wanted to win.

Atsushi shouted to his Tinkatink, “Hammer Girl, Astonish!”

Hearing its trainer’s command, Hammer Girl opened its mouth and let out a piercing, startling scream.

“Tinkatink.”

The sound startled Natsume’s Tinkatink, causing it to instinctively step back.

“Now’s the chance, Hammer Girl, Rock Smash!”

Hammer Girl immediately stepped forward, swinging its hammer at Tinkatink.

Bam~

“Tinkatink.”

Natsume’s Tinkatink fell to the ground but quickly grabbed its hammer and stood back up.

Natsume asked, “Are you okay?”

“Are you satisfied with your hammer’s durability?”

“Tinkatink!”

Tinkatink was definitely satisfied.

Natsume smiled. “Good.”

“Then let’s go all out. Use Ice Hammer!”

“Tinkatink!”

This time, Tinkatink took the initiative to attack.

A chilling aura emanated from its hammer.

Ice began to coil around it!

The opposing Tinkatink hurriedly raised its hammer to block.

Bam~

This time, with a dull thud, the opponent’s Tinkatink, along with its hammer and the ground beneath it, was completely frozen.

It now looked like an ice sculpture standing on a frozen surface.

“Finish it with Rock Smash.”

“Tinkatink!”

Tinkatink swung its hammer down.

Bang!

The opposing Tinkatink collapsed.

The referee raised the flag. “Tinkatink is unable to battle. Tinkatink wins!”

“Tinkatink~”

Tinkatink was clearly thrilled with its victory.

It cheered, raising its little pink hammer excitedly as it ran toward Natsume.

Natsume opened his arms and picked up Tinkatink. “Well done, Tinkatink.”

“Tinkatink~”

“Are you okay, Hammer Girl?”

Atsushi picked up his Tinkatink from the ground.

“Tinkatink.”

The Tinkatink, known as Hammer Girl, first checked its hammer.

The hammer was fine.

“Tinkatink~”

Atsushi looked at Natsume. “As expected of Gym Leader Natsume.”

“Even though I lost this time, I’ll come back to challenge you again after my Tinkatink evolves.”

Natsume nodded slightly. “No problem.”

Outside the arena.

Sakura and Diancie clapped as Natsume walked out.

“That was great! It seems Tinkatink got the hammer it wanted.”

“Tinkatink~”

Tinkatink lovingly pressed its face against its hammer, looking utterly content.

Sakura invited, “Gym Leader Natsume, would you like to grab a meal together?”

“My treat.”

Natsume politely declined. “Thanks.”

“But I’ve already promised to have dinner with my Indeedee at home, so maybe next time.”

“Oh, I see.”

Sakura looked disappointed.

After a moment, she added, “Then how about during this year’s harvest season?”

“The hearty grains on your farm should be ready soon, right?”

“Yeah.”

Natsume nodded. “I think they’ll be ready by the end of October.”

“Come to the farm then.”

“It’ll definitely be lively.”

Sakura immediately agreed. “It’s a deal then~”

After making plans with Sakura, Natsume left with Diancie and Tinkatink.

“Dragonite~”

Dragonite yawned as it emerged from its Poké Ball.

“Did you just wake up?”

“Dragonite~”

By now, only a faint orange glow remained on the horizon.

The city lights sparkled like a river of stars.

Natsume climbed onto Dragonite’s back and said softly, “Let’s go, back to the farm.”

“Dragonite~”