Chapter 206: Scyther vs Shellder

After checking in at the Honglian Town Pokemon Center, Huo La and Red turned almost simultaneously and headed straight for the training area at the back of the center.

"Huo La, I currently have only three Pokemon I can field, and the rule is 3‑vs‑3; you have no objections, right?" Red stood at the opposite end of the field, lightly tapping the brim of his hat with his fingertip.

Huo La clenched the Pokeball in his hand, battle intent flaring in his eyes: "No problem at all! Whether it's 1‑vs‑1 or 3‑vs‑3, I'll give it my all!"

"Fine! Then I'll go first!" Red twisted his hat sharply, pushing it back, his eyes sharp, "Go, Shellder!"

Red Light flashed, and a deep indigo Shellder landed steadily in the center of the field.

Its oval head bore a pair of fluffy, fan‑shaped ears; its short limbs stood upright, its eyes lively yet composed, clearly indicating a meticulously bred Pokemon.

"Wow, it's a Shellder!" Bilan perched on the railing at the edge of the field, eyes shining, "It looks like the one I had before, but this one's aura is steadier!"

Her Initial Partner was a Squirtle, now long evolved into a Blastoise, giving her a natural fondness for Shellder.

Xiao Gang also nodded in admiration: "Quite a good look and posture, muscle lines balanced, breathing rhythm steady; Red has raised it well."

The two assessments reached his ears, but Huo La had already opened the system panel, and Shellder's data appeared clearly:

Pokemon: Shellder

Gender: Female

Level: Lv32

Su Xing: S

Status: Healthy

Nature: Gentle

Attribute: Water

Ability: Torrent (When HP is below 1/3, Water-type move power increases to 1.5×)

Height: 1.2 m

Weight: 22.5 kg

Carried Item: None

Moves: Water Gun (80% proficiency), Bite (75%), Rapid Spin (61%), Water Wave (25%), Protect (100%), Rain Dance (43%), Mud Shot (5%), Mountaintop Crush (47%)......

Improvement Count: 0

"S‑rank Talent, yet only level 32; looks like it was newly captured not long ago," Huo La murmured softly.

As if confirming his guess, Red explained: "I captured this Shellder on Guī Island, where there are swarms of Squirtle and Shellder, and the leader is a massive Blastoise. Making it your first opponent should be fitting."

Huo La felt a stir—he naturally knew the sea island between Dacang Town and Red Lotus Town; he recalled Ash had visited there, but hadn't expected Red's Shellder to originate from that spot.

And due to his route planning, he hadn't taken a detour there.

"System, can you disable the achievement effect 'Red's Defeated Underling'? I want to fight Red fairly!" Huo La thought silently.

"'Red's Defeated Underling' achievement attribute has been disabled; Host may battle using their own strength," the system's mechanical voice announced.

Huo La just exhaled a puff of foul air when the system prompt popped up again:

【Task Released: Battle Task】

【Task Content: Pokemon Battle with Red】

【Task Time Limit: 1 hour】

【Task Reward: - Defeat Red: Rare Candy ×5 - Lose to Red: achievement title 'Red's Defeated Underling' effect increase — next time battling Red, your Pokemon's battle spirit is boosted to 1.5×.】

Huo La: "???"

It just disabled the current effect, and then handed me a new task?

I didn't get this treatment when battling Ash! Who's really the protagonist?

He let a wild rant run through his mind for a moment, then shook his head, casting aside the stray thoughts.

He pulled a Pokeball from behind, tossed it high: "Then my choice is you, Scyther!"

Red Light flashed, and Scyther flapped its wings, hovering mid‑air; its arm‑blades, like scythes, glinted coldly in the light, still in the signature crossed‑blade stance, both handsome and fierce.

"Scyther..." Red's gaze fell on the sharp blades, nodding slowly, "Quite fine blades, the sheen and sharpness are top‑notch. I met an opponent in Chengdu whose Pokemon was Scyther's evolution, Scizor; the intimidation of that battle still sticks with me."

"Scizor?" Huo La looked at his own Scyther, confidence filling his eyes, "My Scyther hasn't evolved yet, but its strength will certainly not be outmatched by any Scizor!"

"Sss—" Scyther's arm‑blades whirred rapidly, emitting a crisp metallic buzz, as if echoing Huo La's words, brimming with battle spirit.

"Then I'll strike first!" Excitement flashed in Red's eyes; with his rich battle experience, Huo La's Pokemon were far from simple, "Shellder, Rain Dance!"

Shellder lifted its head and let out a clear "Shel!", and in an instant, a dense dark cloud gathered above the field, fine raindrops falling, quickly enveloping the entire arena in a curtain of rain.

"Changing the battlefield right away—indeed Red's steady combat style," Huo La's gaze sharpened, "Scyther, quick strike! Use Air Blade first, then follow with Electric Flash!"

The command landed, and Scyther's form was already in motion.

It beat its wings, leaving three after‑images in the air; several luminous Air Blades shot toward Shellder from different angles, blocking its evasion routes.

Immediately after, Scyther's body surged forward like a bolt of lightning, trailing the Air Blades, and lunged straight at Shellder.

"Shellder, Protect!" Red's command was equally decisive.

Shellder reacted extremely quickly, its two short fore‑limbs sliding swiftly, a transparent circular shield of light instantly enveloping its body.

"Ding‑ding‑dang‑dang—" a rapid series of collision sounds rang out, the Air Blades striking the Protect barrier one after another, all being blocked.

Then Scyther's Electric Flash slammed into the barrier as well; the massive impact made Shellder's body sway slightly, yet it still held its defense firmly.

Scyther used the momentum to flip back, hovering again in front of Huo La, its wings flapping and splashing water.

This round of exchange was purely a mutual probe.

Scyther's swift attack failed to breach Shellder's defense, and Shellder's counterattack was ineffective, but Huo La knew that as the rain kept falling, the battlefield favored the Water‑type Shellder, while Scyther's speed advantage would be gradually eroded by water resistance; a prolonged battle would not be favorable.

"Can't afford to stall," Huo La's eyes sharpened, "Scyther, Sword Dance Enhancement, then close in while the chance lasts!"

Scyther's wings beat, its body spinning rapidly in the air, its arm‑blades gleaming with even greater brilliance.

Red's gaze hardened: "Planning to enhance then strike? Shellder, use Water Gun to Break it!"

Shellder opened its mouth, spouting a powerful Water Gun, bolstered by the rain, hurtling straight at the rotating Scyther!