Chapter 224

"Using the gravel on the field to increase the power of the sandstorm... what a calculation!" Huo La raised his hand to block the incoming sand and gravel, squinting at the sandstorm-covered field, and ordered loudly, "Tauros, withstand the wind and sand! Keep your eyes on Aron's position and use Horn Attack!"

Tauros let out a deafening long moo, its thick limbs firmly rooted in the ground, letting the gravel scrape its fur, while its bell-sized eyes searched desperately in the yellow sand filling the sky.

Fortunately, Aron's metallic-textured gray-white shell was highly recognizable, and after just a moment, it locked onto the small, nimbly dodging figure.

The next second, Tauros pawed the ground fiercely with its front hooves, kicking up bursts of dust, and then, carrying an unstoppable momentum, charged toward Aron.

"Aron, dodge!" Xiao Gang's command followed immediately, crisp and decisive.

"Dodging again?" Huo La muttered in a low voice, but the corner of his mouth hooked into an arc of realization, and he immediately raised his voice to add, "Tauros, don't stop! Continue to pursue with Horn Attack!"

In the sandstorm, Tauros's massive body was like a brown lightning bolt, biting tightly onto Aron's trail.

Its hooves trampled over the pitted ground, knocking away the gravel blocking its path, with the posture of not stopping until it hit its opponent.

"Huo La, your way of fighting isn't right!" Xiao Gang looked at the situation in the field and couldn't help but speak, "Aron's form is agile, and your Tauros is being so reckless; even if the sandstorm's power is limited, the stamina consumption from a long pursuit is huge. You are..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Huo La raising his hand: "Brother Xiao Gang, just watch; I have my reasons for arranging it this way."

Time passed second by second, the sandstorm gradually weakened, but the chase in the field became increasingly intense.

Aron, which had been dodging with ease, gradually saw its movements become sluggish, and several times it stumbled and barely avoided Tauros's sharp horns, with small gasps even leaking out through the wind.

Xiao Gang's gaze instantly became sharp, his brows furrowed, and he suddenly let out a low shout: "Not good!"

Just as this exclamation fell, a dull collision sound rang out in the field.

Tauros's Horn Attack struck again, carrying a strong wind, and this time, Aron, exhausted of stamina, could no longer dodge, being solidly pinned on the sharp horns, then fiercely knocked away, falling heavily to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"You kid, so that was your plan!" Xiao Gang suddenly realized, looking at Huo La with a mix of laughter and tears.

Huo La smiled and shrugged: "Brother Xiao Gang, you figured it out?"

"If I couldn't figure this out, I might as well pack my bags and go home, and stop traveling!" Xiao Gang shook his head helplessly, "Aron and Tauros have different foundations to begin with; even if it's just dodging, the stamina consumption can't withstand long-term tossing. And your Tauros, its endurance and stamina are far beyond ordinary Pokémon; you were waiting for this moment when it ran out of stamina!"

"Exactly." Huo La nodded, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes, and then he raised his volume, pointing at the fallen Aron, "Tauros, now is the time! Use Take Down and end this duel!"

"Aron!" Seeing this, Xiao Gang immediately shouted loudly.

Aron's four limbs were seen trembling slightly, but it still stubbornly propped up its body, its small head held high, the fighting spirit in its eyes not only not weakening in the slightest but becoming even more intense.

"Good! As expected of my Aron!" Xiao Gang felt the unyielding fighting will on it, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes, and then he ordered in a deep voice, "Since it's the final strike, we'll go head-to-head with it—Aron, Iron Head!"

Aron let out a crisp low roar, gathering all its strength, focusing all its power on its skull, which was as hard as steel.

Its short legs exerted force suddenly, and it charged toward Tauros's massive body, which was rushing over, without any hesitation!

"Boom—!" A deafening collision sound exploded, and a strong wave of air swept out, rolling up gravel and dust all over the ground.

Tauros's forward momentum was fiercely blocked by this fearless force, its massive body stumbling back two steps, its four hooves plowing deep furrows in the ground.

Aron was completely sent flying by Tauros's weight and impact, and after tracing an arc in the air, it fell heavily to the ground and could no longer stand up.

Xiao Gang raised his hand to recall Aron, his fingertips gently stroking the shell of the Poké Ball, his eyes full of gentle smiles, whispering: "You've worked hard, Aron. I saw your efforts and that unyielding will. After we go back, I'll customize targeted special training for you; next time, you'll definitely be stronger."

"Brother Xiao Gang, do you want to continue to the next match?" Huo La looked at the Pokémon eager to try on the side of the field and asked.

Xiao Gang looked up at the sky; the sunset had already sunk to the mountain peak, and the afterglow dyed the horizon a warm orange.

He looked at the slightly panting Tauros in the field and shook his head: "Let's stop here for today. The sun is almost setting, I have to go prepare dinner, and it will be completely dark later."

He paused and added: "If you still want to take your Pokémon for extra training, I won't stop you. But remember to come back before dinner, don't train on an empty stomach."

"Okay!" Hearing this, Huo La didn't force it.

He strode to the center of the field, raised his hand to pat Tauros's hard horns, and asked with a smile: "Tauros, do you still have strength?"

Tauros let out a loud long moo, flicked its thick tail, and nodded its massive head forcefully; there was no sign of fatigue in its eyes, but rather an eager excitement.

Seeing it in such high spirits, Huo La raised the corner of his mouth, flipped over neatly, and sat steadily on Tauros's back.

He swept his hand over all the Pokémon watching the battle, his voice loud and carrying unquestionable power: "You all saw the two battles just now clearly, right? What decides victory has never been just moves and levels!"

He paused, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's: "Next, is a special training I suddenly added for you today—endurance training!"

"Remember, in a battle, whoever can hold on longer than the opponent will have more initiative; whoever can stabilize their rhythm before their stamina is exhausted will be able to seize the flaw revealed by the opponent! This is the key to winning!"

"In the past, my training for you was too focused on targeting and differentiation, ignoring the most fundamental things like endurance and basic move connections." Huo La sat on Tauros's back, his gaze sweeping over every Pokémon, his tone sincere, "For the next period of time, I will arrange unified basic special training for you every day, everyone must work harder!"

The group of Pokémon heard this and immediately let out a loud response in unison.

Xiao Gang stood on the side watching this scene, the corners of his mouth hooking up in gratification.

He turned to look at the Vulpix still curled up on the rock and beckoned with a smile: "Vulpix, please come help start a fire, I'll help you bathe tonight."

Vulpix lazily opened its eyes, then stood up gracefully and walked to the campfire at the camp.

It opened its mouth gently, and a small, warm flame landed on the pile of dry branches, instantly igniting a roaring fire.