Chapter 173: Exhaust You! Exhaust Me?

"Finally, let this guy finish it!" Qi Shi's eyes lit with fierce battle intent, he raised his hand and tossed the last Pokeball, "Go, Fiery Arrow Eagle!"

Red light burst, and a strikingly imposing Fiery Arrow Eagle materialized in the air—its back blazing fire‑red, its belly a steady gray, with specks of pattern dotted on the gray.

"Another Shiny Pokemon!" Huo La's pupils narrowed, and the system panel instantly displayed detailed data:

Pokemon: Fiery Arrow Eagle (Shiny)

Gender: Male

Level: Lv45

Su Xing: S

Status: Healthy

Nature: Calm

Type: Fire/Flying

Ability: Flame Body (Pokémon with this ability may burn the opponent when hit by a direct attack.)

Height: 1.3 m

Weight: 25 kg

Carried Item: None

Moves: Electric Flash (87% mastery), Peck (61% mastery), High Speed (92% mastery), Hot Wind (77% mastery), Flame Vortex (91% mastery), Hurricane (100% mastery), Steel Wing (100% mastery)...

Improvement Count: 0

This Su Xing and level are far stronger than the two Pokemon before.

"A Shiny Fiery Arrow Eagle that only appears in regions like Kalos and Alola—Gym Leader Qi Shi must have spent a lot of effort breeding it, right?" Huo La withdrew his gaze, his tone carrying admiration.

"It didn't take much effort," Qi Shi smiled, explaining, "Our Gym family doesn't follow the League trainer's starter Pokémon path, but we have our own tradition. This Fiery Arrow Eagle was a birthday gift from my father when I was ten."

Huo La nodded, then suddenly changed the subject: "Gym Leader Qi Shi, have you heard of the Flash Flame Team?"

"Flash Flame Team?" Qi Shi was momentarily stunned, then shook his head, "I've never heard of it, but the Rocket Team's name is well‑known."

"Oh, if you haven't heard of it, never mind. The Flash Flame Team is an organization from Kalos, its nature is similar to the Rocket Team." Huo La said no more.

He only asked because seeing the Fiery Arrow Eagle reminded him of Bilan's mention of the Flash Flame Team.

He refocused the battle: "Fire plus Flying type, the Fiery Arrow Eagle exactly counters my Venusaur, this match will be tough."

"Then don't get distracted!" Qi Shi didn't reply further, his gaze hardened, and he ordered an attack, "Fiery Arrow Eagle, use Hot Wind!"

The Fiery Arrow Eagle let out a sharp cry, its wings flapped violently, and a vortex of scorching hot airflow instantly formed, whistling as it surged toward Venusaur.

"Venusaur, Leech Seed!" Huo La ordered decisively, attempting to continue restraining the opponent with a sustaining move.

Venusaur immediately launched a few green‑glowing seeds, but before the seeds could reach the Fiery Arrow Eagle, the hot wind from its flapping wings shattered them, leaving no chance for close contact.

"Useless, the Leech Seed can't touch the Fiery Arrow Eagle, so it does nothing," Qi Shi shook his head, his tone full of absolute confidence, "Fiery Arrow Eagle, High Speed, then Flame Vortex!"

As soon as the words finished, the Fiery Arrow Eagle's form suddenly accelerated, instantly becoming several after‑images darting across the arena, continuously closing in on Venusaur.

At the same time, a blazing fire‑red vortex materialized out of nowhere, tightly encircling Venusaur, the scorching airflow causing its leaves to curl slightly.

"Venusaur, Leaf Storm, whip up a counter‑vortex!" Huo La stared at the approaching flame vortex and quickly responded.

Venusaur endured the burning flame, mustering all its strength to swing its leaves, and a green Leaf Storm suddenly rose, rotating in the exact opposite direction of the flame vortex.

Although Grass‑type is weak to Fire‑type, the opposing vortex's impact ultimately offset most of the flame vortex's power, and the encircling fire noticeably weakened.

"Good tactic, but it's useless." Qi Shi remained unmoved, his tone still calm.

"Whether it works or not, we'll see next!" Huo La retorted immediately, shouting at Venusaur, "Venusaur, Take Down!"

"Venusaur!" Venusaur let out a low roar, its massive body leaping through the gap between the two colliding vortices, soaring over the chaotic airflow straight toward the still‑airborne Fiery Arrow Eagle.

"Bang!" a muffled thud sounded, and the Fiery Arrow Eagle, caught off guard, was struck squarely, its body instantly flung backward.

But it reacted extremely quickly, flapping its wings a few times in the air to steady itself, though its breath was slightly unsettled.

Looking at Venusaur, after landing its massive body swayed, its limbs immediately went limp on the ground, completely losing its fighting ability.

It still shimmered with orange‑red burn light, clearly a fatal backlash caused by the earlier flame vortex and the Fiery Arrow Eagle's Flame Body ability.

Huo La recalled Venusaur and whispered to the Pokeball, "Good job. Next up, it's your turn, Muk!"

Red light flashed, Muk's body landed on the arena, and an instant sharp stench spread everywhere.

This Muk, modified by the Rocket Team, had its mechanical gaze greatly softened after evolution, gaining a hint of lively expression.

"Muk? This form is..." Qi Shi looked at the Pokemon before him, his face full of surprise.

"This is an Alola Region Muk," Huo La explained.

As the Kanto Gym Leader, it's normal that Qi Shi knows little about Pokemon from other regions.

"Muk, Poison Gas!" Huo La ordered first.

Muk immediately opened its mouth, spewing a large cloud of purple‑black Poison Gas that instantly covered the entire battlefield, sharply reducing visibility.

Qi Shi squinted, instantly seeing through the tactic: "Using Poison Gas to seal the arena both limits the Fiery Arrow Eagle's Flying space and counters its Fire‑type moves; your strategy is truly brilliant!"

"Thanks for the compliment, but I must claim that Futaba Badge." Huo La's tone was firm as he ordered again, "Muk, close range, use Poison Strike!"

"Fiery Arrow Eagle, take to the sky, dodge the attack!" Qi Shi reacted extremely quickly.

The Fiery Arrow Eagle flapped its wings powerfully and rose, tracing an after‑image through the Poison Gas, easily evading Muk's close‑range assault and hovering steadily aloft.

"Air Blade!" Qi Shi pressed the advantage.

Several sharp white air blades sliced through the Poison Gas, striking Muk on the ground with precision, leaving shallow wounds.

"Muk, Poison Gas again!" Huo La remained unmoved.

Muk opened its mouth again, spewing poison, and the Poison Gas concentration in the arena instantly doubled, completely obscuring even basic visibility.

"Are you trying to wear out the Fiery Arrow Eagle with Poison Gas?" Qi Shi asked, somewhat puzzled.

At this moment the Fiery Arrow Eagle showed slight poisoning signs, and continuing would indeed be dangerous.

"Muk, Dig!" Huo La gave the new command without waiting for a response.

Muk immediately crouches, his stout limbs quickly dig the earth; moments later a pitch‑black large hole appears in the ground, and he slides into it.

"Hide in the Cave to waste?" Qi Shi looks at the opening, his gaze heavy, "Fiery Arrow Eagle, Air Blade, stop it!"

The Fiery Arrow Eagle continuously slashes air blades, bombarding the cave opening on the ground, but Muk, hidden underground, only takes a small amount of damage and continues reinforcing the Cave.

"Fiery Arrow Eagle, don't hold back! Use Steel Wing, dive straight down!" Qi Shi, seeing the situation, decisively changes tactics.

The feeling of poisoning grows stronger; dragging it out any longer would only make it more passive.

The Fiery Arrow Eagle lets out a sharp cry, folds its wings, dives down amid dense Poison Gas, its Steel Wing flashing white light, and plunges straight at the cave opening.

"Now! Muk, Flamethrower!" Huo La's eyes flash with a spark of brilliance, and he shouts loudly.

"What?!" Qi Shi is startled, completely not expecting Muk to use that move.

In the next instant, a scorching flame erupts from the cave opening, precisely striking the diving Fiery Arrow Eagle.

The flame instantly ignites the surrounding Poison Gas, "Boom—!" a violent explosion reverberates throughout, black smoke mixed with sparks soaring skyward.

Huo La and Qi Shi quickly cover their mouths and noses, retreating step by step.

When the black smoke gradually clears, the scene is unmistakable: the Fiery Arrow Eagle lies on the ground, its whole body blackened, completely unable to fight, its once brilliant feathers charred; Muk slowly crawls out of the Cave, bearing scorch marks yet still standing steadily beside Huo La.