Chapter 215: Can't Beat It, I Can Attrit

Just as Huo La expected, the Pokémon Blaine sent out first was exactly that Magmar that had taken them to wash up.

"Magmar, this round is yours!" As Blaine's words fell, Magmar opened its mouth and spat out a rotating ring of fire, raging flames rising from its four limbs, stepping onto the battle platform above the magma with steady steps.

Huo La's system panel instantly refreshed Magmar's detailed data:

Pokémon: Magmar

Gender: Male

Level: Lv45

Aptitude: A

Status: Healthy

Nature: Stubborn

Type: Fire

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

Height: 1.4m

Weight: 45.5kg

Held Item: None

Moves: Fire Punch (Proficiency 87%), Fire Blast (Proficiency 97%), Flamethrower (Proficiency 66%), Fire Spin (Proficiency 87%), Body Slam (Proficiency 61%), Hyper Beam (Proficiency 29), Double-Edge (Proficiency 18)...

Upgradable count: 0

Lv45 level, A-grade aptitude, plus Fire Blast with 97% proficiency, enough to see the formidable nature of this Magmar—perhaps it was the one that had battled Red's Charizard this morning.

Looking around at his Pokémon lineup, there were very few that could adapt to the high-temperature environment of the volcano and also counter the Fire-type.

Huo La pondered for a moment and decisively took out a Poké Ball: "Go, Muk!"

"Muk—" The Alolan form Muk landed heavily, its colorful body swaying, letting out a low growl at Magmar, viscous fluid dripping from its body surface, only to be instantly absorbed by itself.

"Oh? It's an Alolan form Muk." Blaine twisted his two handlebar mustaches, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes: "You are the challenger, the right to attack first is yours."

Huo La didn't stand on ceremony and ordered immediately: "Muk, use Poison Gas first!"

Muk immediately opened its mouth, and a cloud of purple poison mist gushed out.

But the scorching air of the crater far exceeded expectations. The Poison Gas had only drifted half a meter before being ignited by the high temperature, turning into a wisp of black smoke, blown toward the edge of the field by the heat waves rising from the magma.

"Cough cough, damn it, a mistake!" Huo La looked at the dissipating Poison Gas and couldn't help but curse. He actually forgot that the special environment inside this volcano would cause Poison Gas to self-ignite.

"Hehe, Poison Gas is a good move, but unfortunately it was used in the wrong place." Blaine chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of veteran composure: "Magmar, continuous Fire Punch!"

He didn't intend to let water. Trainers from Pallet Town were all formidable enemies in his eyes. The battle with Red yesterday still made his blood boil, so naturally, he had to use his full strength to deal with Huo La.

Magmar roared low, its fists wreathed in flames, rushing straight at Muk, the heat waves carried by its fist wind having no intention of holding back at all.

"Muk, hurry, use Sandstorm to block its vision!" Huo La's command followed closely.

In an instant, a sky full of yellow sand surged from beneath Muk, instantly shrouding most of the field, completely cutting off Magmar's line of sight.

After Poison Gas failed, he immediately adjusted his tactics. Poison-type was still the core, but how to make Magmar get infected with Toxic became the key.

"Want to rely on Sandstorm to block vision? A bit of cleverness." Blaine pushed his sunglasses, but his tone was still firm: "But my Magmar has trained in the volcano all year round and is abnormally sensitive to temperature changes. As long as your Muk still has body temperature, it can precisely lock onto the position!"

As soon as the words fell, a muffled groan suddenly came from the Sandstorm. The sound was Muk's, dull and restrained.

"You fell for it!" Huo La not only didn't panic, but hooked the corners of his mouth, his tone full of laughter of a successful scheme.

Blaine's expression changed slightly: "Hmm?"

His heart skipped a beat, secretly calling it bad.

The experience of battling Red made Huo La understand that top Trainers would all guard against the attribute damage of Poison-type Pokémon, especially when they didn't know the talent of the opponent's Poison-type Pokémon, long-range was the best means.

So he deliberately showed weakness to the enemy, first releasing the ineffective Poison Gas, then using Sandstorm to create the illusion of "dodging," just to induce Blaine to order a strong attack.

And Blaine was indeed as he expected, the same appearance as in his memory, the appearance of a rigorous and steady scientist on weekdays, but once battling, what he was best at was head-on collision.

Especially when he sold such a big flaw.

And his Muk had the Poison Touch ability and Toxic Orb. Once Magmar got close, poisoning was inevitable.

Under the cover of the Sandstorm, Muk roared, the Poison Touch ability triggered, and the power of the Toxic Orb was also activated. Double Toxic followed Magmar's fist and frantically invaded its body.

"Good brat, afraid I wouldn't fall for the close-quarters, even played psychological warfare, acting." A hint of admiration flashed in Blaine's eyes, but he still ordered in a deep voice: "Magmar, endure the poison, use Fire Blast to solve it!"

"Muk, hurry, use Protect to tank it!" Huo La's command sounded almost at the same time as Blaine's roar.

Muk's body instantly lit up with a transparent protective barrier, just in time to block the Fire Blast condensed by Magmar.

The scorching flames collided with the light barrier, exploding into a sky full of sparks. The heat waves of the magma and the high temperature of the flames intertwined, making the temperature of the entire field soar again, and Muk's figure behind the light barrier looked a bit blurry.

"Want to hold on with just this defense? Magmar, Fire Spin!" Blaine clearly didn't intend to give Muk any chance to catch its breath.

Magmar opened its mouth abruptly, and a rotating flame gushed out. The moment it landed, it turned into a ring-shaped wall of fire, completely trapping Muk inside.

The tongues of fire of Fire Spin constantly licked Muk's body. Its colorful body surface was baked until it sizzled, and its body began to slowly lose moisture and become dry.

"Muk!" Muk let out a painful roar, but still stubbornly held on, without the slightest intention of retreating.

"Still can hold on? Then try Hyper Beam!" A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Blaine's eyes. Magmar's throat began to accumulate energy, and blinding white light grew brighter and brighter in its mouth.

But just then, Magmar's movements suddenly paused, clearly the erosion of the Toxic made its physical strength drain rapidly. Releasing powerful moves continuously had already consumed a lot, and now it was even more powerless.

"What's going on?" Blaine frowned, staring at Magmar's purple-tinged skin, and quickly reacted: "It's the Toxic from just now! This toxicity is much fiercer than I thought!"

"Muk, take the opportunity to use Sludge Bomb!" Huo La seized the opportunity and ordered immediately.

Muk opened its mouth and threw a ball of pitch-black sludge.

Magmar wanted to dodge, but the numbness brought by the toxins made its movements sluggish. Sludge Bomb slammed solidly into its body, splashing a piece of viscous liquid carrying Toxic again.

"Magmar, hold on a bit longer, it's already not working, use Fire Punch to solve it!" Blaine gritted his teeth, still wanting to make a final struggle.

Magmar roared and raised its fist, but just as it was about to exert force, the toxins completely invaded its limbs and bones.

Its body swayed, its fist drooped, the flames around its body were completely extinguished, and even standing became difficult, only able to let out a weak low groan.

"Damn it!" Blaine looked at Magmar's swaying appearance, and then looked at the purple-black toxins spreading on its body. Knowing that continuing to fight would only make Magmar suffer heavier injuries, he finally waved his hand helplessly: "I admit defeat! Magmar, come back!"

Red light flashed, and Magmar was recalled into the Poké Ball.

Blaine put away the Poké Ball, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Huo La carried a few more points of approval: "Good tactics, using Toxic to drag down my Magmar, this round is your win."

Huo La let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The high temperature of the volcano and the tension of the battle made his back soaked, and he recalled Muk: "You've worked hard, Muk!" ===== CHAPTER 216 =====