Pokémon: From Pirate to Just

"I'll show you what true strength really is!"

Reggie boasted with pride.

To his right, his Staraptor let out an awkward cry, almost as if feeling embarrassed for its Trainer.

"Starrrr…"

Sieg ignored Reggie's barking and instead sized up the Staraptor standing at his side.

From its appearance alone, the gleaming feathers, the proud and imposing stance, and those sharp eyes filled with unshakable resolve, it was clearly well-trained.

What caught Sieg's eye the most, however, were its talons. To an untrained observer, they might seem ordinary, but Sieg, a seasoned Breeder, instantly recognized the signs of specialized training.

In a real fight, those talons would definitely unleash explosive power. Combined with Staraptor's natural advantage as an avian Pokémon capable of learning Fighting-type moves, it was a formidable opponent.

A flicker of concern flashed through Sieg's mind.

"Crawwww!"

Sieg looked at Crawdaunt and quickly regained his composure. He smiled softly. "Yeah, you're right. With you by my side, what's there to worry about? Let's go, partner!"

And besides, Sieg had already prepared Rock Slide, an attack perfectly designed to counter Flying types. It was bound to become a trump card at a critical moment.

Crawdaunt stomped the ground with its powerful legs, leaping up onto the battlefield.

With its fierce and razor-sharp gaze, it met Staraptor's eyes across the arena. The two Pokémon locked sights, both sensing the other's burning will to fight.

As the referee called the start, the battle began in a flash!

"Starrrrr!"

Staraptor let out a piercing cry, trying to intimidate Crawdaunt.

"Crawdaunt, use Scald."

Without delay, Sieg orderedhis first move, intending to probe the Staraptor's capabilities and determine its key traits.

Especially traits that could influence the flow of the battle.

Judging from its opening roar, it might have the Intimidate ability, very common among such Pokémon, especially when paired with an aggressive entrance.

Most Pokémon with Intimidate are trained to act fierce at the start to maximize the effect.

But Crawdaunt wasn't fazed. Unshaken, it opened its pincers and fired a scalding blast of water straight into the air at the circling Staraptor.

"Quick Attack to dodge!"

Reggie yelled out his command, and Staraptor flickered with a burst of white light, vanishing and reappearing at another spot midair, effortlessly dodging the boiling water.

Sieg raised an eyebrow. Impressed. The Staraptor's reaction speed was fast.

Although bird Pokémon were naturally quick, this one had clearly been fed special medicines to boost its neural reflexes.

"Staraptor, Air Slash!"

Flapping its wings, Staraptor summoned two sharp wind blades that cut down toward Crawdaunt below.

"Use Brick Break to smash it."

Sieg gave the command without hesitation. Crawdaunt raised its massive claw and shattered the wind blades instantly.

Sieg understood well, this Staraptor had no strong ranged attacks. All of its self-learned moves were melee-oriented.

Not a single ranged move.

Not even any from its own type, much less other types.

That Air Slash was likely taught through a TM or passed down by another Pokémon.

Sieg's strategy was to bait the Staraptor into close combat. Otherwise, Crawdaunt would never reach it in the sky.

"Staraptor, Air Slash again!" Reggie shouted, unconvinced and frowning.

Once again, two wind blades were easily shattered by Crawdaunt's swirling claw. This time, Crawdaunt even shot Staraptor a taunting smirk.

Taunt.

With the move successful, Staraptor's few utility moves were sealed away. Both sides stood still for a moment, neither launching another attack.

Reggie frowned deeply, his face stiffening. He realized he had underestimated his opponent.

Just as he was about to command Staraptor to use Double Team, Sieg had already used Taunt, cutting him off mid-command.

"Damn it… are we really forced into close combat now?"

Reggie, a seasoned Trainer, prided himself on his tactical planning. He had counted on using Staraptor's flight advantage to whittle down the opponent from range.

He began mentally shifting the blame.

"Staraptor's just too limited… it barely learns any decent ranged moves," he thought bitterly, casting a cold glance at his own partner's back.

Half a minute passed. Even the audience had started whispering among themselves. Still, Reggie hadn't launched an attack, he felt stuck.

Utility moves were locked. Ranged attacks were useless.

Was he really going to let Staraptor give up its aerial advantage and fight on the ground?

"No, attack now! Staraptor, use Aerial Ace!"

Just as Reggie was hesitating, he noticed Crawdaunt performing a powerful and mysterious dance.

With his experience, he instantly recognized it, Dragon Dance!

Panicked, he ordered a counterattack, but it was too late. Crawdaunt had already completed the move, perfectly empowered.

Before Staraptor could even dive in, Dragon Dance was complete.

Sieg smiled as he watched his ace finish the dance, satisfaction shining in his eyes.

All that training hadn't been for naught.

"Still, Dragon Dance doesn't last long, and it drains stamina fast. I need to end this fight quickly!" Sieg narrowed his eyes.

"Crawdaunt, use Razor Shell, go head-to-head!"

Sieg didn't hesitate. As Crawdaunt's Trainer, he knew exactly how powerful its offense had become.

Staraptor dove in, wings and talons moving in perfect rhythm, displaying an elegant, rhythmic martial technique.

Crawdaunt's Razor Shell came crashing down, but Staraptor skillfully redirected the blow, dissipating its force.

"As expected! His Staraptor's close combat is strong, so strong, it's developed a unique fighting rhythm on its own," Sieg thought.

Still expressionless, Sieg continued his assault. Let's see if you can block a second blow.

After deflecting one claw, Crawdaunt's other claw surged with water, crashing down toward Staraptor's head.

"Staraptor, use Close Combat!"

Reggie was starting to panic. He hadn't expected this unassuming Crawdaunt to be such a thorn in his side. Its claws were terrifyingly fierce.

The watery shadow of Razor Shell clung to Crawdaunt's pincers as it clashed with Staraptor's attacks in a fierce back-and-forth.

Though Staraptor's moves were more refined, Crawdaunt had raw power on its side.

Overwhelming force breaks all technique!

Boom!

Staraptor began to falter. Though its wings hadn't been directly struck, the impact of clashing with those hardened claws was taking its toll.

How could delicate wings withstand blows from iron-like pincers?

The fact its wings weren't already broken was proof of Staraptor's exceptional muscle strength.

Reggie grew increasingly anxious. Even his go-to technique, Close Combat, had failed under brute force?

Normally, opponents would be wiped out before Close Combat even became necessary.

But now, even Close Combat was ineffective. That was Staraptor's most powerful move, with a base power of 120!

Reggie's lips turned pale. He exhaled shakily, unconsciously gripping the belt at his waist. Things were spiraling out of control.

"Staraptor, find a chance to escape, get back into the air!" he shouted.

But how could Sieg possibly allow that?

When your opponent shows weakness, that's when you strike the hardest!

"Crawdaunt, Aqua Jet!"

Water surged around Crawdaunt as it launched skyward like a bullet.

Staraptor, still flying low, was struck dead-on, crashing hard into the arena's protective dome.

Thousands of spectators looked up in perfect unison, stunned into silence.