Chapter 10: Timburr

The Timburr, still clutching its wooden log, was covered in jagged wounds from head to toe. Three bloody claw marks raked across its face, and it stood a short distance from the Ursaring, gasping for breath as blood trickled slowly down the side of its cheek.

This Timburr was well-developed, its muscles honed to a degree that clearly surpassed others of its kind. But despite its impressive physique, it was still young. For an unevolved Pokémon to hold its own against an Alpha Ursaring was already a feat bordering on the miraculous, yet its chances of victory were practically zero.

“Tim-burr!!”

The Pokémon let out a low, guttural growl. Faced with the mountain-like silhouette of the Ursaring, it showed not a hint of fear. Suddenly, its left arm began to glow with a brilliant, pure white light as energy condensed into a single point.

Mega Punch!

To think a wild Pokémon without a Trainer's guidance could learn Mega Punch; calling it "talented" would be an understatement. Its innate perception was nothing short of extraordinary.

Boom!!

With a thunderous crack, the Timburr blurred into a streak of light, launching its full-power Mega Punch directly at the Ursaring’s face. However, an Alpha Pokémon was not to be underestimated; the Ursaring raised its massive arms to block the blow head-on.

Thud!!

A heavy, dull sound echoed. The Timburr’s eyes widened in shock as it realized its strongest attack had failed to leave a mark. It moved to retreat, but the Ursaring, seizing the opening, had no intention of letting it go so easily.

“ROAR!!!”

With a deafening howl, the Ursaring’s right arm swung down like a massive iron sledgehammer.

Slash!

The Timburr didn't have time to dodge. It instinctively raised its wooden log to parry, but the effort was futile. In an instant, the Ursaring’s Slash shattered the log into splinters and slammed into the Timburr’s body. The terrifying force was simply irresistible!

Crack...

The ground beneath the Timburr fractured into a web of craters from the impact. Already battered, the Timburr collapsed heavily into the dirt; after a hit like that, it seemed unlikely it would ever get back up.

"Zorua."

"Zua!"

Even without looking back at its master, Zorua bared its fangs in a cunning, confident smirk. A powerful foe like this didn't come around every day, as a training partner, it was perfect.

The Ursaring was about to raise its arm to deliver the finishing blow to the defiant Timburr when it instinctively sensed a sudden chill of danger. It snapped its head up and glared forward.

THOOM!!

The earth trembled; the trees seemed to shiver in fear. Emerging from the brush was a massive, mountain-like green beast, its every step causing the ground to quake!

Its body was encased in a deep-green, armor-like shell. Its thick, pillar-like limbs looked capable of crushing buildings with ease. A violent, tyrannical aura descended upon the entire forest.

The Tyrant of the Desert, Tyranitar!

This was a true King among Pokémon. Wherever a Tyranitar roamed, only a desolate wasteland usually remained. Its destructive power was akin to a walking natural disaster. Even a creature as strong as an Alpha would normally scramble to avoid its path.

But this Ursaring was stubborn to a fault.

"ROAR!!!"

Despite its mounting dread, the Ursaring let out a defiant, intimidating howl. This Timburr had dared to trespass into its territory and steal its food. The Ursaring was the overlord of this sector of the Nichiyo Forest. It didn't know where this terrifying Tyranitar had come from, but it couldn't back down now, if it did, how could it ever maintain its reign?

Orange-red destructive energy began to swirl in the Ursaring’s maw, radiating a wave of blistering heat. The Alpha Ursaring went all out from the start, unleashing a terrifying Hyper Beam that shot forward like a streak of light.

VROOOM!!!

The beam of light tore through the air, vaporizing trees in its path. The laser-like blast struck the Tyranitar’s chest dead-on, but then something impossible happened...

The moment the Hyper Beam connected, the Tyranitar’s body flickered and dissipated into thin air like a shadow.

Ursaring: "?"

"Sucker Punch."

A calm voice suddenly cut through the chaos. A blur of black and red flashed by, Zorua, moving at a speed the naked eye couldn't track, drove its sharp claws upward into the Ursaring’s jaw.

Pshhh!!

The Ursaring couldn't react to the sudden strike. Even if it could have, it wouldn't have mattered; having just fired a full-power Hyper Beam, its body was stuck in a recharge period, its muscles stiff and unresponsive!

"Zua!"

As the smoke cleared, a small black-and-red fox came into view. The moment its Sucker Punch landed, it performed a graceful backflip, landing elegantly on the grass.

Even for an Alpha, that hit was going to hurt. Moreover, before the fight began, Zorua had used Hone Claws several times to sharpen its physical power. Its current Attack stat was significantly boosted!

The Ursaring had never been this livid. To be toyed with by a mere fox was an insult, and the pain in its jaw burned like a searing flame. But the recharge paralysis hadn't fully worn off yet; it could only watch helplessly as Zorua began gathering energy right in front of its face.

"Dark Pulse."

BOOM!!

The moment N's command fell, the Dark Pulse exploded against the Ursaring’s chest. Its massive frame was sent flying several meters back, the fur on its chest scorched black and smelling of charcoal.

It was then that the Ursaring finally spotted the human standing behind Zorua.

A green-haired young man wearing a baseball cap. He stood there with a faint smile, his calm, collected demeanor acting as the final spark that sent the Ursaring’s rage spiraling out of control.