Chapter 17: How Do You Like My Timburr?

"Bulk Up."

The moment N's command was delivered, Timburr didn't hesitate for a single heartbeat. It flexed every muscle in its body with explosive force. In an instant, its muscle density tightened; both its Attack and Defense stats surged by a significant margin.

"This is bad..."

Hilda's expression stiffened. If she gave that Timburr enough time to keep boosting its stats, the consequences would be catastrophic. Bulk Up wasn't just about raw power; it turned the user into a physical fortress. Once the gap in stats widened too far, her win rate would plummet to zero.

"Tepig! Smash into it with Rollout!"

"Take it head-on."

Screeeech!!

Spinning at high speeds like a runaway bowling ball, Tepig slammed violently into Timburr's flank, hoping to interrupt the stat-boosting move.

However, it had clearly overestimated its own momentum. The impact only forced Timburr back half a step before the Fighting-type firmly braced its feet and stabilized its stance.

"Now, grab it."

N didn't even seem to be looking at the field; his emerald eyes were as calm as a still pond. Despite the thick smoke blanketing the entire arena, he seemed to possess a sort of 3D analytical vision, sensing every movement within the cloud with perfect clarity.

Timburr moved with startling efficiency. It threw out a thick, powerful arm and, using its immense raw strength, pinned the spinning Tepig to the ground. It forcibly halted the Rollout through sheer muscle, locking its opponent in a crushing grip!

"Tepig, break free! Use Ember at point-blank range!"

"Ignore it. Use Slam."

Trapped in Timburr's iron grasp, Tepig let out a squeal of pain. It opened its mouth and unleashed a burst of searing red embers directly into Timburr's face. But to Hilda's horror, Timburr simply gritted its teeth and endured the point-blank fire.

"How is that possible...?"

It had tanked the momentum of a Rollout and shrugged off a direct Ember! How could a Timburr possess such terrifying defensive utility? Before Hilda could even formulate a follow-up plan, Timburr hoisted Tepig up and slammed it into the dirt over ten meters away.

"Burr!"

Timburr reached up, wiped a smudge of soot and ash from its face, and spat to the side. It returned to its original posture, casually hoisting its heavy wooden log over its shoulder as if the previous exchange hadn't bothered it in the slightest.

Tepig's attacks were simply too light. Over the past few days, Timburr had been sparring constantly with an High Elite-level Zorua! That "dead fox's" strikes were always precise and agonizing, providing Timburr with the perfect environment to hone its endurance and counter-attacking instincts.

Because a Pokémon like Timburr, even after evolving, is never known for its speed (even a Torterra, famous for being cumbersome, is slightly faster than Timburr's final evolution), it could never emulate Zorua's high-speed, evasive playstyle. Rather than forcing it to change its nature later, N had decided to lean into its strengths from the start.

N wanted Timburr to be a "Stationary Tank," a Pokémon that could withstand any assault and then use its monstrous physical strength to deliver a single, devastating counter-blow. That raw power was now on full display.

"Tepig, are you okay?!"

Hilda shouted toward the field in concern. Hearing its Trainer's voice, Tepig struggled to pick itself up. However, the damage from that last Slam was massive; it was clearly reeling.

As the smoke began to clear, the spectators finally saw the state of the match. In the brief window while visibility was obscured, the tide had turned completely.

Timburr looked slightly disheveled, but it was otherwise unfazed, standing tall with its spirit unbroken. Conversely, the attacking Tepig was slumped on the ground, struggling to stand. The earth beneath it was spider-webbed with cracks, a testament to the incredible force it had just endured.

"Incredible! What exactly happened in there? In such a short amount of time, Tepig has been brought to its knees!"

The announcer's exaggerated play-by-play whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Almost every eye was fixed on Timburr.

Hilda, however, kept her eyes fixed on N.

He still wore that faint, gentle smile. Even as his childhood friend who had grown up alongside him, Hilda realized she couldn't read his thoughts at all during a Pokémon battle. She had been as careful as she could possibly be, yet N had still outmaneuvered her psychologically.

The Bulk Up had been a taunt, a deliberate bait to draw her in so Timburr could pinpoint Tepig's location. Once Timburr had a target to grab, its true terror was revealed. Tepig had taken only one clean hit, and it was already on the verge of fainting.

"Tepig, can you still move?"

"Tep-ip!"

Tepig forced itself up, shaking its head to clear the cobwebs. It was gasping for air, but its personality mirrored its Trainer's, it was stubborn to a fault. It refused to stay down.

"Tepig is back on its feet! It looks like this battle is far from over!"

Hearing the commentary, N's forest-green eyes crinkled with a soft, amused smile. He locked eyes with Hilda across the field, seemingly sensing exactly what she was planning next.

"In that case... let's go!! Everything you've got, use Flame Charge!!!"

Tepig let out a low, guttural howl. A cloak of brilliant fire erupted around its body as it charged forward. Its entire form was shielded by an armor of flames, the intense heat scorching the air and expanding as it gained momentum.

"Meet it head-on. Use Mega Punch."