Chapter 20: A Lesson for the Smug Little Snake

"Grab the vines and pull your opponent in."

N calmly issued the command, his fingers idly twisting the multicolored Rubik's Cube in his hand.

The moment the words left his mouth, Rosa realized her mistake. But it was already too late. Servine's Vine Whip had already lashed out; though it landed a stinging blow on Timburr, the Fighting-type simply shrugged off the pain and clamped its hands around the vines.

In that instant, Servine's greatest asset became its literal downfall.

"Ser-vine!"

The haughty little Grass-type, usually so fond of looking down on others, finally panicked. Weighing in at barely thirty pounds, she was actually lighter than the wooden beam Timburr usually hauled around! With no way to resist, she was yanked off her feet and dragged toward her opponent, vines and all.

"Mega Punch."

A brilliant, dazzling white light flared around Timburr's right fist. From her front-row seat to the carnage, Servine saw the explosive swell of Timburr's bicep and froze in terror.

She shook her head frantically, but it was useless. Her world turned dark as she watched her own body hurtle closer and closer to that boulder-sized fist...

Don't come any closer!

BOOM!!

A dull, heavy explosion echoed through the stadium. Servine was sent spiraling backward by the force of the impact! She flipped three full times in the air before skidding across the dirt like a flat stone. Her meticulously preened leaves were now caked in dust and grime, a disheveled, pathetic sight.

"Servine!"

Rosa's voice was thick with worry. Servine, having been punched into a state of sudden humility, struggled to stand. Even as she rose, her vision swam with dark spots and dizzying stars.

Timburr's strength was an anomaly! How could a Pokémon possess that much raw power? If it weren't for the fact that she was at least two stages higher in level, Servine felt that single blow would have ended the match right then and there.

Timburr shook out its right arm, having perhaps put a bit too much effort into the strike. That Mega Punch was its most potent move; it was honestly impressed the Grass-type was still standing.

"Incredible! Timburr is like a humanoid Gyarados! It plowed right through Servine's barrage, forced its way into close quarters, and sent her flying with a single blow!"

The announcer was having the time of his life. Fans generally crave two things in a Pokémon battle: brutal, physical power or high-level tactical maneuvering.

In the eyes of the crowd, this Timburr represented the former. Its combat style was visceral and satisfying, it simply walked up and flattened whatever was in its way. In a matter of minutes, Timburr's popularity had skyrocketed.

But while the stands were roaring, the atmosphere in the VIP section was even more polarized. Daisy's smile had become increasingly radiant and serene, while Chairman Shawn's face was as dark as a Muk, his original smugness long gone.

Perhaps the smiles hadn't disappeared; they had simply transferred to someone else's face.

Rosa let out a sigh of relief when she saw Servine manage to stand, though her eyes were filled with apology. It's my fault Servine took such a hard hit... it must hurt so much.

Servine simply shook her head, signaling Rosa not to worry. Re-centering herself, she fell back into a combat stance. Whatever happened next, she wouldn't let Timburr get close again!

"Charge in with Mach Punch."

"Servine! Use Vine Whip again, drive them into the ground to trap him!"

N's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise when he saw Rosa use the same move again. However, he quickly deduced her logic. It had rained the day before, leaving the battlefield's soil soft and damp, nowhere near as hard as it would be under a scorching sun. This was exactly why Timburr could easily shatter the earth to find stones for Rock Throw.

Because the ground was soft, the vines could penetrate the surface!

The vines burst upward from beneath Timburr's feet, snaking around its legs. The momentum of its charge worked against it; Timburr lost its balance and slammed face-first into the dirt.

Rosa wasn't about to let this rare opening go to waste. She screamed her next command.

"Servine, Leaf Storm!!"

One of the ultimate techniques of the Grass-type! The move required a massive expenditure of internal energy, leaving the user's Special Attack sharply lowered afterward. It was a high-risk gamble that had to be timed perfectly.

But with that risk came terrifying destructive power.

Servine let out a high-pitched cry. A localized cyclone of emerald energy erupted, filled with razor-sharp leaves that whipped through the air like spinning saw blades.

Slash! Rip!

Even Timburr's rugged skin couldn't fully withstand such a barrage. In the few seconds it was trapped within the storm, dozens of small cuts opened across its body.

But Timburr wouldn't go down that easily. It had absolute confidence in its own bottomless stamina and physical resilience, it had survived being hunted by an Alpha Ursaring, after all! A Servine that was still a step away from Alpha status wasn't enough to break it.

"Servine, finish it with Energy Ball!!"

"Break free. Use Mach Punch."

N narrowed his emerald eyes, his fingers still working the Rubik's Cube. As he issued his final command, the last row of the cube clicked into place, all six sides perfectly aligned.

Both Pokémon acted simultaneously. Servine rapidly gathered a massive orb of verdant energy before her chest, the internal light swirling with explosive potential.

At the same time, Timburr kicked off the ground, ripping its legs free from the vines as a surge of explosive power radiated from its body!