Chapter 42: Eevee vs. Pignite

Under Hilda's command, Pignite gritted its teeth and charged forward, pushing right through the barrage of Swift. At this, even N's expression shifted slightly in surprise.

Pignite was surprisingly fast despite its bulky appearance. Having used Flame Charge, its Speed had increased further. With a powerful kick off its right foot, it lunged forward several meters in an instant.

The fierce, three-hit Arm Thrust connected squarely with Eevee, who had no time to dodge. The force of the blow sent the little fox tumbling backward. As a Fighting-type move, Arm Thrust was super effective against a Normal-type like Eevee.

Eevee struggled to its feet, clearly reeling from the impact.

"Decisive," N remarked, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

If Hilda's personality had been even slightly more timid, she might have ordered Pignite to retreat or weave through the attacks to avoid damage. Doing so would have played right into N's hands, allowing him to control the pace of the battle and whittle Pignite down with "hit-and-run" tactics.

By choosing a direct, forceful assault, she had put Eevee in a very precarious position. If Swift hadn't landed several hits to disrupt its momentum, and if the Arm Thrust had connected for a full five hits, Eevee would have been in serious trouble.

However, this was still within N's calculations. Based on Pignite's current strength, he estimated the Pokémon could only manage two or three thrusts under pressure. Coupled with the fact that Baby-Doll Eyes had already weakened its Attack power, Eevee still had a fighting chance as long as it didn't take the full brunt of the assault.

"Pignite, great job!"

Hilda felt her heart pounding. That last exchange had been pure instinct. Sending Pignite through a barrage of Swift was reckless; one wrong move and it could have cost her the match.

"Pignite! Use Flame Charge again!"

"Dig, quick!"

Pignite erupted into scorching flames once more, transforming into a rolling, roaring fireball as it charged. But Eevee was a step faster, diving beneath the earth before Pignite could reach it.

"Stay calm, Pignite! Watch the ground closely!!"

Hilda's reaction speed and intuition were pushed to their absolute limit. The moment there was the slightest disturbance in the dirt, she sensed it.

A faint crack from the ground caught her and Pignite's attention simultaneously. Trainer and Pokémon, their nerves taut, spotted the target at the exact same moment.

"Now! Flamethrower toward the back!!"

The ground behind Pignite shifted for a fraction of a second. Pignite spun around instantly and unleashed its attack, a torrent of crimson fire roaring forth like a dragon.

But to everyone's surprise, while a hole had indeed opened in the ground, Eevee hadn't emerged!

"What...?"

Hilda froze. Even though the earth had broken, Eevee had stayed submerged, successfully baiting out Pignite's charged Flamethrower!

"Charge out now! Use Quick Attack!"

Under N's direction, Eevee suddenly burst from the hole, cloaked in a streak of pure white light. Like a launched arrow, it slammed into Pignite's midsection, knocking the heavier Pokémon off its feet.

"Finish it with Swift!"

"Pignite, dodge it!"

Using the momentum from the collision, Eevee performed a graceful 180-degree flip in mid-air. With a whip of its tail, it unleashed a dazzling array of golden stars. The brilliant light completely overwhelmed Pignite's vision; in its staggered state, there was no way to evade.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The golden stars detonated in a series of small explosions. Struck repeatedly, Pignite hit the ground with a dull thud, its eyes spinning in circles as it lost consciousness.

"Ee-vee..."

Eevee wasn't in great shape either, panting heavily and on the verge of exhaustion. It let out a ragged breath but seemed to feel a secret thrill from the victory. Its eyes lit up with joy the moment N produced a Pokéblock as a reward.

"Phew..."

Hilda took a deep breath, feeling a sharp, throbbing tension in her temples. She had been so focused that she'd identified Eevee's projected path instantly, only to realize that N had exploited her heightened state of focus, using it against her to seal the win.

That guy is a total monster.

"Come back, Pignite. You did a great job."

Hilda recalled Pignite to its Poké Ball. She gave N a long, serious look before sighing deeply and marching over to him with brisk strides.

"To think you could win in a situation like that... fine, you're good! But it won't go the same way next time!"

"Your progress surprised me as well. Eevee just had a bit of luck on its side. If it had come out of that hole a second earlier, I might have been the one losing."

N maintained that same calm, shallow smile. Hilda couldn't see a single trace of "relief" on his face; she was certain she had been played from the very start!

His fighting style was eerie, almost as if he had some form of mind-reading. No matter what Hilda tried to do, he anticipated it. It was as if he had analyzed her entire strategy beforehand and then led her step-by-step into his rhythm.

"Fine, fine! Just go! I lost, so I've got nothing else to say."

Hilda gave a huff of annoyance and waved him off with a dismissive gesture. Her pouting, spirited expression was so endearing that N couldn't help but chuckle. He reached out and gently ruffled her soft hair, as if comforting a child.

"Alright, I'll bring you a souvenir when I get back."

"Don't treat me like the kid next door!!"

A crimson flush crept across Hilda's face, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to tell. She made a face at N and bolted away, leaving him standing there, half-amused and half-puzzled.

"Well then. Better get to the docks. If I miss this ferry, who knows how long the next one will be."