Chapter 318: Bruno: Nice Move. I'll Take It.
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander
(A note for these two chapters: I'll be mentioning the Highest Realm in this book, which is what Max Level Top Players like Brother Red and Green are pursuing. There's another chapter coming later.)
Facing four simultaneous Karate Chops descending upon it, Metapod hurriedly focused its core being, allowing its mind to completely transcend its physical body, its spirit soaring freely, relying entirely on the conditioned reflexes of its various body parts.
*Swoosh!*
*Swoosh!*
*Swoosh!*
The Karate Chops repeatedly struck Metapod's shifting afterimage, failing to hit their target.
However, these four Karate Chops were merely the beginning of the offensive. Machamp showed no signs of flagging. Instead, it planted itself in a horse stance, lowering its center of gravity to generate more power. Then, its four arms unleashed a crazed flurry of swings and heavy chops, its speed once again increasing to a terrifying degree.
For a moment, it was as if Machamp no longer had just four arms, but a hundred, creating a phantom of countless hands. The attacks, while chaotic, were all perfectly controlled, each strike incredibly devious and sharp.
*Swoosh!* *Swoosh!* *Swoosh!*
Metapod continued to dodge, its movements completely entrusted to its physical form. The silver light of its energy ripples flickered like breathing. No matter how fast or ferocious the opponent's offensive became, it still managed to narrowly avoid each blow.
One must remember the vast difference in their levels. At this moment, even a single glancing blow would be a near-devastating strike for Metapod.
This was like dancing on a knife's edge.
*Swoosh!*
*Swoosh!*
*Swoosh!*
*Keng!*
In less than a few seconds, Machamp had thrown at least several hundred attacks. The ground beneath the two cracked and caved in, forming a small pit from the intense pressure.
At the center, one Machamp and one Bug Pokémon continued their dance of attack and evasion, neither gaining an advantage over the other.
Machamp's chopping motions continued to accelerate, each punch generating a gust of wind.
"Holy cow..."
"It dodged every single one..."
"What the hell kind of Bug Pokémon is this?"
The crowd, including Ash, was stunned. They knew the opposing Pokemon wasn't some common creature you'd find anywhere; it was the Ace of a League Elite Four member!
Just how much Rare Candy did that guy, Brother Red, feed this Metapod?!
The crowd assumed its level had simply been artificially inflated. The concept of an Ultimate State was far too profound for them; their understanding was that of a complete novice.
"..."
They might be novices, but Red was not. He fell silent, even the motion of his rocking Grand Master's Chair coming to a halt.
As the first "guinea pig" he had trained after thoroughly studying the secret manual, he was naturally watching this battle, curious to see what kind of combat power Ultra Instinct could truly display in a fight.
From the looks of it, it was rather terrifying.
Thus, he understood all of Metapod's secrets at this moment.
Because of this, he could clearly see that Metapod's current situation was not advantageous. On the contrary, it was at a disadvantage, and that disadvantage was rapidly growing.
Against Hitmonchan's previous attack, the Ultra Instinct Metapod could even retaliate with a backhanded strike from its banana-like body onto its opponent's nose. But now, facing Machamp, Metapod had only enough energy to dodge.
"This Machamp..."
Red's eyes glinted as he seemed to notice something. He stopped rocking his Grand Master's Chair and finally couldn't help but mutter:
"It seems Metapod will be defeated today..."
On the battlefield, Machamp didn't have the poor stamina of the previous Hitmonchan. The latter could only maintain its high-intensity punching for less than ten seconds. But even after passing that critical point, Machamp's offensive did not diminish. In fact, it grew even fiercer.
*Dadadadadada!!*
With a resolute gaze, Machamp's four fists danced wildly. The white light of Karate Chop, along with the wind and force of its punches, exploded outwards as the sound of tearing air erupted continuously.
On the other side, Metapod's condition was deteriorating. Its Ultra Instinct dodges were becoming more and more strained, and a drop of profuse sweat fell from its brow as its composure unknowingly fell into disarray.
Even the silvery-white energy ripples on its body's surface flickered, looking as if they could be extinguished at any moment.
Ultra Instinct was about separating consciousness from the physical body, emphasizing a state of mind as unmoving as a mountain and as calm as water. Its current panicked state was absolutely destructive to such a realm.
"Pod..."
Finally, Metapod's mental fortitude shattered. The silvery-white ripples on its body instantly dispersed, and it exited the realm of Ultra Instinct.
Machamp seized the opportunity, smashing a fist straight into Metapod's nose.
"Machamp!!"
Bruno shouted, and Machamp understood. From its full-power punch, it immediately dissipated thirty percent of its force.
This was a true Grandmaster of the Fighting Type. Not only could they throw a heavy punch with all their might, but they could also shed a portion of that power mid-swing, exhibiting perfect control.
*BOOM!!*
However, even with only seventy percent of its power, the punch still sent Metapod flying several meters away. It crashed heavily onto the ground, and a cloud of smoke and dust and gravel billowed up.
When Metapod stood up again, its eyes, though still possessing the innate calm of a pupa, now held a trace of fear, as if facing a great enemy. Its curved, banana-shaped body was covered in wounds, and it stood there trembling.
The silver light in its eyes had already faded.
With a single punch, it was already in a flickering state.
The Ace of a League Elite Four member was just that terrifying!
"Wait, what's that—"
The crowd was already completely mesmerized by this battle, which was far beyond their own level, when Brock suddenly cried out in surprise.
Unlike the others, who were focused on Metapod, his attention had been fixed on his Master, Bruno, and his Machamp.
What no one had noticed was that the green light in Machamp's eyes, the symbol of its Detect mode, had long since vanished.
In its place...
...was a brilliant, silvery-white light.
And on the surface of its body, with its Bulk Up-honed muscle, a layer of silvery-white energy ripples had begun to emanate, flickering like breath and rippling outwards.
It stood there without moving, yet it gave off an incomparably profound and bizarre sensation, like looking upon one of the deities. It felt as if anything was now possible...
Ultra Instinct.
Machamp had also entered this terrifying Ultimate State!!
"Haha, Youth, don't think you're the only one who's done his training with that secret manual!!"
Bruno couldn't help but laugh heartily, clapping his fist into his palm with a proud expression.
By now, how could he not know that Ash had definitely also read that supreme secret manual, "Ultra Instinct"?
But he had read that secret manual, too!
Although Bruno hadn't fully grasped it, as an Elite Four Fighting Master of many years, he naturally had some understanding—enough for his Ace Machamp to get a foot in the door.
Furthermore, by battling against the Ultra Instinct Metapod, its understanding had deepened continuously, its experience points skyrocketing. Finally, as its attacks reached their peak, Machamp successfully entered this realm.
Simply put.
He had stolen Metapod's signature move.
Upon realizing this, Ash's face instantly turned ashen.
(end of chapter)