Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 349: Naoki Vs Lance



Naoki approached Lance with a steady gait and greeted him, "Hello, I'm Naoki. I've heard a lot about you."

Lance, initially surprised, quickly composed himself and returned the greeting with a polite, "Hello."

Nemona, unable to contain her excitement, jumped up and shouted, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Lance looked down at Nemona, his expression softening into a smile. "Do you like Pokémon battles, too?" he asked.

Nemona nodded enthusiastically, her grin revealing her gleaming white teeth. "That's right! I can't battle you right now, but Mr. Naoki will fight you on my behalf!"

The idea of a championship-level battle was enough to electrify the air, even among the onlookers.

Lance chuckled, then turned his attention back to Naoki. "Would you like to battle me?" he asked, his tone casual but inviting.

Naoki hesitated for a moment before nodding. "If it's okay with you," he said, his voice measured. He noted that Lance wasn't as intimidating or aloof as his reputation suggested.

"Of course," Lance replied, his gaze shifting to the red Pokémon standing by Naoki. "That's a Dragon-type Pokémon, isn't it?"

Naoki nodded. "Yes, it's called Koraidon."

Lance's lips curved into a faint smile. "I thought so. It seems quite powerful. Very well, I accept your challenge, Naoki."

"I'll be the referee!" Nemona volunteered immediately, grabbing a small flag and rushing to the front of the battlefield to take her position.

Naoki couldn't help but chuckle as he followed Nemona, Lance walking calmly beside him. The lively girl's energy was contagious, and her enthusiasm had drawn the attention of nearby trainers.

As the trio arrived at the battlefield, Nemona raised the flag high, mimicking the tone of an official referee as she declared, "The next Pokémon battle is between Mr. Lance, the Dragon Master of the Kanto region, and Mr. Naoki of the Paldea region!"

"The battle rules are 6v6. Each trainer can use up to six Pokémon. The match ends when all of one trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle!" she announced with dramatic flair.

The buzz of excitement among the spectators grew as trainers gathered to watch the upcoming battle. Alder, Clay, and Nikar arrived just as the stage was set.

Adek raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Huh? Looks like it's already starting."

Clay observed Lance with interest. "That's Lance, the Champion of Kanto, right? I've heard a lot about him."

Nikar glanced at his daughter Nemona, who was energetically running around on the field, and sighed. "That girl... She's always so lively."

Adek gestured toward Naoki and said, "See that young man? That's Naoki. He's the one who helped heal my Volcarona. Without him, things could have been very different."

Clay and Nikar shifted their gazes to Naoki, their curiosity piqued. They noticed his composed demeanor and the striking red Pokémon by his side.

Clay's expression turned contemplative. "Anyone who earns Adek's praise must be exceptional."

Back on the field, Nemona turned to Lance, her face serious as she said, "Mr. Lance, don't underestimate your opponent! And don't hold back just because Mr. Naoki isn't famous yet. He's amazing with Dragon-type Pokémon-he even has several Dragonites on his ranch!" Naoki felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. 'Nemona, could you not oversell me like this?' Lance's surprise was evident, but it quickly turned into respect. He met Naoki's gaze with a serious expression and said, "Thank you for the warning, Nemona. I'll give it my all." "Hehe!" Nemona giggled, clearly pleased with herself. "Alright! The battle begins now!" she announced, waving her flag dramatically.

Naoki, who initially intended to use the match as a simple comparison between Dragonites, sighed internally. 'Well, so much for keeping it low-key.'

But there was no turning back now.

He reasoned that Lance wouldn't use his ace, Dragonite, right off the bat. After some thought, Naoki decided to lead with Pawmot to test the waters.

The two threw their Poké Balls almost simultaneously.

Two bursts of white light illuminated the battlefield, revealing two vastly different Pokémon. On the right stood a massive Gyarados, its powerful physique radiating menace, its fierce eyes glaring with intensity. On the left, an adorable-looking Pawmot appeared, its pink fur shimmering in the light, clutching an inconspicuous little hammer in its paw and sporting a distinctive red cape.

The trainers watching from the sidelines erupted into murmurs.

"What kind of Pokémon is that? It's so cute! Is that a weapon in its paw?"

One trainer, however, looked utterly shocked. "That's a Pawmot from the Paldea region? No way, it can't be!"

"What do you mean?" another trainer asked eagerly.

The man explained, "A typical Pawmot's fur is yellow, not pink, and they don't carry hammers or wear capes. Most importantly, Pawmots can't fly!"

The trainers were no novices, and they quickly understood the implications of his words. Their astonished gazes fixated on the unusual Pawmot.

"It's here! Mr. Naoki's star Pokémon, Pawmot!" Nemona exclaimed with excitement.

On the field, Naoki and Lance issued commands almost simultaneously.

"Gyarados, use Twister!" Lance ordered.

"Pawmot, use Electro Ball!" Naoki countered.

Gyarados roared, unleashing a swirling tornado of draconic energy that surged toward Pawmot. The little Pokémon's cape fluttered wildly in the wind as it deftly dodged the vortex, zipping to the side and forming a crackling orb of electricity in its paw. It hurled the electric ball with incredible speed, striking Gyarados squarely.

The Electric move's four-times advantage against Gyarados delivered devastating damage, causing the serpent Pokémon to flinch and groan in agony.

Lance's brow furrowed. The type disadvantage was severe, and Gyarados had no room for error. He realized this Pawmot was far from ordinary. Its agility and small size made it hard to pin down, forcing him to change his strategy. "Gyarados, watch closely and be ready to counter!" he called, switching to a more defensive approach.

Naoki remained calm, choosing to stay on the offensive. "Pawmot, Thunderbolt!"

"Pawmot!" The Pokémon's body crackled with electricity as it charged forward, swinging its hammer with a burst of thunderous energy.

"Water Pulse, now!" Lance shouted, hoping to halt Pawmot's advance.

Gyarados opened its jaws, channeling a dense sphere of water energy that surged outward in a powerful wave. However, Pawmot anticipated the attack and leaped nimbly out of the way, closing the distance and delivering its electrifying Thunderbolt directly to Gyarados. Electric currents coursed through Gyarados's body, bypassing its scales and delivering an unbearable jolt. The massive Pokémon let out a pained roar before collapsing with a

resounding thud.

The spectators were left stunned.

"That's... it?" one trainer murmured in disbelief.

"Did Lance, the Dragon Master of Kanto, just lose in two moves?"

Clay watched with intrigue, his voice low. "Gyarados's typing is a major disadvantage here."

Alder nodded, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "This is just the warm-up. Things are about

to get interesting."

On the battlefield, after several moments of stillness, Gyarados showed no signs of recovery. Nemona stepped forward, raising her small referee flag. After checking Gyarados's condition, she declared with her usual enthusiasm, "Gyarados is unable to battle! The winner of the first

round is Pawmot!"

"Pawmot!" Pawmot cheerfully bounded back to Naoki and high-fived him in celebration.

Across the battlefield, Lance appeared composed. He returned Gyarados to its Poké Ball, then

drew out another, his tone steady but resolute:

"You're a formidable opponent. Let's settle this through our Pokémon!"

"Bring it on!" Naoki replied with a determined nod. Just as he was about to send Pawmot back

into the fray, another Poké Ball at his waist began to shake.

Before he could react, Ogerpon emerged from the ball on its own, hopping excitedly.

"Oge!" it chirped, its eyes sparkling with determination.

Pawmot tilted its head, curious. "Pawmot?"

Ogerpon turned to Pawmot with an eager look, its expression full of anticipation. "Pon,

Pon!"

"Pamo~" Pawmot gave an understanding nod and retreated back to Naoki's side.

Naoki raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You want to battle too?"

Ogerpon nodded vigorously. "Oge!"

Without waiting for another cue, Ogerpon dashed onto the battlefield, its movements light

and confident.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Wow, it's a Pokémon I've never seen before!" Nemona's eyes sparkled with excitement.

The crowd around them began murmuring as their attention shifted to the peculiar Pokémon.

"Another unfamiliar Pokémon!"

"Hey, is this also from the Paldea region?"

"No way, I've never seen anything like it!"

"Could this be an undiscovered species?"

"Mr. Naoki, what's this Pokémon's name?" Nemona asked eagerly.

Naoki smiled, watching Ogerpon's back. "Its name is Ogerpon."

"Pon- " Ogerpon chirped in affirmation.

Lance's curiosity was piqued. "Ogerpon, huh? In that case, I'll choose this Pokémon!"

With a flash of light, Lance released his next Pokémon: a Charizard with blazing eyes and an

aura of fiery intensity.

The crowd gasped at the sight of the iconic fire and flying-type Pokémon.

Clay, observing from the sidelines, remarked, "That's a tough matchup for a grass-type."

But as the battle was about to begin, something unexpected happened. Ogerpon reached into its leafy coat and pulled out a strange blue mask with a sorrowful expression. It placed the mask on its face, and, in an instant, its body shifted from green to a

deep shade of blue.

Clay: "???" Alder: "???"

Lance: "?"

Nemona's mouth hung open in amazement. "What just happened? Did it change forms?"

Naoki held his forehead in mild exasperation. Still, it was too late to backtrack-the battle

was underway. Lance, seeing an apparent advantage, called out, "Charizard, Flamethrower!"

Naoki, unsure of Ogerpon's full capabilities but trusting in its strength, decided to test its

potential. "Ogerpon, use Ivy Cudgel!"

"Pon!"

Ogerpon waved its small hands with joy, and a thorny cudgel materialized in its grasp. The Cudgel radiated an intense water-type energy, shimmering as it coalesced.

Charizard roared, unleashing a blazing Flamethrower toward Ogerpon. Without hesitation,

the masked Pokémon dashed forward, holding the thorny cudgel confidently.

Naoki's heart skipped a beat.

'Too reckless!' he thought, concern flashing across his face.

But what happened next left everyone in awe. Ogerpon raised the thorny cudgel horizontally, twirling it rapidly. The intense flames from

Charizard morphed into serpentine trails, which were swiftly neutralized by the water energy encasing the staff. The flames dissipated harmlessly, leaving the battlefield shrouded in

steam.

Charizard faltered, momentarily startled. It hesitated, unsure whether to continue its attack. "Increase the firepower!" Lance commanded, his voice sharp.

Charizard steadied itself and intensified the Flamethrower, pouring more energy into the

fiery torrent. However, Ogerpon advanced fearlessly, weaving through the flames as though it were dancing. When it closed the distance, it abruptly sidestepped and raised its thorn cudgel high.

With precise timing, Ogerpon delivered a powerful strike to Charizard's head.

"Pon!"

Ogerpon chirped confidently as the Cudgel connected with a resounding thud. The force of the blow sent Charizard crashing to the ground. Its large, muscular frame

slumped limply, and its pink tongue lolled to the side. It was completely unconscious, unable to continue the battle.

The audience collectively gasped in disbelief.

"???"

Clay blinked in astonishment. "One... one hit? But... wasn't the type matchup unfavorable?

What kind of move was that? How did it take down Charizard in one shot?"

Alder's eyes gleamed with excitement. He leaned forward slightly, his voice brimming with

pride. "Incredible. I knew Naoki had something special up his sleeve!"

The rest of the crowd, however, was left in stunned silence.

What had they just witnessed? A Charizard, one of the most iconic and resilient Pokémon, had

been defeated in a single strike.

And the Pokémon responsible? That adorable, seemingly unassuming creature with a thorny

Cudgel. "What is that Pokémon? It's so cute, but... how is it so strong?" murmured one trainer. "Where did it even come from?"

Meanwhile, Ogerpon, overjoyed by its victory, retracted the thorny Cudgel back into its small

hands. It skipped back to Naoki with a triumphant grin, its masked face radiating pride. "Pon, Pon!"

It chirped, gazing up at Naoki with wide eyes. It tilted its head as if asking, "Did I do well?" Naoki crouched down and patted Ogerpon's head gently. "You were amazing," he said,

though his thoughts were racing. The strength of this Pokémon... he hadn't fully realized its potential until now.

On the other side of the battlefield, Lance stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the fallen Charizard. After a moment, he exhaled deeply, his expression turning solemn. "Naoki, you truly are a formidable trainer." Lance finally admitted, his voice filled with

respect.