Chapter 106: Amaura’s First Battle
"Pshhh—!"
Volcanion let out a steaming growl, slightly raising his eyelids, clearly not taking Korrina seriously at all.
Mm.
Though disdainful was disdainful—
his companions were still going to battle.
Volcanion might be tsundere, but Sora had already completely seen through the gentleness hidden beneath that pride.
Wasn't this proof enough?
He had already found himself a good spectator spot early on, quietly waiting to watch Amaura and Sylveon's performance.
"Go, Machoke!"
"ROAR!!"
Machoke—a very common Fighting-type Pokémon.
Originally introduced in Kanto during the first generation, practically one of the Pokémon series' veteran old-timers.
'Its level is around 30. Looks like it evolved not too long ago.'
With Sora's current eye for strength, he could already roughly estimate a Pokémon's level at a glance.
Korrina's Machoke wasn't especially high-level.
Machop only evolved into Machoke at Level 28.
As for evolving into Machamp, that had nothing to do with level—it required trade evolution.
So-called trade evolution.
In the games, that meant exchanging Pokémon with another player.
Reality, however, wasn't nearly so complicated.
At its core, it was still related to emotional bonds.
Pokémon requiring trade evolution would evolve once they experienced separation from their Trainer for a period of time.
The longing generated by that separation would transform into "connection energy," helping them complete evolution.
In other words—
absence makes the heart grow fonder?
"Amaura, I'll leave this to you."
For Sora, the only battle truly worth taking seriously was this first one.
Because aside from Amaura, the outcomes of the others' matches held zero suspense.
'So let me enjoy the fun of battling for now.'
After this opening match, the rest would basically just be him humoring Korrina.
"Awoo~~"
Meanwhile, Amaura happily waddled forward on her chubby little legs after hearing Sora call her name.
She stopped before Machoke and let out an adorably fierce little roar.
Amaura and Machoke were roughly the same level.
She was currently Level 28—slightly lower than Machoke.
But such a tiny level gap wasn't a big issue.
"Let me witness your strength, Senior!"
Pokémon battles weren't just about level advantages.
Tactical decisions mattered too.
As did battlefield adaptability.
All of these reflected a Trainer's actual skill level.
"Alright."
Since he'd chosen to capture Amaura, Sora intended to take responsibility for her properly.
Training alone wasn't enough for real growth.
She needed actual battle experience.
Sylveon was in the same situation.
Her level had risen too quickly.
Without proper tempering, her foundation might become unstable.
"Machoke, Bulk Up!"
"ROAR!"
Machoke struck a muscle-flexing pose as its aura suddenly changed.
Its Attack and Defense rapidly increased.
"Bulk Up?"
Sora remembered Machoke normally only learning that move in the forties.
'An egg move?'
'So this is the money power of hereditary Trainer families?'
'Judging by the effect, it's probably only reaching 30–40% of a normal Bulk Up's full enhancement. Definitely not 50%.'
Sora guessed Machoke hadn't fully mastered the move yet.
Nothing strange about that.
Game mechanics represented average standards.
Reality was different.
Many Pokémon simply couldn't achieve average-level mastery.
For Machoke's Bulk Up to reach this level already counted as impressive.
"Wuu…"
Amaura was startled by Machoke's sudden transformation and anxiously shuffled in place.
"No need to worry."
Sora was very satisfied with Amaura's response.
This was her first real battle.
The fact that she hadn't rashly attacked or moved recklessly was worthy of praise.
"Bulk Up takes time," Sora said.
"That's enough time for you to act."
"Remember this—if you encounter opponents like this in the future, don't engage them in close combat."
"And if possible, interrupt their setup immediately!"
Sora instructed while giving commands:
"Use Icy Wind!"
"Awooo~~~"
Receiving her Trainer's order, Amaura immediately raised her neck and unleashed a broad freezing gale filled with icy particles.
"So fast!"
Amaura's move execution speed exceeded Korrina's expectations.
"Dodge it, Machoke!"
Korrina immediately ordered Machoke to evade.
Its reaction speed was excellent as well, instantly escaping the area covered by Icy Wind.
Bulk Up was interrupted midway.
Its enhancement effect didn't even reach 40% of normal strength—
barely around 20%.
"Rrr…gh…"
Yet despite successfully avoiding the attack, Machoke suddenly let out a painful groan.
"What?"
Korrina froze for a moment.
But with the freezing wind still approaching, she could only order Machoke to keep moving.
However, as soon as it started running, the pain on Machoke's face became obvious.
'What's going on?'
Korrina couldn't understand it.
Icy Wind clearly hadn't touched Machoke at all!
No—
wait!!
Suddenly, Korrina realized something.
Machoke's muscles were trembling slightly while dodging the icy wind.
Its body instinctively shrank back from the cold.
"It's the sudden temperature drop!!"
In real battles, countless external factors influenced combat.
Just like now.
Machoke had just used Bulk Up and gotten itself pumped full of heat and adrenaline.
Then suddenly—
freezing wind blasted over its skin and bloodstream simultaneously.
Extreme heat followed immediately by extreme cold.
No wonder Machoke felt awful.
"She noticed that already?"
From the start of battle until now, less than five seconds had passed.
Machoke had acted first, spending about three seconds on Bulk Up.
Amaura, meanwhile, had completed Icy Wind's energy gathering in under one second.
Most importantly—the Icy Wind Sora selected not only disrupted Machoke's rhythm, but also sharply lowered the surrounding temperature, indirectly inflicting a speed debuff.
'Distance between both sides exceeds thirty meters…'
'And now Machoke's speed has dropped…'
"Didn't that put her at a disadvantage from the very beginning?"
'This is bad.'
Korrina's original plan had been simple:
Use Bulk Up first.
Then immediately close the distance and force close combat against Amaura.
But now—
she no longer had that opportunity.
"So this is what Trainer battles are like…"
Volcanion watched the exchange carefully.
"One wrong choice… and you immediately fall behind…"
Though both battlers were weaklings in his eyes and not worth taking seriously—
Volcanion didn't dislike this sort of psychological and strategic clash.
"Machoke!"
Korrina thrust her fist forward and shouted:
"Push through the Icy Wind and use Strength!"
She was going all in.
Sora wanted to kite Machoke and wear it down.
She absolutely wouldn't allow that.
Now she could only gamble.
Use her strongest offensive move.
'As long as it lands once.'
'As long as Machoke hits Amaura a single time…'
Korrina clenched her fists.
'Victory will be mine!'
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Pat reon Advance Chapters: /YonkoSlayer