Chapter 167: The Rematch Against Articuno
"Not bad, not bad."
Having left the Twin Islands, Rio looked at the Poké Ball containing Articuno with a satisfied smile. He had captured Articuno—which meant he now had two legendary-level Pokémon under his belt. The first was Raikou; the second was Articuno.
"Charizard—get ready for a tough battle ahead."
"Roaar~" Charizard nodded.
Rio pressed the Poké Ball’s release button. With a flash of light, Articuno appeared before him, its eyes burning with fury.
[Pokémon: Articuno]
[Level: 80 (Currently enraged. Time until next level: 4320 days.)]
[Talent: Legendary]
[Friendship: -20]
[Ability 1: Pressure]
[Ability 2: Snow Cloak]
[Gender: Genderless]
[Moves: Gust (120%), Mist (120%), Powder Snow (120%), Reflect (120%), Ice Shard (120%), Agility (120%), Ancient Power (120%), Tailwind (120%), Freeze-Dry (120%), Roost (120%), Ice Beam (120%), Snowscape (120%), Hurricane (120%), Haze (120%), Blizzard (120%), Sheer Cold (120%), Air Cutter (120%), Avalanche (120%), Brave Bird (120%), Hyper Beam (120%), and more...]
[Description: This is a legendary Pokémon capable of freezing water vapor. A single flap of its wings can create a blizzard.]
"Fuu~" — Die, you despicable human!
Before Rio could even speak, Articuno spread its wings and summoned thick ice pillars in midair. With a flash of light, Rio recalled it again.
"Roaar~" Charizard, whose mouth was already wreathed in purple flame, looked back in confusion.
"Easy—no need for pointless fighting. Let me have a friendly chat with Articuno first," Rio said with a smile.
A few seconds later, he released Articuno again. "Articuno, let’s—"
"Fuu~" Articuno began charging Sheer Cold, its beak glowing with intense cold energy.
Click— Rio recalled it just in time.
"Son of a—legendary Pokémon really do have different temperaments! Raikou doesn’t attack on sight, but that doesn’t mean the others are the same. Articuno’s got a temper to match the Red Gyarados!" Rio scowled at the Poké Ball in his hand.
"But I refuse to believe you’re as stubborn as the Red Gyarados. That one’s brain was scrambled by ancient genes—it could fight me for three days straight. Do you have that kind of issue?"
He released Articuno again, but this time, he didn’t speak. He just watched it charge a Hyper Beam.
Click. Recalled.
He repeated this thirty-five times.
Articuno finally gave up—it no longer attacked the moment it was released. It just glared at Rio.
Hah—try fighting me with that stubbornness. I’ve dealt with top-tier stubbornness before; this is nothing, Rio thought smugly.
"Articuno—can we have a proper conversation now?" Rio spun the Poké Ball in his hand.
"If you had the guts, you’d keep me out," Articuno said, finally speaking via telepathy.
"Sorry—I don’t have guts." Rio picked at his ear with a nonchalant air.
Articuno’s eyes widened—it hadn’t expected such a response. Normal people would have snapped back.
"But he has guts," Rio continued, patting Charizard’s back.
"Him?" Articuno looked down at Charizard with disdain. "What are you trying to say?"
"I’m saying that since I’ve caught you, my goal is to make you obey. I also know you won’t just listen because I tell you to. So I want Charizard to fight you. If it wins, you’ll obey me from now on."
Rio explained calmly. He knew Articuno was vain and narcissistic—its earlier admiration of its own reflection in the ice mirror confirmed that. Vanity and narcissism stem from excessive self-confidence—or arrogance. Against such a personality, being soft wouldn’t work. He needed to be firm and show it its place.
"And if it loses?" Articuno’s gaze remained contemptuous.
"If Charizard loses, I’ll set you free," Rio said flatly.
Charizard would struggle against Moltres or Zapdos—especially Zapdos, whose typing countered it. But Articuno was the only one of the three birds that Charizard had a type advantage against. Combined with Sacred Fire and Mega Evolution, Rio was confident.
"But—I’ll give it two chances. If Charizard loses twice, I’ll release you immediately."
Two chances seemed safer—just in case.
"Fine—I’ll give you three chances if you want. I am Lord Lugia’s strongest bird! What chance does a mere Charizard have against me?" Articuno declared proudly.
"Shall we start now?"
Rio shook his head. "For fairness—so there’s no excuse when you lose—heal your wounds first."
"You’re quite the gentleman." Articuno praised him, then scanned the area and flew toward a deserted island to the northeast. It landed on the beach and curled up. The temperature around it plummeted, and fine snow began to fall from the sky, slowly healing its wounds.
"Roost?" Rio muttered.
An hour later, Articuno was completely healed.
"Kid—come fight!" Articuno took to the sky, looking down at Rio.
"Not yet—let’s rest first. It’s still the middle of the night," Rio said with a yawn, glancing at the bright moon.
"You’re too considerate for your own good," Articuno said with a dissatisfied huff, but it didn’t argue and returned to the island.
Time passed. The sun rose from the east.
"Articuno—let’s battle," Rio said, his lips curling upward.
Everything was ready—and the sun was the missing piece. Charizard needed the sunlight to fully shine.
"Finally! I’ve been waiting to get my revenge!" Articuno perked up at the announcement and soared into the sky.
"Little Charizard—I hope you can at least put up a fight. Otherwise, you’re going to have a very bad day."