Chapter 141: Wild Boar Digging for Sweet Potatoes
"Now this is more like it."
On the battlefield, Rio looked at the Battle Bond-evolved Greninja with satisfaction. Greninja’s level was only 40, but in its initial-stage Battle Bond form, it had surged to 44. Though Eusine’s Alakazam still had a level advantage, that meant little to Greninja.
"What in the world—another evolution?" Eusine stared at the transformed Greninja in equal disbelief. "Alakazam—Miracle Eye!"
Despite his shock, he remembered he was in the middle of a battle and issued a command while Rio’s Pokémon was evolving. He knew Greninja had a Dark typing, so he needed to use Miracle Eye first—otherwise, all his attacks would be useless.
"Ala~" Alakazam’s eyes shimmered with a dual glow.
"Alakazam—Psybeam!" Eusine’s second command followed immediately.
"Ala~" A beam of light burst from Alakazam’s spoon.
"Greninja—Double Team!" Rio communicated telepathically through their Battle Bond connection.
"Gren~" Greninja performed hand seals midair, splitting into two, then four, then eight copies across the battlefield.
Alakazam’s Psybeam swept from left to right, dispersing each illusion as it passed. When it reached the third copy, Rio’s next command came: "Greninja—close in and use Shadow Sneak!"
"Gren~" The remaining five Greninja charged at Alakazam.
"Alakazam—Psychic!" Alakazam’s eyes glowed, releasing a powerful psychic shockwave.
POP POP POP—
The five charging Greninja illusions dissipated one by one—except for the second from the right. But its advance was slowed, as if caught in quicksand.
"Alakazam—Psycho Cut! Show this guy who the real powerhouse is!" Eusine excitedly commanded, having found the real Greninja.
"Ala~" Two white blades of psychic energy formed, aimed at Greninja’s face and abdomen.
Rio smirked. At that moment, the Greninja trapped in the psychic quicksand vanished. Alakazam’s Psycho Cut hit nothing but air.
Eusine’s eyes widened in shock, then horror as he shouted: "Alakazam—behind you! Teleport!"
Alakazam spun around—just as the vanished Greninja emerged like a phantom from its own shadow, a Water Shuriken in hand, swinging with force.
"Ala~" Alakazam cried out in pain as it activated Teleport at the last second, but not before the blade left a deep gash across its back. Blood dripped as it reappeared in midair.
"Greninja—leap up, Double Team, feint with Water Shuriken—then use Spikes on the ground," Rio commanded telepathically while Eusine was still reeling.
"Gren~" Greninja leaped three or four meters into the air with a one-handed seal. The next moment, Alakazam was surrounded by eight Greninja illusions, each holding a Water Shuriken.
"Alakazam—Teleport!" Eusine shouted in panic. He was reacting too slowly, losing ground with every exchange. All he could do was flee.
"Ala~" Alakazam’s eyes glowed, its spoon raised. Facing the eight incoming Greninja, it vanished from midair and reappeared on the ground.
"Ala—!" But the moment it landed, Alakazam’s expression shifted dramatically. It looked down in disbelief—the entire battlefield was covered in tiny, water-condensed shurikens. And its feet were planted squarely on four or five of them, blood seeping from the wounds. It looked at Eusine with a pitiful expression.
Eusine, too focused on his ace to care about its pain, commanded: "Alakazam—Protect!"
Greninja landed northwest of Alakazam and hurled a Water Shuriken. Alakazam obeyed, raising its spoon to summon a white barrier. The shuriken struck and was nullified.
Eusine sighed in relief. Then, looking at the shuriken-covered battlefield, he couldn’t help but sneer: "You played yourself, kid."
In his view, Greninja’s strength relied on mobility and speed. By using Spikes, Greninja had damaged Alakazam—but it had also sealed off its own advantage. Now, with shurikens everywhere, how could Greninja close in and fight Alakazam up close? In a ranged battle, Alakazam’s Psychic would dominate.
He was about to order Alakazam to use Psychic—"Alakazam, Psy—"
He froze. "Impossible!!!"
Greninja, which had been over ten meters away, was suddenly behind Alakazam again, Water Shuriken in hand. It swung before anyone could react—and Alakazam collapsed, its eyes wide in disbelief.
"How is that possible?! Shadow Sneak worked from that distance?!"
"What the hell just happened?!"
The observing trainers buzzed with confusion. Erika furrowed her brow, then relaxed as realization dawned.
"It was Spikes. Remember—the Water Shurikens Greninja scattered are still objects, and objects cast shadows. Greninja’s Shadow Sneak only had to travel through those shadows to reach Alakazam’s back. And we were all focused on the clash between the Water Shuriken and Protect—normally, it’s nearly impossible to notice Shadow Sneak being activated. Especially since Rio never gave a single verbal command throughout."
Erika looked at Rio. "You and Greninja can communicate telepathically, can’t you?"
Rio smiled and shrugged: "As expected of Gym Leader Erika—you caught that in one glance."
The crowd murmured in awe at Rio’s tactical brilliance and his telepathic bond with Greninja.
"Mr. ’I’ve-Seen-Suicune’—you’ve lost. Time to step down and let the next challenger have a turn. Time is precious," Rio said, turning to Eusine.
Battle Bond was draining not just Greninja but Rio as well—he needed to wrap this up quickly.
Eusine’s face darkened. He recalled Alakazam with clear reluctance, but before stepping down, he left a bitter remark: "I’m still not convinced. Just wait—I’ll prove my strength during the operation against Team Rocket. You’ll all see the power of Suicune’s future trainer!"
You’re a wild boar digging for sweet potatoes—all mouth and no substance, Rio thought, rolling his eyes. If you could actually catch Suicune, I’d stand on my head and eat my own words. Considering the effort it took to catch Raikou, Rio doubted Eusine would ever make Suicune submit.
And Rio hadn’t even used Greninja’s Geomancy—Xerneas’s divine move—in that battle. If he had, Eusine would have fallen even faster.
After Eusine stepped down, a middle-aged man took his place with a Level 32 Beedrill. He was even weaker—Greninja dispatched him in under thirty seconds. Rio fought seven or eight challengers in a row, eventually reaching a point where he didn’t even need Battle Bond to beat them.
Finally, Erika smiled and addressed the group: "Since everyone is satisfied, rest up. Tonight at 8 PM—the operation to eliminate Team Rocket begins!"