Pokémon: I’m Really Not a Team Rocket Spy

Maki understood well that if Sandshrew's Rollout gained momentum, the move's sheer power combined with Charmander's type disadvantage would put them in a precarious position.

"Don't let it keep rolling! Stop it!"

Charmander spread its arms wide, showing no intention of dodging Sandshrew's rolling attack. Just as the curled-up Pokémon was about to collide with it—Bam!

Charmander's claws gleamed with white energy as it grabbed the spinning Sandshrew and pressed it to the ground. Even with the boost from Dragon Dance, it was a tough task for Charmander.

Under Charmander's resistance, Sandshrew's rolling momentum continued, pushing Charmander back a significant distance.

"Grrr!"

Charmander roared, its relatively slender arms suddenly exhibiting extraordinary strength, forcibly halting Sandshrew's Rollout.

At this moment, Charmander seemed to have the "Guts" Ability embodied.

"What?!"

Sandshrew's Trainer's expression changed. They hadn't expected Charmander to counter Rollout—a move empowered by Defense Curl—head-on. Even without a prolonged charge, the force behind it wasn't to be underestimated.

"Use Fire Fang!"

Maki didn't hesitate. With the opponent delivering themselves so conveniently, it was time for a strong counterattack.

The opposing Trainer underestimated the situation. Moves like Rollout, which grow stronger with each consecutive hit, are best used to control the battlefield first before delivering decisive blows. If Maki were in their place, they'd have had Sandshrew circle the arena a few times to build momentum. Missing such an opportunity was inexcusable.

Though Sandshrew's Rollout had been halted, its body was still curled up. Unable to find an ideal angle, Charmander bit down on Sandshrew's hard shell.

Even with its high defensive strength, Sandshrew couldn't completely mitigate the damage. Charmander's boosted Fire Fang, a same-type move enhanced by Dragon Dance, packed a significant punch.

"Sandshrew, use Dig to escape!"

"Lift it up! Don't let it get away!"

Instead of pushing Sandshrew into the ground, Charmander exerted upward force, lifting the curled Pokémon off the ground.

Sandshrew uncurled and stretched out its limbs to start digging but soon realized it was getting further from the ground.

Sandshrew, renowned for its digging prowess, was entirely helpless if its claws couldn't touch the earth.

The referee standing nearby heaved a silent sigh of relief. Ground-types like Sandshrew were the bane of any arena staff's existence. Letting one dig could lead to serious repairs post-match.

"Use Ember!"

With its body fully extended, Sandshrew's softer underbelly was exposed. Maki seized the opportunity, striking where it was most vulnerable.

Sandshrew panicked, wildly flailing its yellow claws in an attempt to escape, but Charmander's grip was firm, leaving no room for evasion.

From such close range, Sandshrew had no way to dodge.

A burst of fiery sparks erupted, colliding with Sandshrew and sending it flying across the arena. The Ground-type landed heavily on the ground, its low Special Defense leaving it visibly worse for wear.

Though badly injured, Sandshrew hadn't been completely defeated after two hits.

Charmander performed another Dragon Dance.

Based on its training, Charmander could manage two Dragon Dances as the peak of its current physical limits. Any more would be pushing it unnecessarily, especially in a standard battle.

With its second Dragon Dance complete, Charmander had gained overwhelming strength and speed, allowing it to approach Sandshrew in an instant for a decisive Fire Fang.

Dragon Dance's advantage over Swords Dance lies in its speed boost, enabling faster execution of attacks.

Before Sandshrew could react, Charmander had closed the distance. Sandshrew hastily countered with Crush Claw.

Crush Claw was likely an Egg Move for this Sandshrew, indicating its solid potential.

However, relying solely on that to block Charmander's assault was overly optimistic. The moment their attacks clashed, the energy in Sandshrew's claws was quickly overwhelmed by the flames from Charmander's jaws.

"Sandshrew is unable to battle! The winner is Charmander!"

After approaching to confirm Sandshrew's status, the referee announced the match's conclusion.

After feeding Charmander the remaining half of its Pokéblock, Maki left the arena. Despite battling three rounds, Charmander was unscathed. If not for the restriction of three matches per day, Maki would've considered going for another. It was clear Charmander hadn't reached its limit.

As Charmander cheerfully munched on the Pokéblock, Maki logged onto the League's official website to check their current arena ranking.

The site, designed for Trainer convenience, allowed users to view their records, BP points, and exchange BP for items.

Of course, exchanges acted as a reservation system. Points weren't deducted until the item was collected at an arena, preventing issues like stolen accounts or fraud.

It was Maki's first time logging in with their own account.

"For a profile picture… Charmander, look over here!" Maki suddenly called out.

"Char?"

Click!

Charmander barely had time to glance up before a bright flash went off. It quickly realized it had been photographed.

"Not bad! I have a talent for photography!"

Maki admired the shot, which captured Charmander holding a Pokéblock with crumbs around its mouth, staring quizzically at the camera with a silly yet adorable expression.

"Char! Char!"

Charmander stretched its neck to see the photo, protesting loudly.

Such a picture would undoubtedly be a black mark on its reputation once it evolved into a majestic Charizard!

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