Pokemon: Spiritual Master

5 bonus chapter's coming out at 11 AM EST. So I ask that you save you're powerstones until then.

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Mamoswine lost the ability to battle!

Being knocked out by a single punch from Kubfu left Pryce slightly shocked.

He fed a Revive to the unconscious Mamoswine before recalling it. Then, he tossed out his second Pokéball.

From the red light emerged a fierce-looking Pokémon with an oval-shaped golden gemstone embedded in its forehead, a bright crimson crown, collar, and tail, and a dark gray body. It crouched low, radiating menace.

"Weavile, the Sharp Claw Pokémon. The evolved form of Sneasel, it's a Pokémon highly skilled at hunting in teams, Rotom!"

Weavile's arrival brought with it a palpable sense of pressure.

Clang!

It clashed its claws together, producing a sharp metallic sound.

Its lips curled into a smirk, revealing sharp teeth, the gesture clearly provocative.

"Oowoo!"

Ninetales immediately grew serious at the sight of Weavile.

It remembered Weavile and Sneasel as predators it had to avoid at all costs when it was younger.

In the Alola region, Weavile and Sneasel often hunted in packs, preying on weaker Alolan Vulpix and Sandslash.

Johan gently stroked Ninetales' head and asked,

"Do you want to fight it?"

"Oowoo~~"

But Ninetales shook its head.

It no longer needed to defeat its former predators to prove its strength.

Johan chuckled.

"Come back, Kubfu. Charcadet, you're up."

"Goka!"

Kubfu, still half-asleep, trotted back and high-fived Charcadet, who strode confidently onto the battlefield.

Flames started to rise.

A Fire-type?

Pryce remained calm, and the second match began.

"Weavile, Fake Out!"

"Weavile!"

With a sharp cry, Weavile moved like lightning, appearing instantly in front of Charcadet and slamming its sharp claws into its opponent.

Bang!

Charcadet flinched, unable to avoid the hit.

"Surf!"

Weavile grinned wickedly, twirling its claws to summon a large wave from the nearby Lake of Rage and sending it crashing toward Charcadet.

Johan frowned.

A typical physical attacker like Weavile, using a special move? A mixed attacker?

"Charcadet!" Johan called.

"Goka!"

Charcadet recovered from its flinching state, flames surging around it as its body ignited completely.

"Flame Charge, dodge it!"

Whoosh!

Charcadet darted across the battlefield, leaving a charred trail behind as it evaded Weavile's watery assault.

Pryce's eyebrows twitched slightly.

It recovered from the flinch that quickly?

"Night Slash!"

"Weavile!"

Undeterred, Weavile cloaked itself in a thick black aura and zipped toward Charcadet.

It was clear that even with the speed boost from Flame Charge, Charcadet couldn't match Weavile's velocity.

Dodging was not an option.

But dodging had never been Charcadet's style.

"Charcadet, face it head-on! Flamethrower!"

"Goka!"

With a roar, Charcadet unleashed an intense stream of fire.

"Weavile, Quick Attack, dodge!"

Too late!

Charcadet's flames engulfed Weavile, filling the area with a blinding orange glow.

In the midst of the fiery inferno, faint traces of golden threads of flame flickered.

Huh?

Pryce narrowed his eyes.

What was that?

Boom!

A massive column of fire erupted, completely swallowing Weavile.

"Careful!"

Johan's voice rang out as Charcadet, sensing danger through its aura and flames, leapt aside.

Bang!

Weavile's claw narrowly missed, grazing Charcadet's shoulder and sending it skidding back.

Weavile's body was now covered in a layer of melting ice and burn marks.

Johan glanced at Pryce in surprise.

Just before Weavile was consumed by the flames, it had encased itself in a thick shell of ice, shielding it from the worst of the attack.

So this is Pryce's signature ability—the Eternal Ice Wall!

Or rather, the hallmark move of the "Masked Man" from the Pokémon Adventures manga.

Pryce's Pokémon could rapidly condense moisture from the air into solid ice, using it for both offense and defense.

Yet, as impressed as Johan was, Pryce found himself equally surprised.

What incredible flames.

Charcadet, knocked back but still standing, rose quickly, its body glowing a fiery red as flames swirled around it. Its eyes locked firmly on Weavile.

"Overheat!"

A wave of searing fire burst forth, painting the sky and lake in shades of crimson. The shoreline of the Lake of Rage glowed brightly from the heat.

"Weavile, Blizzard Cloak!" Pryce commanded with a note of urgency.

"Weavile!"

Weavile drew in a deep breath, twirling its claws to summon a vortex of ice shards that enveloped its body like armor.

The fire and ice clashed head-on.

With a deafening roar, steam hissed into the air as the flames and frost battled fiercely.

The fight ended as abruptly as it began.

The flames dissipated. The ice melted.

Charcadet knelt, panting heavily, while Weavile lay unconscious on the ground.

Weavile had lost.

Johan muttered under his breath, "As expected of Pryce. His control over Ice-type moves is absurd."

Pryce, for the first time, seemed slightly annoyed as he shot a glare at Johan.

Absurd? Who's the absurd one here?

Just moments ago, Pryce had caught a faint whiff of Sacred Fire within Charcadet's flames.

No wonder this little Charcadet's firepower is so monstrous.

Unbeknownst to either of them, across the lake on a distant hillside, a Pokémon wreathed in faint lightning gazed silently in their direction.

Pryce recalled Weavile and glanced at Johan, his expression stern.

"Let me see your Ninetales now."

Pryce had a second motive for initiating this battle: to assess how much Johan's Ninetales had grown since the Indigo League.

Johan rolled his eyes.

He knew exactly what Pryce wanted.

Initially, he had thought about holding back Ninetales to frustrate Pryce. After all, Pryce had spent the entire match so far annoying Johan and his team.

However, watching Pryce immediately feed his fallen Pokémon a Revive after each round had softened Johan's irritation somewhat.

Perhaps… Pryce's actions spoke louder than his words.

Though he claimed not to form bonds with his Pokémon, his unconscious care for them suggested otherwise.

"Are you up for it?" Johan asked Ninetales.

"Oowoo~~"

Ninetales nodded.

When it had seen Weavile forming an "Eternal Ice Wall," it had been intrigued.

It reminded Ninetales of building snowmen—its favorite pastime!

"Alright then, go ahead."

"Oowoo~~"

Ninetales helped Charcadet back to the sidelines before stepping onto the battlefield.

Pryce's expression grew solemn as he released his final Pokémon.

From the Pokéball emerged a snow-white figure, humanoid in shape and draped in what resembled an elegant kimono.

"Froslass, the Snow Land Pokémon. An Ice- and Ghost-type evolution of Snorunt, it is said to be a spirit haunting snowy regions, Rotom!"

You've got to be kidding me!

Johan cursed inwardly when Pryce sent out Froslass.

As Ninetales took its place, snow began to fall.

Froslass' form became hazy in the snowy weather.

Snow Cloak.

[Snow Cloak: This ability increases the Pokémon's evasion in snowy conditions.]

So this was Pryce's game—forcing him to use Ninetales and then countering it with Froslass and its Snow Cloak?

Johan shot Pryce a look filled with "resentment."

Alright, no more playing fair.

"Froslass, Blizzard!"

"Ninetales, Imprison!"

Pryce: "???"

Johan smirked. "Ninetales, Aurora Veil!"

"Oowoo!"

Ninetales gracefully raised its body, its nine tails fanning out as it sang a melodious note.

"Froslass, Imprison!" Pryce barked, frustrated.

He had wanted to see Ninetales' Ice-type abilities, but now both Pokémon had sealed off each other's moves. It felt like punching air.

Johan: "..."

Mutual sabotage, is it?

Still, Ninetales had a head start. While Pryce hesitated, it had already begun layering its defenses.

Pryce sighed. Ninetales' combat instincts and Johan's strategy reminded him of Karen.

Yet, in this game of icy chess, Ninetales steadily outmaneuvered Froslass.

After several rounds of exchanging blows, Pryce finally called it off.

"That's enough," he said.

Froslass retreated to his side, while Ninetales returned to Johan, shedding its icy armor as it walked.

"Well done," Pryce said, looking at Ninetales.

"It has remarkable talent. And your training…" he paused. "Isn't bad, either."

Johan rolled his eyes.

"Not bad"? If we kept going, Ninetales would wipe the floor with Froslass!

While the last round was a draw, Johan had clearly won the first two.

"So I win," Johan stated.

Pryce's face stiffened.

He had almost been swept.

Though it stung his pride, he nodded. "Fine. Say what you want, but you won't change my beliefs with just a few words."

Johan smiled faintly.

We'll see about that.

"I had a dream before coming to Mahogany Town," Johan began.

"A dream?" Pryce frowned.

Unfazed, Johan fabricated a story.

"In my dream, Ho-Oh told me about a poor Piloswine that was frozen in an icy cave for decades while searching for herbs for its Trainer…"

Pryce's heart skipped a beat.

He didn't doubt Johan's words.

After all, he had glimpsed the Sacred Fire within Charcadet's flames earlier.

"Piloswine?" Pryce asked, his voice hoarse.

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Powerstones?

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