Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [429]

“Go, Nidoking!”

Gary sent out Nidoking decisively. Among all his battles against August, Nidoking was his most frequently used Pokémon, and as a trainer who believed in loyalty, he intended to finally use it to achieve victory!

Meanwhile, Zinnia’s choice…

“Pawmi?!”

Seeing the tiny, adorable Pawmi standing in the field, Gary went numb.

You’re definitely a spy sent by August to torment me. Can’t we just do 1v1 instead?

“Oh! Wrong Poké Ball, wrong one!”

Under Gary’s speechless stare, Zinnia quickly recalled Pawmi, replacing it frantically with Goodra.

“I’m counting on you, Goodra! We must defeat August this time!” Zinnia cheered energetically.

Goodra, however, seemed doubtful of its own abilities.

Finally relieved that Zinnia had sorted herself out, Gary shifted his attention to August’s Pokémon.

On August’s left stood Slowbro, gazing blankly into space, looking every bit as intelligent as a brick.

On his right…

Wait—where was the second Pokémon?

As Gary stared in confusion, August calmly beckoned toward the Psyduck lounging by Cogita.

Hearing August’s summons, Psyduck eagerly abandoned Cogita, rushing forward excitedly—but after just two steps…

Splat!

Psyduck tripped spectacularly, faceplanting onto the battlefield, beak stuck deep into the ground. It struggled desperately but couldn’t free itself.

Gary: “...”

Zinnia: “...”

“August, you’re fighting us with a Slowbro and Psyduck? That’s just insulting!” Gary shouted indignantly.

“Exactly! At least send out Gardevoir!” Zinnia chimed in.

Gary’s furious expression froze instantly. “…”

You’re definitely a spy from August’s side, aren’t you?

Did she really think they could handle Gardevoir?

August smiled calmly. “Maybe beat Slowbro and Psyduck first?”

“Hmph! Maybe other Pokémon would be tough, but these two…”

Gary glanced at Psyduck, who had just managed to free its beak from the dirt, and Slowbro, who still appeared utterly clueless. He became absolutely convinced: today was his day for revenge!

“Nidoking, use [Earth Power]!” Gary commanded decisively.

“Grrargh!”

Nidoking roared, pounding its chest fiercely before stomping the ground.

Rumble!

A wave of sharp, jagged stones erupted from the ground, surging straight towards Slowbro and Psyduck.

Seeing Gary attack, Zinnia hurriedly joined in, unwilling to fall behind. “Goodra, [Water Pulse]!”

Initially, Zinnia didn’t realize her mistake.

Until Goodra’s [Water Pulse] surged forward, smashing through Nidoking’s [Earth Power] rocks before they even reached August’s Pokémon.

Watching this scene, Gary nearly fainted.

If you won’t cooperate, at least don’t sabotage me!

August couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “Are you two trying to be funny?”

Cogita and Lusamine both laughed openly, and even Lillie struggled desperately to keep a straight face.

Embarrassed, Zinnia’s face reddened. “I haven’t battled doubles in a long time, alright? It was just a minor slip-up! Is there a problem?”

How was she supposed to know Nidoking’s rocks would suddenly pop up there, right in front of Goodra’s attack?

“No, none,” August replied gently. “But since you two have attacked, it’s now my turn.”

His tone suddenly grew serious, and both Gary and Zinnia felt a chill down their spines.

Without further ado…

August waved his hand, and simultaneously Slowbro and Psyduck unleashed torrents of water.

The two streams rapidly converged, forming a towering wave several meters high, sweeping both Pokémon toward Nidoking and Goodra at immense speed.

Gary had never imagined that the two Pokémon who usually looked dim-witted could unleash such a terrifying move.

Still, he reacted quickly, recalling how Giovanni once defended against [Surf] in Alola.

“Nidoking, block it with [Earth Power]!”

Nidoking slammed the ground, erecting a sturdy stone wall to shield itself and Goodra from the incoming wave.

Even after Zinnia’s earlier sabotage, Nidoking loyally protected her Pokémon once more…

Gary felt his heart twist in despair.

August immediately critiqued sharply, “Mimicking Giovanni? Too bad, it’s a sloppy imitation. Slowbro, use [Fling]! Psyduck, [Brick Break]!”

Immediately, Gary and Zinnia witnessed a baffling scene:

Psyduck, frowning seriously, raised its stubby arms. Slowbro picked it up high overhead and hurled it forward like a cannonball.

Propelled by both [Surf’s] momentum and Slowbro’s strength, Psyduck shot through the air, its beak glowing red-hot from friction.

BOOM!

With the destructive force of a missile, Psyduck shattered Nidoking’s stone barrier with ease, slamming straight into Nidoking’s chest.

Nidoking staggered, roaring in agony from the unexpected hit, collapsing backward before it could even use [Protect].

“Nidoking!” Gary cried anxiously.

But the attack wasn’t over yet.

The crashing wave from [Surf] effortlessly swept away the shattered stone barrier, engulfing Nidoking and Goodra.

Goodra, accustomed to watery environments and possessing Dragon-type resilience, endured the wave easily. Nidoking, however, took the full brunt of the super-effective hit.

Gary’s expression darkened with frustration.

Am I really losing to August again?

Just then, Zinnia’s voice reached his ears: “Goodra, hurry and save Nidoking!”

Gary instantly felt a surge of hope.

He’d wrongly accused Zinnia earlier—she wasn’t a spy after all!

Imagining the possibilities, he called excitedly, “Zinnia, can your Goodra use [Life Dew]?”

Zinnia looked utterly confused. “[Life Dew]? Can Goodra learn that?”

Gary: “...”

He’d expected far too much from her.

Still, rescuing Nidoking at least gave him another chance to counterattack.

But as Goodra lifted Nidoking out of the water, Slowbro’s eyes flashed sinisterly, firing a fully charged [Ice Beam] straight toward Goodra.

“Goodra, watch out!” Zinnia cried in alarm.

Goodra had already noticed and instinctively chose the quickest, simplest defense:

—Using Nidoking as a shield.

The [Ice Beam] struck Nidoking directly, freezing it solid.

Gary stared in utter disbelief, face turning green with rage.

“ZINNIA!!”

Zinnia had single-handedly crushed his hopes of victory.

You rescued Nidoking just to use it as a shield? And you say you’re not a spy?!

“I-I didn't mean it…” Zinnia mumbled guiltily.

It was Goodra’s fault, not mine!

Goodra: “?”

Now the battle had reached a critical stage.

Bad news: Nidoking was down, leaving Goodra alone.

Good news: Goodra was still healthy, having only suffered minor damage from [Surf].

Though in Gary’s opinion, both points were definitely bad news.

Realizing her mistake, Zinnia resolved herself seriously.

“I’m going all out now!”

August smiled serenely.

“August, what are you laughing about? I’m being serious!”

“Oh, nothing. I just thought of something funny.”

“You’re obviously mocking me!”

“No way,” August replied lightly, though his amusement was obvious.

Zinnia clenched her fists in determination. “I'll show you what I can really do!”

Just as Zinnia prepared her next command, August interrupted casually, “Have you forgotten about my other Pokémon?”

Suddenly, beneath the wary Goodra, the ground erupted upward. A yellow blur shot out, Psyduck’s metallic beak gleaming as it slammed heavily into Goodra’s chin, sending it airborne and flying backward.

Thud!

Goodra landed dazed on the ground, just as Slowbro unleashed another charged [Ice Beam].

“Goodra, dodge it!” Zinnia desperately shouted.

But it was too late.

The [Ice Beam] narrowly grazed Psyduck’s head, freezing Goodra solid. Not completely knocked out, but effectively immobilized.

Immediately, Psyduck—head now throbbing painfully—activated its psychic powers.

With a final, devastating Zen Headbutt, it decisively ended the match.

“Psy-aye!”
“Slooow!”

Psyduck and Slowbro began chattering mysteriously, a conversation not even August could decipher. Based on their expressions, he guessed they were discussing dinner.

Lusamine stepped forward to announce, “Goodra has lost the ability to battle!”

“Nidoking and Goodra are both down. August wins the match!”

“August-sensei is amazing!” Lillie cheered, eyes sparkling in admiration.

Lusamine’s eyes were as warm and captivating as ever, easily making August lose himself in their gentle glow.

Cogita gazed at August with renewed interest and admiration.

Zinnia fell dramatically to her knees, pounding the ground bitterly. “Why? Why did this happen?!”

She’d been so careful! And how had she missed Psyduck burrowing underground?

Retrieving Nidoking’s Poké Ball, Gary passed it to Indeedee for healing, a smug grin spreading on his face.

Losing to August was nothing new—but Zinnia, the traitor, deserved punishment!

...

Returning to the living room, Sabrina looked up from the couch as everyone entered.

“Battle’s over already? Who won?” she asked.

“Could it really be anyone else?” August replied dryly.

Sabrina conceded sheepishly. “True.”

Accepting tea from Gardevoir, August sat next to Sabrina. “Is Giovanni okay?”

At Giovanni’s name, Gary and Zinnia instantly perked up.

“He should be fine… I think?” Sabrina said uncertainly.

August frowned sharply. “What do you mean, ‘should be’?”

“I just told him to battle some Stunky…”

August froze, speechless.

Just then, his phone beeped. Giovanni had sent a new message!

August and Sabrina eagerly leaned in to read:

[Giovanni]: Sorry, got knocked out by their stench. But I handled all the Stunky!

Nice! Giovanni truly was impressive.

Looking over, August noticed Sabrina practically pressed against him, equally excited.

Before she could speak, another message from Giovanni appeared…

---

T/N: wow gary had to do a 3v1....

This is a fan translation of 我，宝可梦称号大师！ by 落唯 白良. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!