Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [354]

Battle Code Rule #2 — Always control the pace!

“Nidoking, lock on to Hitmontop—[Poison Sting]!”

Nidoking roared, launching a flurry of gleaming violet needles from its body!

“The pressure from Gary Oak’s assault is overwhelming! He’s giving Bea no breathing room, immediately ordering [Poison Sting]!”

The barrage tore through the air, raining down on Hitmontop.

Stuck midair with nowhere to dodge, Hitmontop twisted and spun, trying desperately to avoid the attack—

But there’s only so much physics one can defy.

Whoosh—!

A needle struck true.

Hitmontop let out a pained cry, its face paling as the poison took effect. It plummeted from the air, landing heavily on the ground.

Battle Code Rule #3 — When you have the advantage, don’t let up. Keep attacking until your opponent is down for good!

“Nidoking, [Poison Jab]!”

Nidoking charged, horn glowing a deadly purple as it barreled toward Hitmontop.

Just as the horn was about to land the finishing blow, Hitmontop—who had seemed too weak to move—suddenly stood straight.

It pivoted on its hands, body swaying rhythmically—then split into four blurred afterimages.

The clones surrounded Nidoking, spinning rapidly like a trap of spinning tops.

Dizzy and confused, Nidoking lunged at one of the images—his horn piercing clean through.

But it hit nothing but air. A shadow clone.

Before Nidoking could recover, the real Hitmontop spun in from behind, slamming into him like a drill.

BANG!

Powered by centripetal force and its [Technician] ability, the spinning kick struck with devastating force.

Even Nidoking, with all its mass and durability, staggered forward from the blow.

Battle Code Rule #4 — If the enemy counters, stay calm.

This wasn’t anything compared to what August had put him through—like the time August feigned weakness with Slowbro, only to obliterate his confidence and strategy in one brutal reversal.

A mere Hitmontop sneaking in a hit wasn’t going to rattle him.

Besides, it was poisoned. He still held the upper hand.

“Nidoking, [Earthquake]!”

Nidoking stomped down hard, unleashing tremors that sent Hitmontop flying.

After that short exchange, Gary had seen enough.

Hitmontop’s entire strategy hinged on its kicks. As long as he kept it from closing the distance, it posed no threat.

“Nidoking, [Earth Power]!”

Jagged pillars of earth erupted beneath Hitmontop, trying to impale it from below.

But Hitmontop was remarkably agile—even upside down, it darted through the chaos like a top in full spin.

Still, no matter how nimble it was, Hitmontop was always on the defensive. Gary’s Nidoking was in total control of the field.

Bea tried to shift tactics—she ordered Hitmontop to break through the rocks and go on the offensive.

But Nidoking’s mastery over [Earth Power] let him twist that plan against her, using the terrain itself to box Hitmontop into a corner.

“So,” August asked, “what do you think?”

Watching Nidoking systematically cut off all avenues of escape, Lance gave a slow nod. “Okay. You weren’t exaggerating. Gary really is like Giovanni’s half-apprentice.”

With each attack, Hitmontop’s stamina wore thinner and thinner. The poison was still ticking away.

Eventually, one final Poison Jab sent it tumbling to the ground.

[Hitmontop is unable to battle. Nidoking wins!]

...

First match: victory to Gary.

And surprisingly, it wasn’t just raw power that secured the win.

Bea realized this too—Gary’s edge lay in his command of the battle, in his composed, near-clinical decision-making.

She’d done her homework on him before the match.

It was hard to believe this was the same “rookie trainer” who had only been in the pro circuit for a year—who had already become Quartz League Champion and still remained humble, sharp, and cool-headed.

He must’ve gone through harsher training than I did, she thought, a new respect flickering in her eyes.

“I’ll fight with everything I have,” Bea said earnestly. “You’ve earned that much.”

Gary: “...?”

Wait, what’s going on here?

---

“Bui!”

As Mew finished munching some popcorn, the bucket finally had enough space.

Eevee, who’d been eyeing it longingly, leapt in and squished herself next to Mew.

“Mew~”

Pinned beneath Eevee, Mew’s tiny hands flailed out from the popcorn sea, reaching for August like a child demanding rescue.

“Bui~”

Eevee stuck out her tongue, finally scooting over to give Mew some room.

With great effort, Mew yanked her head free of the popcorn. “Mew...!”

The look on her face screamed post-traumatic stress.

So close… I almost died in popcorn!

August: “...You’re a mythical Pokémon. Did you forget that hanging out with Eevee too long?”

Back on the field, the second round was already underway.

Gary stayed with Nidoking.

His first-round win had inflated his confidence just a little.

Maybe I can pull off a sweep… Even August didn’t do that!

And then—

Bea sent out Hawlucha.

The moment that trickster bird took to the air, flitting around Nidoking like a feathered acrobat, Gary wanted to slap himself.

Of course she'd use that now!

He watched as Hawlucha swooped in from Nidoking’s blind spot and blasted it with a [Flying Press].

Gary wisely didn’t push it.

“Return, Nidoking!”

With a flash of red, he recalled his partner.

He stared at Hawlucha, then threw his next Pokéball.

“Arcanine!”

The majestic Fire-type hit the field with a thundering growl, brimming with veteran ferocity.

Even Hawlucha flinched.

It steadied itself quickly, [Intimidation] had clearly left a mark.

The tension built—

“Arcanine, [Flame Wheel]!”

“Hawlucha, dodge and counter with [Flying Press]!”

Arcanine blazed forward like a living fireball.

Hawlucha darted aside, graceful and precise, forming another [Flying Press] between its palms as it launched toward Arcanine.

Gary remembered something.

A moment in training: August’s Slowbro, eating hit after hit, then flooring Nidoking with one calm psychic blast.

When two rivals meet head-on—only the boldest wins.

“Arcanine, charge through it!”

Without hesitation, Arcanine slammed straight into the incoming [Flying Press].

BOOM!

The hit connected—Hawlucha scored damage—but Arcanine powered through, teeth bared.

BAM!

A massive collision sent Hawlucha flying.

It tumbled over the dirt, scorched and rattled.

Quickly, it shoved a Sitrus Berry into its mouth.

“A held item—Sitrus Berry!” the announcer called out.

Watching this, August turned to Lance. “Gary’s about to be in trouble.”

Lance blinked. “You mean...?”

“[Unburden]. Once it eats its item, its Speed doubles.”

As if to confirm his words, Hawlucha tossed aside the berry pit.

It raised its arms and one leg in a classic Roosting Crane pose.

Then—it vanished.

Only a blur remained.

WHAM!!

Arcanine was blindsided by a flying kick.

It staggered up—only for Hawlucha to appear again, faster this time.

BAM!

The once-dominant Arcanine was now nothing more than a punching bag.

“The speed differential is insane! Hawlucha is overwhelming Arcanine!”

And then—

Hawlucha delivered an aerial strike, kicking Arcanine skyward.

It followed in a leap, grabbed Arcanine mid-air, and—

Suplex!

The bird threw itself backward, slamming Arcanine into the ground.

As the smoke cleared, Hawlucha flipped upright, preparing for victory cheers—

But August arched a brow.

And then, to everyone's surprise—

Arcanine stood back up.

“AWOOO—!”

Despite all the punishment, Arcanine howled and stood tall.

“Watch out!” Bea cried.

But it was too late.

Arcanine vanished in a blur and reappeared behind Hawlucha, sending it flying into a stone pillar with a CRASH.

“Now—[Play Rough]!”

Smoke enveloped them.

Sounds of chaotic brawling echoed within.

The audience held their breath.

Who would come out?

The blinding blur of Hawlucha?

Or Arcanine, clawing back from the brink?

THUD!

The final blow rang out.

Silence.

Then—

Hawlucha stumbled out of the cloud—took one step—

And collapsed.

The smoke parted to reveal Arcanine, standing proud and scorched but victorious.

[Hawlucha is unable to battle. Arcanine wins—Roto!]

“Unbelievable!”

“Amazing comeback!”

“Gary is a god!!”

Hearing the crowd cheer his name, Gary basked in the moment—until he heard something off.

Wait.

Was that…?

He turned.

And froze.

Over in the stands, a vibrant banner waved in the air—held by none other than his very own personal cheer squad.

Gary: “......?”

When did they get here?!

Not only them—off to the side, he spotted his grandfather, Professor Oak, Delia Ketchum, his sister Daisy, and…

Ash?!

What the hell?!

Wasn’t Ash supposed to be in Johto? What’s he doing here in the Hoenn Battle Frontier?!

Slowly, Gary turned toward August’s seat.

August shook his head.

[GardevoirSupremacy]: Don’t look at me. I don’t know either. Ask them after the match… Though, you might want to focus—Bea just noticed you’re distracted.

Sure enough, Bea was glaring at him.

“You’ve won two battles,” she said coldly. “That doesn’t mean you’ve won the match.”

“Let’s go, partner—let’s show them what we’ve trained for!”

BAM—!

A flash of white light.

Onto the field stepped a Machamp—with light blue skin, rippling muscles, and four arms.

A female Machamp.

From the moment she appeared, she stared down Arcanine with fierce intensity.

Even from inside her Pokéball, she’d watched Arcanine’s battle. She knew it was strong—but also running on fumes.

She couldn’t afford to waste stamina here.

But Arcanine thought the same.

Even on its last legs, it would give Gary one last push.

“AWOO—!”

With a defiant howl, Arcanine charged, becoming a streak of light—

[Extreme Speed]

Machamp was ready.

Her four arms flew up, catching Arcanine mid-charge.

“[Quick Guard]!”

Three arms held him in place.

The fourth—

[Karate Chop]

WHAM!

The precise, brutal strike finished the job.

Arcanine went down, clean and fast.

Gary didn’t look disappointed.

Everyone could see what he was doing—trying to bait out whether Machamp knew any priority counters.

Now that he knew...

“You did great, Arcanine.”

He recalled the Fire-type, then tossed his next Pokéball.

“Nidoking—[Earthquake]!”

The ground trembled once more. And the third round began.

---

T/N: is gary... the protag?

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!