Pokemon: My Strange Pokemons

"Bro, what's the deal with that Axew? Spill the details!"

At those words, everyone perked up immediately. Could this red-haired boy and his Axew have some sort of special background?

"When it comes to its Trainer, I only need to say one thing."

There's nothing more satisfying than being the one holding exclusive insider knowledge. The young man basked in the crowd's attention, smirking smugly before uttering two words slowly:

"Dragon Master."

The room fell into stunned silence.

The Dragon Masters—what kind of family were they?

Guardians of Dragon Island, emissaries of dragon Pokémon.

A clan that produces at least one Elite Four-level Trainer in every generation.

Core members blessed with the power of dragon affinity, some even capable of sensing dragon Pokémon. They're renowned as one of the most prestigious families in the world.

Their fame was comparable to the Rothschilds of Professor Ethan's previous world, but unlike the mysterious and intangible financial tycoons, the Dragon Masters were a concrete symbol of strength.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that among those present who were interested in Pokémon battles, 70-80% would recognize the name.

"But wait, aren't the Dragon Masters mostly active in Kanto and Johto? What's this guy doing here, fishing in our small park instead of making a name for himself in the pro leagues?" someone in the crowd asked, puzzled.

"Why not? Can't he be here on vacation?" The informant rolled his eyes.

"As for that Axew, I can only say that among entry-level Pokémon, it's terrifying! A friend of mine fought against it and couldn't even survive one combo of Focus Energy and Night Slash."

"…That friend wasn't you, was it?"

The cheeky question left the informant red-faced as he hurriedly denied, stammering things like, "Nonsense!" and "There's no such thing as losing or winning among Trainers!" His embarrassment brought a lively atmosphere to the crowd.

While the spectators chattered away, the battle on the field had entered a heated phase.

Axew wasn't particularly fast, giving Eevee plenty of opportunities to counter.

A cluster of star-shaped projectiles, crackling with explosive energy, shot from Eevee's side, aimed straight at the charging Axew.

Kai's eyes narrowed. "Don't flinch—charge through at full speed!"

He wasn't underestimating Eevee. Axew didn't have much durability to begin with, and with its Special Defense heavily lowered by Baby-Doll Eyes, taking a direct hit from Swift would hurt.

However, the move Swift had a unique property—like Aura Sphere, it was guaranteed to hit unless countered by moves like Protect or Dig. Dodging wasn't an option, and attempting to would only slow Axew down.

Kai had faith that Axew could endure the attack. More importantly, he was confident that Eevee wouldn't survive a Focus Energy-boosted Night Slash—a move with a high chance of hitting a critical spot. As long as his luck wasn't too bad…

The Swift projectiles landed with precision on the unflinching Axew, the soft explosions filling the arena with sharp crackling sounds.

The damage left visible scars on Axew, and its body swayed slightly, but it gritted its teeth and charged on, emerging from the smoke with resolve. Its tusks, now cloaked in dark energy, glinted even sharper, and its eyes gleamed with deadly focus.

Eevee's panicked expression and hesitant movements didn't go unnoticed by Axew, who sneered internally.

This level of skill? And you dare call me a small dragon?

Time to teach you a lesson you won't forget!

Locking onto Eevee's soft underbelly, Axew crouched low, tusks aimed at its target, then launched into a decisive sprint.

"Eevee, jump to dodge!" Ethan's voice rang out.

But Eevee, trembling and seemingly too frightened to respond, left Ethan feeling helpless. Sigh. It's her first battle—getting scared is normal. My command wasn't much better, though. Saying 'dodge' is such a rookie move…

"Uh-oh. This Axew is on another level—it even managed a secondary burst of speed. Can Eevee withstand it?"

"Doesn't look like it. Didn't you see her frozen in fear? Poor thing, she's doing her best."

"It's not that Eevee's weak. Axew's presence is already beyond a typical entry-level Pokémon. They're just in two completely different leagues."

The crowd collectively shifted their support. To them, this trembling Eevee was already a lost cause.

Back on the battlefield, Eevee's four legs seemed to betray her, tangling as Axew closed in. Just before Axew reached her, Eevee tripped, landing flat on her back with all four legs flailing comically.

Seeing his prey helpless at last, Axew relaxed, confident in his victory. One decisive bite would end it.

However, in his moment of complacency, Axew failed to notice that Eevee's seemingly panicked thrashing had begun to take on a subtle rhythm.

Just as Axew lunged, Eevee suddenly rolled sideways with unexpected agility, narrowly avoiding the deadly tusks.

But she wasn't done. Her movements caused her small legs to stick out just in time to trip Axew mid-charge. Unable to react, Axew stumbled, crashing to the ground in a heap.

In the aftermath of this chain of seemingly accidental yet perfectly calculated moves, Axew lay prone, utterly vulnerable.

Everyone—spectators and Trainers alike—stared in stunned silence at the Eevee, who was now whining in mock pain, seemingly unaware of the chaos she had just orchestrated.

The crowd could only gape, slack-jawed, as one collective thought echoed in their minds:

What just happened?

How does this even make sense?!

(End of Chapter)