The public Pokémon provided by the Professional Assessment Center for practical exams theoretically follow anyone's commands, but this is only true if the examiner grants that authority. If a candidate attempted anything out of line, a single word from the examiner would cause the Pokémon to ignore the candidate's orders entirely.
To be honest, this match felt quite stifling. Xiso quickly ran through strategies in his mind. If this were a Rhydon, the evolved form of Rhyhorn, the match wouldn't be nearly as difficult.
His opponent was a final evolution form and held a type advantage. In the eyes of many ordinary trainers, a match like this didn't even need to be playedit was a guaranteed loss.
"Hitmonlee, Double Kick!" The examiner didn't give Xiso much time to think. This first round was designed to test how a trainer responded in a completely disadvantaged environment. Without a composed and resilient mindset, one could never claim the title of an Elite Trainer.
"Kya!"
Hitmonlee's long legs blurred as it sprinted like a track star. It crossed the twenty-meter field in the blink of an eye, unleashing a heavy low kick aimed straight at Rhyhorn's most vulnerable areaits flank.
There was no dodging it. Rhyhorn's short-distance evasion speed was practically zero. Once the first heavy kick landed, the resulting pain would make it impossible to avoid the following strikes of the Double Kick. Under the weight of double damage, this Rhyhorn would be severely injured, if not completely incapacitated.
"Rhyhorn, use Bulldoze on the ground around you!" Xiso had to neutralize the first wave of the offensive before he could look for an opening.
"Moo!"
Rhyhorn raised its thick, short front limbs high. Just as Hitmonlee's kick was about to connect, it slammed them down heavily onto the rocky soil of the battlefield. A loud boom echoed as the ground trembled, the vibrations particularly violent in the area immediately surrounding Rhyhorn.
"Kya~"
The fierce tremors made it impossible for Hitmonlee to maintain its balance on its supporting left leg. It was forced to retract its right leg mid-kick and perform a backflip to exit the zone of intense vibration.
It was a conditioned reflex. Hitmonlee didn't dare gamble; even if it landed the kick, it would have fallen due to the unstable footing. At such close range, it wouldn't be able to withstand a single blow from Rhyhorn's heavy horn.
Xiso didn't relax for a second despite the small tactical victory. He immediately commanded, "Rhyhorn, use Dig!"
To win this match, he had to end it quickly. The longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would become for his side.
As a Ground type Pokémon, Dig was a natural talent. However, due to Rhyhorn's large size, its digging speed was significantly slower than specialized diggers like Diglett or Sandshrew.
"Hitmonlee, stop it! Use Jump Kick!" The examiner clearly understood the importance of a quick resolution. In an Elite Trainer assessment, there was no such thing as "going easy." Once Rhyhorn vanished underground, Hitmonleewhose moves were entirely close-quarters Fighting techniqueswould have nowhere to vent its power.
"Kya~"
Hitmonlee cried out as its spring-like legs propelled it high into the air. With a stylish high-kick posture, its right leg straightened like a long blade, slicing through the air toward the half-submerged Rhyhorn.
"Moo~"
Rhyhorn let out a low groan of pain. Although it had done its best to dig, Hitmonlee's Jump Kick slammed into its thick backside just before it fully disappeared.
The kick was painful, but not enough to knock it out. Its injured rear wobbled for a moment before vanishing into the large tunnel.
"Damn it!" The examiner's expression soured. He hadn't expected the kid to adapt to an unfamiliar Pokémon so quickly. His opening rush had failed to break Xiso's rhythm; instead, the boy had seized the advantage.
The situation became awkward. All of Hitmonlee's available moves were physical melee attacks with zero range. Had it been a Water or Fire type, the examiner could have used Water Gun or Flamethrower to force Rhyhorn out.
Technically, the best choice against a Pokémon using Dig was Earthquake. A single Earthquake would deal even more devastating damage to a target underground than one on the surface.
Unfortunately, while Hitmonlee held a type advantage over Rhyhorn, it was utterly helpless in this specific scenario.
The examiner shouted, "Kid, I admit your reactions are good, but did you think I'd be out of options?"
"Hitmonlee, use Focus Energy, then follow up with consecutive Mega Kicks around the hole!"
Hitmonlee nodded and stood its ground, pressing its palms together in front of its chest. As Focus Energy took hold, its muscles began to quiver, and menacing veins bulged across its right leg.
Like Swords Dance, Focus Energy was a status-boosting move. However, Focus Energy relied on intense mental concentration to channel every ounce of muscular strength into a single point for an explosive burst.
Under the buff of Focus Energy, Hitmonlee's right leg swelled significantly, mapping out a network of veins that hinted at terrifying power. It raised its leg high until it was perfectly aligned with its head in a straight vertical line.
"Boom!"
The right leg slammed into the earth with a deafening crash. Web-like cracks spider-webbed out from the impact point, spreading across the ground as the battlefield shook violently. By combining Focus Energy with Mega Kick, Hitmonlee's terrifying legs had managed to simulate the effects of an Earthquake.
"Moo Moo"
Rhyhorn's pained cries drifted up from the tunnel. Clearly, the shockwaves produced by the Focus Energy-enhanced Mega Kicks were dealing significant damage.
Seeing his strategy working, the examiner's mood improved. He bellowed, "Again, Hitmonlee! Mega Kick!"
"Now!" Xiso, who had remained silent until now, barked his order the moment Hitmonlee raised its leg for the second time. "Rhyhorn, charge out and use Horn Drill!"
"Impossible!" The examiner's face paled. "How do you dare to gamble like that?"
In its focused state, Hitmonlee had concentrated all its physical power into its right leg. With its leg extended high above its head, it had absolutely no leverage left to dodge.
Covered in dust and with several cracks appearing in its rocky armor, Rhyhorn burst from the hole. The single horn on its snout spun like a high-speed drill bit, slamming violently into Hitmonlee's soft abdomen.
"Kya, kya, kya..."
The high-speed rotation of the horn elicited a scream of agony from Hitmonlee. It was sent flying backward, eventually collapsing on the ground while clutching its stomach. After a few tremors, it lost the ability to battle.
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