Pokemon: Farm Story-Chapter 152: Examiner: Are You Sure This Isn’t Just an Excuse to Beat Me Up?

Chapter 152 - 152: Examiner: Are You Sure This Isn’t Just an Excuse to Beat Me Up?

As the white light faded, Pecharunt appeared on the battlefield.

Compared to before, there was now an air of silent brooding about it, as if it always had a lot on its mind but never spoke a word.

Simply put, it looked... socially withdrawn.

And truthfully, that wasn't far from reality.

For a while now, Pecharunt felt like it had been living in hell.

Every day, from the moment it opened its eyes, it had to face Ting-Lu's perpetually grumpy face, looming over it, pushing it through relentless training.

It wasn't like Pecharunt didn't want to get stronger, but every other sentence from Ting-Lu's mouth revolved around Natsume.

That alone was enough to annoy it.

And when training wasn't exhausting enough, there was always Ogerpon waiting to give it a thorough beating.

After that? It had to sit through so-called "early childhood education" videos with Rotom.

Apparently, that pink dead-eyed Slowking had come up with the idea of "educating" them.

Pecharunt's response?

Screw. That.

Life sucked.

It let out a deep sigh, frustration boiling within.

Then its gaze fell on the opposing Kangaskhan.

"Sorry about this," Pecharunt thought to itself.

We don't know each other, but unfortunately, you're about to become my stress relief.

On the other side of the battlefield, Kangaskhan suddenly shivered for no apparent reason.

Generally speaking, Kangaskhan were known for being gentle Pokémon.

As long as you didn't mess with the baby in their pouch.

But as everyone knew—those who rarely fought were usually the scariest when they did.

And Kangaskhan was no exception.

Despite its massive frame, it was a skilled boxer—light on its feet, unpredictable in movement, and deadly with its rapid jabs.

"Pecharunt, huh..."

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Snapping back to reality, the examiner quickly recalled the little information he had about this Pokémon.

Since he was assigned this evaluation, he had at least gone through some relevant data.

Including potential Pokémon Natsume might use.

Pecharunt's entry was short—

Just the standard Pokédex notes.

"Ability: Poison Puppeteer."

"When Pecharunt's attacks cause poison, the opponent also falls into confusion."

"A real pain to deal with."

After a brief moment of thought, the examiner gave his instructions in a serious tone:

"Kangaskhan, finish this quickly—don't drag it out."

"Avoid its attacks as much as possible—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

Because even he knew that was wishful thinking.

Ideally, you'd perfectly dodge every attack, find the opponent's weak spot, and land every hit cleanly.

That was the dream of every Trainer.

But reality rarely worked that way.

The opponent was a living, breathing Pokémon, not a stationary target.

That kind of strategy? Pure fantasy.

Pecharunt's ability and moveset were already a nightmare to deal with.

Add in its absurdly high defense, and honestly, the examiner had no clue how he was supposed to win this.

Thankfully, this was just a formality—an evaluation, not a real test of strength.

So he didn't need to rack his brain over how to win.

With a small nod, Kangaskhan acknowledged the command.

Even the baby in its pouch excitedly swung its tiny fists.

Kangaskhan—or rather, the mother Kangaskhan—was a quiet Pokémon by nature.

But when it came to fighting for its child... that was a different story.

She always silently watches over her children.

Only when her child grows up and leaves does the mother let out a loud cry.

The horn of battle has sounded.

Without hesitation, Pecharunt immediately unleashed its signature move—"Malignant Chains."

Chains forged from deep purple venom shot toward Kangaskhan.

Kangaskhan, well-prepared, immediately took off running.

Despite its massive size, its speed on the battlefield was anything but slow.

The chains, writhing like venomous serpents, lashed through the air.

"Hiss—"

A sound, like a gas leak, filled the arena.

A faint purple mist began seeping from within Pecharunt's shell, drifting lazily toward Kangaskhan.

Smog.

A filthy, noxious fog that attacks opponents.

Sometimes, it even leaves them poisoned.

Under Slowking's careful guidance, Pecharunt had solidified its core battle strategy:

Use Malignant Chains to keep the opponent constantly on the move, preventing them from having the opportunity to launch direct attacks.

Meanwhile, supplement it with Smog, Poison Gas, and Sludge Bomb to further restrict the opponent's movements.

Once they're poisoned, all that's left is to slowly wear them down.

As that pink hippo once put it:

"You're tough. Even if you take a hit, you'll be fine.

Suck it up. Don't whine like a baby."

That was what Slowking said after using the guise of "training" to beat Pecharunt and the others senseless.

"Whoo—"

A deep breath, and cold air billowed from Kangaskhan's lungs.

Icy Wind!

Wherever the frigid gust passed, a thin layer of frost formed.

The encroaching Smog was quickly swept away and frozen under the chilling breeze.

Kangaskhan wasn't particularly skilled with this move, and its power was mediocre at best.

But at least it was one of the few attacks it could use while moving without slowing down.

Most of its other moves—like Hyper Beam and Solar Beam—either had charge-up times or left it momentarily stiff afterward.

Not ideal.

But as long as it could buy time, that was enough.

Kangaskhan kept moving across the battlefield, alternating between Icy Wind and Surf to continuously slow the spread of the poison.

Meanwhile, Pecharunt remained steadfast, executing its pre-planned battle strategy.

Smog and Poison Gas never ceased.

Sludge Bomb and Venoshock lashed out from tricky angles, forcing Kangaskhan into a frantic scramble.

"This can't go on."

From the sidelines, the examiner watching the battle couldn't help but feel anxious.

Even though this was meant to be a formality, Trainers were inherently competitive creatures.

Even in a practice match, they couldn't help but think about how to win.

It applied to both the mentor and the trainee.

"Kangaskhan, don't get dragged into their rhythm."

"Wait for an opening and charge in!"

In simple terms—go all in.

That was the examiner's answer.

Dragging this out was a guaranteed loss.

Kangaskhan's stamina wasn't infinite; sooner or later, it would slip up and be caught by those chains.

If stalling wasn't an option, then the only choice was to risk everything on one decisive strike.

After all, Trainers are just a bunch of high-stakes gamblers!

In the midst of battle, Kangaskhan silently nodded in understanding.

It wasn't sure if this strategy would work, but the examiner's voice gave it renewed resolve.

Staring at the swirling chains, Kangaskhan spotted its moment.

"Whoosh—"

A fiercer gust than before suddenly erupted.

Snow-laden winds surged around Kangaskhan, forming what looked like a swirling blizzard.

Blizzard!

The violent currents created an invisible but unyielding barrier, repelling every incoming chain.

"Voom."

A translucent energy flared violently around Kangaskhan, blazing like an inferno.

Its legs bent as it gathered power—

And in the next instant, it shot forward like a cannonball.

Giga Impact!

With terrifying force, Kangaskhan charged at Pecharunt, arms raised at its sides, surging with unstoppable momentum.

For a moment, it resembled an unstoppable tank, determined to crush anything in its path.

Seeing Kangaskhan charging straight for it, Pecharunt's expression changed.

Caught off guard, it could only shut its shell in an attempt to brace for the devastating impact.

"Boom!!"

Under the sheer force of the attack, Pecharunt was sent flying, unable to put up much resistance.

Yet before Kangaskhan could celebrate its successful hit, deep purple chains quietly coiled around its limbs.

Kangaskhan struggled, but the chains clung to it like living creatures, tightening with every movement.

Poison seeped into its body, wave after wave.

Pain twisted Kangaskhan's face.

Its vision blurred—everything around it distorted and fragmented into chaotic images.

Sounds, once comprehensible, stretched into distant, incomprehensible murmurs.

Under the influence of Poison Puppeteer, Kangaskhan had fallen into confusion.

Staggering, it stumbled across the battlefield, completely losing control of its actions.

Desperate, it stomped the ground in an attempt to steady itself. Having undergone specialized training, it fought to regain clarity.

It flailed wildly, launching unfocused punches, attempting a Double Hit.

But in its confused state, its strikes were aimless, unable to land a clean hit on Pecharunt.

In contrast, despite taking the brunt of the previous attack, Pecharunt remained eerily calm.

It stood at a distance, sidestepping Kangaskhan's frenzied blows while continuously spreading more poison, deepening its opponent's agony.

As time passed, Kangaskhan's stamina drained rapidly, and its attacks grew feebler.

The examiner on the sidelines kept shouting its name, hoping to snap it out of confusion.

This was a test of bonds—

In the Pokémon world, bonds could truly create miracles.

But if miracles happened too easily, they wouldn't be called miracles.

Still trapped in confusion, Kangaskhan failed to register any commands, helplessly floundering about the battlefield.

And then—

A direct hit from a Venoshock to the face sent Kangaskhan tumbling to the ground.

It had lost the ability to battle.

"Return, Kangaskhan."

With a sigh, the examiner recalled the Pokémon, its body sprawled in a pool of violet poison.

The toxins, once carried away by Surf, had now mixed with the water, creating a battlefield where every step Kangaskhan had taken was atop poison.

Honestly, the battle had been brutal.

The examiner had half a mind to forfeit then and there—there was no visible path to victory.

"Kangaskhan is unable to battle."

Confirming Kangaskhan's defeat, the girl on the sidelines raised her small flag, signaling the examiner to retrieve their Pokémon.

With a metallic clatter, Pecharunt retracted its chains, its expression as composed as ever.

It turned to Natsume, awaiting further orders.

The battle was over. Now what?

Should I fight the next opponent?

It had no objections.

The once pitifully aggrieved look it used to wear was now one of cold composure.

"Return, Pecharunt."

"You did well."

Smiling, Natsume withdrew Pecharunt.

Sure, sweeping three or four opponents felt great.

But up until now, he'd never actually done it.

After all, the farm kids needed experience too.

Now, though?

Their opponent had come all this way.

Wiping them out immediately seemed a bit excessive.

Could he do it? Yes.

Was it necessary? Not really.

"Natsume, you really know how to treat me kindly."

The examiner let out a weary smile.

Using a legendary to beat up a poor, weak, and helpless examiner.

You really had the heart for that, huh?

Starting off with a Legendary.

So this is the confidence of a man who commands Mythicals?

Jealous. Truly.

What Trainer wouldn't want to raise their hand and send out a Legendary Pokémon?

"Well, it is an evaluation, after all. Naturally, I have to take it seriously."

"Besides, the examiner's strength is quite formidable."

...There was absolutely no need for you to say that.

Not just the examiner—even the girl on the sidelines silently voiced her own thoughts.

Strong?

To be honest, she couldn't see it at all.

All she saw was a poor Kangaskhan being toyed with like it was nothing.

By all rights, as the referee, she should have been urging both sides to send out their next Pokémon.

But she glanced at the examiner, then at Natsume.

Yeah... Both of them were people she couldn't afford to offend.

There were some things they might not mind, but she couldn't just blurt them out carelessly.

So, she chose to quietly lower her head and stare at the floor.

Wow... This floor is really... floor.

"Alright, let's continue."

Adjusting his collar slightly, the examiner released his next Pokémon.

As the light faded, a vibrant Yanmega appeared on the field.

It immediately took a lap around the battlefield.

Unlike the gentle Kangaskhan, this Yanmega exuded pure aggression.

"Go, Fezandipiti."

Natsume's smile remained unchanged as he sent out his own Pokémon.

He countered with Unfezant.

Yanmega's greatest strengths were its special attack and speed.

Fezandipiti's strengths? Special defense and speed.

Faster than Yanmega, and with high special defense.

So... how was he supposed to fight this?

The moment Fezandipiti appeared, the examiner already had that thought.

And sure enough, the battle went as expected.

Yanmega barely landed any effective hits before being ruthlessly outmaneuvered.

Under Fezandipiti's sharp talons, it soon crashed to the ground, sent off with a rather enthusiastic Hyper Beam straight to the face.

The entire battle looked more like an elegant, dazzling performance—like Fezandipiti was putting on a solo dance showcase.

Even after the fight, Fezandipiti took its time preening its feathers before turning gracefully to Natsume, lowering its head ever so slightly.

As if presenting its own charm.

Without hesitation, the examiner sent out his third Pokémon.

He was tired. He just wanted this to be over.

At this point, he could already guess who Natsume would send out next.

Let me guess... Munkidori or Okidogi?

Ah. Munkidori, huh.

Great. Now he'd get to be tortured a little longer.

Expressionless, he watched as his Hariyama got completely played with on the battlefield.

At this point, the examiner's heart had settled into complete resignation.

There's no winning this. Not a chance.

What was even the point of this evaluation?

Were they testing Natsume... or torturing him?

"It's over."

As Hariyama collapsed, the examiner let out a long sigh.

Finally. It's over.

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