Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect-Chapter 218: The Terrible Machamp!

John released his team, watching as six Pokemon emerged onto the battlefield:

Greninja (LV 64), Blaziken (LV 63), Gardevoir (LV 63), Gyarados (LV 70), Garchomp (LV 64), and Tyranitar (LV 65).

His backup, a Dusknoir at LV 70, remained unused—John only called on it when absolutely necessary. He had also assembled a secondary team for less intense battles: Aggron (LV 55), Steelix (LV 55), Wobbuffet (LV 50), Venusaur (LV 54), Haunter (LV 60), and Tyrantrum (LV 48).

Aggron, Steelix, and Wobbuffet weren't battle-hardened; their levels had surged thanks to the "magic water" from the Onix Tomb. Out of forty-two barrels, thirty-four remained in his hidden base. Once fully utilized, his Pokemon would likely hit LV 70.

Saul Badman examined John's six main Pokemon, nodding in approval.

"Not bad at all..."

He smirked, stepping toward the battlefield. "Let's have a match. I want to see your true strength."

John raised an eyebrow. "You're battling me yourself?"

"Relax," Saul chuckled. "I'll only use one Pokemon—and not even one from my main team."

He tossed a Pokeball, and in a flash of white light, a Machamp landed with a ground-shaking impact, flexing its four arms before letting out a deep, rumbling growl.

"Machamp!" The Fighting-type pounded its fists against its chest, exuding raw power.

John's eyes narrowed. If Saul was using a Fighting-type—

"Gyarados, you're up!"

The crimson-scaled leviathan soared from its Pokeball, letting out a thunderous roar as it coiled its body, towering over the battlefield. The ground quivered beneath its sheer presence.

Saul folded his arms. "The battle starts the moment you move."

"Fine by me." John's eyes gleamed. "Gyarados—Surf!"

A towering wave surged forward, crashing like a tsunami ready to swallow Machamp whole. The battlefield trembled beneath the sheer force of the attack.

Saul didn't flinch. "Slash."

Machamp stepped forward, its right arm glowing before it slashed through the air. A razor-sharp shockwave split the tidal wave in half, reducing it to harmless droplets. The sheer precision was unreal.

John's eyes widened. A Surf boosted by rain—cut down by a single Slash?

That meant one thing: Saul's Machamp was on an entirely different level.

"Gyarados, Hyper Beam!"

Gyarados reared back, charging a brilliant energy sphere before unleashing a blinding beam straight at Machamp. The battlefield lit up as the beam carved a scorching path through the air.

Then, John saw it—Machamp barely moved, shifting inches at the last possible moment. It wasn't just dodging; it was countering.

No commands. Just pure instinct.

Machamp planted its foot, sending cracks through the battlefield as energy surged around it.

John's mind raced. "Quick Attack? No way, Machamp can't learn—"

Before he could finish, Machamp exploded forward like a bullet, appearing beneath Gyarados in an instant. Its four arms crackled with electricity.

"Thunder Punch!"

But the blow never landed.

Instead, Gyarados whipped its tail with shocking speed, creating a violent gust that forced Machamp to step back.

John clenched his fists. "Again—Hurricane!"

A violent twister engulfed the battlefield, howling winds reducing visibility to near zero. Gyarados' eyes glowed red, its form weaving through the storm like a dragon of legend.

Saul didn't hesitate. "Dynamic Punch!"

Machamp lunged into the storm, fists glowing. It tore through the winds, all four arms merging into a single devastating strike—

And missed.

John's eyes narrowed. "Did Machamp... miss on purpose?"

The ground beneath Machamp cracked from the sheer force of the swing, but the Fighting-type remained completely composed. It wasn't a mistake. It was a demonstration.

Machamp flexed its muscles, exhaling sharply. The air around it grew heavier.

John grit his teeth. "Gyarados, fall back! Keep your distance!"

Gyarados slithered through the air, circling high above, preparing for another long-range assault. But Saul merely smirked.

"Rock Slide."

Machamp stomped the ground, and in an instant, massive boulders erupted from below, launching into the air with terrifying force. The first rock barely missed Gyarados, but the second clipped its tail, making the leviathan roar in pain.

John winced. "Shake it off! Hit back with Ice Fang!"

Gyarados dove forward, jaws radiating an icy chill, ready to clamp down on Machamp. But the moment it got close—

"Seismic Toss."

Machamp's arms blurred. Before Gyarados could react, it was lifted off the ground, hoisted high above Machamp's head.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

John's breath caught in his throat.

With a mighty heave, Machamp spun before slamming Gyarados into the battlefield with a thunderous impact. The ground cracked, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.

Silence followed.

Gyarados groaned, struggling to rise. It wasn't knocked out, but the message was clear.

The storm settled, revealing Machamp standing unfazed, its arms lowered. Saul grinned. "If that had landed cleanly, your Gyarados would already be down. You've got talent, John. But you've got a long way to go."