Chapter 40: We're Different
(Second Update!! New book seeking collections, seeking flowers!)
Clack, clack!!!
A low growl emanated from the mouth of Great Moth, while its huge horn pincers continuously tightened against the Iron Moth's shell, producing a constant clicking sound. Watching this scene, the warrior boy was brimming with confidence.
You must know that when Great Moth's horn pincers close, they can generate several tons of pressure, easily crushing wood and stones. In his eyes, dealing with Iron Moth was even easier.
"Use it again, Harden!" Looking at the empty clearing, the warrior boy was full of confidence, while Little Zhi remained calm, continuing to use the seemingly useless skill.
"Hmph! Useless, a motionless Iron Moth is Great Moth's prey." The warrior boy sneered, his voice filled with disdain.
"Really?" However, Little Zhi's expression was even calmer than his, and he showed no worry at all.
"Hmm?"
Witnessing Little Zhi's calm demeanor, the warrior couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly, thinking in his heart, "This guy is just bluffing, right?" But at that moment, he suddenly heard a noise.
Clack, clack, clack!! Bang!!
A shattering sound echoed, and the warrior boy quickly looked towards the center of the field. Great Moth suddenly let out a mournful wail, the light from its horn pincers fading. Cracks were clearly visible on the pincers.
The spike that had been pushing against Iron Moth's shell shattered due to excessive force. The warrior boy was instantly shocked. "What!!!"
Great Moth writhed in pain, Iron Moth falling from its head, landing directly on its face. The force wasn't great, but after three Harden boosts, Iron Moth's body was as hard as diamond.
This blow wasn't light at all, Great Moth was directly pinned under Iron Moth, its eyes swirling.
"Great Moth!!!"
The warrior boy was unbelievably surprised. He never expected his Great Moth to be defeated in such a way, a true case of shooting oneself in the foot.
"I told you before, don't underestimate my Iron Moth," Little Zhi calmly replied.
Seeing this, Little Xia let out a sigh of relief, starting to gain confidence in Little Zhi, quietly observing the match.
"Hmph! It's just the first match, I have an Iron Moth too, my Iron Moth won't lose to your Iron Moth." Hearing Little Zhi's words, the warrior boy stubbornly retorted, then simultaneously took out his Poké Ball.
Bang!!!
The Poké Ball was thrown, blue light flashed, and before them, the same Iron Moth appeared, two Iron Moths standing opposite each other.
"Two Iron Moths, how are they going to fight this?" Looking at the two immobile Pokémon, Little Xia was filled with confusion.
"Watch! This is my Iron Moth, it won't lose to yours, Iron Moth use Harden." The warrior boy seemed to be copying what Little Zhi's Iron Moth had done earlier, believing Harden was the ultimate weapon.
The warrior boy's Iron Moth immediately used Harden as instructed. For the warrior boy, it was no big deal, after all, they were both Iron Moths, they couldn't move anyway, at most it would be a draw.
"We'll use Harden too!" Little Zhi continued, his voice unwavering.
"I won't lose either, Iron Moth, Harden!"
The warrior boy had already used Harden twice, while Little Zhi, counting this time, was using it for the fourth time. Little Zhi's Iron Moth had used Harden three times during the battle with Great Moth, and this was its fourth time. Yet, Little Zhi still spoke.
"Harden one more time!" Upon hearing this, Little Zhi's Iron Moth's eyes turned serious, and it once again emitted a green glow.
At this moment, Iron Moth was as if covered in a transparent shield, reaching the maximum of five Harden stacks. Iron Moth had reached its strongest defensive state, using Harden again wouldn't make it any stronger.
"We'll also use anoth...," The warrior boy, clearly not willing to concede, was about to speak again.
"I said, is your Iron Moth only capable of Harden?" Before the warrior boy could finish his sentence, Little Zhi interrupted him.
"What? Of course, isn't your Iron Moth the same?" The warrior boy paused slightly after hearing this, feeling a sense of unease for no reason.
"We're different from you."
"Nani??"
"Iron Moth, use String Shot!!" Little Zhi didn't waste any more time, giving the order.
Iron Moth's eyes suddenly turned sharp, its upper body leaned forward, its head directly shooting out silk threads. The threads flew past the warrior boy's Iron Moth, then stuck to a large tree behind it.
"Use Tackle!"
With the silk thread stuck to the tree, Little Zhi gave another command. Under the warrior boy's surprised gaze, Little Zhi's Iron Moth used the silk thread's pull to drag itself towards the tree.
And that direction happened to be directly towards the warrior boy's Iron Moth.
Bang!!!
With a resounding crash, the force of the silk thread's pull combined with Iron Moth's incredibly hardened body, despite the warrior boy's Iron Moth using Harden twice, it was still three Harden stacks weaker than Little Zhi's Iron Moth.
The two Iron Moths collided, the warrior boy's Iron Moth was sent flying by Little Zhi's Iron Moth, both Pokémon becoming projectiles.
Seeing the two Iron Moths flying towards him, the warrior boy's face instantly filled with panic, hurriedly dodging to avoid them.
Bang, bang, bang!!!
Then came several loud bangs from behind. Little Zhi's Iron Moth, after sending the warrior boy's Iron Moth flying, rammed into several large trees behind them, shattering three trees in a row.
A cloud of dust filled the air, the warrior boy worriedly ran towards the source of the noise. "Iron Moth!!"
Little Zhi followed him, running forward. The dust gradually dissipated, revealing the two Iron Moths amongst the fallen trees.
One lay on the ground, unable to battle, the other stood beside it, unharmed.
The warrior boy stared in disbelief. Of course, he knew the Iron Moth that lost its battling ability was his, because his Iron Moth didn't have the capabilities of the other.
But what surprised him even more was how Little Zhi's Iron Moth could fight like that.
He considered himself an expert on Bug Pokémon, but he had never known Iron Moth could be used in this way. He had always thought Iron Moth was simply meant to evolve into Butterfree.
It seemed he had been living in a well, unaware of the vast world outside.