Pokemon: This Ash Is Too Versatile-Chapter 701 - 375: MEGA Lucario! The Formidable Kangaskhan! (Part 2)
"We’re going to continue our attack, Mr. Norman. Lucario, use Extreme Speed!" After leaving a moment for Norman to reflect, Ash continued to command Lucario to launch an attack. This time, he had Lucario use the move Extreme Speed!
Lucario, already faster after evolving, moved with such speed using Extreme Speed that even its shadow couldn’t be seen.
Almost the instant Ash’s voice fell, Lucario was already in front of Kangaskhan, clenching its massive fist and striking fiercely with a sound breaking through the air!
"Bang!!" That punch landed squarely on Kangaskhan’s body with tremendous force, sending its figure skidding over a dozen meters, finally crashing into the barrier at the edge of the field.
This was a barrier set up by Mewtwo when the battle started; the shockwaves from the earlier clash didn’t affect the surroundings because of this barrier.
After Kangaskhan crashed into the barrier, its feet were somewhat unstable, its body swaying. But it regained its balance in just a second.
Lucario was startled to see this; even with the boost from Power-Up Punch, Extreme Speed could only cause this much damage?
This defensive power is way too high!
"Such speed. Even with the boost from Extreme Speed, Lucario’s base speed has surpassed the limit that its current level should allow, worthy of its MEGA Evolution," Norman said with admiration.
It was his first-time battling against a Pokémon that had undergone MEGA Evolution. This initial exchange mostly allowed him to understand how much of a boost MEGA Evolution gives to a Pokémon.
No wonder it is now so widely praised worldwide, even surpassing the Dynamax system. Without regional constraints, the boost intensity is definitely not weaker than Dynamax, even stronger. Apart from the difficulty in obtaining items and the limited number of Pokémon that can MEGA Evolve, everything else is an advantage.
"Mr. Norman’s Kangaskhan is impressive; its defensive power is truly high! Lucario, use Power-Up Punch again!" When it comes to speed during the use of Extreme Speed, Lucario can surpass Kangaskhan, but its force still isn’t enough.
The fact that the previous hit didn’t cause much damage to Kangaskhan means its defensive power far exceeds Lucario’s attack.
After Lucario’s MEGA Evolution, its attack power skyrocketed, and with the boost from Power-Up Punch, it still couldn’t do much damage to Kangaskhan, illustrating just how tough this opponent is!
So Ash must continue to increase Lucario’s attack power to minimize the discrepancy as much as possible.
"Roar!" Lucario crouched slightly, then advanced again, with a faint white glow on its fist, further condensing the power of Power-Up Punch as it moved in, about to strike once more at Kangaskhan, which hadn’t fully stabilized its stance.
But at that moment, a gleam flashed in Norman’s eyes, and he shouted sharply, "Kangaskhan, now! Use Sucker Punch!"
Before the words were fully out, the initially sluggish Kangaskhan suddenly burst with astonishing force. Its massive body ignored Lucario’s approaching fist, pushing off with its limbs like an out-of-control heavy tank, rushing fiercely towards Lucario with a whistling gust of wind!!
The characteristic of the move Sucker Punch allows the user to attack first if the opponent is using an attack move. If the opponent isn’t using an attack move, then Sucker Punch fails. At this moment, Norman precisely grasped the timing, having prepared the move almost as Ash ordered Lucario to attack. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
"Boom!" With a muffled boom, Kangaskhan’s broad palm landed solidly on Lucario’s chest, with a huge impact like a heavy hammer, halting Lucario’s originally swift offensive in an instant.
The strong attack force almost made Lucario’s eyes bulge. The level gap between them was quite real; Lucario couldn’t deal effective damage to Kangaskhan, but Kangaskhan could deal terrifying damage to Lucario!
If it weren’t for Dark Type moves being resisted by Fighting Type, Lucario might have gone straight down from that punch.
Even so, after that hit, the glow on Lucario’s fist nearly faded away!
"Lucario, don’t give up, show our spirit!" Ash’s voice snapped Lucario, whose pupils were dilated, into focus instantly. Despite the wave after wave of pain from its body, Lucario forcibly poured all the power it had left into its fist!
"Roar!" Lucario let out a stirring yet painful roar, its fist having gathered all its strength, slamming fiercely into Kangaskhan’s shoulder with a sharp sound tearing through the air.
"Boom!" The force of this punch was even greater than the previous Extreme Speed attack, causing Kangaskhan’s massive body to shake suddenly and emit a low muffled groan. Its body, already close to the edge of the barrier, crashed again into the barrier.
Although the power of Power-Up Punch is generally average, Fighting Type moves have a super-effective effect on Kangaskhan. Moreover, Fighting Type is Lucario’s own type of move, naturally making this punch even stronger.
A trace of amazement appeared in Norman’s eyes, evidently not expecting Lucario to manage to strike with Power-Up Punch while withstanding the damage from Sucker Punch.
This Lucario’s fighting spirit and willpower were much stronger than he imagined!
Compared to level and combat power, willpower is a far more precious attribute in Norman’s view. Training willpower is much harder than increasing level or combat power.
After taking damage from Sucker Punch, Lucario’s attack was already about to dissipate. Yet in response to Ash’s call, it managed to regroup the power of Power-Up Punch, even exceeding the energy it mustered at the start!
This is the manifestation of strong willpower.
"Kangaskhan, Mega Punch." Respect where respect is due, Norman wouldn’t hold back in battle. Although Lucario had barely released Power-Up Punch and successfully boosted its attack power, that punch left it half-kneeling on the ground, unable to muster its strength for the moment.
This was the best time to attack.
Kangaskhan roared, charging out with its body like a heavyweight truck, rattling the ground with its rush, and the tremendous momentum forced Lucario to lift its head.
The powerful aura swept over, making it hard for Lucario to even breathe.
"Lucario, use Extreme Speed!" Ash’s voice rang out again, and at this critical moment, his voice gave Lucario strength.
Lucario pushed its body up, violently stamping the ground with its feet, its form flying backward, putting distance between itself and Kangaskhan in the blink of an eye.
"Extreme Speed may provide a dramatic increase to a Pokémon’s speed, but it also consumes a lot of physical strength. I’m curious to see how many times your Lucario can use Extreme Speed," Norman said calmly as he watched Kangaskhan’s attack miss.
Lucario’s speed combined with Extreme Speed certainly couldn’t be matched by Kangaskhan, but Extreme Speed is no Quick Attack; it offers even more explosive strength and speed while also posing a risk of rapid stamina depletion.
How many more times can Lucario use it this way?
As Norman speculated, Lucario started panting heavily after using Extreme Speed. The physical strength it spent to withstand Sucker Punch, under the consumption from Extreme Speed, was rapidly depleting.
Ash squinted slightly, knowing Lucario’s condition better than anyone else. continuing as they were, Lucario would surely be exhausted to the point of collapse by the opponent.
Normally, Lucario’s speed was still no match for Kangaskhan’s, only using moves like Quick Attack or Extreme Speed to forcibly increase speed. However, such forced speed increases from moves consumed huge amounts of physical strength. Moreover, trying to use other moves during a speed boost period even further amplified the physical drain.
Lucario didn’t have much time left...
