"Koffing, use Tackle!"
James furrowed his brows slightly and issued another command.
"Koffing!"
"Pika!"
With a cry of pain, Pikachu's HP dropped below half again.
Then, to James' stunned gaze, a glowing orb of light once more flowed out from Natsume and was absorbed into Pikachu.
Trainer Natsume used a Super Potion. "Middle-Part" recovered health!
Pikachu—nicknamed "Middle-Part"—sprang back to life, full of energy.
"Middle-Part, use Quick Attack!"
Once again, the aspiring Medicine Master Natsume launched a well-timed counter, landing a clean blow on Koffing.
It was a critical hit!
"Koffing!"
Koffing cried out in pain as its HP bar dropped to less than half.
If Natsume repeated this move just twice more, he would win.
"Huff..."
Seeing this, James took a deep breath, a wave of emotion washing over him.
He looked up, staring directly at Natsume, and said sincerely:
"You really are something else, kid."
There was no sarcasm in his voice—just genuine admiration.
By now, James had more or less figured out the battle system this kid was using.
It wasn't all that different from the rules of many video games.
Which meant that whoever had this battle system could accomplish feats that ordinary Trainers could never dream of.
As long as they carried enough recovery items, they could challenge and even defeat far stronger Pokémon.
Even Legendaries.
In that fleeting moment, countless thoughts flashed through James' mind.
Coming from a top aristocratic family, he was no fool—he recognized the potential here.
And he couldn't help but wonder: How did someone like Natsume, just a regular researcher, create something so incredible?
"Middle-Part, Quick Attack!"
"Pika!"
With a powerful shout, Pikachu shot forward as a blur of white light and once again struck Koffing head-on.
"Koffing!"
With another cry of pain, Koffing's HP dropped by another sixth.
This time, James showed no reaction at all. In fact, he looked confident—like victory was already in his grasp.
"Hmph... Kid, I've figured out how this world works now. I don't know how you pulled this off, but..."
"Koffing, use Sludge!"
Sludge had nearly double the power of Tackle.
But would it be enough to knock Pikachu out in one shot?
If it were two Tackles, definitely. But Sludge's damage was just slightly below that threshold.
Boom!
A large mass of purple sludge spewed from Koffing's mouth, slamming into Pikachu.
James' eyes were tense with anticipation—and the Sludge Attack hit!
Pikachu's HP plummeted like a rollercoaster... nearly bottoming out.
But Pikachu still didn't faint.
"Pika...!"
The yellow mouse wobbled, but stood firm.
One HP! It survived with one HP!
Natsume activated the passive: "Held on with a sliver of health!"
"Huh?"
Before James could react in confusion, Natsume seized the opportunity to press his advantage.
"Medicine—Flash—you get it?"
"Pika!"
Middle-Part turned into a white streak once again, hurtling toward Koffing.
Boom!
The white lightning pierced through Koffing unhindered.
"Koffing!"
Its HP hit zero—dangerously low.
"Tch..."
Looking at Natsume's now fully healed Pikachu, James felt deeply frustrated.
He swore that next time he went out, he'd pack as many healing items as he possibly could!
"Koffing, use... huh?"
Just then, James noticed a strange purple glow emanating from Pikachu.
"Middle-Part" has been poisoned! It took poison damage!
Pikachu was no longer at full HP. Its health dropped by one-eighth.
James suddenly came to a realization.
Sludge had a 30% chance to poison the opponent.
Now that Pikachu was poisoned and it was his turn again...
Just one more Sludge Attack would be enough to turn the tide!
"Awesome, James! Arceus is smiling on us, meow!" Meowth cheered from the sidelines.
"Alright, Koffing, use Sludge again!"
Against all odds, a light at the end of the tunnel!
James no longer hesitated. With a sharp wave of his hand, another wave of purple sludge shot toward Pikachu.
Boom!
A direct hit. The battlefield filled with dust and smoke.
"We did it, meow!"
Meowth jumped for joy.
But strangely, the battlefield didn't clear.
As the dust settled, a small figure still stood firm.
"Middle-Part" withstood the blow for the sake of its Trainer!
"What the heck is going on?!"
James was stunned. Pikachu had somehow survived again—with just a sliver of HP left.
"So... James must be an NPC, huh?"
Natsume drew a conclusion.
In game mechanics, only battles against NPC Gym Leaders could trigger those bonded survival moments.
"Well then... Middle-Part, finish it!"
A final flash of white light.
Koffing's HP bar dropped to zero.
"What is this madness?!"
James collapsed to the ground, defeated.
"You weren't bad yourself," Natsume remarked.
Just then, a Super Potion was tossed onto James.
Startled, James caught it.
After spraying it on Koffing, he got back on his feet and looked at Natsume, who was now walking over.
He felt a strange sense of gratitude rising in his chest.
"Kid, you—"
"Five thousand Pokédollars."
Natsume stretched out his hand with a sly smile.
"Seriously, what kind of person are you?!"
James instinctively tried to return the Super Potion—but realized he had already used it.
"Relax, you can owe me. That billion-Pokédollar allowance you're supposed to give me after losing—put it on your tab."
Natsume casually jotted the debt down in his little notebook and had his Rotom Phone record the moment.
Yes, from this point forward, Natsume unilaterally declared that one of Kanto's top elite families owed him money.
"What billion-Pokédollar allowance?! You're outrageous, meow!" Meowth stormed over, ready to stand up for James.
But then, a familiar voice rang out from the distance.
"Go, Pikachu—use Thunderbolt!"
Boom!
A thick bolt of yellow lightning struck James and Meowth dead-on, blasting them sky-high.
Even though Natsume was well within range... only James and Meowth were launched.
(Ah yes... the wonderful logic of the anime world.)
Natsume noted this in his little book.
"Natsume bro, are you okay?!"
Ash rushed over, checking Natsume with concern.
It seemed Ash and Misty had already taken care of Jessie.
"Of course I'm fine," Natsume waved him off.
"Rotom, cut the footage before the part where they got blasted."
He turned to the Rotom Phone, still silently recording.
This footage, after all, might come in handy when he goes to visit James' parents someday.
"Roto~!"