Chapter 11: The Phantom’s Edge

The Zorua line possesses a unique Ability known as Illusion, granting them the power to conjure mirages and masquerade as humans or other Pokémon.

However, N’s Zorua possessed a natural talent for Illusion that far eclipsed others of its kind. It didn't just mimic forms; it could construct entire illusory environments, weaving sensory deceptions so vivid they manipulated all five senses. It was this mastery that allowed it to so effortlessly hoodwink an Alpha Ursaring.

In the Ursaring’s eyes, the Tyranitar conjured by Zorua’s Illusion radiated an overwhelming, cataclysmic pressure, an aura far exceeding that of an Alpha. This was why the hot-headed bear had lunged forward without a second thought, unleashing the full extent of its fury.

"ROAARR!!"

The enraged Ursaring swung a massive paw, igniting a Fire Punch. The blazing fist descended like a falling meteor toward Zorua, who, having just peppered the immobilized Ursaring with a flurry of hits, was now the primary target of its wrath.

"Agility."

N’s brow twitched ever so slightly. He could see that the Ursaring was no longer a combatant, but a monster driven purely by bloodlust. A Pokémon that had lost its reason, incapable of strategic thought, was the easiest kind to dismantle.

Zorua, already naturally fleet-footed, became a blur of silver and charcoal after the speed boost from Agility. The cumbersome Ursaring possessed immense raw power, yet it couldn't land a single blow. Zorua’s small frame was being utilized to its absolute maximum potential.

"Timburr..."

Timburr shook its head, finally snapping back to its senses. It watched with wide-eyed confusion as Zorua, whose raw power wasn't much higher than its own, danced around the Ursaring, toying with the beast as if it were a mere cub.

Suddenly, a realization struck. The Timburr’s determined gaze shifted to the green-haired youth standing behind the fray, one hand tucked casually in his pocket. It was his commands. N’s direction had elevated Zorua’s combat effectiveness by several magnitudes. This was why Zorua could dominate the field!

"Hm?"

N adjusted the brim of his black-and-white cap, his eyes remaining calm as he surveyed the battlefield. He spared a brief glance toward Timburr. After a moment of rest, the little Pokémon had managed to recover enough to stand; its spirit remained unbroken.

The little guy had great intuition, and its stubborn personality appealed to N. If possible, he certainly intended to catch it. However, the immediate priority was neutralizing the rampaging Ursaring.

The berserk Ursaring held nothing back. Its right arm muscles bulged and tightened, a faint light coiling around the limb before it brought down a savage Hammer Arm!

The power behind the strike was terrifying. If it connected, even a completely healthy Zorua would be knocked out in a single hit.

"Dig."

Zorua let out a mocking chortle at the Ursaring before diving headfirst into the earth. The Hammer Arm slammed into the ground, shattering the bedrock. Shards of stone sprayed in every direction as the impact sent a tremor through the very heart of the forest.

Despite Zorua’s agility, the gap in raw power remained. An Alpha Ursaring wasn't something a Zorua could simply whittle down with ease; for a high-speed attacker like Zorua, its strikes amounted to little more than painful "chip damage."

"..."

N turned his focus entirely to Timburr. The Pokémon clearly had a chip on its shoulder, and N knew that it held the key to ending this fight.

"Timburr, use Bulk Up."

Suddenly finding itself under N's command, Timburr froze, its head tilting in confusion. But after a second of hesitation, it chose to trust him. It flexed every muscle in its body, pink veins bulging with concentrated power.

"Timburr, use Focus Energy, then wait for the opening."

Having issued the order, N turned his attention back to Zorua. Timburr didn't dally; it steeled its resolve, focused its mind, and stood ready. Its tensed muscles were a coiled spring, ready to unleash an explosive burst of force!

"Zua!"

Zorua continued its deadly dance, ducking under swings and leaving shallow gashes on the Ursaring’s hide, all while subtly leading the beast toward N’s position. Blinded by rage, the Ursaring failed to notice the trap until it was too late.

"ROAARR!!"

In that instant, the previously elusive Zorua stopped dead in its tracks. The Ursaring didn't hesitate. The air crackled with the sharp, piercing sound of electricity as a Thunder Punch, coiling like a golden serpent, came crashing down!

"Slide under it."

Zorua executed a bizarre, fluid maneuver. It dropped low, sliding directly between the Ursaring’s legs. As it emerged behind the beast, it snapped its head back and fired a point-blank Dark Pulse into the Ursaring’s spine!

Stunned by the sudden impact and losing its center of gravity, the Ursaring’s vision blurred. It stumbled forward, nearly collapsing. But before it could regain its footing, a grey-skinned Pokémon exploded into motion!

"Target the right leg! Use Low Kick!"

At N’s command, Timburr let out a low roar. It slammed its left foot into the dirt, the sheer force cracking the hard earth as it pivoted its entire body weight. Every remaining ounce of its strength and stamina was poured into this single, decisive strike!

CRACK!!!

The Ursaring, unable to dodge, lost its balance entirely. Like a falling mountain, it crashed heavily into the dirt!

The power of Low Kick is determined by the weight of the opponent. The impact of a nearly three-hundred-pound Ursaring hitting the ground sent a shockwave through the entire Nichiyo Forest.

For a Normal-type like Ursaring, Fighting-type moves are super effective!

Between the Bulk Up boost and the Ursaring’s own weight, even an Alpha couldn't get back up. The bear lay there, covered in scratches and completely drained of energy.

Both Zorua and Timburr looked worse for wear. Zorua, having spent the entire fight as a distraction, was mentally exhausted; a single grazing blow would have finished it, and its stamina was nearly bottomed out.

Timburr fared even worse, collapsing into unconsciousness the moment the final blow landed. Yet, even in its faint, a satisfied smirk played on its lips.

"You both did well," N said, letting out a slow breath.

He looked at the defeated Ursaring but decided against catching it. Instead, he reached out with the Viridian Power, providing a small measure of healing, just enough to ensure it would recover on its own. He then scooped up the unconscious Timburr and prepared to leave.

The Ursaring was hardy; that bit of healing was plenty. If he healed it any further and it woke up immediately, things might get complicated again.