Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect
Chapter 303: Water Showdown!

Chapter 303 - Water Showdown!

Greninja's level was only 72.

That meant a full 11-level difference from Archie's Sharpedo. The higher the level, the greater the gap between each increment. Even when Greninja fought opponents 5 or 6 levels below itself, victory came easily.

But now? Defeating a Sharpedo with an 11-level advantage was a monumental challenge.

That's exactly what John was looking for. If he hadn't wanted this kind of difficult matchup, he wouldn't have sent Greninja out at all.

In John's main lineup, Garchomp, Blaziken, and Gardevoir were all capable of Mega Evolution. Even Gyarados had Mega Stones available. Only Greninja and Tyranitar couldn't perform a Mega Evolution.

Tyranitar's limitation was simply due to not having the right stone. But Greninja was different.

The bond between John and Greninja was already complete. John understood precisely what his Pokemon wanted.

Unlike Blaziken, who fought primarily to win battles for John, Greninja's motivation was more self-centered. It wanted to defeat opponents—especially powerful ones—for the sheer pleasure of overcoming difficult challenges.

Ordinary opponents no longer provided any satisfaction. Recently, aside from facing Hank during his battle for the status of Gym Leader, neither John nor Greninja had felt genuine pressure from any opponent. Even knowing what motivated his Pokemon, John simply couldn't find suitable challengers.

What made Greninja truly special was that it didn't evolve through standard Mega Evolution. Instead, it transformed through its own unique Ability: Battle Bond.

This transformation was far more difficult than normal Mega Evolution! Beyond the connection between trainer and Pokemon, it required a direct and powerful fighting spirit, a genuine desire for victory.

By choosing to challenge Team Aqua Base first, John had deliberately sought out Archie and his water-type Pokemon. Same-type opponents were more likely to ignite Greninja's competitive spirit. After all, what satisfaction was there in defeating opponents with type disadvantages?

Facing Sharpedo, with its 11-level advantage, John could feel Greninja's desire for victory rising like a tide.

"Not going to attack first? Then allow me!" Archie chuckled after watching them hesitate, raising his hand in command. "Sharpedo, Aqua Jet!"

The surface of Sharpedo's body erupted with churning water, exploding outward as it launched forward. That gaping maw flew through the air like a missile rather than a shark!

"Use Aqua Jet to dodge, then Role Play!" John commanded calmly.

Greninja leaned forward and rushed ahead, hugging the ground to avoid Sharpedo's attack. Simultaneously, it reached up and formed a water hat in midair, placing it on its head. Immediately, Greninja felt its body lighten, its movements becoming swifter.

Both Sharpedo and Greninja shared the same typing: Water/Dark. Though Role Play was a Psychic-type move, it targeted Greninja itself rather than its opponent, allowing it to work effectively.

Sharpedo had two possible Abilities: its standard "Rough Skin" or its hidden "Speed Boost."

Rough Skin caused opponents to lose HP when making contact. Speed Boost, meanwhile, increased the Pokemon's speed by one stage after each turn—a god-tier ability that John's Blaziken also possessed.

Both Abilities were excellent, making either worth copying. From Greninja's newfound quickness, John deduced that Archie's Sharpedo must have "Speed Boost"!

"You can use Role Play like that?" Archie chuckled. Originally, his strategy had been to leverage Speed Boost, dragging Greninja into a speed battle before finishing it with overwhelming velocity.

Now... he'd stick with that same tactic!

Nothing crushed an opponent's spirit more than knowing exactly what strategy was coming and still being powerless to counter it.

"Sharpedo, Agility!"

Sharpedo spun around in midair, its body accelerating forward with incredible speed. To John, it looked increasingly like a living torpedo.

"Use Substitute!"

Greninja quickly turned its head left, while a copy of itself leapt to the right. Confused, Sharpedo jumped upward, hesitating momentarily while trying to determine which target to pursue.

"Water Shuriken!"

Both Greninjas immediately hurled five spinning water stars from their hands.

"Whirlpool!" Archie snapped his fingers.

Instantly, the water surrounding Sharpedo began swirling rapidly, forming a protective vortex that easily caught and neutralized the incoming Water Shurikens.

Before John could call another attack, Archie issued his next command:

"Icicle Spear!"

Arrow-like ice spears shot out from the rotating vortex, bombarding everything in the vicinity.

"He knows that move too? And turned it into an area attack?" John was genuinely surprised.

If Sharpedo had simply fired Icicle Spear directly, that wouldn't have been shocking. But the Pokemon was controlling the frozen projectiles from within the whirlpool, using water currents to launch them in all directions.

This required both exceptional water manipulation and precise ice control!

"Protect!" John commanded instantly, realizing it was too late to use Surf as a shield.

Both Greninjas crossed their arms defensively in front of their chests, summoning invisible barriers that blocked all incoming ice spears.

"Attack the Greninja on the left! Aqua Jet!" Archie suddenly locked onto his target.

Sharpedo burst through its own whirlpool, wrapped in light blue water energy, striking with lightning speed!

Moves like Aqua Jet and Quick Attack guaranteed priority in games, but in reality, they simply represented superior speed. With its "Speed Boost" ability and Agility enhancement, the already-swift Sharpedo reached Greninja almost instantaneously.

Its bloody maw gaped wide, teeth covered in frost—preparing an Ice Fang!