Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 549: Gengar, Invincible Over All!

Buzz—!

Malamar extended its thick arms, releasing a dark gray field that expanded from its center until it enveloped the battlefield.

Under the effect of Trick Room, speed order reversed—Malamar gained the advantage.

"Urshifu, Surging Strikes!"

Johan's style seemed unchanged from the previous match—charging straight in.

"Garruu!"

With a shout, Urshifu moved, water swirling around its fists.

Splash—!

Piers remained composed and gave the next command without pause.

"Malamar, Superpower!"

"Ugh!!"

Malamar's body surged with dark red energy as it met Urshifu head-on with slashing tentacles.

Boom!!

As fist met tendril, power erupted and the field cracked from the impact, dust flying.

"Wait, isn't Malamar part Psychic? Why not use Psychic-type moves against a Fighting-type?"

"Superpower is strong, but it's not STAB..."

"And it lowers attack and defense too..."

Bang! Bang!

Malamar blocked two strikes—fist and kick—but couldn't stop the third.

Smash!!

In the dust cloud, it was hurled backward.

Buzz—!

Oddly, the red glow around Malamar deepened.

To answer the confusion, the Unova League—learning from last round's unclear fights—assigned live commentators from Round 2 onward.

For the swamp arena, commentary came from none other than the Unova Elite Four's Dark-type expert—Grimsley!

Lazily holding a mic, he announced:

"That's because Piers' Malamar has the Contrary ability."

[Contrary: Stat changes are reversed. Increases become decreases and vice versa.]

Ah—!

So the debuff from Superpower becomes a buff?! If Malamar holds out, won't it just keep getting stronger?

Plus, with Trick Room giving it speed, this thing could sweep if left unchecked!

So how would Johan respond?

Simple. Keep punching!

"Malamar, Superpower again!" Piers stuck to the plan.

Johan smiled. "Surging Strikes!"

Boom! Boom! Boom—!

Same as before, Malamar couldn't win the trade and was sent flying on the third hit.

But Urshifu sensed Malamar growing stronger—its muscles were tensing.

Stat boost confirmed.

"This ain't good..."

"Malamar now has +2 Attack and +2 Defense!"

"Is Johan not gonna change tactics?!"

As the crowd worried for Johan, Piers frowned.

Despite Malamar being trained for defense—with EVs maxed accordingly—and benefiting from Contrary and repeated Superpower boosts... it wasn't holding up.

Only two punches, and it's already faltering?

He knew Urshifu well. As Mustard's star Pokémon, it came in two styles: Rapid-Strike and Single-Strike.

This one was Rapid-Strike, focused on relentless attacks.

But this particular Urshifu...

Could Malamar take one more hit, even with +2 Defense?

Piers clenched his jaw.

Time to risk it!

"Malamar, Superpower!"

Third time's the charm.

Johan raised a brow. He'd also gauged Malamar's stamina. So he knew what was coming next.

With Trick Room still active, Malamar struck first—quicker, better synced with Urshifu's rhythm.

Its tentacles slashed forward.

But Urshifu didn't need instructions—it had the timing down.

Another punch—

Boom!

But—

"Malamar, Baton Pass!" Piers shouted.

Buzz—!

Before the full collision, Piers pulled the plug. Malamar had triggered the Contrary buffs—now at +3 Attack and Defense. Time to pass it on.

He returned Malamar with a satisfied nod.

Time for the second wave.

Red light flashed—and Piers' second Pokémon appeared: Scrafty!

The Lizard Pokémon, mohawk hair and droopy "pants," oozed bad-boy energy. Now powered up, its aura swelled.

"Scrafty, the Hoodlum Pokémon. Dark/Fighting type. Its lazy kicks can shatter concrete—Roto!"

Triple stat buffed Scrafty!

Meanwhile, Johan recalled Urshifu at the same time.

Double switch!

His new Pokémon?

"Ka-kaah~(▼O▼)/"

Gengar. With sunglasses. Waving smugly.

Between Scrafty's gangster look and Gengar's sunglasses, it was hard to tell who the real delinquent was.

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

"Holy—Johan just sent out Gengar?! In Round 2?!"

"Is this for real? Gengar's in already??"

"Gengar! Mom loves you forever!!"

Yep. Gengar was a fan favorite. Unless you had to face it.

Commentator Grimsley chimed in again:

"Seems Johan predicted Piers' strategy."

He did?

But Scrafty's 4x weak to Fairy. Urshifu wasn't really at a disadvantage...

True, Gengar as a Ghost-type is immune to Fighting. But Scrafty is also Dark-type.

Wait—maybe Johan didn't know what Pokémon Piers would send, but predicted Baton Pass?

Grimsley continued:

"Scrafty probably has Moxie."

[Moxie: Attack increases when defeating an opponent.]

Classic snowball ability. Lance's Gyarados had it too.

So Johan subbed out Urshifu to avoid a potential sweep.

Ah! Got it!

Piers' face remained unreadable.

Even if his plan was seen through, Scrafty versus Gengar wasn't a bad matchup.

Especially with +3 boosts.

Only downside: Scrafty didn't KO Urshifu and get the extra Moxie boost.

"Scrafty!" Piers shouted.

"Scruff! Scruff!!" Scrafty's sleepy eyes lit up, fired up.

Johan and Gengar both smirked.

"Gengar, use 'Gimme That Buff.'"

Huh?

What move is that?

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar stuck out its tongue, teasing. A wisp of black fog floated from Scrafty—into Gengar's body.

Scrafty's power drained instantly. It stumbled, tripping over its own pants.

Gengar flexed, now radiating strength, even mimicking muscles with shadowy energy.

Wait.

What?

Everyone was stunned.

Malamar's +3 buffs—stolen by Gengar?!

The stream chat exploded with ????

Can Gengar even learn that?!

And isn't Gengar Special Attack based? What's the point of stealing Attack buffs?

Apparently... a lot.

"Ka-kaahhahaha"

Gengar cackled like a movie villain.

Its fists? Craving action!

Even if it usually didn't benefit from physical buffs... this Gengar was built different.

"Scrafty, Crunch!"

"Scruff!!"

Scrafty lunged with a lazy growl.

But Johan smiled.

This Gengar?

"Brick Break!"

"Ka-kaah!! (▼皿▼)"

Palm turned blade, Gengar struck down.

Smash!!

Scrafty stumbled hard—hit square on the head.

It did land a hit in return, but...

"Ka-kaah~"

Gengar patted its hands. Not even a scratch.

+3 Defense.

Piers: "..."

Scrafty: "..."

Audience: "..."

This Gengar is punching?!

And against a Fighting-type?!

Live tutorial: Gengar the Puncher!

Piers sighed and returned Scrafty.

Can't win this one.

"Malamar, it's your turn again!"

But Malamar, when summoned, was clearly winded—panting heavily.

Still, it had one vital role to play.

"Malamar, Topsy-Turvy!"

[Topsy-Turvy: Reverses all stat changes on the target.]

A brutal anti-buff move.

Combined with Contrary, Malamar could reverse its own debuffs and turn your boosts into nerfs.

Buzz—!

The odd light shot toward Gengar, ready to flip its stats.

But Johan had already predicted this.

"Gengar, Phantom Force."

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar sliced open a rift and vanished.

"Another pre-read..." Grimsley muttered, now serious.

Johan's mastery of timing and strategy was overwhelming.

This... this was a true Tactical Master.

From Malamar's perspective—it was all frustrating. Every move countered.

Topsy-Turvy missed.

Worse, Gengar emerged from behind and whacked it upside the head.

Smack!!

"Malamar is unable to battle!" the referee declared.

"What the—Gengar really is using Physical moves?!"

"First Brick Break, now Phantom Force?!"

"Ban this Gengar!! It's broken!!"

"Who else?! Gengar, INVINCIBLE OVER ALL!!"

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