novelraw Chapter 775: Sirfetch’d VS Bond Greninja! Lumiose Conference Opening
Chapter 775: Sirfetch’d VS Bond Greninja! Lumiose Conference Opening
Snowflakes drifted down from the night sky.
Fumiko, Bamboo Lan, and the others stood to the side with keen interest, watching the battle between Greninja and Sirfetch’d.
Little Hoopa fished a few cheer sticks out of a teleportation ring and, grinning, handed them to Bonnie and Serena.
“Charging at Teacher Lu right from the start, Ash is really reckless,” Clemont said helplessly.
“That’s just how Ash always is,” Serena laughed.
“Come on! Sirfetch’d and Greninja, show us your best!” Bonnie waved her cheer stick.
Snowflakes landed on Greninja’s shoulders. Ash’s eyes burned as he clenched his fist and shouted, “Get in there, Greninja, use Double-Edge!”
“Kuu-ga!”
Greninja closed the distance with astonishing speed, eyes aflame, arms swinging behind him as sharp white light gathered in his palms.
In an instant they were within arm’s reach. Greninja crossed his arms and sliced a single, straight blade through the air!“Such a reckless opening.”
Teacher Lu reached out, “Head-on strike!”
“Gah!” Sirfetch’d’s gaze hardened. Instead of retreating, it advanced, lifting its leek lance.
The leek’s tip gleamed with a cutting radiance, piercing to break through the blade. It jabbed straight at Greninja’s chest.
Greninja flinched, lowering his head to watch the spear tip and crossing his arms to block.
But Sirfetch’d stepped forward, thrusting the spearhead out, a chill gleam flickering!
Ash cried in alarm, “Dodge, Greninja!”
“Kuu-ga!” Greninja’s pupils contracted. Facing the imposing spear, there was nowhere left to evade.
Boom!
A blast of black smoke billowed. Greninja was knocked back and slammed to the ground with a thud, baring his teeth in pain, “Kuu-ga…”
“Teacher Lu stopped himself,” Fumiko murmured, “Otherwise it’d be decided.”
“After all, this is mainly a coaching match.” Bamboo Lan crossed her arms, “Probably meant to awaken Greninja’s potential.”
Sirfetch’d drew back its leek and stood steady on its snow-white legs, sharp, indifferent eyes looking down on Greninja.
“Gah…┌(。Д。)┐”
Huh… I’m already this strong, quack.
Teacher Lu’s face went blank.
Ash’s Greninja, after Bond Evolution, had the caliber of an Elite Four main battler.
Sirfetch’d, after special training with Master Ma and two Urshifu, mastering Single-Strike Secret and Multi-Strike Secret, had long since reached champion level.
But my own Ducklett… was cowardly as ever.
Like a laner who only wants to farm quietly, then because the opponent won’t let them take the tower blade, they end up forced into a solo kill.
A deadbeat on the team who somehow became a champion under pressure…
Truly deserving of Sirfetch’d’s huge luck!
Teacher Lu looked ahead.
The gap in levels was obvious—this single doubled-effect “Head-on Strike” was already more than Greninja could handle.
Ash frowned tightly. “Can you still fight, Greninja?”
“Kuu-ga…” Greninja forced himself up, eyes resolute.
In Greninja’s sight, Sirfetch’d looked down on him, sword and shield in its hands, aloof and extraordinary.
Just standing there, it radiated an unshakable presence.
But… I can still get stronger!
“Kuu-ga!” Greninja rose, gaze burning, adopting a battle stance.
Invisible aura wrapped his body. Water gathered behind Greninja’s back, and as if a pair of wings emerged from a chrysalis, they took shape.
Caitlin’s expression shifted slightly as she said coolly, “The emotional fluctuations of those two are increasing, they’re getting stronger.”
“Is this the ‘bond phenomenon’ Professor Sycamore proposed…” Bamboo Lan’s gray eyes focused.
“Greninja—”
Ash tilted his cap, eyes fierce, “The tougher the opponent, the stronger we’ll get!”
“Go, Greninja!!” Ash thrust his arm toward the sky, like he’d summoned Greninja’s theme music.
“Kuu-ga!!” Greninja answered with a cry and thrust his arm skyward, water surging beneath his feet with a boom.
Their eyes locked, burning like fire, spirits soaring.
Teacher Lu’s Aura sense detected Ash and Greninja’s aura merging into one. If Greninja took damage, it would feedback to Ash himself.
“What kind of fantasy-style fusion is this…” Teacher Lu murmured.
Regardless, witnessing Greninja’s Bond Evolution firsthand still stirred Teacher Lu’s XY-era heart.
“Bond Evolution” is officially translated as “Bond Transformation”;
different names, same evolution method.
When trainer and Pokémon form one heart and mind, their beliefs aligned, and combined with the Pokémon’s latent potential, there’s a slim chance of achieving Bond Transformation.
Because the trainer feels the Pokémon’s injuries too, the downside is severe. Even someone as robust as Ash often faints after Bond Transformation.
Snowflakes floated down. The water wings dissipated.
Greninja now bore red patterns on his head that matched Ash’s cap, a lithe posture, scarf-like tongue fluttering, and a massive Water Shuriken coalesced on his back.
“Kuu-ga!” Greninja’s gaze sharpened.
Teacher Lu had been disillusioned for a long time after learning Greninja’s “scarf” was actually a tongue.
But it had to be said, Ash’s Greninja was a case of Fletchling eating Kricketot—bird eats cricket.
“Gah…Σ(ﾟДﾟ;
)” Sirfetch’d blinked at his opponent, stunned a moment.
What, this guy suddenly transformed, quack!
“Nice look in the eyes.”
Teacher Lu commanded, “Sirfetch’d, Leaf Blade!”
“Gah!”
Sirfetch’d stepped forward toward Greninja. The leek gathered emerald light as it slashed. Greninja plucked the giant shuriken from his back and met the blow head-on, knocked back several meters, kicking up dust. He landed on one hand and crouched low, holding the spinning Water Shuriken behind his back.
“Greninja, Double Team!” Ash called.
In an instant Greninja’s Double Team shadows filled the arena, silhouettes drifting amid falling snow. Over a dozen shadow copies raised their shurikens at once. The shurikens spun above their palms, water swirling around them like vortices, forming razor-sharp water blades.
“Gah…” Sirfetch’d found himself in the center of the shadow copies, glancing left and right.
“Now, Water Shuriken!!” Ash clenched his fist and roared.
“Kuu-ga!!”
All across the field the shadow copies hurled their spiraling shurikens!
“Find the real one.” Teacher Lu said calmly, “Close your eyes and use True Seeing.”
“Close my eyes!?” Ash was surprised.
Isn’t that Master Green’s “Mind’s Eye, True Seeing” technique!
When the trainer closes his eyes, he becomes the Pokémon’s eyes;
at the instant of blocking an attack he can immediately command the counterstrike!
“Gah…” Sirfetch’d shut his eyes.
In the dark, shurikens from every direction gradually faded, leaving only one spinning water shuriken.
The shadow copies surrounding the courtyard vanished, and only Greninja leapt high directly in front of Ash.
Suddenly Sirfetch’d opened its sharp eyes.
“Gah!!”
The Water Shuriken spun fast, whipping up strong winds and clanged against the shield, blue sparks flying.
But the shuriken couldn’t pierce the shield. Exhausted, the water scattered. Sirfetch’d’s leek suddenly flashed a blade. The moment Greninja’s body landed, Sirfetch’d charged forward!
“Strike the vital points!!” Teacher Lu shouted.
Seizing a split-second opening and cutting the opponent’s timing can easily hit critical spots.
Sirfetch’d’s leek shimmered with jet-black metallic luster. As it slipped past Greninja, it executed a quick-draw slash, the tone shifting into red and black.
Swoosh!!
All the shadow copies vanished at once.
Greninja stood behind Sirfetch’d, body stiff, trembling as he turned his head, “Kuu-ga…”
Thud!
Greninja fell to the ground.
Serena covered her mouth, “Greninja…”
“That was pretty good… to reach this level against Teacher Lu.” Clemont exclaimed.
“Bond Transformation, Mega Evolution…” Bamboo Lan’s lips curved, “This Lumiose Conference is going to be very interesting.”
“Beep beep… Winner, Sirfetch’d, Rotom!” Rotom waved a flag.
Ash clutched his midsection, feeling real pain, cold sweat on his brow as he stepped forward and helped Greninja up.
“Greninja… are you alright?”
“Kuu-ga…” Greninja leaned on Ash’s shoulder, looking at Sirfetch’d with awe and gratitude.
In Ash’s Greninja’s moveset, Double-Edge is indispensable.
However, Double-Edge’s power was questionable, and Greninja hadn’t mastered the upgraded Single-Strike Secret.
But from Sirfetch’d’s live demonstration, Greninja had felt he’d touched some inspiration.
“Gah…” Sirfetch’d nodded calmly.
At that moment, Ducklett felt Teacher Lu’s sensing in his chest.
“Use Coaching.”
Snowflakes fell. Sirfetch’d extended his leek and gently tapped Greninja’s shoulder.
“Gah…” Sirfetch’d’s eyes were serene.
Young one, I have great expectations for you.
“Kuu-ga…” Greninja’s eyes flickered and he nodded firmly.
I’ll strive to master Single-Strike Secret as soon as possible!
Sirfetch’d nodded with satisfaction and turned its head, secretly pleased.
“Gah…(´థ౪థ)σ”
Yay, I totally fooled him… Didn’t give me away!
**
The Lumiose Conference used a limit-four format;
players could change their movesets before each match. A competitor’s moveset was critical.
In the anime Ash’s Greninja carried: Night Slash, Water Shuriken, Double Team, Double-Edge.
Single-Strike Secret is the superior replacement for Double-Edge, but Ash’s Greninja obviously didn’t know it.
Taking advantage of the battle to have Ducklett coach a bit was Teacher Lu’s careful intention.
Also, Teacher Lu was extremely interested in Greninja’s “bond phenomenon.”
In the anime’s explanation of the bond phenomenon, the Koga Ninja Village passed down legends of Greninja. Bond Greninja can be seen as a special form of Greninja.
I wonder if my Pokémon could have a bond phenomenon or special form.
Teacher Lu pondered.
It requires a strong bond, shared belief, and ancient legend…
Teacher Lu quietly shifted his gaze to Sirfetch’d.
The battle-hardened hero Sirfetch’d? White-steed-riding Sirfetch’d?
Since Koga Ninja Village once had a Greninja “ninja” legend,
it’s quite reasonable that Galar has a Sirfetch’d “Ducklord” legend!
“Gah! (#ﾟДﾟ)” Sirfetch’d’s spine chilled, as if pricked by needles.
Ducklett glanced back at Teacher Lu, shivering, and hurriedly faced forward.
Teacher Lu: “……”
Probably just my overactive imagination.
Still, if I ever travel to Galar, I’ll ask Sonia about it…
…
To prepare for the Lumiose Conference, Ash and his group stayed in Miare City, dropping into the café now and then.
Under Sirfetch’d’s guidance, Greninja’s Single-Strike Secret gradually improved.
Teacher Lu couldn’t help but feel impressed—though Ducklett trained less diligently than Haunter, Turtwig, or Sylveon, its way of coaching Pokémon was unique.
Ash still chose to bring the team he caught in Kalos to compete at the Lumiose Conference.
Darko was traveling through Kalos but wouldn’t take part in the Lumiose Conference.
He was busy collecting a deck called “Sealed Super Deity.”
That deck consisted of five “Sealed Super Deity” cards, and card players joked it was “Teacher Lu’s deck.”
Collect all five components and you could secure unconditional victory in a match—of course Darko was tempted.
Darko’s Darkrai: “…”
Teacher Lu defeated a super deity, and you’re collecting cards about super deities…
Embarrassing!
Teacher Lu chatted with Steven about the Lumiose Conference and casually mentioned the legendary Prismatic Meteor shard.
“The meteor showed no abnormal phenomena… what’s wrong?” Steven asked.
“Nothing.” Teacher Lu relaxed.
In the anime that Prismatic Meteor was used by Team Flare, causing disaster across Kalos.
But with Team Flare’s downfall, Kalos had returned to calm waters.
Bonnie unexpectedly kept meeting Z1, the Zygarde Core, and often brought it to the café to play.
They grew very close;
when Bonnie became a trainer, the Core would likely follow her.
Other rookies went out with Squirtle or Charmander.
Bonnie going out with a Xerneas… protagonist template, nothing more typical.
“I heard you’ll be a special guest at the Lumiose Conference.”
Steven thought a moment, “There might be an exhibition match between champions.”
“An exhibition match?”
“Yeah, like the World Juniors you participated in before. Powerful trainers doing the opening bout.”
Steven explained, “It’s a Lumiose Conference tradition.”
“I see…” Teacher Lu nodded.
“I’m looking forward to seeing your battle.” Steven smiled.
“I’m a bit nervous…” Teacher Lu’s expression was complex.
What if I beat Karine in one hit… wouldn’t that be awkward for the Kalos Alliance?
Karine’s Mega Gardevoir almost lost to Bond Greninja… it’s not impossible!
**
In early January, the highly anticipated Kalos League tournament officially opened in Miare City!
Unlike the anime timeline, the Triple Princess preliminaries happen after the league tournament;
both Musashi and Serena will participate.
This iteration of the Lumiose Conference gathered many trainers who had mastered Mega Evolution, making it a particularly high-caliber league tournament!
Pre-event announcements suggested the opening ceremony would very likely feature an inaugural match between Teacher Lu and Karine!
Immediately the Lumiose Conference’s heat spiked, drawing attention from leagues everywhere.
Around the venue flags flew and a Wailord airship drifted through the sky. The airship’s LED screen displayed the Lumiose Conference promo MV.
“Do your best, Ash.”
On the phone screen, Aunt Delia encouraged, “Me and Mr. Mime will be cheering for you.”
“Bari~” Mr. Mime waved its hands.
“Yeah, I will.” Ash grinned.
“Oh by the way…” Aunt Delia tapped her chin, “Ash, did you register? I remember today’s the final deadline.”
“Register!?”
Ash’s face changed, “Oh no, Pikachu, we have to get to the venue fast!”
“Pika-pi…” Pikachu sighed helplessly.
This is already the sixth time…
They hurriedly ended the call. Ash sprinted to the venue. Dozens of contestants gathered at the registration desk.
He managed to register without incident.
Ash breathed a long sigh and tipped his cap, “Pikachu—”
“Pikapi?” Pikachu looked up.
Ash closed his eyes and visions of Master Green and Teacher Lu’s guidance and the bond with Greninja flashed before him.
His gaze ignited. Clenching his fist, he vowed, “We will become Pokémon Masters and win this Lumiose Conference championship!”