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Chapter 64: Does Team Rocket Have Bonds Too?
🕑 Added 2025-08-16 07:46:57 +0000 UTCAt this moment, a familiar scene unfolded before Iono's eyes once again.
"Since you asked so sincerely, we'll graciously tell you!"
Familiar music, familiar lines, familiar movements - Team Rocket's trio performed this scene like a theatrical play, executing it perfectly.
The livestream audience was thoroughly entertained.
[It's these three again!]
[You tell me these are Team Rocket members, but I feel like they came out of drama school?]
[Show some respect - their strength isn't weak at all. Last time, they dominated the streamer for half an hour. Who knows how much stronger they've gotten this time.]
[Fair point, strong is strong, but honestly, these three... really don't give off any sense of pressure.]
[There's that talking Meowth again! Catch him! Send him to the research lab!]
Having witnessed Iono's previous encounter with Team Rocket, the livestream audience naturally had quite a deep impression of them.
After all, the state these three displayed was completely different from what one would typically consider "villains."
At this moment, Team Rocket's trio had finished their customary performance. Jessie stepped forward, pointing a finger at Iono.
"Damn brat, you got lucky last time. This time, no matter what, we're stealing your Pokémon!"
James also clenched his fists confidently.
"Brat, face the results of our special training!"
Amid inspiring music, countless Poké Balls flew across the screen as the battle interface loaded.
But Iono's mouth curved slightly upward at this moment, showing a smug expression.
She hadn't expected Team Rocket's trio to show up so soon after just finishing equipping her team. In that case...
"Hehe, perfect timing! I'll use you three to test how strong my renewed partners have become!"
"Pikachu, go!"
"Pika pika!"
The Poké Ball was thrown, red light flashed, and Pikachu appeared on the field.
The next moment, Team Rocket's trio also sent out their Pokémon.
Last time, Team Rocket's trio had a Koffing, an Ekans, and Meowth personally entering battle.
This time, as they claimed, Team Rocket's configuration had indeed been upgraded - not only had the number of Pokémon increased to four, but the first one sent out had changed appearance.
A massive, deep purple body, sharp fangs, and a long tail.
This was clearly Ekans' evolved form - Arbok!
As Arbok entered the field, a red light burst from its body with intimidating intent. A red light immediately flowed away from Pikachu's body, making its aura noticeably weaker.
At the same time, a notification popped up:
[Arbok's Intimidate ability activated - Pikachu's Attack level decreased!]
Seeing this, Iono raised an eyebrow slightly.
This game actually had abilities that could lower the opponent's Attack level the moment they entered the field - that was pretty strong.
But so what? All her team's attack attributes were Special Attack anyway!
She didn't hesitate to command Pikachu to use Electric Terrain to create advantages for her entire team.
At this moment, Pikachu's speed advantage naturally shone through, successfully using its move before Arbok could act.
Golden current surged across its body, covering the ground. In an instant, the entire battlefield sparkled with brilliant electric light.
[Pikachu used "Electric Terrain" - the battlefield is charged with electricity!]
The next moment, Team Rocket's Arbok twisted its body, deep purple energy pouring from its mouth, materializing into a massive maw that directly engulfed Pikachu!
[Arbok used Crunch!]
[The "Black Glasses" Arbok is holding boosted its Dark-type move's power!]
[Critical hit!]
Three notifications appeared in succession. Pikachu's HP bar plummeted like a rocket, then hit zero, losing its ability to fight.
"You did well, Pikachu."
Iono recalled Pikachu from the field, entering the Pokémon switching interface. She didn't seem rushed, still appearing composed.
Because Electric Terrain was now fully active, it was time for her other three Pokémon to perform!
That's right, Iono had three remaining Pokémon, not two.
On the way to Mauville City, in the grass on that bridge, Iono had caught a new Pokémon - "Magnemite" - and after defeating the gym, successfully evolved it into Magneton when it reached level 30!
After evolution, Magneton's stats had improved dramatically across the board!
This battle would be perfect for testing its strength.
The current situation was quite favorable for switching to Magneton, since its Steel typing made it immune to Poison-type moves!
With this thought, Iono didn't hesitate and directly chose to send out Magneton.
She also addressed the chat with a smile:
"Electric Terrain is active - now it's my turn!"
"Magneton, Thunderbolt!"
With Magneton's powerful Special Attack base stats combined with Electric Terrain's boost to this move's power, this attack would definitely deal massive damage!
However, the next moment, Arbok's body suddenly became a red light, disappearing from the battlefield and returning to its Poké Ball.
At the same time, another Pokémon was switched in - clearly a seabird-like creature with black and yellow feathers, its body showing a streamlined shape suggesting speed.
The moment she saw this Pokémon, Iono couldn't help but freeze slightly.
As Levincia Gym Leader, this Pokémon was one of the ace fighters in her own gym - the Electric and Flying-type Kilowattrel!
And her gym's Kilowattrel had the ability...
At this thought, Iono's whole body stiffened as she suddenly realized the severity of the situation.
Oh no!!
But it was too late to react now. Magneton's Thunderbolt, boosted by Electric Terrain, transformed into a wild electric current that struck directly at Kilowattrel, thundering down.
However, the next moment, all the electricity became gentle and harmless the instant it touched Kilowattrel's body, harmlessly merging into its form.
Its HP bar didn't move an inch!
A notification appeared before Iono:
[Kilowattrel's Volt Absorb ability activated!]
Red radiance rolled and surged across its body!
[While immune to Electric-type moves, its Special Attack level rose!!!]
Iono: ?
Wait, what?
Some Pokémon had the Volt Absorb ability, allowing them to be immune to any Electric-type move damage and convert it into their own energy.
As an Electric-type Gym Leader, she naturally knew this.
But the current problem was that she'd just left the Electric Gym, taught all her Pokémon Thunderbolt, and was ready to dominate, so why did Team Rocket show up with a Volt Absorb Pokémon?!
This game's creator definitely arranged this on purpose!!
And what was this Special Attack boost about? Normally, shouldn't it restore HP??
But theoretically, even if Kilowattrel had gained a Special Attack boost from Volt Absorb and was immune to Magneton's Electric-type moves...
Remember, Magneton had the excellent Steel typing for resistance, putting it in quite an advantageous position against Flying-types.
Most of Kilowattrel's moves were Electric, Flying, and some Normal-type - all three types would be resisted by Magneton!
So Iono took a deep breath, quickly adjusted her mindset, and had Magneton use its only Steel-type move currently known - "Gyro Ball."
According to the game's description, this move had a very interesting characteristic - its power wasn't fixed. The slower the Pokémon using this move compared to the opponent, the greater this move's power would be.
While Magneton wasn't particularly slow, it definitely couldn't be called fast - just average at best.
But Kilowattrel was in a completely opposite state!
As a Kilowattrel trainer, Iono clearly knew how amazing Kilowattrel's speed was!
Even among all speed-focused Pokémon, Kilowattrel's speed was outstanding!
This meant Gyro Ball could deal considerable damage!
The next moment, after Iono chose to have Magneton use its move, the opposing Kilowattrel naturally moved first!
[Kilowattrel used Charge Beam!!]
[The "Magnet" Kilowattrel is holding boosted Electric-type move power!]
[Not very effective!]
Brilliant golden light danced in the air, forming a straight line across Magneton's body. Due to its Electric-type resistance, this move could only deal half its original power.
But even with Electric Terrain, Special Attack boost, and held item bonuses, this hit still took nearly 1/3 of Magneton's HP bar!
Remember, Magneton was already a Pokémon with decent bulk.
This showed just how terrifying Kilowattrel's original attack power was!
Seeing this scene, Iono couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief.
If Magneton had any disadvantage against Kilowattrel, it was simply being too slow and lacking first-strike privilege.
But since the opponent needed three moves to defeat Magneton, she had nothing to fear.
But just as she relaxed slightly, another deep red radiance suddenly appeared on Kilowattrel's body, rising upward!
Another notification followed!
[Kilowattrel's Special Attack level rose again!]
Iono paused, then recalled the move the opponent had just used.
Charge Beam - besides being an Electric-type special attack, this move also had a chance to raise the user's Special Attack level!
And unfortunately...
This probability had just triggered in that last move!
This meant Kilowattrel's Special Attack level had been boosted to +2, doubling all special attack move power!
Having used Pikachu's Nasty Plot boosts to sweep teams before, Iono naturally understood what this meant.
This meant if Gyro Ball couldn't one-shot Kilowattrel, she was about to get swept by Kilowattrel!
As she pondered, Magneton moved, its body spinning at high speed, becoming a rotating steel torrent charging straight at Kilowattrel!
[Magneton used Gyro Ball!]
[Critical hit!]
Seeing this final notification, Iono's spirits lifted again!
The opponent's Arbok had gotten a critical hit with its first "Crunch" - this time, fortune finally smiled on her.
With Kilowattrel's bulk, it theoretically couldn't survive a critical hit "Gyro Ball"!
Sure enough, just as Iono predicted, Kilowattrel's HP bar began falling at an alarming rate, instantly hitting zero!
Based on Iono's previous experience with this game, Kilowattrel had definitely lost its ability to fight.
However, just as Kilowattrel's HP bar hit zero...
Three notifications suddenly appeared.
[Jessie: Kilowattrel, stand up!]
[James: Come on, Kilowattrel!!]
[Meowth: You can't fall here, meow!]
Golden notifications appeared, and Kilowattrel's falling HP bar suddenly stopped at the last moment!
Even with just the tiniest sliver remaining like a candle in the wind, it still stood proudly on the battlefield, refusing to fall!
[Through the support and encouragement of its trainers and companions, Kilowattrel miraculously endured the fatal attack!]
[Is this the bond between humans and Pokémon??]
Iono: ????
What is this now??
As she stood stunned, the next turn had already begun.
Even though the opponent's HP was locked, Magneton still had over two-thirds of its health remaining. Surely it wouldn't get one-shot, right?
With this thought, Iono took a deep breath and chose "Gyro Ball" again.
However, the next moment, the opposing Kilowattrel suddenly flapped its wings once and cried out with raised head!
Dark clouds suddenly appeared in the sky, and a brilliant, terrifyingly powerful thunderbolt descended from above, crashing down on Magneton!!
[Kilowattrel used "Thunder"!]
With double power, Electric Terrain, and held item bonuses, this already high-power move instantly unleashed terrifying damage!!
[Though not very effective, this was a fierce strike!!]
[Magneton fainted!!]
Seeing this scene, the livestream chat exploded again.
[One-shot? Where did my big Magneton go? Just like that??]
[Hello, I'm an illiterate person who can't read. Can someone tell me if those four characters read "super effective"?]
[...When I watched Cynthia play before, this bond effect triggered and locked Treecko's HP, winning a key battle. I thought this effect was interesting and touching, but can the author explain why NPCs can also trigger HP locks??]
[Magneton: I don't get it. They just started shouting about bonds and courage and stuff, then suddenly charged at me.]
[Um, can someone explain to me - aren't these three Team Rocket members? Is the word "bond"... really appropriate for them?]
