Pokemon: Thunder & Fire

Episode XI: Flaming Tips

Here we see our Flareon, Enji, is darting around the battlefield, barely managing to dodge the relentless snapping jaws of the enraged Hippowdon. Each attempted bite seems to come closer than the last.

"I suppose we can't talk this through, huh?" Enji quips sarcastically as he leaps into the air, narrowly avoiding another crushing bite. His lighthearted tone, though usual for him, belies the danger of the situation. The Hippowdon, however, is beyond reasoning. His eyes are locked on Enji, filled with pure rage and singular focus.

"Ah, fuck it," Enji mutters, realizing that diplomacy won't work here. Without hesitation, he activates Flamewalker's second stage, hoping to put the beast down quickly with Agni Slam. As flames ignite around his feet, Enji braces himself and attempts to slam the Hippowdon into the ground.

But his plan backfires. The Hippowdon, still partly submerged in the earth, proves far too heavy for the Flareon to handle. Struggling against the massive weight, Enji's hands slip, and he loses his grip, causing the enormous creature to collapse on top of him with a heavy thud.

Taking full advantage of the mishap, the Hippowdon charges his teeth with sand magic, sharpening them to a lethal edge. The beast lunges again, jaws wide, aiming to tear into Enji.

Thinking quickly, Enji activates Silat Deflect, using his elbow to block the crushing blow. But the Hippowdon's bite force is no joke, more than eight thousand newtons of pressure bear down on him. Enji can feel the sharpened teeth slowly piercing through his defenses, cutting into his muscle fibers. Pain shoots through his arms like fire.

"That... fucking hurts! LET. GO!" Enji yells, his voice strained with desperation. The sharp teeth leave deep gashes in both of his arms as adrenaline surges through his system.

With no time to waste, Enji channels everything he's got and casts Inferno Foot, lashing out with a series of fiery kicks aimed at the inside of the Hippowdon's mouth. The intense heat scorches the beast's maw, forcing the Hippowdon to finally release his grip with a pained roar.

Breathing heavily, Enji seizes the opportunity to escape, scrambling out from under the massive creature. "Shit... busted both my arms... only the right one's working now," he mutters under his breath, wincing from the pain as he puts some distance between himself and the still-raging Hippowdon. His body aches, but the Flareon knows he has to keep moving or risk getting crushed again.

Blood splurts out of Enji's arm, painting the sand in crimson streaks as it drips down. His injured arm throbs, but he forces himself to focus, steadying his breathing to regain composure.

Pain gnaws at him, threatening to cloud his thoughts, but he pushes it aside, knowing that letting it take over would spell his defeat. Meanwhile, the Hippowdon, momentarily stunned by the burns and the fight's ferocity, finally shakes itself free of its rage-fueled haze, its massive frame heaving with renewed fury.

The Hippowdon's eyes narrow as it locks onto Enji. "I'm done messing around. I'll destroy you, and then I'll feast on your remains. Be prepared." His voice is low, but there's an unmistakable menace lacing every word.

As if to punctuate the threat, the Hippowdon activates his bloodline ability, summoning a torrent of sand from the ground. The grains of sand begin to levitate, swirling upward as though the very earth itself is answering the beast's call. In moments, the sandstorm intensifies, the harsh winds whipping around Enji, stinging his fur and obscuring his vision.

With an almost predatory grace, the Hippowdon submerges itself into the massive pile of sand beneath it, moving through it like a shark through water. Only its eyes and nose remain visible, gliding smoothly across the surface as it circles its prey, waiting for the right moment to strike.