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After the last head-on clash with Growlithe, Growlithe's father, being an experienced fighter, naturally wouldn't make the same mistake again.
Seeing his son charging at him with intense speed, the orange flames coiling around Growlithe's limbs suddenly flared up.
Just as Growlithe was about to crash into him, he sidestepped to the left at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the collision.
At the same time, he opened his jaws wide, releasing a burst of Dark-type energy before swiftly biting down on Growlithe's right foreleg with Bite.
Then, using the strength of his neck along with the momentum from Growlithe's charge, he swung his son violently to the side.
Growlithe's entire body was sent flying through the air.
However, Growlithe had excellent coordination. Just as he was about to hit the ground, he twisted his body mid-air, skillfully landing with all four paws on the ground, leaving four distinct claw marks as he skidded to a stop—greatly reducing any potential injuries from the fall.
"This isn't looking good. Since Growlithe's father also has the Flash Fire ability, all of Growlithe's best Fire-type moves are completely useless here. And when it comes to battle technique and seizing opportunities, Growlithe is still far behind his battle-hardened father. If he wants to win, he'll have to take a big risk."
Seeing how Growlithe's father masterfully used momentum to his advantage, Sato couldn't help but smile wryly. When it came to battle experience, Growlithe was still too green compared to his father—there was a huge gap between them.
As soon as Growlithe stabilized from his landing, his father seized the opening before he could move again, closing the distance in an instant.
Being a Pokémon with Flash Fire himself, he naturally understood his son's ability perfectly.
Thus, he didn't bother using Fire-type moves and instead lunged forward with Tackle once more.
His target was Growlithe's weakest defensive spot—his waist—intending to end the battle with this attack.
"Hold your ground and use Reversal!"
Sato's eyes lit up as he saw Growlithe's father aiming for his son's waist. He immediately called out his command.
Growlithe, who had initially been trying to dodge, abruptly stopped. He tensed his muscles, gritted his teeth, and braced for impact.
However, at the very last moment, Growlithe shifted forward just slightly, causing his father's Tackle to hit his well-built, muscular right thigh instead of his waist.
Thud!
Growlithe's father's head crashed into his son's thigh with force, but Growlithe endured the pain without flinching.
With his paws firmly planted on the ground, he managed to stay in place rather than being sent flying, keeping only about half a meter of distance between them.
Growlithe's father, having thrown his full weight into the attack, was still leaning forward due to inertia.
At that moment, Growlithe, who had been holding back, finally counterattacked. With his opponent right in front of him, he unleashed Reversal!
After taking multiple hits—Tackle, Double Kick, Bite, and another Tackle—Growlithe was already on the brink of exhaustion. One more hit, and he would likely be unable to continue battling.
But in this weakened state, Reversal—a move that grows stronger the less HP the user has—was at its peak power of 200.
With a powerful charge, Growlithe sent his father flying with a devastating blow.
(Note: Reversal – Fighting-type Physical move. Power: Varies. Effect: An all-out attack that grows stronger the lower the user's HP is, reaching a maximum power of 200.)
Growlithe's father had already sustained considerable damage from the recoil of his previous Tackle attacks.
Now, after taking a near-maximum-power Reversal, his body could no longer endure. He collapsed onto the ground, unable to continue battling.
Seeing her mate fall, Growlithe's mother rushed over, licking his head and whimpering worriedly to check if he was okay.
"Don't worry, Growlithe and his father will be fine. Come out, Miltank, help them recover."
As soon as the battle ended, Sato supported the limping Growlithe over to his parents, reassuring them before releasing his Miltank.
A few fresh bottles of Miltank's milk later, Growlithe and his father were completely healed, their injuries gone, and their stamina fully restored.
Though Growlithe's father felt a bit frustrated about losing to his son, he was far more proud than anything else. With a nod of approval, he acknowledged Growlithe's strength.
"Woof! Woof!"
Finally earning his father's recognition, Growlithe couldn't contain his excitement. He barked happily and began dashing around the nearby woods in joy.
Afterward, Sato invited Growlithe's parents to join them for dinner under the large tree near the study house.
For this special occasion, Sato prepared grilled venison again. Unfortunately, Growlithe's parents seemed to prefer the premium Fire-type Pokémon food that Growlithe usually ate, completely ignoring the venison. In the end, Swampert happily devoured it instead.
By the time they finished their meal, it was already past 6 PM. The sun was setting behind the mountains, signaling that Growlithe's parents would soon be leaving.
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of Growlithe. One day, he will become a strong Pokémon. Oh, right—Growlithe, this is a Fire Stone. It's the key to your evolution, take it."
Before parting ways, Sato pulled out a mid-grade Fire Stone from his bag and handed it to Growlithe's father.
This Fire Stone was originally intended for Growlithe, but after Sato obtained a mutated Fire Stone, this one became unnecessary—making it the perfect gift for Growlithe's father.
Upon seeing the Fire Stone radiating with intense Fire-type energy, Growlithe's father's eyes filled with desire.
He had already reached level 35, meaning he would have evolved long ago if not for the lack of a Fire Stone.
Now, his chance to evolve had finally arrived.
Without hesitation, he accepted the Fire Stone from Sato. As a Pokémon with inherited instincts, he knew exactly how to use it. Pressing his right forepaw onto the stone, he triggered his evolution.
In an instant, both Growlithe's father and the Fire Stone were enveloped in a bright red glow. The Fire Stone dissolved into pure energy, merging into his body.
As the transformation completed, evolution's radiant light erupted from his form.
Before their eyes, Growlithe's father grew significantly larger, his majestic appearance becoming even more awe-inspiring.
By the time the glow faded, an imposing Arcanine stood before them.
Compared to his previous form, Arcanine had grown at least seven to eight times bigger. Standing tall, he was now even larger than Sato himself.
"As expected from the most stylish land mount in the Pokémon world! This fur looks so soft—riding him must be incredibly comfortable!"
Sato's eyes sparkled with excitement at the sight of the newly evolved Arcanine.
He then glanced down at Growlithe, who was gazing at his father with pure admiration, his small eyes filled with longing.
After evolving, Arcanine let out a proud howl before turning with Growlithe's mother and vanishing into the forest.
Within just a few breaths, they disappeared from sight.
"Don't worry, you'll meet them again. By then, you'll be an Arcanine too. Trust me, your evolution isn't far off—you've already earned your father's approval."
Sato knelt down, gently patting Growlithe's head to comfort him as he watched his parents leave.
"Woof!"
Growlithe nodded and licked Sato's hand, his little tail wagging furiously.