Chapter 33: Lycanroc

"Noibat, use Defog."

[Defog]: A move that blows away the opponent's barriers, such as Reflect and Light Screen, with a powerful gust of wind. It also lowers the opponent's evasiveness.

Facing the billowing smoke, Xia Yu chose to have Noibat use Defog to clear away the Smokescreen released by Charmander.

Speaking of Smokescreen, in the games, its effect is to spray smoke or ink at the opponent, lowering their accuracy. In reality, the move differs slightly; while it still involves spraying black smoke or ink to obscure the enemy's vision, it acts more like a field effect that can be dispersed by wind. It is not a one-time game mechanic that permanently lowers accuracy, but rather a temporary atmospheric hindrance.

As for Defog, while it functions as a powerful utility move in the games—clearing away barriers, Mist, Aurora Veil, and Safeguard—in reality, it is equally effective at dissipating moves like Smokescreen.

Following Xia Yu’s command, Noibat flapped its wings violently, instantly conjuring gusts of wind. The smoke quickly cleared, revealing Charmander.

"Ember!" This was the first time Wu Yaozu had seen Noibat use Defog. He hadn't expected Xia Yu’s Noibat to know such a technique, which unfortunately neutralized his secret weapon. However, he reacted quickly, ordering Charmander to use the last of the smoke as cover to launch one more Ember, hoping to chip away at Noibat’s stamina.

"Noibat, Moonlight!"

At this moment, the advantage of Noibat having a healing move became apparent. By using Moonlight to restore its health, Noibat effectively regained the stamina lost to Charmander's two Embers, rendering the attacks useless.

Wu Yaozu looked exasperated. He hadn't expected his secret weapon to be dismantled so easily by Xia Yu, and the ensuing situation was all too familiar. Noibat would heal with Moonlight, use Supersonic to confuse Charmander, and then begin a relentless torment.

There was no helping it; both Charmander and Noibat were currently at the Ordinary level, with limited experience and move pools, leaving them with little room for tactical variety.

The battle unfolded as expected. Noibat healed itself, confused Charmander, and slowly wore it down until it fainted.

Watching the familiar scene, Wu Yaozu’s eyes turned red with frustration. Gritting his teeth, he looked at Xia Yu and spat, "Just wait until my Charmander evolves into Charizard. I’ll definitely get revenge for my Noibat. I’ll make sure my Charizard beats the living daylights out of yours!"

"Hahaha, keep at it, Fatty Wu. I look forward to that day," Xia Yu laughed heartily. He suspected that "Fatty Wu" had mastered the move "Trash Talk," as his stubbornness was truly extraordinary—he never failed to leave behind a parting threat. Of course, tormenting Fatty Wu daily and listening to his empty threats was quite enjoyable; after all, one's own happiness is often built upon the misery of others.

"But Xia Yu, Smokescreen was only a minor secret weapon of mine," Fatty Wu quickly regained his composure, a confident smile returning to his face. "I am destined to win today. Let me show you the real secret weapon I’ve prepared for you. Go, Lycanroc!"

With Fatty Wu’s shout, Lycanroc entered the fray—and it was the exceptionally rare Dusk Form.

Lycanroc has three distinct evolutionary forms depending on the time of day: Midday, Midnight, and the rarest of all, Dusk.

The Midday Form has light brown fur, pale blue eyes, and four sharp stone manes around its neck. It is calm, loyal, and fast, making it the easiest to train and the most popular among trainers.

When Rockruff evolves while absorbing large amounts of lunar energy, it becomes the Midnight Form. This form has red fur, blood-red eyes, and walks on two legs. Instead of a stone mane, it has rocks at the base and tips of its head fur. The Midnight Form is aggressive, thrives on challenges, and becomes more excited the stronger its opponent is. It is reckless, solitary, and scorns trainers who try to force it into submission; however, it bestows deep trust upon those who can guide it to its full potential. The Midnight Form boasts the highest physical durability.

The Dusk Form is a special evolution that occurs when a Rockruff is bathed in the light of the setting sun. It is highly rare and notoriously difficult to raise. It shares traits with both the Midday and Midnight forms: it has the four stone manes of the Midday form and the green eyes typical of its unique status, while its head fur resembles the Midnight form. It also possesses distinct features like orange fur. It is calm yet fierce, never panicking over trifles. In the heat of battle, it engages in extreme close-quarters combat or uses Counter to mercilessly drive opponents to the brink. Its eyes, usually green, turn red when it attacks. While it shares the loyalty of the Midday form, it harbors the intense fighting spirit of the Midnight form. Due to its volatile and aggressive nature, it is difficult to raise, but it will obey a trainer it truly trusts. The Dusk Form possesses the highest attack power.

While the games might suggest the Dusk Form is the rarest, the Midday Form is often more popular due to its superior speed, which allows it to strike first. However, in reality, the Dusk Form is the most coveted, as it combines the strengths of both other forms. Midday is favored by beginners, and Midnight by intermediate trainers, but the Dusk Form is the ultimate prize for every trainer.