Chapter 68: Munchlax's Comeback – A One-Hit Victory!

Harley entered the stage confidently, sending out his Ariados for the first round of the competition. While Harley's flamboyant style and performance skills were evident, his first-round act was just enough to secure him a spot in the second round. In the end, the scores revealed May taking first place in the first round, with Harley closely trailing in second. Six other participants also advanced to the second round. "Predictable," Ash said confidently, observing Harley's ranking. "Even though he's annoying, Harley's skills in these kinds of contests can't be underestimated. But if he thinks he can beat May, he's got another thing coming." Ash had provided May with a clear strategy to utilize her Munchlax's strengths in battle. With this guidance, she was confident that no matter what Pokémon Harley sent out, she could counter it effectively. Pikachu, perched on Ash's shoulder, excitedly cheered for May, adding its enthusiastic cries to the bustling atmosphere of the competition. As the second round commenced, May and Harley avoided facing each other, progressing instead by defeating their respective opponents. It was as if fate had deliberately arranged for their inevitable showdown in the finals. Finally, after intense battles and impressive performances, the stage was set for the climactic match between May and Harley. "It's happening! The final match is finally here!" The announcer, Lillian, hyped up the crowd as the arena roared with anticipation. "Who will claim victory in this Wisteria Town Pokémon Contest? Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome our two finalists as they prepare to deliver their most dazzling performances!" May and Harley stepped forward, each clutching their Poké Balls with determination. The crowd's cheers reached a crescendo as the battle began. "Go, Munchlax!" May called out, releasing her powerhouse Pokémon. Harley smirked, sending out an Octillery. "Heh, May, this time, I won't lose! I'll get my revenge for what happened in Saffron City's contest!" "Octillery, use Water Gun!" Harley commanded. " Munchlax, use Amnesia!" May responded. The battle began with Octillery firing a strong Water Gun directly at Munchlax. However, Munchlax stood its ground, calmly using Amnesia to boost its special defense. The attack hit, but Munchlax seemed unfazed. "You're just going to let my Octillery attack you like that? Fine by me!" Harley sneered. "Octillery, use Mud Bomb!" " Munchlax, focus and use Amnesia again!" May instructed. Once more, Munchlax withstood Octillery's assault, using the opportunity to further bolster its defenses. Harley's overconfidence grew as Munchlax appeared to be on the defensive. The crowd buzzed with confusion. Why wasn't May instructing her Munchlax to attack? Did she have a plan, or was she simply overwhelmed? In truth, only Ash and Misty, who had been briefed on the strategy, knew what May was doing. Ash had explained earlier how Munchlax's abilities could be maximized with strategic moves like Amnesia and Belly Drum. Munchlax was biding its time, carefully building its defenses to withstand any attack while preparing for a devastating counter. By the third round of Amnesia, Munchlax had reached its limit. It was now fully prepared to endure anything Harley threw at it. "Ha! Look at you, May! Your Munchlax is just standing there like a punching bag. Octillery, go for Wrap and squeeze the life out of it!" Octillery slithered over to Munchlax and wrapped its tentacles tightly around the large Pokémon, visibly reducing May's contest points. The audience gasped as May's score dipped to just a quarter of its original value. "Hang in there, Munchlax!" May called out. "Now's the time to turn the tide. Use Stockpile to restore your strength, then Belly Drum for maximum power!" As Harley watched in confusion, Munchlax suddenly inhaled deeply, glowing with newfound energy. Stockpile allowed it to recover some of the energy it had lost during the earlier rounds of battle. Then, with a resounding roar, Munchlax pounded its belly, activating Belly Drum to reach its full offensive potential. Though Belly Drum cost Munchlax half its health, the trade-off was a massive boost to its attack power. "What?!" Harley exclaimed. "You're bluffing! There's no way Munchlax can take another hit! Octillery, finish it with Octazooka!" The intense attack hit Munchlax squarely, bringing May's points dangerously close to zero. But the resilient Munchlax, now at peak strength, weathered the blow. " Munchlax, it's time! Use Giga Impact!" May commanded with determination. With unparalleled speed and power, Munchlax launched itself at Octillery. The arena shook as Munchlax's overwhelming strength collided with Octillery, sending it hurtling across the stage. Octillery smashed into the wall of the arena, leaving a visible dent as it slumped to the floor, completely defeated. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the judges awarded May the maximum score for her performance. Harley's Octillery had been knocked out in one hit, and his remaining points dropped to zero. "Impossible!" Harley wailed, dramatically clutching his head. "My precious Octillery, defeated by a single attack?! How could this happen?!" May beamed with pride as the announcer declared her the winner. "Ladies and gentlemen, the victor of the Wisteria Town Pokémon Contest is May! Congratulations!" As the ribbon was awarded to May, she turned to Munchlax and smiled. "We did it, Munchlax! Thank you for giving it your all!" Munchlax grunted in satisfaction, earning another round of cheers from the audience. Ash and Misty joined May on stage to celebrate her victory. "Great job, May!" Ash said. "I knew you could do it!" "You've come such a long way," Misty added. "This win was well-deserved!" -------------- T/N: Access 30 Chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals