Pokemon: Gym Leader

"Well done, Selene."

Dylan didn't hold back his praise for Selene; her timing with the Flamethrower just now had been impeccable.

"Hehe~ It's all thanks to you, Gym Leader Dylan!"

Selene's eyes curved into crescents as she beamed.

But compared to the light-hearted atmosphere between Dylan and Selene, things were much more serious on Gary and Jeanette's side.

"Nidoking!"

After a moment's thought, Gary sent out his Nidoking. With Toxic Spikes spread across the field, he couldn't risk using non-Poison types, and his Nidoking had an advantage against Incineroar.

A powerful Nidoking landed heavily in front of Gary.

"A Poison Point Nidoking."

Asha analyzed Gary's Nidoking, noting that Nidoking and Nidoqueen often had the Poison Point ability.

"Selene."

"Leave it to me!" Selene responded energetically.

"Nidoking, Double Kick!"

Gary launched an immediate offensive.

"Toxic Spikes!"

Jeanette ordered Nidoqueen to act as well.

Nidoqueen raised her head, dark purple Poison energy condensing into a sphere. Laying two layers of Toxic Spikes would poison any opposing Pokémon that entered the battlefield!

"Incineroar, Parting Shot!"

Incineroar placed one hand on its hip, pointed at Nidoking with the other, and unleashed a barrage of taunts. Visibly agitated, Nidoking's eyes turned ferocious as its charging speed increased.

The Dark-type Parting Shot!

After delivering its verbal assault, Incineroar transformed into white light and returned to Selene's Poké Ball. Meanwhile, Nidoking's Attack and Special Attack were lowered by one stage.

"Torment," Dylan commanded his Grimmsnarl.

Grimmsnarl let out a sharp, grating screech, black ripples radiating outward.

The Dark-type Torment! Enhanced by its Prankster ability, Grimmsnarl's move quickly took effect, disrupting Nidoqueen's focus. The Poison energy sphere she had been preparing dissipated.

Nidoqueen's Toxic Spikes had failed.

"Nidoking, attack Grimmsnarl!"

With Incineroar gone, Gary immediately targeted Grimmsnarl.

Nidoking charged forward, leaping high and landing two heavy kicks on Grimmsnarl.

The Fighting-type Double Kick!

Grimmsnarl cried out in pain, sent flying by Nidoking's attack. Landing on the poisoned battlefield, its body was immediately engulfed in a sinister purple glow—the effect of Toxic Spikes!

"Pidgeot!"

Selene acted quickly, sending out her second Pokémon. A majestic Pidgeot appeared, spreading its wings and crying out.

The final evolution of Pidgey, Pidgeot!

But upon seeing this Pidgeot, Gary and Jeanette's faces changed, knowing it was capable of a critical move!

"Beep~ Pidgeot: Normal/Flying type, Bird Pokémon.

Ability: Keen Eye

Known Moves: Roost, Hurricane, Quick Attack, Wing Attack, Feather Dance, Defog, Brave Bird (Inherited)...

Description: Pidgeot's powerful wingbeats can bend even large trees."

This was bad.

Gary and Jeanette's cheering squads showed concern as they read Pidgeot's data. As expected, it knew Defog!

In Kanto, plagued by Poison teams, Pokémon capable of learning Defog or Rapid Spin were essential. Otherwise, facing Toxic Spikes was pure agony.

In a way, Dylan had encouraged this trend, making trainers more prepared for Toxic Spikes.

"Pidgeot, Defog!"

As expected, Selene had Pidgeot use Defog right away.

Pidgeot cried out, flapping its wings with immense force. A gale swept across the battlefield, clearing away the deep purple Poison spikes.

"Nidoqueen, Venoshock!"

Jeanette bit her lip. It was hard to stop the move, but at least Pidgeot would pay the price!

Nidoqueen spewed a stream of sticky purple poison toward Pidgeot.

"Nidoking, Double Kick again!"

Gary targeted Grimmsnarl, seeing through its relatively weak defenses.

"Sucker Punch," Dylan said with a calm smile.

Grimmsnarl understood instantly, its eyes flashing with black light as it darted past Nidoking.

Not attacking Nidoking? What's the plan? Gary hesitated.

But the next moment—

Grimmsnarl leaped up, intercepting the Venoshock aimed at Pidgeot.

The deep purple poison seeped into Grimmsnarl, its body glowing ominously as the toxic effects began to take hold. Grimmsnarl winced in pain.

"Gym Leader Dylan!"

Selene's eyes welled up with tears, touched by Dylan's decision to let Grimmsnarl shield Pidgeot from the poison.

"Nidoking!"

Gritting his teeth, Gary grew more frustrated.

Nidoking charged toward Grimmsnarl again, landing another Double Kick!

Grimmsnarl let out a low cry of pain, collapsing and losing its ability to fight.

Dylan had lost his first Pokémon.

"How dare you bully adorable Grimmsnarl!"

Selene's almond-shaped eyes widened as she glared at Nidoking.

"???" Gary was dumbfounded.

Since when is Grimmsnarl adorable?!

"Honchkrow."

Dylan sent out his second Pokémon.

A plump black bird with red feathers under its wings and a white tuft on its chest appeared, resembling a gentleman with a black hat on its head.

It was Honchkrow!

"Beep~ Honchkrow: Dark/Flying type, Big Boss Pokémon.

Ability: Super Luck

Known Moves: Foul Play, Taunt, Swagger, Sucker Punch, Wing Attack, Brave Bird (Inherited)...

Description: Ruthless and unforgiving, Honchkrow is said never to tolerate failure from its Murkrow underlings."

This Honchkrow was one of Dylan's strategic Pokémon, specifically trained to handle mid-level challengers like Gary and Jeanette.

"Two Flying-types, huh?"

Jeanette frowned. This put them at a disadvantage, as both Nidoking and Nidoqueen relied on Ground moves that couldn't touch Flying Pokémon.

"Return, Nidoqueen."

Jeanette recalled her Pokémon, replacing it with her second choice: Glimmora.

A crystalline flower-like Pokémon, Glimmora floated elegantly in front of Jeanette. It was a Rock/Poison type.

"Oh? So you've raised a Glimmora, Jeanette," Dylan remarked, intrigued.

"Yes, thanks to an elder in the village, I obtained a Glimmet and nurtured it into Glimmora."

Jeanette smiled proudly, clearly fond of her Pokémon.

Meanwhile, Gary replaced Nidoking with his third Pokémon: Magneton.

Aiming to counter the Flying-types, Gary had chosen his Electric-type Magneton.

"Glimmora, Ancient Power!"

"Magneton, Thunderbolt!"

Jeanette and Gary issued their commands simultaneously.

In front of Glimmora, chunks of rock materialized—the Rock-type move Ancient Power. Meanwhile, Magneton's body crackled with electricity, unleashing the Electric-type Thunderbolt.

Ancient Power and Thunderbolt struck, both moves being highly effective against Flying-types.

"Use Sucker Punch!"

With a flash of black light in its eyes, Honchkrow darted toward Magneton like a shadow, moving at incredible speed. Enhanced by Sucker Punch's priority boost, Honchkrow closed the gap in the blink of an eye, striking Magneton hard with its wing shrouded in dark energy.

Magneton was knocked back with a heavy thud.

"U-turn!"

At the same time, Pidgeot elegantly dodged Ancient Power and Thunderbolt with its superior flying skills, charging at Magneton.

The Bug-type move U-turn! Not only did it deal damage, but it allowed Pidgeot to return to its Poké Ball and switch out with another Pokémon.

Pidgeot glowed faintly green, ramming into the already stunned Magneton. The next moment, Pidgeot turned into white light, retreating into Selene's Poké Ball.

"???"

Gary's face turned grim as he realized what had just happened. "Why are they targeting me? Do I look like an easy target?"

He glanced at the massive Glimmora nearby. "Why don't you attack that instead? Ignoring it like this is just disrespectful!"

"Glimmora, use Ancient Power again!" Jeanette ordered immediately.

More rocks formed in front of Glimmora.

"Thunderbolt!" Gary gritted his teeth.

Electric currents surged from Magneton's body, golden electricity crackling toward Honchkrow, who had pulled back.

"Sucker Punch!"

Honchkrow, with its incredible speed and priority, easily evaded the incoming Thunderbolt and dodged Glimmora's Ancient Power in one swift motion.

"No good. It's too agile to hit without restricting its movements," Jeanette muttered, her lips pressed tightly together.

With Sucker Punch's priority comparable to Extreme Speed, Honchkrow was simply too overwhelming.

"Incineroar, Fake Out!" Selene quickly sent out Incineroar, her next Pokémon.

The moment Incineroar appeared, its Intimidate ability activated, lowering the physical attack of both Glimmora and Magneton.

Incineroar then charged at Magneton, slapping it sharply across the face with its paw.

Fake Out! Although it didn't deal much damage, it left Magneton flinching.

Meanwhile, Honchkrow swooped in with another Sucker Punch, delivering a solid hit to Magneton, leaving it groaning in pain.

"Magneton!" Gary was alarmed. This was bad!

"Glimmora, support with Ancient Power!" Jeanette's pupils contracted.

Glimmora prepared another Ancient Power, but its target wasn't Honchkrow this time—it was Incineroar.

"Flamethrower!" As expected, Selene immediately issued her command.

"Sharp instincts, but it's no use," Dylan remarked with a light chuckle.

"Honchkrow."

Honchkrow quickly flew above Incineroar, shielding it as Ancient Power slammed into it. Honchkrow let out a sharp cry of pain—it was a Flying-type, and Ancient Power hit hard due to Glimmora's high special attack.

Fortunately, Honchkrow was still at full health and managed to endure the hit.

Incineroar's Flamethrower hit Magneton directly. The intense flames sent Magneton flying backward and crashing to the ground.

When they looked again, Magneton was already down, unable to battle. The two Sucker Punches combined with Flamethrower were too much for it to withstand.

Most of all, Selene's Incineroar's Flamethrower had done massive damage due to its type advantage.

"They're targeting me!!"

Gary clenched his teeth as he stared at the fainted Magneton.

There was no doubt about it—Dylan and Selene were focusing their attacks on him, treating him as the weak link.

"Why? What did I ever do to deserve this? Can't you target her Glimmora instead? What's wrong with you two?!"

"..." Jeanette was at a loss for words.

"Gary, you only have one Pokémon left—Nidoking. If it gets knocked out, this match is over," she subtly reminded him.

She couldn't handle a 1v2 on her own, especially against opponents like Dylan and Selene. Selene's strength was far beyond their expectations.

"But they're blatantly targeting me! Look at Honchkrow and Incineroar—they're completely ignoring your Glimmora!"

Gary's face was a mixture of frustration and despair.

What was with this ridiculous team-up? Why were they so dead set on annoying him?!

Especially that Honchkrow with its Sucker Punch and Selene's Incineroar with Fake Out—it was too much to deal with.

If it weren't for Selene switching to Incineroar, Magneton might have survived a little longer.

This was beyond frustrating—Gary felt utterly defeated.

How could a doubles match feel so one-sided and infuriating?! This blatant targeting was enough to make him sick.

(End of Chapter)