Pokemon: Gym Leader

Pain Split!

Twin bursts of blinding white light surged from Mega Gengar and Weavile, merging midair before splitting evenly and flowing back into their bodies.

Mega Gengar's condition visibly improved, while Weavile suddenly looked much weaker, its breathing ragged.

"Thunderbolt!"

Mega Gengar turned, golden electricity sparking wildly before lashing toward Weavile.

"Icicle Crash!"

Weavile flipped high into the air, dodging Thunderbolt as icy-blue energy condensed into massive icicles.

Ice-type: Icicle Crash!

With a sharp swipe, Weavile hurled the ice pillars down toward Mega Gengar.

"This Weavile's insane—look at that movement!"

The older sister's eyes gleamed. She had sensed this back when Dylan used Weavile in his Ice-type lineup.

But now it was even clearer—this Weavile was seriously cool!

"Yeah, it's incredibly sharp. Everything about its movements is fluid and precise," the Bird Breeder praised.

Paralysis had slowed Mega Gengar's reaction time—it just couldn't keep up.

"Gengar!" Selene's eyes flickered rapidly.

Mega Gengar retreated, trying to dodge the crashing icicles.

But suddenly—electric arcs flared again. Paralysis struck!

This is bad!

Selene's expression hardened. Paralysis at this moment was the worst-case scenario.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The enormous icicles slammed down on Mega Gengar, who cried out in pain.

While Ice-type moves weren't super effective, Weavile's STAB-fueled Icicle Crash still hit hard.

Weavile landed with claws out, dashing straight for its target.

"Pursuit!"

Its claws wreathed in dark energy, Weavile slashed again.

Slash!

Mega Gengar took the hit, groaning. A double-power Pursuit—it was brutal.

"Keep using Pursuit—finish it!" Dylan commanded without hesitation.

This Mega Gengar was too much of a threat. Better to take it out now.

Weavile's left claw stabbed out again.

"Destiny Bond!" Selene shouted.

Mega Gengar's eyes glowed black.

So it was Destiny Bond!

Should Weavile pull back?

Lillie and the others weren't surprised—Gengar having Destiny Bond was expected, and in this situation, it made sense.

But would Weavile hold back or go all in?

Turns out—Weavile didn't even flinch. Its Pursuit landed again.

Mega Gengar let out a pained cry and collapsed, light flashing as it reverted from Mega form.

Gengar was down.

But the next second, a gray deathly aura drifted from its body, seeping into Weavile.

Weavile clutched its chest, grimacing in pain before collapsing too.

"Weavile and Gengar are both unable to battle."

Leaf stepped forward to announce the result.

"They took each other out... I thought Boss would have Weavile dodge that," the older sister muttered.

Destiny Bond couldn't be used again in quick succession. If Weavile had backed off just a moment, the move would've failed.

"Boss didn't want to risk it. He couldn't be sure Selene wasn't bluffing and about to use Pain Split again."

The Psychic-type specialist shook his head.

"Going all-in was the best choice—no debate. That Mega Gengar was far too disruptive."

"Seal, Pain Split, Shadow Tag... nothing about it was easy to deal with," he continued. "It had to go."

He was right—Mega Gengar had tied down Dylan's whole team.

Whether Destiny Bond had really been used or not, Weavile had to press the attack. If Selene had been bluffing, great. If not—a trade was still worth it.

"You really are something, Boss. My poor Gengar... so cute, and yet so brutally taken down," Selene said pitifully, returning her Pokémon.

The entire gym stared at her with question marks.

"Give me a break," Dylan shot back, exasperated.

"Hehe~ Teacher, how'd Gengar do?" Selene asked with a grin.

"You used too many cheap tricks. You overlooked Gengar's real strength," Dylan sighed.

"Huh?" Selene blinked in surprise.

"Gengar's power is impressive—especially after Mega Evolution. But you didn't showcase it. You focused on trying to reverse the tide with Pain Split, when it wasn't even necessary."

"And that Thunder Wave—you didn't have to take it. You could've dodged it."

As her teacher, Dylan pointed out her mistakes plainly.

After all, she wasn't just a challenger—she was his former student.

In Dylan's eyes, Selene had wasted the potential of her Mega Evolution. Mega Gengar wasn't just about annoying abilities—it had raw power, especially its monstrous Special Attack.

Few Pokémon could match Mega Gengar's damage output.

But Selene hadn't shown that. She leaned too hard on Destiny Bond and Pain Split—great tools for turning a fight, but not worth forcing a disadvantage just to use them.

That was missing the point.

Still, Dylan understood. With paralysis slowing Mega Gengar, it was hard to keep up with a nimble Weavile.

At the core, the real issue was letting that Thunder Wave hit in the first place.

"I get it now." Selene reflected. At the time, she thought trading paralysis for a guaranteed Seal was worth it—a win-win.

"Alright, let's keep going. I'll scold you more later," Dylan said, tossing out another Poké Ball.

Umbreon returned to his side.

"Yes!"

Selene slapped her cheeks lightly, clearing her head. She smiled again, full of fighting spirit.

"Venusaur! Get ready for battle!"

She even mimicked Dylan's catchphrase—she'd always thought it sounded cool.

Her Poké Ball opened, and with a heavy thud, a huge toad-like quadruped landed on the field.

Its skin was greenish-blue, covered in warty bumps. A thick brown trunk rose from its back, topped by a fully bloomed flower.

Kanto's Grass starter's final evolution: Venusaur.

'Beep~ Venusaur. Grass/Poison-type. Seed Pokémon.

Ability: Overgrow

Moves: Solar Beam, Power Whip, Synthesis, Sleep Powder, Leech Seed, Ingrain...

Info: Uses sunlight as nourishment to grow its massive flower. Always faces the sun.'

A strong Venusaur.

Leaf looked the Pokémon up and down. No surprise—it was Selene's.

"Did you evolve this from the Bulbasaur you got from Professor Oak? Not bad," Dylan complimented.

When Selene had set out, he'd sent her to Pallet Town to get a starter—seemed she'd raised it quickly.

"Hehe~ Yeah, but only because Boss called ahead. Professor Oak took extra care of me. It was already an Ivysaur when I got it."

Selene beamed. She really liked this Venusaur.

"It was already strong, so Oak figured we'd be a good match—and I totally love it."

Since it was already powerful when she got it, Venusaur quickly became one of her core team.

"Venusaur's a solid choice." Dylan nodded.

Enough chit-chat.

"Venusaur, Ingrain!" Selene ordered.

"Taunt!"

Dylan's eyes sharpened.

Umbreon's gaze glinted, its voice mocking and jeering at Venusaur—Taunt, a Dark-type move.

But Venusaur moved first, growling as thick roots burst from its body and sank into the earth—Grass-type: Ingrain.

By rooting itself into the ground, it could periodically heal HP—but it couldn't be withdrawn anymore.

Taunt's ripple followed, and Venusaur glared at Umbreon with rising anger—Taunt successful.

"Just a step too slow." Dylan sighed. Without Prankster, support moves like this were always on a tight clock.

"Baton Pass."

Dylan decided to switch—Umbreon wasn't built to break through a healing Venusaur.

"Wonder what he'll send out next." Selene was curious—Umbreon and Weavile were both new to her.

Umbreon returned to his Poké Ball. Dylan threw another.

"Absol!"

His third Pokémon burst from the ball in a flash of white.

A sleek Pokémon with white fur and crimson eyes landed gracefully before Dylan. It had a dog-like body, dark blue face, and a crescent horn on its head.

Absol!

'Beep~ Absol. Dark-type. Disaster Pokémon.

Ability: Super Luck

Moves: Perish Song, Future Sight, Swords Dance, Sucker Punch, Night Slash, Slash, Detect, Close Combat...

Info: Said to appear before natural disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis. Known as the Disaster Pokémon.'

Boss's Absol.

"No matter how you look at it, Absol is just so cool."

Yellow's eyes sparkled as she stared at the cold and graceful Pokémon.

Silver nodded—he liked its cool, aloof vibe. It really suited him.

"Absol?" Selene tilted her head, intrigued by the unfamiliar Pokémon.

"It's not over yet, Selene." Dylan raised his right hand—his Keystone shimmered.

Absol raised its head with a howl, the stone on its neck glowing in sync. Light enveloped it.

Mega Evolution!

"Whoa~ Boss is Mega Evolving too!"

"Of course! When challengers power up, he always shows them the same respect."

"Haven't seen Mega Absol before, though."

"Absol's rare. Not many people train them—superstition and all."

The audience whispered excitedly.

As the light faded, a stunning figure stepped forward, its crimson eyes locked on Venusaur.

Gasps filled the gym.

No wonder—Mega Absol was gorgeous.

It had grown larger. Its back fur stood tall like majestic white wings. The horn had grown, and long bangs fell across half its face.

Regal. Elegant. Intimidating.

Mega Absol.

'Beep~ Mega Absol. Dark-type. Disaster Pokémon.

Ability: Magic Bounce

Moves: …

Info: Its Mega Evolution energy manifests as an overwhelming aura of dread. Weak-willed foes may die of fright.'

"Wow! That's super cool!"

Selene's eyes lit up. This Mega Absol was exactly her type aesthetically.

Those wings—too pretty!

"Alright, Selene," Dylan said, smiling as he reached out. "Let's see how you handle Mega Absol's power."

(End of Chapter)