"The Light Screen is too bothersome."
Kalia grew anxious; this stalemate put Charmeleon at risk. It couldn't consistently dodge Bubble Beam indefinitely, but the presence of the Light Screen weakened Dragon Rage's impact, allowing Starmie to recover instantly with Recover.
As such, Starmie held an unbeatable advantage, and Kalia needed to quickly find a breakthrough strategy.
The Light Screen only defends against Special moves. If Charmeleon used Physical attacks, it could bypass the barrier. However, Charmeleon's physical combat abilities were not particularly strong, making it less adept at utilizing such moves effectively.
Additionally, getting closer would increase the likelihood of being hit by Starmie's Bubble Beam. Despite pondering various options, Kalia still struggled to devise a solid plan.
On the battlefield,
Lian was actually hoping for Kalia to instruct him to use Physical attacks. Having already utilized Dragon Rage four times, his attack power had effectively tripled, surpassing over 1000 points now.
He felt an overwhelming surge of strength, as if ready to explode, creating a discomfort unless released.
A keen observer would notice subtle changes in Lian's limbs: his claws became sharper, and his arms gained increased power.
However, during the battle, Lian constantly moved, making it difficult for Kalia to notice his enhanced capabilities.
As he continuously evaded Bubble Beams, Lian's focus remained heightened, but fatigue was setting in. He couldn't guarantee avoiding the next Bubble Beam attack.
If he didn't swiftly defeat Starmie, Lian feared he would be the first to succumb.
"Starmie, continue using Bubble Beam!" Sia issued another command, losing count of how many times Starmie had already used Bubble Beam. Determined, he insisted on landing a hit with this move, confident that Starmie's invulnerability allowed room for errors.
"Let's try an attacking move!" Kalia made up her mind; they couldn't prolong this any further. None of Charmeleon's special moves were effective, so it was time to attempt an attacking move.
The Slash move held considerable power. Although not particularly adept at such attacks, Charmeleon could bypass Light Screen, which meant its Slash might prove equally potent or even superior to Dragon Rage.
"Charmeleon, use Slash!"
Lian's spirits instantly lifted as Kalia unexpectedly instructed him to use Slash, which was indeed a pleasant surprise.
Kalia seemed unaware of Lian's now exceptional attack ability; she was taking a gamble, hoping to test the effectiveness of physical moves since special attacks were proving futile in this situation.
This turn of events was ideal for Lian, who had long desired to defeat Starmie. Although Recover could generate Combat Points, the circumstances were different from before.
Last time, he held the advantage with Gligar forced to use Roost, but now, Lian found himself at a disadvantage. Just constantly evading moves had already worn him down considerably.
In such a state, his focus shifted entirely to winning rather than strategizing to increase his combat rating, unsure if victory was even within reach.
Lian swiftly charged towards Starmie, claws poised and eyes locked onto its position.
Upon hearing Kalia's command, Sia initially thought he misheard, then displayed a surprised expression. If Charmeleon persisted with ranged moves, Starmie would have been truly helpless, as it needed to stay behind the Light Screen; venturing away would render it vulnerable.
With Charmeleon now charging forward for a close-range attack, it essentially relinquished its advantage.
As Lian approached, Starmie unleashed Bubble Beam, sending vibrant beams swiftly towards him.
There was no time to dodge, nor did he want to.
Lian lacked the energy to evade; his focus remained solely on Starmie. This critical Slash move had to land accurately.
The colorful beams struck Lian directly, the immense force propelling him away.
He felt significant injuries, bordering on severe, yet still managed to retain some fighting capability.
"Finally hit... How is it still able to counterattack?" Sia initially expressed surprise but then shock followed, knowing that Bubble Beam should cause substantial harm to Fire-type Pokémon. Yet this Charmeleon endured?
Upon landing, Lian summoned remaining strength and, enduring the pain from his wounds, charged again.
As he neared Starmie, he leaped, raising his sharp claws, and pierced through the Light Screen ahead of it. With all his might, he delivered a fierce downward slash.
The Starmie, having just released Bubble Beam, couldn't evade in time and could only watch as Lian's attack descended.
"This Charmeleon isn't skilled at offensive moves. Even if it hits Starmie, what difference will it make?"
Sia was initially surprised that the Charmeleon withstood Bubble Beam, but this particular Charmeleon clearly lacked proficiency in offensive techniques. Its movements appeared clumsy, indicating a lack of mastery over the Slash move.
Meanwhile, Lian's claws accurately struck Starmie's purple body, unleashing a terrifying burst of power. The impact sent Starmie flying like a stone casually tossed, plunging into the water and creating a massive splash.
"What's going on?" Sia felt something wasn't right; the force seemed excessive, causing splashes more than a meter high, akin to a heavy object slamming into the water.
In the next moment, Starmie resurfaced, but its fighting ability was lost, bearing a deep wound evidently caused by Lian's Slash move.
"Impossible!"
Sia couldn't believe that Starmie had lost its fighting ability so easily. Prior to this, Starmie was consistently performing at its peak condition. How could just one Slash move cause such severe injuries and unconsciousness?
However, the reality remained unchanged.
Starmie sustained significant damage, with deep claw marks clearly inflicted by the Slash attack.
Kalia was stunned; how did Charmeleon's attacking power suddenly become so strong? She hadn't noticed any signs of this during regular training sessions. If it increased during battle, what triggered the enhancement?
Despite her confusion, the outcome was favorable. Charmeleon defeated Starmie, leaving Sia with only an injured Gyarados remaining.
However, Charmeleon also suffered considerable harm and appeared less vigorous than before, showing signs of fatigue on its face.
Feeling anxious, Sia realized that his Gyarados had already taken substantial damage earlier. Initially, he felt confident, but now facing this powerful Charmeleon, his confidence wavered.
He recalled the unconscious Starmie and reluctantly sent out Gyarados, a hint of panic visible in his eyes, fearing he might truly lose to Kalia.
"Gyarados, use Whirlpool!"
With the Light Screen still active, Sia decided to take a chance and commanded Gyarados to employ Whirlpool, aiming to trap Charmeleon first.
"Charmeleon, continue using Slash."
Kalia instructed Charmeleon to persist with Slash. Since Light Screen is a continuous move that doesn't dissipate when a Pokémon returns to its Poké Ball, special moves were not feasible options.
Given the effectiveness of Slash, it made sense to keep using it, aiming to swiftly defeat Gyarados and secure victory in this battle.
Lian rapidly charged towards Gyarados. Compared to Starmie, Gyarados's larger body allowed him to close the distance more easily.
As Lian approached, whirlpools began forming beneath his feet, streams of water coiling around like ropes attempting to entangle him.
This was the Whirlpool move, but Lian paid no heed to the whirlpools underfoot, instead focusing on his charge towards Gyarados and delivering a swift claw strike.
Regardless of any counter-move, after this attack, Gyarados would essentially lose its fighting capability. Even a fully healthy Starmie couldn't withstand one Slash, let alone an already injured Gyarados.
The claws effortlessly tore through Gyarados's tough scales, leaving a menacing gash. With a painful roar, the Pokemon's natural instinct forced it into unconsciousness.
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******
With Gyarados losing its combat ability, Lian finally relaxed. Honestly, constantly evading moves was exhausting and left no room for respite.
At the core of it, his strength was still insufficient. If he could have instantly defeated Starmie from the start, there wouldn't have been an opportunity for it to set up Light Screen.
His Special Attack Ability Points were adequate, but he lacked enough moves to fully utilize them, resulting in limited versatility.
Learning powerful moves isn't as simple as just wanting to; without access to Move Disks, one must rely on leveling up and evolution.
"Let's get some sleep first."
Lian approached Kalia, entered her Poké Ball, and decided to rest immediately. He felt utterly drained and knew that tonight, he needed a hearty meal to replenish his expended energy.
"Well done, Charmeleon."
Kalia noticed the exhausted look on Charmeleon's face, understanding that this victory did not come easily. Even she found it surprising how they managed to win in the end.
Next, Kalia walked over to Sia and calmly stated, "Gym Leader, I've won."
Sia had already recalled his Gyarados and was visibly furious. As a student from the prestigious Pokemon Academy, using one of his powerful Pokémon, he unexpectedly lost to a rookie Trainer.
Moreover, he suffered defeat despite having the type advantage. If word spread among his academy peers, it would likely lead to relentless mockery.
Reluctant to admit his loss, Sia remained silent for quite some time without uttering a word.
"Gym Leader, please give me my badge!" Kalia's tone grew firmer. Her goal was clear—to obtain the badge. Having emerged victorious, she found it unacceptable that Sia hesitated to hand it over. She cared little about whether his defeat might have been disheartening; being a student at the Pokemon Academy didn't impress her.
"I know!" Sia suddenly yelled, displaying the frustration akin to someone losing a bet yet unable to renege on their promise.
Grudgingly, Sia retrieved the badge and carelessly tossed it towards Kalia, shouting, "I'm going to bed now! No more challenges today, so all of you, leave immediately!"
Clearly agitated, Sia continued to speak loudly before turning and swiftly departing.
Kalia caught the badge, revealing it to be the Surf Badge with its wavy water design within her pale palm. Now she had collected all three red star badges.
She pinned the badge onto her left arm's clothing, enabling her to participate in the beginner Trainer assessment at any Pokémon Center.
The beginner Trainer assessment was relatively straightforward, focusing on basic knowledge of Trainers and understanding of Pokémon. Additionally, achieving certain standards with one's Pokémon would qualify them as a beginner Trainer.
For Kalia, the exam posed no significant challenge. The most crucial benefit of becoming a beginner Trainer was gaining access to various discounts and perks from the League, making purchases more affordable.
As her Pokémon continued to grow, they would require numerous resources, and buying them outright without these benefits would be costly. Becoming a beginner Trainer significantly reduced expenses.
Furthermore, beginner Trainers could earn Alliance Coins by completing missions released by the League. Most Trainers' income, aside from part-time jobs, comes from undertaking such League missions.
With the badge secured, Kalia felt uplifted and promptly headed to the Pokémon Center for treatment of Grovyle and Charmeleon.
***
In the afternoon,
Lian accompanied Kalia to purchase S.S. Tickets for Ruby City, which was also the destination Julian had planned to visit.
Ruby City is a bustling metropolis and one of the few cities in the Sebas Region with a volcano. As it hosts a Silver Rank gym, it attracts numerous beginner and mid-level Trainers, leading to rapid economic growth.
After buying their tickets, Lian followed Kalia back to the Pokémon Center to start packing their belongings.
The ship to Ruby City departs every three days, and fortunately for Kalia, they arrived just a day before departure, allowing them to set off tomorrow.
Back at the Pokémon Center's dormitory, Linnea noticed Kalia packing and asked curiously, "Kalia, are you getting ready to leave?"
"Yep," Kalia nodded.
"It makes sense. The new Gym Leader is so annoying, using such powerful Pokemon. Many trainers I know are planning to go to other gyms now. Where are you headed next, Kalia?"
"I'm going to Ruby City."
"Where is Ruby City?" Linnea tilted her head, looking puzzled. Having grown up near the coast, she hadn't visited many places.
"Ruby City is located on the western side of the Sebas Region, near a volcano, and it's known for having the most Fire-type Pokémon," Kalia explained.
"A volcano! I've always wanted to see one; I've never witnessed a volcano before," Linnea's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Just keep training your Pokémon diligently, aim to earn three badges as soon as possible. Once you achieve that, you'll be eligible to join the annual trip organized by the Pokemon League to Ruby City," Kalia advised.
"Really? That sounds amazing!" Linnea exclaimed, filled with excitement.
"Yes, so make sure to stay focused and work hard."
Kalia nodded, acknowledging that not all Trainers could afford boat tickets. To accommodate them, every May, the League organizes a group of Trainers to travel to Ruby City via flying Pokémon.
Linnea had missed this year's opportunity, but she still stood a chance next year. With almost half a year ahead, obtaining three badges was quite feasible.
Typically, a new Trainer can reasonably acquire three badges within six months. By focusing on developing two Pokémon through frequent battles and learning experiences, achieving this goal becomes attainable.
"I'm definitely going to visit Ruby City," Linnea declared confidently.
***
Nighttime, within the System space.
Lian reviewed today's combat rating. Although not as high as his previous battle at the Flying Type Gym, it was still better than expected.
To his surprise, he had leveled up to 21, despite reaching level 20 only a few days ago.
Lian speculated that defeating Gyarados and Starmie, both with high base stats, might be the reason. Could battling Pokemon with higher base stats make leveling up easier?
It seemed increasingly plausible. In regular battles, Lian typically encountered Pokemon with base stats ranging from three to four hundred. However, this time, both Gyarados and Starmie had base stats above five hundred.
Additionally, these Pokemon were of very high levels. Checking today's battle data, Gyarados was already at Level 29, and Starmie at Level 28. Combining their high levels with superior base stats likely contributed significantly to his sudden level-up.
Charmeleon
Type: Fire
Gender: Male
Level: Lv.21
Ability: Blaze/Solar Power
Moves: Growl, Scratch, Echoed Voice, Smokescreen, Dragon Breath, Dragon Rage, Swift, Hidden Power Rock/Ice..., Fire Fang, Slash, Flamethrower (Dimmed)
Ability Points: Stamina 750, Attack 516, Defense 491, Special Attack 793, Special Defense 520, Speed 751
Explosive Power: 1.5 (+)
Rock Resistance: 1.91 (+)
Water Resistance: 2 (+)
Lian's Special Attack ability points were nearing eight hundred, and all other abilities had significant increases as well. Additionally, his Rock Resistance reached 1.91, up by 0.01 from yesterday. By continuing to consume energy cubes until their effect diminishes, Lian could then instantly boost his combat value.
Lastly, the most surprising development for Lian was seeing Flamethrower finally appear among his moves. After countless hours studying move disks and practicing Flamethrower diligently, his efforts paid off as the system finally recognized it.
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