บท 92: Chapter 92: Is this never going to end
"Come on, give it your all." Dylan smiled and gestured for Blue to make the first move.
"Incineroar."
Incineroar let out a low growl at Rhyperior, an invisible aura of intimidation spreading out.
Rhyperior was surrounded by a white light, and its physical attack was lowered by one stage.
This was the effect of Incineroar's Intimidate ability.
"Tch~ Intimidate, huh?" Blue clicked his tongue, but it wasn't a big deal. Rhyperior's physical attack was high enough that even being weakened once wouldn't matter much.
"Rhyperior! Use Earthquake!"
Blue flexed his hands and then swung one down with a commanding shout.
Rhyperior lifted its right foot and then stomped down hard, causing the entire battlefield to tremble violently.
A Ground-type Earthquake! And Incineroar is weak to Ground-type moves.
"Fake Out."
But before the shockwave of Earthquake could spread, a dark light flashed in Incineroar's eyes, and it shot towards Rhyperior like a ghost.
Bang~!
Incineroar's claw struck Rhyperior's face directly, causing Rhyperior's head to be slapped to the side. It stared blankly at Incineroar, the Earthquake interrupted.
Blue clicked his tongue again, a bit annoyed.
The Normal-type Fake Out didn't deal much damage to Rhyperior. Not only does Rhyperior resist Normal-type moves, but even if it didn't, Rhyperior's high physical defense would prevent Fake Out from doing much damage anyway.
But having Earthquake interrupted was annoying. That's the thing about Fake Out—it doesn't do much damage, but it's really aggravating.
"Rhyperior, Drill Run!"
Blue continued to issue commands.
At that moment, Rhyperior came to its senses and roared at Incineroar. How dare this creature slap the great Rhyperior!
The drill on Rhyperior's face started spinning at high speed, emitting a yellow light as it charged towards Incineroar, which had retreated to maintain distance.
A Ground-type Drill Run!
"Parting Shot." Dylan chuckled softly.
Incineroar placed one hand on its hip, using the other to point and jabber at the approaching Rhyperior. Its trash talk clearly angered Rhyperior, whose charging speed increased, and its roar grew louder.
It seemed that Incineroar's parting words had quite a sting to them.
After finishing its taunt, Incineroar turned into a white light and returned to Dylan's Poké Ball just before Rhyperior reached it.
This was a move-induced return, which didn't violate Gym Leader rules.
With Incineroar's sudden disappearance, Rhyperior panted heavily in anger, the drill on its head still spinning.
But the next moment, another layer of white light spread across Rhyperior's body. The effect of Parting Shot reduced Rhyperior's attack and special attack by one stage each.
"Hmph~ Only playing these little tricks to avoid direct combat?" Blue frowned slightly, his handsome face showing a hint of displeasure. The battle had just begun, and Rhyperior had already been weakened twice? This Gym Leader really had some skills.
Although he thought this, Blue didn't let it show, continuing to speak in a sarcastic tone.
"No need to rush, Mr. Blue."
Dylan didn't seem to take Blue's taunts to heart and pulled out another Poké Ball to throw.
"Sableye, get ready for battle!" Dylan tossed out his second Poké Ball with a flick of his wrist.
With a flash of white light, the eerie-looking Sableye appeared in front of Dylan, staring blankly at Rhyperior with its sapphire-like eyes.
"A Ghost and Dark-type Sableye? Quite a good combination, but its strength is low. Tch~ Gym Leader Dylan, this Pokémon won't be able to defeat my Rhyperior."
Blue scrutinized Sableye up and down, a smirk of ridicule on his lips.
"That's not necessarily true, Mr. Blue. You might have a misconception—Pokémon battles aren't just about comparing the strength and direct combat power of both sides."
Dylan shook his head and smiled as he spoke.
"Oh? I don't think so." Blue sneered.
Strong is strong, and weak is weak. Although Blue did not deny that even a weak Pokémon could become stronger through training, under the same training conditions, the stronger Pokémon would naturally become more powerful. Blue was well aware of this.
That's why his main team consisted of carefully selected high-strength Pokémon of various types!
"I'd like to see for myself what you're capable of, Gym Leader Dylan. What can you achieve with these little tricks that avoid direct confrontation?"
Blue's demeanor was arrogant and proud.
"Rhyperior! Earthquake!"
Even with its attack lowered twice, Blue still believed that his Rhyperior could easily defeat that Sableye.
"Fake Out."
The ghostly purple figure of Sableye flashed like lightning in front of Rhyperior, its sharp claws tearing across Rhyperior's cheek.
Another Normal-type Fake Out!
Hit once more by Fake Out, Rhyperior not only stood dazed for a moment but also staggered back two steps and fell into a state of flinching.
"Tch!" Blue's face tightened with displeasure.
"Mean Look."
Sableye's big eyes flashed with an eerie black light as it stared at Rhyperior, casting a shadow covered in dark light over Rhyperior.
The Normal-type Mean Look, which prevents the opponent from being withdrawn unless it faints.
Blue's emotions began to waver. Originally, if Rhyperior continued to be weakened, he could recall it with a Poké Ball, but now that was no longer an option.
"Rhyperior, Stone Edge!" With its flinch over, Blue immediately ordered Rhyperior to attack.
Rhyperior was also furious by now. Ever since it entered the battlefield, it had been taking hits! It had even been slapped twice!
Rhyperior raised its right arm, the hollow in its palm glowing with a light brown energy.
"Swagger."
Sableye's eyes flashed with a dark gleam, and it clapped its small claws together energetically, emitting a mysterious wave that spread towards Rhyperior.
The Dark-type Swagger boosts the opponent's attack but confuses it.
With its Prankster ability, Sableye's status moves are given priority, allowing it to act first.
Rhyperior felt its head getting dizzy, and its body began to sway left and right, unknowingly lowering its raised right arm.
"Rhyperior! Snap out of it!" Blue's expression changed, knowing that confusion would be troublesome.
But soon, Blue's hopes were dashed. Rhyperior staggered around as if drunk, even spinning in circles on the spot.
Yep, it's completely confused.
Blue's face turned dark. The confusion status is quite a hassle; once confused, whether a Pokémon can hear its trainer's commands is purely up to chance.
"Rhyperior! Come to your senses!" Blue's voice now had a hint of agitation.
"Will-O-Wisp." Dylan's smile remained gentle.
Damn it, he's going to use Will-O-Wisp too?
Blue's face twitched. The Fire-type Will-O-Wisp releases a strange flame that causes the target to be burned.
Rhyperior's attack had already been lowered by two stages; if it got burned, what's the point of continuing?! Rhyperior is a heavy, high-attack, high-defense Pokémon. Burns would halve its physical attack, meaning...
Rhyperior would become a punching bag with no other use!
Blue's face darkened as he watched Sableye release eerie, indescribable blue ghost flames that entered Rhyperior's body.
Boom~!
The next second, fierce flames erupted from Rhyperior's body, and it let out a pained cry.
It's burned...
Watching Rhyperior, who was still spinning around in a daze even while burned, Blue fell into deep thought.
Maybe it's better to forfeit this match? It doesn't seem worth continuing...
"Yay~ Now Rhyperior is no threat at all!"
"Yay~ Gym Leader Dylan is really awesome!"
In the audience, Selene and the receptionist high-fived each other excitedly, then both looked smilingly at Gary, who wasn't far away.
"Mr. Gary, it seems your big brother isn't that impressive. He's not even doing as well as you did in your second challenge."
The receptionist's smile was sweet and innocent, but her words were anything but.
"Hehe…"
Gary's eyelid twitched, and he forced a laugh, but his toes were already digging into the ground.
Come on, big bro! I've already bragged about you, and now you're doing worse than I did on my second challenge? I'd be doing better out there myself!
Back in the battle.
"Energy Ball."
Following Dylan's command, Sableye brought its claws together, forming a bright green sphere of energy.
A Grass-type Energy Ball!
And Rhyperior, being both Ground and Rock-type, is four times weak to Water and Grass. Even with its Solid Rock ability reducing super effective damage, a Grass-type Energy Ball still deals three times the damage to Rhyperior!
"Rhyperior, dodge!" Blue shouted expressionlessly.
Of course, he wasn't holding out much hope, as the currently confused Rhyperior was still swinging its punches wildly.
But just as the Energy Ball was about to hit Rhyperior, it suddenly halted its movements, looked up, and roared angrily at the Sableye.
It's come to its senses!
Blue raised an eyebrow. It's impressive how quickly the main force he carefully selected has regained its composure!
However, the roar of Rhyperior didn't last long before the Energy Ball hit it directly. Amid the booming sound, Rhyperior's pained cry could be heard, as the Energy Ball dealt significant damage.
"Rhyperior, Earthquake!" As long as it's come to its senses, it's fine!
Blue commanded Rhyperior with full confidence, and even with burns, his Rhyperior remained powerful!
Rhyperior's roar rose again as it lifted one of its feet.
"That roar still sounds quite spirited. In that case, Sableye, let's have another round of Swagger," Dylan smiled.
"???" Blue's expression changed.
He watched as the annoying little creature (Sableye) once again bounced around disgustingly, making irritating, hoarse screeching sounds, and clapping its little paws together in a nauseating manner.
The Normal-type Swagger.
So annoying!
And then…
Then Rhyperior resumed its wobbly, drunken fighting steps. Dylan nodded in satisfaction, enjoying the view.
"..."
You've got to be kidding me! Is this never going to end??!!
Blue could barely tolerate it any longer, his face turning ashen. If it weren't for his upbringing as a grandson of Professor Oak, he would really want to curse right now!
Is this how you conduct gym battles? Trying to be obnoxious, huh?
(End of chapter)
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