"You also use sunny weather?"
Rachel glanced at Ethan, who was in the stands, and took a deep breath.
At the same time, Milotic moved on the field. With a turn of its rear tail, it condensed a tornado.
That powerful tornado directly lifted the water from the pool and turned into a water tornado that rushed toward Torkoal, which was on the floating platform.
Although sunny weather weakened the power of Water-type moves, in principle, what it weakened was the Water-type energy present on the field.
At that moment, the core of that water tornado used by Milotic was the move Twister, and not a Water-type move, so the weakening effect of sunny weather on Water-type moves had no effect.
Seeing that scene from outside the field, Ethan also nodded in admiration. That water tornado was truly very powerful.
Within the Gym evaluation rules that he had established, if the challenger sent out a Water-type Pokémon and, through its own capabilities, managed to neutralize the weakening effect of sunny weather on Water-type moves, then it would already be considered to have passed the evaluation.
In that sense, Rachel's Milotic did it impeccably. That water tornado, which perfectly combined strength and technique, passed his Gym evaluation perfectly.
If that had been a Gym battle, it could have been considered finished at that very moment!
"Torkoal, use Fire Spin!"
Seeing the water tornado coming at him, Sanada Ichiro's face showed excitement.
With a roar from Torkoal, a whirlpool of flames completely wrapped around its body.
Under Torkoal's control, that whirlpool of fire began to spin nonstop and turned into a tornado of fire that rose from the ground.
Boom!
At the same time, the water tornado reached it.
Then, the water tornado and the fire tornado began to collide violently.
The water tornado took advantage of the water field, while the fire tornado received the reinforcement of the weather.
For an instant, the two attacks were completely evenly matched: they collided with each other and then both vanished into the air at the same time.
"They're so strong, both of them are extremely strong!"
"But Leader Rachel has both type and terrain advantage, this battle can be won!"
Seeing that scene, the spectators began commenting among themselves, and the cheers did not stop resounding.
Immediately, water and fire began to clash on the field again and again, and for a while, neither could suppress the other.
"The situation isn't good... Although at first glance it looks like a draw, the water in the pool is clearly decreasing. In addition, with the constant heat of sunny weather, the temperature of the water is rising nonstop."
"If this continues, Milotic's terrain advantage will completely disappear, and in the end, this field will end up becoming Torkoal's terrain."
Outside the field, Ethan frowned, without taking his eyes off the pool water, from which steam kept coming out.
And in reality, that was indeed the case. As Torkoal's Drought Ability was pushed to the limit, Milotic gradually began to be suppressed.
"Leader Rachel is being overwhelmed!"
Seeing that, the spectators' faces darkened.
Originally, everyone thought that, with an absolute advantage in both attribute and terrain, Leader Rachel's Water-type Pokémon should be able to crush a Fire-type Pokémon.
But the situation on the field was completely different. With the fiery power reinforced by sunny weather, all the water in the water field seemed about to evaporate!
"In the end, she lost..."
Seeing Milotic become more and more weakened, Ethan sighed.
"She lost..."
Seeing that scene, the spectators also fell silent.
That provocateur who had come from the Red Sun League had really won!
"Good, the first battle is in the bag!"
After obtaining victory, Sanada Ichiro seemed very happy.
Then he took out a small notebook and began to record his victory.
"Damn it... this really is infuriating."
"That guy doesn't put our League in his eyes at all!" A spectator clenched his fists tightly and said with enormous rage.
But even Rachel, the strongest person there, had been defeated, so they had no way to confront him.
"Is there anyone else who wants to battle?"
After finishing recording, Sanada Ichiro looked around and asked.
"Damn it, this really is infuriating."
"It doesn't matter if I lose, I'll still go up and fight with everything I have!"
A spectator who considered himself somewhat strong went up onto the stage and sent out his Golduck.
However, when Sanada Ichiro saw the strength level of that Golduck, he simply gave a cold smile and refused to battle.
That expression of contempt made the entire audience once again erupt in rage, but they could do nothing. That feeling almost made them vomit blood from helplessness.
"Could it be that in all of Ironvale City there is not even a single Water-type Trainer capable of fighting?"
Sanada Ichiro's words were especially hurtful, and the spectators could not help taking out their phones to ask for help.
No matter what, the news had to be spread first. Ironvale City was so large, could they really not find a Water-type Trainer capable of facing this guy?
"Then, how about I be your opponent?"
At that instant, a calm voice suddenly resounded on the field.
When the spectators turned their eyes toward it, they saw a very young-looking student standing in the middle of the stage.
"You want to be my opponent?"
Looking at Ethan, whose face was completely calm, Sanada Ichiro remained silent for a moment before speaking.
If the one who had gone up had been someone like those noisy spectators, he naturally would not have paid him any attention. But that boy on the stage was too calm. In his eyes, Sanada Ichiro could see that he was truly very calm.
"That's right. Although the attribute I stand out in the most is not Water type, my Water-type Pokémon is very strong."
Ethan smiled slightly. Afterward, he opened the Poké Ball in his hand, and a Slowking appeared on the field.
For an instant, Slowking's gaze met Torkoal's on the field, and the aura of both began to clash with each other.
"So strong... it's a Quasi-Elite-level Pokémon!"
Sensing the aura emanating from Slowking, Sanada Ichiro's pupils contracted.
"Who are you?"
After remaining silent for a moment, Sanada Ichiro asked with a grave expression.
"Me?"
"My name is Ethan Black. I'm just a fairly ordinary student from Ironvale City Pokémon University. I am 20 years old."
Ethan showed a broad smile. Then, as if he had suddenly remembered something, he added, "Ah, right. I'm also one of this Gym's champions, except I still haven't obtained Gym Leader qualification."
"If you don't mind, let me be your opponent."
Hearing Ethan's words, all the spectators were stunned.
"Wait... Ethan Black... and he is 20 years old?"
Suddenly, one of the spectators thought of something, and his eyes opened wide.
Among powerful Trainers called Ethan Black who were 20 years old, it seemed that there could only be one!
(End of chapter)