"Sorry, sorry! I'm late!"
The referee rushed over anxiously, only to find that Steven and Wallace were already in position on opposite sides of the battlefield.
"Let's begin," Wallace said with a light chuckle, showing no sign of blame toward the tardy official.
"Yes, sir!"
"This battle is between Gym Leader Wallace and challenger Steven from Mossdeep City!"
"Battle, begin!"
As the referee waved the black and white checkered flag, the battle officially commenced.
Steven and Wallace released their Pokémon simultaneously.
This battle was different from standard Gym battles. There were no typical Gym Leader restrictions on Pokémon strength. Instead, it would be a six-on-three format with free switching allowed.
The Sootopolis Gym's battle arena was originally designed to be a pool for Water-type battles.
However, Wallace didn't want to take unfair advantage of Steven, so he chose to use the Grassy Terrain field instead.
Bang—
Two white lights flashed on either side of the battlefield, and two Pokémon appeared simultaneously!
As soon as Wallace's Pelipper materialized, a surge of energy erupted from its body, reaching all the way to the Gym's high ceiling.
Dark clouds formed by concentrated energy gathered at the ceiling, and fine rain began sprinkling down across the entire battle arena.
Steven's Skarmory, meanwhile, stared intently at the Pelipper across from it with a sharp, focused gaze.
"So we're fighting in the rain?" Steven's expression sharpened as he immediately called out, "Stealth Rock!"
This battle—a full-strength clash between him and Wallace—required his absolute concentration and best strategy.
"U-turn!" Wallace commanded without hesitation.
As expected, Wallace's Pelipper used a pivoting move to switch out.
"Yo!"
Skarmory spun twice gracefully in the air, scattering energy-formed rocks across the battlefield. The rocks landed in various strategic positions around the field, then suddenly vanished from sight.
"Peli!"
Pelipper charged forward, crashing into Skarmory's armored body with minimal effect—causing no real pain.
Then it transformed into a streak of light and returned to Wallace's Poké Ball.
The next Pokémon to appear was a green-bodied Ludicolo with bright yellow accents covering its body.
Ludicolo!
Without a doubt, it possessed the Swift Swim ability, which doubled its Speed in rainy conditions!
"Plop!"
The newly appeared Ludicolo was immediately struck by the suddenly materializing rocks from Stealth Rock. It flinched for just a moment before the rocks vanished again.
"Weather Ball!" Wallace commanded.
Ludicolo hurled a pure white orb of concentrated energy toward the dark clouds beneath the ceiling.
The orb merged into the clouds, absorbing moisture and energy while also shifting its position ominously.
Steven immediately pulled out a Poké Ball, recalling Skarmory and switching in Scizor!
Weather Ball doubled in power and became a Water-type move in rainy conditions. And that pink orb hanging around Ludicolo's neck was a Life Orb, which further boosted its offensive power!
Steven didn't dare let Skarmory take a direct hit from a Weather Ball of such devastating intensity.
Steven's team only had Piplup to properly resist Water-type moves, but before coming to Sootopolis City, Steven had made careful preparations for this crucial battle.
Bang!
Scizor appeared on the battlefield, and a rapidly falling blue energy orb descended from the clouds directly above its head!
Poof—
Scizor had nowhere to dodge and was struck squarely by the Weather Ball!
"Chaa!"
Scizor cried out in pain, dropping to one knee from the impact.
"Another Weather Ball!" Wallace ordered quickly.
If the second Weather Ball connected, Scizor's HP would be reduced to critical levels. In the worst case scenario, it might even be knocked out entirely.
There was no doubt—this was a rain-boosted Weather Ball empowered by Life Orb!
Steven frowned deeply and immediately shouted, "Quick Attack!"
Before coming to Sootopolis City, Steven had specifically prepared an Assault Vest for Scizor to boost its Special Defense, precisely to help defend against special attacks like this.
But he hadn't anticipated that Ludicolo's offensive output with Life Orb would exceed his calculations by such a margin.
Thinking about it now, none of his opponents throughout his journey had employed weather-based tactics like this.
Scizor's gaze sharpened with determination. Leaving afterimages across the battlefield, it rapidly charged toward Ludicolo.
Bang!
Ludicolo's second Weather Ball had just finished charging in its hands.
Scizor's powerful pincers slammed into Ludicolo's body with tremendous force. Ludicolo, enduring the pain, tossed the Weather Ball in its grasp high into the air.
"U-turn!"
Weather Ball was incredibly fast. After a brief pause in the dark clouds above, it plummeted downward!
Scizor swung its pincers one final time, slamming them hard onto Ludicolo, then kicked off forcefully with both legs to create distance.
Poof—
The Weather Ball descended, striking Scizor directly.
Scizor instantly transformed into a streak of red light, returning to its Poké Ball.
But the full damage from that Weather Ball had been taken completely.
Both sides were using Champion-level Pokémon, and the moves they employed caused tremendous damage.
The more powerful the Pokémon, the greater the damage they could inflict. If Scizor hadn't been equipped with the Assault Vest, it was questionable whether it would have survived that second Weather Ball at all.
"Beli..."
Ludicolo's legs trembled slightly, and it panted heavily from exertion.
Scizor's U-turn had severely injured it, leaving the Pokémon in considerable discomfort.
Scizor, having endured two Weather Balls, was in a similar battered state to Ludicolo.
"Go, Metagross!"
Scizor had used U-turn to switch in Metagross!
"Metagross!"
Metagross, emerging from its Poké Ball, landed heavily on the battlefield with a resounding impact.
"Bullet Punch!"
Even though Ludicolo's Water and Grass typing gave it a double resistance to Steel-type moves, in its current weakened state, it absolutely couldn't withstand another attack!
Wallace's expression turned serious. He quickly recalled Ludicolo into its Poké Ball and switched in Pelipper!
Bang bang!
"Peli!"
Pelipper let out a pained cry. It was struck by both Stealth Rock and Metagross's Bullet Punch the instant it appeared, taking damage from two sources simultaneously!
"Defog!" Wallace commanded in a deep, serious voice.
If Stealth Rock wasn't cleared from the field, Ludicolo would be immediately knocked out the next time it entered battle.
Those hazards had to be removed!
"Stone Edge!" Steven shouted.
Bullet Punch couldn't inflict much damage on Pelipper alone, but combined with the Stealth Rock damage it had already taken...
Coupled with Metagross's superior power level, this Stone Edge would definitely defeat Wallace's Pelipper!
Pelipper spread its wings wide, generating a powerful gust of wind!
Metagross slammed its metallic arms into the ground, instantly shattering the terrain beneath it!
It raised its arms high, and countless sharp stones—carrying chunks of grass and soil—flew toward Pelipper like missiles!
The strong wind blew away the surrounding Stealth Rock hazards, but the secondary effect of lowering the opponent's evasion was completely nullified by Metagross's Clear Body ability.
"Peli!"
Pelipper was struck directly by the super-effective Stone Edge. With a final pained cry, it fell to the ground, defeated.
"Pelipper is unable to battle!"
Following the referee's declaration, Wallace calmly recalled Pelipper into its Poké Ball and tossed Milotic's Poké Ball high into the air.
Bang—
Milotic, with its graceful serpentine form and beautiful prismatic scales, appeared on the battlefield!
Its Champion-level aura swept powerfully across the entire arena!
Steven had seen Wallace's Milotic before in previous encounters.
But facing this overwhelming presence directly in battle, Steven's hands involuntarily trembled slightly from the sheer pressure.
"Psychic!"
"Hydro Pump!"
"Woo~!"
Milotic gathered a concentrated blue orb of energy at its mouth, then instantly released a devastatingly powerful, thick stream of water!
Metagross didn't attempt to resist with Psychic. Instead, it used its psychic powers to control its own body, moving rapidly across the battlefield to evade.
Poof—
The Hydro Pump struck the grassy terrain, following Metagross's movement trajectory relentlessly.
Wherever the powerful water current passed, the battlefield was utterly destroyed!
The grass and an entire layer of ground were completely washed away by the overwhelming water pressure!
Steven seized the brief opportunity, recalled Metagross into its Poké Ball, and switched in Skarmory!
And Milotic's devastating Hydro Pump attack finally came to an end!
"Surf!"
If Hydro Pump wouldn't connect, then Wallace would use the unavoidable Surf instead!
"Stealth Rock!" Steven commanded in a determined voice.
Since he couldn't directly contend with Milotic's overwhelming power, he had to let Skarmory contribute its remaining strength to the battle!
"Yo!"
Skarmory faced the towering wave rising before it without the slightest trace of fear in its sharp eyes.
It rotated its armored body, laying down Stealth Rock hazards across the battlefield once again!
The enormous wave, carrying tremendous momentum, crashed toward Skarmory in the air with devastating force!
Boom—
The massive wave crashed down with a thunderous roar, engulfing Skarmory completely in its depths!