As the battle began, Wattson also released his Pokémon.
With a flash of red light, a robust Raichu appeared in the center of the field, full of energy, with golden electric arcs occasionally flickering from the electric sacs on its cheeks.
Level 25.
Ariel also sent out Sandile.
"Type advantage?"
Wattson adjusted his glasses, that kind smile still on his face.
"I should warn you in advance, for this Gym challenge, I won't be using only Electric-type Pokémon, haha."
old fox.
Ariel cursed inwardly but remained expressionless, simply nodding calmly: "Whatever."
He knew that, of course.
According to Gym challenge rules, Gym Leaders must use Pokémon corresponding to the Gym's type, which helps Trainers successfully obtain Gym Badges through type advantages.
But this so-called Gym battle wasn't as simple as getting a badge from the start.
This was a test set by Team Rockets, a dual examination of his strength and reaction speed.
If he couldn't even see through this little trick, he would have wasted his time in Team Rockets.
Rules? Regulations?
Those were for the weak and ordinary people.
For Team Rockets, or rather for Ariel, victory was everything.
"Then, let the match begin!"
As soon as Wattson's voice fell, he immediately issued a command.
"Raichu, Agility!"
Raichu's figure instantly turned into a bolt of yellow lightning, leaving a series of afterimages on the field, its trajectory almost impossible to capture with the naked eye.
So fast!
Ariel's pupils constricted slightly, but he didn't panic.
Being fast didn't mean being invincible.
"Sandile, Sand Tomb! Split the battlefield!"
Sandile roared, and its thick forelimbs slammed into the ground.
Boom!
The hard battlefield cracked instantly, and with Sandile as the center, a huge Sand Tomb vortex quickly formed. Countless sand and stones were swept up, dancing wildly across the field with a rustling sound.
The entire battlefield became murky in an instant, and visibility was severely obstructed.
The Raichu, which was using Agility, clearly didn't expect this move and plunged headlong into the range of the Sand Tomb.
"Ji!"
The flying debris constantly scraped against Raichu's body. Although the damage wasn't great, it was enough to make it irritable, and its speed was clearly affected.
Sand Tomb successfully split the battlefield, greatly limiting Raichu's mobility.
Ariel looked at the situation on the field, but he didn't dare to be careless.
Raichu's speed was too fast; even restricted by Sand Tomb, it was still a huge threat.
He had to seize the opportunity and win with one blow!
"Sandile, Hone Claws!"
Since the opponent was fast, he would use absolute power to crush it!
Taking advantage of the cover from Sand Tomb, Sandile's claws crossed, producing a piercing metallic scraping sound. Its sharp claws glinted with a cold light as they were sharpened, and its attack power was steadily increasing.
"Trying to buff? Too naive." Wattson's voice drifted over, "Interrupt it! Raichu, Quick Attack!"
The old man's battle experience was indeed rich.
Ariel thought to himself.
Wattson's command was decisive and precise; he had clearly detected Ariel's intention to buff.
"Rai!"
Raichu growled, forcibly enduring the scraping of the stones. Its entire body was wrapped in a layer of white light, like a cannonball fired from a barrel, breaking through the obstruction of the Sand Tomb and charging straight at the Sandile that was using Hone Claws!
Bang!
With a dull thud, Sandile's buff was interrupted, and its body was knocked back half a step.
As for Raichu itself, because it forcibly entered the Sand Tomb, a few more new scars were added to its body.
This was a style of play that hurt the enemy eight hundred but cost oneself three hundred.
But this exchange wasn't a loss; it successfully stopped Sandile's buff.
Ariel's gaze sharpened.
Interesting.
This finally felt like a Gym challenge.
Those previous opponents, those low-tier Trainers, were all too weak—so weak that he didn't even need to think about tactics; he just needed to crush them with level and strength.
As for battles in the wild, Ariel would use sneak attacks and instant kills, giving the opponent as little chance to battle as possible.
That was his way of survival.
But now, facing Wattson, a veteran Gym Leader, he truly felt the game of tactics between Trainers and Pokémon.
This made the blood in his body begin to boil.
"Sandile, Dig!"
Since there was no speed advantage on the ground, then move underground!
Receiving the command, Sandile's body instantly tunneled into the ground, leaving only a bottomless pit, and the entire field returned to silence once more.
Only Raichu was left, standing warily at the edge of the Sand Tomb, its ears twitching constantly, trying to catch any movement underground.
Wattson's brow also furrowed slightly.
The move Dig was very troublesome.
The initiative to attack had completely shifted to the opponent; he could only defend passively.
He had Raichu jump back and forth in a small area on the field, trying to dodge Sandile's attack through anticipation.
But Ariel simply wouldn't let Sandile come out.
What's the rush?
He leaned against the railing at the edge of the field, watching the scene at his leisure.
Anyway, the initiative is in my hands now; you're anxious, I'm not.
Time passed minute by minute.
Only the faint hum of the electrical equipment and the occasional sound of Raichu stepping on debris remained in the Gym.
The atmosphere began to grow tense.
A thin layer of sweat broke out on Wattson's forehead.
He knew Ariel was waiting—waiting for him to show a weakness.
This young man was calmer and more patient than he had imagined.
Finally, Wattson seemed to lose his patience.
"Raichu, Encore, Agility!"
He wanted to use speed to force Sandile to appear.
As long as Raichu's speed was boosted to the limit again, even if Sandile attacked from underground, it might not hit.
Now's the time!
A sharp light flashed in Ariel's eyes.
You finally made a mistake, old man.
Using a buffing move while the opponent is lurking underground is simply exposing your back completely to the enemy!
"Now! Sandile, attack directly beneath it!"
Boom—!
Almost the instant Ariel's voice fell, the ground beneath Raichu's feet exploded!
Dust flew, and debris scattered!
Sandile's figure burst out from the ground, its wide-open bloody maw looking as if it could swallow everything!
Immediately following that, a Stomping Tantrum condensed with all its strength slammed heavily onto the Raichu that had just finished Agility and hadn't had time to react!
"Stomping Tantrum!"
A Ground-type move dealt double super-effective damage to the Electric-type Raichu!
"Ji—!"
Raichu let out a shrill scream, its entire body like a broken kite, smashed heavily against the distant wall by a massive force, then sliding powerlessly to the ground, its eyes already turned into spirals, completely losing its ability to battle.
One hit, an instant kill!
The whole place fell into a dead silence.
The dust slowly dissipated, and Sandile landed steadily on the ground, staring fiercely at the fallen Raichu and letting out a victory roar.
Ariel brushed the dust off his hands as if he had just done something trivial.
He looked up at Wattson opposite him, a faint curl appearing at the corner of his mouth.
A test?
That's it?
Looking at the defeated Raichu, the kind smile on Wattson's face finally disappeared.
He was silent for a moment, then slowly took out a Poké Ball and recalled Raichu.
"A very brilliant tactic."
"A very brilliant tactic, using Sand Tomb to limit speed, then using Dig to avoid attacks, and finally delivering a fatal blow at the most appropriate moment."
Wattson's voice was steady.
"However, young man, the real test begins now."
As soon as he finished speaking, he threw his second Poké Ball with a flick of his wrist.
Click.
The Poké Ball opened, and a figure completely different from the previous one appeared on the field.
A non-Electric-type Pokémon!
Ariel's gaze instantly became solemn.
He knew that the real test was only just beginning.
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