Under such high-intensity battle pressure, Krokorok finally touched the threshold of evolution!
The light dissipated.
A ferocious giant crocodile, far larger than before, stood proudly in the center of the field. Its body was covered in a red and black carapace, and its eyes were covered by signature black stripes, as if it were wearing a natural pair of sunglasses.
It opened its massive jaws filled with sharp teeth and let out a low roar that intimidated the entire arena, causing the ground beneath its feet to tremble slightly.
Krookodile!
Level 40!
"Beautifully done!"
Ariel couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart and pumped his fist.
He quickly pulled out his pokédex, and a red light swept over the Pokémon.
"New skills mastered: Crunch, Earthquake!"
It worked!
Ariel's gaze fell on the words 'Crunch.' This was the perfect superior replacement for Bite; its power and effect were on a completely different level.
As for Earthquake, it was the ultimate Ground-type move, possessing peerless power.
Unfortunately, facing an entire Flying-type Gym, this move was essentially sealed away.
Even so, the fierce and violent aura emitted by the newly evolved Krookodile was already a qualitative leap forward.
It was no longer the provocation of a small-time thug, but the overwhelming pressure of a mafia boss.
Even Winona, as the Gym Leader, felt a hint of troublesome pressure from that momentum.
But pressure was also the best catalyst.
Instead of backing down, a raging fighting spirit ignited in her eyes.
"Evolving mid-battle... Ariel, you and your Pokémon have truly given me a massive surprise."
Winona's voice was clear and carried a hint of excitement.
"In that case, I can't hold back anymore either."
She made a decision that caught everyone off guard.
She withdrew Tropius, which still had half its stamina!
Immediately after, she held two Poké Balls in her hands simultaneously and tossed them into the air with a graceful posture.
"Go, my children!"
Two flashes of red light appeared, and accompanied by two distinct cries—one clear and one sharp—two figures unfolded in the air.
On the left was one covered in gray feathers as hard as steel, with wing edges as sharp as blades and a cold gaze. It was the one known as the 'Wall of the Sky,' Skarmory!
Level 45!
And the one on the right made Ariel's pupils shrink slightly.
It was an extremely elegant Pokémon.
It had a sky-blue body, and most peculiar of all were its wings, which were as white and fluffy as cotton clouds.
Its cry was crisp and pleasant, like wind chimes. It was the Dragon and Flying-type, Altaria!
Level 46!
Of the two Pokémon, one had amazing Physical Defense while the other had impressive Special Attack. They coordinated perfectly, clearly being one of Winona's trump card combinations.
"This Altaria is the child of my very first partner."
Winona's tone carried obvious pride.
"Its talent is even greater than its mother's. Ariel, let me see how your Krookodile will deal with this true sky!"
Ariel smiled.
He knew that this was Winona's true strength, and this was the Gym Challenge he craved.
"Frogadier, come back and rest first."
He withdrew Frogadier, who had been fighting hard for a long time.
Krookodile stood alone in the field, facing the circling Skarmory and Altaria without a hint of fear; instead, its fighting spirit grew even stronger.
Ariel's finger brushed over the last Poké Ball on his waist.
His gaze also became more serious than ever before.
"Since the Leader has brought out her trump cards, I should show my highest respect as well."
He violently threw the Poké Ball out!
"Weavile, it's your turn!"
A red light flashed, and a dark shadow as swift as a specter appeared beside Krookodile.
It was a slender Pokémon, pitch black all over, with eerie bright red accents on its head and tail.
The moment it appeared, a cold chill quietly spread out, making the temperature in the arena feel as if it had dropped several degrees.
Its crimson eyes narrowed slightly, and its blade-like claws lightly scratched against its chest, making a faint 'hissing' sound. Its gaze locked directly onto the cotton cloud in the sky.
Ice-type.
Weavile.
Facing the Dragon and Flying-type Altaria.
A four-times weakness!
This was Ariel's response.
Winona looked at that Weavile, a flash of approval crossing her eyes.
"Then, let the battle continue!"
Almost the instant her voice fell, Ariel's command blurted out.
"Weavile, Ice Shard! Krookodile, Rock Slide!"
The battle began.
Weavile's body turned into a dark purple afterimage, launching its attack almost at the same time the command was given.
Countless ice particles glinting with a cold light shot toward the Altaria in the sky like a rainstorm. This was a priority move, its speed reaching the extreme!
At the same time, Krookodile opened its huge mouth. Amidst its roar, several massive rocks condensed out of thin air and whistled as they smashed toward Altaria and Skarmory, intending to block their flight paths and compress their room to maneuver.
Ariel's tactic was clear: Weavile would be the main attacker, using the four-times weakness advantage to end the fight quickly, while Krookodile would be responsible for field control and cover.
However, Winona's commanding was even calmer and more precise than he had imagined.
"Skarmory, Agility, get in front! Altaria, Dragon Dance!"
The commands were concise but struck right at the heart of the matter.
Skarmory's wings flapped violently, its silver figure drawing an incredible zigzag in the air. Its speed surged instantly, and it actually managed to arrive first, acting like an indestructible steel shield to precisely position itself in front of Altaria!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The dense ice particles struck Skarmory's metallic body, splashing a series of tiny sparks, yet they failed to leave even a single white mark.
Skarmory's excellent defense rendered Weavile's opening attack useless.
And Krookodile's Rock Slide was also easily dodged by Skarmory in its Agility state. The massive rocks smashed into the ground with dull thuds, making the entire field vibrate.
Taking advantage of the brief moment Skarmory had bought, the Altaria behind it had already gracefully completed its dance.
A mysterious halo surrounded its body; its Attack and Speed both increased by one stage!
Ariel's brow furrowed into a knot.
This is trouble.