Chapter 55: Can’t Your Gym Have a Proper Battle?
Inside Rota Gym, Dylan and Gary stood at opposite ends of the battlefield.
"We're now beginning the Gym Battle for the Rota Badge. The challenger is Gary from Pallet Town."
"The battle will be a 2v2. Dylan, the Gym Leader, will send out his Pokémon first and is not allowed to switch. If both of the challenger's Pokémon are defeated, the challenge is lost."
"Begin!"
The referee announced the rules and then exited the battlefield.
A large screen displayed the half-body images of Dylan and Gary, signifying the start of the battle.
Dylan leisurely adjusted his clothes, a slight smile playing on his lips as he looked at Gary.
"Gary, this is your second time challenging me, so I don't think introductions are necessary."
Dylan pulled out a shrunken Pokéball, casually playing with it as he gazed at Gary with deep meaning.
"Make sure to show the results of your two weeks of special training. Otherwise, Gary, you might still leave without my badge."
"Hmph! Don't worry, I've found a way to counter your poison! No way am I letting a bit of poison mess with me again!"
Gary placed one hand on his hip, chin held high, clearly confident in the secret weapon he had prepared.
"Oh?" Dylan raised an eyebrow.
Although Gary had been arrogant and dismissive when he first started out, this time he was just as confident even after suffering a loss. It seemed he had indeed come prepared.
"Interesting. Let's see what you've got."
Dylan chuckled softly and tossed out his first Pokéball.
"Gloom, get ready for battle!"
In a flash of white light, a Gloom with a reddish-brown flower on its head appeared in front of Dylan, standing still and motionless.
Its plant-like body was blue, with a pair of arms, legs, and eyes that were perpetually closed. Its lips were purple, and a mysterious white liquid dripped from the corners of its mouth.
Gloom's appearance was strange and abstract.
Compared to two weeks ago, Dylan's primary team was a bit too strong for Gary. Using something like Arbok or Drapion would have been overkill.
Gloom was part of Dylan's secondary team, intentionally not evolved, making it perfect for facing challengers like Gary.
'Beep~ Gloom, Grass/Poison-type, Weed Pokémon
Ability: Stench
Moves: Moonblast, Toxic, Giga Drain, Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, Poison Powder, Sweet Scent, Venoshock, Teeter Dance (Inherited)
The liquid that seeps from its mouth is not saliva but a nectar-like substance used to attract prey.'
As she looked at the moves listed in her Pokédex, Abi tilted her head in confusion.
"Look, it's a Grass-type!"
Abi had an expression that said she wasn't surprised. The sunlit, warm man must use cheerful Pokémon too. A Grass-type wasn't unexpected.
"I still think Dylan must have trained a few Fire-types," Abu insisted, confident in his theory.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield...
"Gloom, huh..."
Gary hesitated. Over the past two weeks, he had specifically caught several Pokémon to counter Poison-types.
Magnemite was one of them, but it didn't seem ideal for battling Gloom. After all, Electric-type moves wouldn't be very effective against Gloom, and the only Steel-type move Magnemite knew was Gyro Ball.
Gary made up his mind.
"Golbat! It's up to you!"
Gary was still the same Gary, kissing the Pokéball before stylishly tossing it into the air.
A flash of white light revealed a large, blue bat flapping its wings and hovering in the air, with a mouth even bigger than its body—Golbat, the evolved form of Zubat.
'Beep~ Golbat, Poison/Flying-type, Bat Pokémon
Ability: Infiltrator
Moves: Screech, Leech Life, Supersonic, Poison Fang, Quick Guard, Swift, Wing Attack (Inherited)
Description: Once it bites, it won't let go. It keeps sucking blood so fervently that it sometimes becomes too heavy to fly.'
"Using Golbat against Gloom... this challenger knows what they're doing," Abi observed, looking at Golbat's data. The choice was solid, but she wondered how Dylan would counter it.
Abi curiously glanced at Dylan. Although she had heard from her receptionist that Dylan was a strong trainer, she hadn't seen him battle yet.
"Still relying on type advantage, huh?" Dylan examined the Golbat, smiling.
Flying is strong against Grass, and Poison can't be poisoned, so there was no need to worry about Gloom's poison.
"Dylan! Today I'm going to win!" Gary declared confidently.
Gary knew Dylan had a Corrosion ability Salazzle, which could poison even Steel- and Poison-types, but it didn't matter! Gloom didn't have the Corrosion ability, and Gary had prepared a secret weapon against Salazzle!
He had done his homework and was ready for this challenge!
"Those are words best said after winning, Gary," Dylan remained calm.
"Tch~ Just watch!" Gary clicked his tongue.
"Golbat! Wing Attack!"
Gary was the first to command Golbat to attack.
Golbat flapped its wings and lunged toward the stationary Gloom with impressive speed.
"Sweet Scent," Dylan ordered, still smiling faintly.
Gloom began to backpedal, shaking its flower-topped head.
A pink aroma started to spread, accompanied by a yellow, distinctly less pleasant odor.
Golbat's wide wings glowed with a white light as it rapidly approached Gloom.
The pink and yellow gases enveloped Golbat.
Sweet Scent, a Normal-type move, released a pleasant aroma that could lower the opponent's evasiveness, making them more vulnerable to attacks.
Golbat inhaled the Sweet Scent, its body visibly relaxing as it showed a content, almost human-like expression.
But then the yellow odor hit.
As everyone knows, if you smell something sweet and then something foul…
Golbat's expression changed instantly, its body tensing up as its eyes began to roll back, its wings flapping at an unnerving speed.
Golbat was rolling its eyes? It was really rolling its eyes!!
Gary stared in shock as Golbat, appearing as if it had gone mad, flapped its wings desperately as though trying to ward off some evil spirit.
Was it Gloom's stench? No, Gloom's stench shouldn't be this intense—it was the Stench ability!
The Stench ability's foul odor was far more potent than Gloom's natural smell.
Gary's face twisted in disgust—this battle had started off poorly.
"Golbat! Hang in there! Use Wing Attack!"
Golbat, barely managing to keep its breakfast down, heard its trainer's command and pushed through the nausea, wings speeding up as it charged at Gloom.
"Teeter Dance," Dylan commanded calmly.
Gloom began to dance, its stubby feet shuffling as it wiggled its tiny arms. The dance was so absurd that Gary's face alternated between green and white.
Teeter Dance, a Normal-type move, causes all Pokémon around the user to become confused.
"Golbat! Don't look at it!" Gary quickly shouted.
"It's too late."
Dylan shook his head.
A mysterious wave of energy emanated from Gloom, and as Golbat neared, its eyes reflected Gloom's bizarre dance.
Golbat's movements slowed, its head beginning to bob along with Gloom's rhythm.
In no time, Golbat was standing still, its body swaying uncontrollably. It was confused!
Gary's face turned green!
How was he supposed to battle now?
"Stun Spore," Dylan said with a small smile.
Gloom stopped dancing and shook its flower again, releasing a cloud of powder that drifted toward the still-confused Golbat.
Stun Spore induces paralysis, leaving the target unable to move.
In the games, status conditions don't stack; if you're poisoned, you can't be paralyzed, burned, frozen, or asleep.
But confusion doesn't count as a status condition, so Stun Spore was still effective.
The powder coated Golbat, some even entering its large mouth, and soon its body stiffened, small arcs of electricity sparking across its surface.
Paralysis had taken hold.
"You…!"
Gary's eyes widened in anger. Already confused, and now paralyzed too? How could he be so infuriating?!
Couldn't he just fight him head-on? Did this Gym only know how to use status conditions?!
Gary had prepared so carefully to counter poison and Toxic Spikes, only to be met with confusion and paralysis?
"Can't be helped, Gary. Your Golbat can't be poisoned."
Dylan spread his hands as if he had no other choice.
"Or you could switch to a Pokémon that can be poisoned? Gloom is much better at using Poison Powder, you know."
Gloom nodded enthusiastically, confirming it was indeed better at poisoning.
"???" Gary was full of question marks.
"No more jokes, Gary. If this is the result of your two weeks of training, I'm disappointed," Dylan sighed.
"If your opponent is Gloom, you should be more cautious. Even if Poison doesn't work, Gloom still has Sleep Powder and Stun Spore. No matter what, you should have been prepared."
"!!!"
So it's my fault?
(End of Chapter 55)