The second exchange

Koga seemed to use all kinds of inventive and troublesome tactics involving poison. From invisible and untraceable poison to similar tactics using smog and grassy terrain. It was obnoxious and impossible to stop. In the end, he had no choice but to cheat and use a steel type to sweep the gym. Using this strategy didn't give him any sense of accomplishment and left him feeling unworthy of the badge.

Since that was the case, he ended up training under Koga himself, fighting against him over and over using different Pokémon, devising different strategies to overcome that type of poison.

"Koga sensei?" Garry called as he sat down on a bench, wiping the sweat accumulating on his brow.

"What's up, kid?" the man in question responded as he walked into the training area carrying two bottles of water in his hands. With a gentle throw, one of them was easily caught by the tired Garry.

"How did you develop such strategies?" noticing Koga's somewhat puzzled gaze, "I mean, the way in which you use poison, I haven't heard of anyone else managing to do something similar."

As if dawning on him, Koga had a look of understanding, a wide smile creeping up on his face, "Ah… you're talking about that. It's nothing serious, and I'm far from being the only one who has thought of similar ways of using moves that stray from the obvious purpose." He paused to take a mouthful of water before exhaling a satisfied sigh.

He sat down beside Garry, "as for how I developed these strategies, I can't take all the credit. After all, I did have some help," his smile grew wider at the memory.

Garry's eyes widened, and his curiosity spiked, "who! …Who?" he asked, correcting himself upon realising that he was too loud.

Koga didn't mind it, "he is someone on their own journey, much like yourself. Going to every gym collecting all eight badges in order to be granted the opportunity of challenging the league. Considering your strength, I would say you have a high chance of meeting him there." the man said casually and took another sip of his water.

Garry pondered over his words seriously before shaking his head, 'could it be someone capable of beating big brother Rex? I mean, to help develop such sinister tactics involving poison, they must be cunning.

As he thought of this, he looked at his teacher, "what is their name?"

***

Garry looked up at the roaring crowd as their hands created waves. He slowly cast his gaze upon the VIP section with a solemn expression.

"Oh, that? His name is Rex Pierce."

Garry couldn't help but laugh at himself as he recalled his thought process back then, 'who would have thought big brother Rex was such a monster? But then again, I don't expect anything else from the person I have taken to be my rival.'

Looking at his opponent, a comfortable warmth filled his chest, 'I have beaten the master of poison himself; a mere wannabe isn't worth my time.'

"Blastoise, end this with Hydro cannon!"

BLASTOISE!

Giant amounts of water began to be sucked up by the twin cannons on Blastoise's back like a vacuum cleaner. Rain dance assisted in speeding up this process and increasing its attack power. Soon, two basketball-sized bubbles of water floated by its shoulders, spinning at rapid speeds.

"GO!"

BANG!

As soon as the command was given, the two projectiles were shot out, tearing through the air and slashing the ground they flew past, only leaving behind shallow indents.

"Toxicroak use combination move: mirror poison jab cough-cough"

A weak dry voice said as he watched the incoming attack. As the name implied, it was a combination of mirror coat and poison jab. As the two cannonballs made of water came into contact with Toxicroak, it seemed as if they had hit a sponge.

Using its immense flexibility, as if seemingly made of rubber instead of flesh and bone, it twisted at an odd angle. Followed closely by it grabbing the projectiles and correcting their course using their own momentum. Like a comet around the earth's atmosphere being redirected off course.

Meanwhile, within those few moments of contact, Toxicroak's hands gave off a sickly purple hue, imbuing poison into the projectiles before sending them speeding back the way they came without any visible loss of speed in the slightest.

The entire motion from first contact to the moment of release was a single second, as if it had been done so many times that it had become second nature to Toxicroak, a reflex.

astonished by the counterplay, Garry didn't have time to react before the two projectiles collided with Blastoise, instantly exploding into a cloud of purple steam that dissolved the surrounding grass.

OISE! OISE! BLASTOISE!

An enraged roar pierced through the smog alongside a muscular fist that dispersed the remains of the attack.

Blastoise stood with its back facing its opponent, looking over its shoulder, a deep frown etched on its face as it glared at Toxicroak.

"Not even a scratch… what a-- cough-cough… what a tough nut to crack." The sickly man mumbled to himself. Coincidentally or not, his Pokémon mimicked his every move, even the cupping of his chin as he observed their opponents.

[What a wonderful second exchange of attacks by the two trainers and their Pokémon.} said James as he watched on, [Blastoise used one of the most powerful water type attacks towards Toxicroak, and yet the latter was not only able to block it but send it back with an extra side of poison.]

Elesa nodded, {correct, that was a beautiful exchange where both sides used their advantages to the maximum. Blastoise made use of its extreme firepower at long distances to cast a powerful move. Sadly, Toxicroak was able to expertly use its flexibility and bodily control to reverse the seemingly bleak situation. That right there is great training by both trainers.}

James hummed in agreement, [we must also add that to achieve combination moves, such as the one that Toxicroak used, requires extreme training. As my co-host mentioned. Toxicroak's bodily control is one of the highest we have seen within its species. A very well-trained Pokémon indeed.]