Chapter 66: Bah! Worthless Gym!

"Using Dark against Fighting types, is that really okay? Isn't that a disadvantage?" Luna muttered quietly. Although she had great trust in her brother, she couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

After all, Incineroar had only been trained for five days, and its opponent was a Top 16 competitor from last year's Indigo Plateau Conference. Moreover, it was a disadvantageous matchup, not something the Gym Leader, usually specialized in like Poison-type battles.

"Don't worry. Teacher wouldn't do something unless he's confident. That big guy doesn't stand a chance against him," Selene reassured Luna softly, knowing her teacher's capability to train a Litten into an Incineroar in just five days.

On the battlefield...

"Incineroar."

Incineroar let out a menacing roar at the Machamp, radiating an invisible aura of dominance.

Ability: Intimidate!

The white light faded from Machamp, reducing its physical attack by one stage.

"Tch. That's hardly anything!" Kiyo grumbled, though there was nothing he could do about the Intimidate ability.

"Machamp! Charge in and use Brick Break!"

Kiyo roared energetically, even mimicking the Brick Break move himself with great enthusiasm. Machamp swung its four arms and charged towards Incineroar with large strides.

"So many openings."

Dylan shook his head helplessly. Though the Pokémon was well-trained, it was clear that Kiyo was the kind of person who relied on brute force. To put it simply, he was a fearless warrior who only knew how to use raw power without much strategy. Such reckless charges had too many vulnerabilities.

"Sucker Punch," Dylan said calmly.

A wicked grin spread across Incineroar's face as it flashed before Machamp in an instant, delivering a powerful blow.

Bam!

Machamp halted, feeling a burning pain on its face. It clutched its cheek, dazed, staring blankly at Incineroar.

"Dammit! You actually used Sucker Punch!" Kiyo gritted his teeth, furious at the tactic.

Sucker Punch had a high priority, making it nearly unavoidable. However, the move wasn't very powerful, so even if it hit, it didn't cause much damage. But to Kiyo, the insult of the move outweighed its actual damage!

"Machamp! Snap out of it and use a powered-up Brick Break!"

Kiyo shouted at Machamp. The effects of Sucker Punch had ended, and Machamp should have recovered by now. Upon hearing its trainer's command, Machamp snapped out of its daze, its face filled with rage as it glared at Incineroar.

This dastardly cat dared to punch me?!

Machamp let out a furious cry, stepping towards the retreating Incineroar, its four arms raised like knives, ready to unleash a Fighting-type Brick Break!

"Parting Shot," Dylan said calmly.

To him, opponents who relied solely on brute force were always the easiest to deal with.

Incineroar stood with one hand on its hip, hurling a string of insults at the approaching Machamp. Machamp's forehead veins bulged, clearly infuriated by Incineroar's foul words.

Parting Shot: A move that lowers the opponent's Attack and Special Attack before switching out with another Pokémon.

As the final insult left its mouth, Incineroar turned into a beam of white light and returned to Dylan's Poké Ball. Machamp's body once again shimmered with white light, its Attack and Special Attack dropping by another stage, its momentum dwindling.

Seeing this, Kiyo's face began to twitch, his anger boiling over.

He wasn't entirely sure of Parting Shot's effects, but seeing the white light dissipate from Machamp's body, he had a rough idea—Machamp had been weakened again...

And they hadn't even touched their opponent yet, and Machamp had already been weakened twice?

"Coward! You're not fit to be a Gym Leader! You don't even have the courage to face me head-on?!"

Kiyo glared at Dylan, his voice booming as his face turned red with anger.

"A Trainer should fight with honor, not rely on sneaky, underhanded tactics like you!"

Kiyo was furious, especially since his Machamp was so strong.

"Mr. Kiyo, don't be so hasty. The battle has only just begun," Dylan said in a soothing tone, seeing Kiyo nearly lose his temper.

After all, he had faced many challengers before, and there were all kinds of temperaments among them. Those with fiery tempers, like Kiyo, were not uncommon.

Dylan was experienced in handling such situations.

"Don't worry, I will face you head-on later," Dylan promised.

Kiyo was still fuming, but since this was an official Gym battle, and the thin Gym Leader had given his word, he held back his anger.

"Sableye, get ready for battle."

Dylan tossed out his second Poké Ball.

A flash of white light revealed the deep purple Sableye, standing silently before Dylan, its eerie, blue gem-like eyes fixated on Machamp.

"What the heck is this?" Kiyo clearly didn't recognize Sableye.

Sableye was a Pokémon from the Hoenn region, and unlike Incineroar, Sableye wasn't known for its strength in direct combat. As a result, few people used Sableye as a main battler.

Moreover, Sableye's appearance didn't exactly match the popular aesthetic, so it wasn't well-known.

"This is Sableye, a Ghost/Dark-type Pokémon," Dylan explained to Kiyo.

"An aberrant Pokémon!" Kiyo's eyes narrowed.

Yes, to Trainers who specialized in Fighting types, Ghost-type Pokémon were indeed considered aberrant!

After all, Fighting-type moves couldn't affect Ghost-types.

But... it doesn't look strong.

Kiyo glanced at the small Sableye and decided not to switch out Machamp. Even with two stages of Attack reduction, his Machamp was still unbeatable!

"Machamp! Use Fire Punch!"

Kiyo's voice was still full of vigor as he commanded Machamp to strike.

A mere aberrant Pokémon—could it withstand Machamp's punch?

"Sucker Punch."

Dylan couldn't help but chuckle.

A strange light flickered in Sableye's gem-like eyes as its small body suddenly shot towards Machamp, slashing at its face with a swift claw.

Slap!

Sucker Punch landed successfully. Machamp's face stung once again, causing the flames on its fists to dissipate. It instinctively covered its face and took two steps back, cowering in fear!

Kiyo's face flushed red with anger.

Another Sucker Punch!

"Dammit! Machamp, use Fire Punch again!"

"Torment."

Sableye began to hop and skip around, a dark arc of energy jumping from its body to Machamp's, extinguishing the flames on Machamp's fists.

Machamp stood there, bewildered, not knowing what to do.

Torment: A Dark-type move that prevents the opponent from using the same move twice in a row.

Veins bulged on Kiyo's forehead, his face growing redder and redder.

"Machamp! Use Dual Chop on that damn thing!" Kiyo roared.

Machamp received its orders and immediately charged at Sableye, ready to unleash a Dragon-type Dual Chop!

But...

"Swagger," Dylan smirked.

Sableye continued its hopping, clapping its hands mockingly at Machamp, sending another dark arc towards it.

Swagger: A Dark-type move that confuses the opponent while sharply raising its Special Attack.

Machamp's charge slowed as its mind grew foggier and foggier.

Finally, under Kiyo's thunderous gaze, Machamp began to stagger like a drunkard, completely confused.

"Mean Look."

Dylan smiled as he gave the next command.

Sableye's eyes flashed with dark energy, locking its eerie gaze onto the confused Machamp. Machamp's shadow seemed to darken under the effect of the Ghost-type Mean Look, preventing it from being switched out.

Seeing this, Kiyo's face twitched uncontrollably, his fists clenching tightly as they cracked.

"Alright, now we can battle head-on, Mr. Kiyo?"

Dylan adjusted his collar elegantly, looking at the Black Belt of Saffron City with a curious tilt of his head.

Because at this moment, Kiyo's face was flushed, as if steam were about to escape from his ears!

"Mr. Kiyo, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?" Dylan raised an eyebrow, concerned.

Selene: (—)

Luna: (.)

The receptionist: "..."

"Hehehe..."

After staring at Dylan for a long while, Kiyo suddenly laughed it off, though the smile was extremely stiff.

"Filthy, evil aberrant!"

"?"

Dylan responded with a question mark.

"Despicable, shameless monkey!!"

"??"

"You should be hung from a lamppost for three days!!!"

"Mr. Kiyo, isn't that a bit of a personal attack?"

Dylan sighed, feeling helpless.

"Bah! Worthless Gym!"