A strong wind swept across the battlefield.
Power gathered in Ampharos's forehead, but Gust blew it away.
"Pidgeot, Quick Attack!"
"Pidgeot!"
Zhou Lan was the examiner, so there was no way he wouldn't attack.
Nor was he afraid to take the initiative. His goal wasn't to defeat the examinees, but to see what kind of ability they had as Pokémon trainers.
Pidgeot was incredibly fast, but Ampharos's speed had been enhanced by a Speed Enhancement Potion!
Su Yi's Ampharos wasn't like an ordinary Ampharos!
When Pidgeot charged, Ampharos was already prepared.
"Cotton Guard! Block it!"
Cotton Guard: It used its soft fur to wrap around its body for protection, greatly boosting its Defense!
Ampharos's fur puffed up in an instant, and its Defense surged!
Pidgeot swooped down from the sky with Quick Attack, slamming hard into Ampharos!
Ampharos raised both hands and forcefully blocked Pidgeot's wings,
but the impact sent it skidding five or six meters backward!
"Thunderbolt!"
"Grr!"
Ampharos let out a low growl. Its fur shimmered, the pinkish-white strands crackling with electricity—a remarkably beautiful sight.
But neither Pidgeot nor Zhou Lan had time to admire it, because Pidgeot had been struck directly by Thunderbolt!
"Pidgeot, use Fury Swipes and break free!"
Pidgeot raised both talons to slash, but the gem in Ampharos's forehead was already glowing again!
"Now, Power Gem!"
"Biu!"
With a "biu," the rocky light of Power Gem struck Pidgeot.
Rock beats Flying!
[ Ding! Congratulations, host! Ampharos successfully defeated Pidgeot and gained Battle Experience. Its level increased to Lv. 32! ]
Oh? It went up two levels at once.
Not bad.
With the same Battle Experience, a Pokémon with better potential naturally gained more from it.
Zhou Lan recalled Pidgeot.
"That was impressive. It's the first time I've seen an Ampharos that fast. But how about this? Go, Steelix!"
"Raaagh!"
Steelix!
Steelix was Steel- and Ground-type, so Electric-type moves were ineffective against it.
"Steelix, use Double-Edge!"
Zhou Lan was already in battle mode. Without asking Su Yi whether he wanted to switch Pokémon, he immediately ordered Steelix to attack.
"Pokémon": Steelix "Potential": Green "Level": Lv. 34 "Type": Steel, Ground "Ability": Rock Head "Moves": Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Mud-Slap, Tackle, Harden, Bind, Rock Throw, Rock Tomb, Rage, Stealth Rock, Gyro Ball, Hammer Arm, Dragon Breath, Rock Slide, Double-Edge
No wonder he'd chosen Double-Edge. Steelix's Ability was Rock Head.
Su Yi understood.
"Ampharos, Fire Punch!"
"Ampharos, Fire Punch!"
"Ampharos!"
The young woman watching from the sidelines was stunned by the enormous Steelix, but Ampharos wasn't the least bit afraid.
It gathered flames around one fist and met Steelix head-on as it charged!
"Bang!"
"Hiss!"
Flames from Fire Punch spread from the point where the two Pokémon collided, crawling across Steelix's body.
But the impact from Steelix's immense strength sent Ampharos stumbling backward.
Still, Cotton Guard had boosted Ampharos's Defense by three stages. It had taken a Double-Edge head-on without losing much stamina.
"Raaagh!"
Steelix shook its body, scattering the flames that had spread over it.
"Su Yi, my Steelix isn't that easy to deal with. Fire Punch is a physical move, and you should know how incredible Steelix's Defense is."
Zhou Lan smiled. Su Yi nodded. Of course he knew. He'd only been testing the waters.
"Come back, Ampharos!"
He recalled Ampharos. To deal with Steelix, he'd need to bring out this one!
Combusken!
"Combusken!"
The moment Combusken entered the battle, its eyes locked onto Steelix.
So this was its opponent this time!
"Flame Charge!"
"Fire- and Fighting-type, huh? Steelix, use Hammer Arm directly on the ground!"
Zhou Lan was a veteran of countless battles, nothing like the examinees from the trial exam.
"Raaagh!"
Steelix's steel-like tail slammed hard into the ground!
"Crack, crack, crack!"
The battlefield split apart in an instant, becoming uneven and pockmarked. Combusken's speed was affected.
"Flamethrower!"
While using Flame Charge, Combusken also unleashed Flamethrower!
Hammer Arm had slowed Combusken down, but thanks to its excellent reflexes, it still managed to hit Steelix with a blast of fire.
This wasn't comparable to the flames from Fire Punch. Flamethrower was a special move!
Zhou Lan's expression changed. What incredible potential! Combusken had already learned Flamethrower?
"Steelix, Dig!"
With the ground broken apart by Hammer Arm, Steelix dug at incredible speed!
"Your cleverness has outsmarted you. Fire Spin!"
Zhou Lan had immediately tried to use the underground to put out the flames on Steelix.
But he'd forgotten that underground, there was nowhere to hide from an opposing Fire-type move!
"Raaagh..."
Steelix writhed and roared in pain as Fire Spin engulfed it.
"Finish it with Drain Punch!"
"Combusken!"
Combusken moved at incredible speed. After taking two turns, its Speed Boost Ability had increased its speed twice!
[ Ding! Congratulations, host! Ampharos and Combusken successfully defeated Steelix and gained Battle Experience! ]
Since both Ampharos and Combusken had battled, they split the Battle Experience.
Fire Punch, Flamethrower, Fire Spin, and the finishing Drain Punch had all been super effective against Steelix's Steel typing!
No wonder they were both top scorers.
Zhou Lan was impressed. There was only one Pokémon left in the examination.
"Come out, Gliscor!"
"Gliscor!"
A purple Gliscor!
Ground- and Flying-type!
Another Pokémon chosen to counter his type?
Su Yi had no plans to switch. Combusken was more than enough.
"Combusken, Flamethrower!"
"Dodge it! Gliscor, use Sandstorm!"
"Gliscor!"
Gliscor twisted sharply in midair, and a Sandstorm sprang up!
His Gliscor's Ability was Sand Veil, so Zhou Lan wanted to turn the battlefield into an advantage for it!
Sand Veil greatly increased its evasion in a sandstorm.
"I'm afraid I can't let you have your way, Combusken!"
Su Yi shouted. Combusken understood. The instant Gliscor's Sandstorm appeared, it unleashed Flamethrower!
Every move had its own uses, if you knew how to apply it!
The Sandstorm had only just begun to form when Combusken's Flamethrower blasted into it!
"Gliscor?"
"What?"
Gliscor and Zhou Lan were both stunned. Flamethrower was ineffective against Sandstorm, a Ground-type move.
But the heat of the flames could affect sand!
As soon as the Sandstorm formed, the intense heat turned its grains scorching hot!
Gliscor was caught in its own Sandstorm, and the burning sand clung to its body!
The Sandstorm also engulfed Combusken, but it wasn't bothered by the heat!
"Gliscor, use Acrobatics!"
Before you continue