Against Norman

"Now beginning is the Gym Battle between Gary from Pallet Town and Norman, the trainer of Petalburg Gym. Each side may use three Pokémon. The battle will end once all three Pokémon on either side are Unable to Battle.

"Additionally, the Gym Leader may not switch Pokémon during the battle."

After glancing at both sides, the referee from Petalburg Gym continued, "Gym Leader, please send out your Pokémon first!"

Although Gary and Norman had enjoyed their conversation, the Gym still needed to be challenged. Thus, Gary and Rosa's challenge of Petalburg Gym had begun.

Thanks to his girlfriend Rosa yielding the turn, Gary was still the first to battle Norman in the Gym challenge.

Under the referee's watchful gaze, Norman took out a Poké Ball and threw it.

"My first Pokémon is—I'm counting on you, Slakoth!"

Amid a flash of white light, a lazy-looking gray ape-like Pokémon appeared opposite Gary.

"Slakoth!" Gary recognized Norman's first Pokémon at a glance. It was also one of Norman's signature Pokémon, Slakoth.

After checking it with the system panel, Gary learned that this Slakoth was only Level 26.

Seeing the intermediate-level Slakoth Norman had sent out, Gary immediately understood that Norman was using the same approach he used against ordinary Trainers to test Gary's strength.

Once he had gauged Slakoth's strength, Gary knew which Pokémon to send out.

"I'm counting on you, Elekid!"

In another burst of white light, Gary's Elekid appeared as well.

"Battle begin!"

Once both sides had sent out their Pokémon, the referee officially declared the battle underway.

"Let's go, Elekid! Use Quick Attack!"

The instant the referee finished speaking, Gary, as the challenger, launched the first attack.

Elekid was immediately enveloped in white light, then shot toward Slakoth like a bolt of lightning.

Even without Norman's command, Slakoth lazily shifted its position and evaded Elekid's Quick Attack.

"Slakoth, Focus Punch!"

When Elekid's attack missed, Norman seized the opportunity to give Slakoth an order.

Having sidestepped the attack, Slakoth yawned, then swung its fist down at Elekid before it.

"Now, Elekid, Screech!" Watching Slakoth's attack approach, Gary smiled faintly and issued his command.

Just as Slakoth's attack was about to land, Elekid suddenly let out an ear-piercing screech. The sound struck the nearby Slakoth at once, forcing its fist to halt as it covered its ears tightly with both hands.

Just like that, Slakoth's attack was interrupted.

Gary quickly seized the opening in Slakoth's offense and immediately gave Elekid its next command.

"Take this chance, Elekid! Use Thunderbolt!"

Upon hearing Gary's order, tiny arcs of electricity began dancing across Elekid's body. They then converged into a powerful Thunderbolt that shot toward the nearby Slakoth.

Still unable to recover from Screech, Slakoth had no way to stop the attack, and Thunderbolt struck it directly.

"Slakoth!" Norman cried out in concern at the sight.

But under Elekid's Thunderbolt, Slakoth could not hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground.

"Slakoth is Unable to Battle. Elekid wins!" After confirming that Slakoth had lost consciousness, the referee announced the result of the match.

"That was amazing, Gary!" Watching Gary secure an immediate victory, Rosa, who was observing from the side, shouted excitedly.

"You did well, Slakoth."

After recalling Slakoth, Norman turned his gaze toward Gary. "Your reactions are very quick, Gary!"

Even Norman was surprised by Gary's ability to adapt on the fly.

"You flatter me, Mr. Norman." Gary merely smiled calmly at Norman's praise.

"Then your next opponent will be this one. Go, Vigoroth!"

The Poké Ball Norman threw open instantly, and a Pokémon even more muscular than the previous Slakoth—Norman's Vigoroth—appeared before him.

Pokémon: Vigoroth

Type: Normal

Ability: Vital Spirit

Gender: Male

Level: Level 48

Potential: Elite Four Candidate

Moves: Fury Swipes, Crush Claw, Slash, Brick Break, Focus Punch, Counter, Bulk Up, Flamethrower, Fire Punch, Metal Claw, Shadow Ball...

It looks like Norman's testing is over, Gary thought to himself after seeing Vigoroth's strength.

That was right. After the previous test, Norman had roughly gauged Gary's strength, so he had sent out a Pokémon of a higher level.

An opponent like this was no longer something Elekid or Larvitar could handle, so Gary decisively sent out one of his current main Pokémon.

"I'm counting on you for this battle, Umbreon!" Facing Vigoroth, whose strength had reached the elite level, Gary decisively recalled Elekid and sent Umbreon into battle.

"Vigoroth, use Flamethrower!"

Norman decisively took the initiative in this round. Obeying his command, Vigoroth opened its mouth, spewing forth a continuous torrent of Scorching Flames that formed a pillar of fire and rushed toward Umbreon.

"We can't lose either, Umbreon! Use Dark Pulse!"

The Dark Pulse Umbreon formed after gathering energy did not disappoint Gary. It tore straight through Vigoroth's Flamethrower and drove directly toward Vigoroth.

"Brick Break!"

At Norman's command, Vigoroth decisively used Brick Break, finally shattering the greatly weakened Dark Pulse. Even so, it was forced back several steps.

In the first exchange, Vigoroth had clearly fallen into a disadvantage, allowing Norman to gain an even deeper understanding of Gary's strength.

"It's our turn now, Umbreon! Use Shadow Ball—rapid fire!"

Seeing Vigoroth forced back, Gary decisively launched his own offensive.

Umbreon rapidly gathered purple-black energy before its mouth, forming one Shadow Ball after another. With Vigoroth as its target, they shot forward in rapid succession.

"Vigoroth, watch out and dodge!"

Under Norman's instructions, Vigoroth used its agile body to continuously evade the incoming Shadow Balls while taking the opportunity to close in on Umbreon.

When it was only a step away from Umbreon, Norman immediately gave Vigoroth an order.

"Vigoroth, use Brick Break!"

Upon hearing Norman's command, Vigoroth immediately attacked Umbreon in front of it.

Faced with an attack so close at hand, Umbreon found it difficult to dodge in time, and the situation began to turn perilous.