Looking at the boy who was almost a head taller than her, Cynthia's opinion of Roy was mainly based on the latter's tactics.
She only saw one of the opponent's Dusclops, but it must be quite an achievement to win 100 consecutive matches in the Intermediate Division of the Dome Arena.
Whether it was the Dusclops's Trick Room or the ability to prevent the opponent from using skills due to its Pressure Ability, even she, sitting in the spectator stands, was disgusted.
"Roy, can we have a match?"
She thought about it all night yesterday and still felt that she should have a match with Roy.
She didn't want to participate in matches between other students if it was just an inter -Academy exchange competition, since their strength was too weak and she looked down on them.
But Roy was different; the opponent's strength was undeniable.
"Willing to play along"
Roy was naturally happy to accept Cynthia's challenge, as the opportunity to compete against a future Sinnoh champion was rare.
He instinctively reached for the first Poké Ball at his waist.
"Etc...
Roy:?
"Could we not use your Dusclops?"
Cynthia's tone was somewhat embarrassed. Although it seemed like she was asking a difficult question, she genuinely couldn't think of a better way to deal with Roy's Dusclops.
Roy paused for two seconds, then placed his hand on the other Poké Ball.
"Can."
"Um."
The two arrived at the Arena, but it was already closed for the Arena.
"It's already closed, so how about we try again tomorrow...?"
"Need not."
Roy skillfully stepped forward, pushed open the Arena gate, and entered. Seeing Roy do this, Cynthia followed him inside.
The only difference is that there was no referee for this match between the two.
Go forth, Garchomp!
Cynthia's first move was her Trump Card: a Garchomp, about 3 meters tall, resembling a hammerhead shark, with a dark blue base, red from the jaw to the upper half of the abdomen, and yellow on the lower half of the abdomen.
System Scan
Pokémon: Garchomp
Level: 54
Sex: Female
Ability: Rough Skin (When attacked, it uses its rough skin to injure the opponent that comes into contact with it.)
Skills: Tackle, Sand Attack, Dragon Breath, Sand Tomb, Bulldoze, Bite, Slash, Dragon Claw, Dig
Carried Item: Dragon Fang
Egg Move: Outrage, Twister
Individual Values: 24
Technical Machine /Skill Instruction: Aerial Ace, Breaking Swipe, Dragon Pulse, Earth Power, Iron Head, Metal Claw
As expected of Cynthia's Trump Card, she has now reached the level of Pseudo-Elite Four, even surpassing Steven's Metagross by one level.
Roy thought about it for a moment. While having Misdreavus Transform into Flutter Mane would certainly lead to victory, he planned to use Flutter Mane in battles and competitions only after Mega Evolution and other Dynamax became available.
Roy had no intention of using the Flutter Mane in public before this.
Roy's hand then moved towards the third Poké Ball at his waist; this time, he was sending out his Primeape.
"Primeape, use Bulk Up!"
"Extremely popular!"
Primeape used all its strength to make its muscles even more taut.
"Garchomp, Aerial Ace."
Garchomp's streamlined body accelerated, its arms, resembling shark pectoral fins, straightened, making it look like a jet plane as it took off and charged towards Primeape.
Now it seems that Garchomp's flight is more like gliding at low altitude.
"Primeape, use consecutive Ice Punches!"
Before Garchomp charged, a layer of frost had already formed on Primeape's fists, and a chill could be felt even around him.
Cynthia frowned slightly. Roy's Primeape had leveled up too quickly. She had originally planned to catch the opponent off guard while they were leveling up.
Sensing the chill, Garchomp instinctively dodged Primeape's Ice Punch. Although it avoided Primeape Ice Punch, its Aerial Ace also Primeape.
Another Ice Punch?
It's one Dusclops to know Ice Punch, but Roy's Primeape also knows Ice type moves. How wary is he of Dragon type Pokémon?
Cynthia knew that Garchomp, like Flygon, was 4x weak to Ice type. Even though Primeape, it would probably lose half its life if it took a hit from that Ice Punch.
However, that was just a regular Garchomp; her Garchomp was different.
Seeing that Garchomp wasn't taking the hit, Primeape tensed its muscles again, opting to Bulk Up to strengthen itself.
Seeing that Primeape dared to boost its power right in front of it, Garchomp couldn't stand it any longer. The wings on its arms gleamed with Metallic Color sheen as it slashed at Primeape.
This time, Garchomp successfully interrupted Primeape's power-up, only to be met with another Ice Punch from Primeape.
The Metallic Color claws met the frost-covered fist, and a piercing tearing sound rang out instantly.
Since the Ice Punch hit Garchomp's newly metallized wings, it didn't cause any damage, but it did bring the two close together.
Primeape seized the opportunity and dove under Garchomp, intending to grab Garchomp, perform a Vital Throw, and then follow up with an Ice Punch.
But when he touched Garchomp's skin, he instantly felt a stinging sensation, Garchomp's Rough Skin activated.
The sudden stinging sensation made Primeape instinctively release its grip.
This gave Garchomp an opportunity, and it used Dragon Claw to grab the back of Primeape, causing Primeape to stagger.
Garchomp Pursuit, its pectoral fins on its arms gleaming white.
A close-range Primeape Aerial Ace hits Primeape, Aerial Ace away almost half of its health.
Does the Rough Skin effect trigger even without using skills?
This was something Roy hadn't anticipated.
Seeing that the attack had worked, Garchomp used Aerial Ace at the same time it Primeape.
Prepare to take down Primeape in one fell swoop.
However, just as Garchomp struck Primeape with its wing, Primeape, enduring the pain, grabbed Garchomp's arm.
Ignoring the stinging sensation from the Rough Skin, he froze again on his fist and slammed it into Garchomp's waist.
When Garchomp was hit by that Ice Punch, it felt as if it was about to be frozen solid by Primeape's Ice Punch.
Seeing Garchomp's pained expression, Cynthia couldn't understand why this Primeape's Ice Punch was dealing so much damage.
To help Garchomp overcome the four-fold weakness of Ice type attacks, she often took Garchomp to train on the snowy mountains back in Sinnoh.
Therefore, Garchomp shouldn't be dealing as much damage as it's currently seeing when facing Ice Punch, which has a 4x super weakness to it.
Of course, Roy wouldn't tell the other party that the Pokéblock eaten by Primeape contained intermediate Ice Stone Shard, and that its Ice type energy was quite abundant.
Especially in places Meteor Village Rustboro City and Meteor Village, where Pokémon Trainers frequently use Ground type and Dragon type Dragon Tamer, Ice type moves are particularly useful.
The 4x super-effective damage struck Garchomp, which was flying at low altitude, Garchomp Smack Down from mid-air. Its massive body crashed onto the battlefield, instantly kicking up a cloud of dust.
However, Primeape fared no better, crashing into the Arena alongside Garchomp after using Ice Punch.
Both Cynthia and Roy focused their attention on the spot where the two Pokémon just fallen.
After the dust settles
Standing on the field, panting heavily, was Garchomp, while Primeape showed its ring eyes, indicating it had lost its ability to battle.
In the end, Garchomp prevailed slightly, its Rough Skin causing Primeape to reflect damage and take away its last bit of strength.
As expected of Cynthia's signature Garchomp.
"You've already tried your best, Primeape."
Seeing this, Roy recalled Primeape into its Poké Ball.
"Roar!"
Watching Garchomp in the battlefield, Roy couldn't understand how Ash had defeated Cynthia.
"I lost."
"To be able to fight my Garchomp, which is a level above yours, your Primeape is no pushover either. If they were at the same level, it would be hard to say who would win."
Moreover, I was the one who first asked you not to use your own Dusclops.
Roy waved his hand, saying that a loss was a loss, and he wasn't someone who couldn't accept defeat.
Besides, he himself agreed not to use the Dusclops, so he can't blame anyone else.