The two Pokémon in the Arena were evenly matched, with Mega Steelix still possessing high physical defense despite being injured.
Even with the Dhelmise constantly squeezing the body of the Mega Steelix, it couldn't cause much damage.
However, Jasmine, who was in the coaching position, was very anxious about the situation on the field.
She knew that the true form of the Dhelmise was the seaweed on the opponent's body, rendering the Mega Steelix's Bind skill ineffective.
Furthermore, Dhelmise just used Giga Drain to Absorb some of Mega Steelix's stamina. If this continues, her Mega Steelix will be the first to lose its ability to battle.
She hadn't expected that even after Mega Evolution, her Steelix would still be at a disadvantage.
If she hadn't undergone Mega Evolution, her Steelix might have already lost its ability to battle.
It seems Roy is not only good at eating, but also at fighting.
"Steelix, using iron..."
Halfway through her speech, Jasmine felt her body weaken and she no longer had the strength to say what she wanted to say.
Mega Evolution also consumes the Pokémon Trainer's stamina, and the side effects become apparent.
Jasmine's face turned pale, her body went limp, and she almost fell to the ground, but she still Facade squat halfway on the command seat, large beads of sweat dripping onto the ground.
A beam of light appeared on the Mega Steelix in the Arena, and the Mega Steelix reverted to its original form Steelix.
Without Jasmine's guidance, the Steelix didn't know what to do.
The Dhelmise's chains were still wrapped around the Mega Steelix, but it no longer used the Bind attack with force.
Seeing Jasmine suddenly crouch down on the opposite side, Roy commanded the Dhelmise on the field to stop attacking.
"Rudder!"
The Steelix, which was tightly bound by the iron chains, suddenly felt its body loosen. The Dhelmise pulled the iron chains and the rudder back into its body and retreated to the opposite side of the Steelix.
Several Gym apprentices who were watching the fight saw that something was wrong and quickly came to Jasmine's side. Seeing that Jasmine was a little weak, they quickly took out a few energy bars and handed them to her.
Jasmine waved her hand and took out the chocolate-flavored Pokéblock that Roy had sold her earlier from her Spatial Bracelet.
Of course, Jasmine only took a small bite, and instantly felt her energy levels return.
His pale face regained its color, and the beads of sweat on his forehead disappeared.
As Jasmine chewed the Pokéblock in her mouth, her eyes lit up.
She was surprised to find that Roy's chocolate-flavored Pokéblock tasted even better than any chocolate she had ever eaten in stores, with a very smooth and delicate texture.
The apprentices surrounding Jasmine were puzzled by Jasmine appearance; hadn't she been so weak just moments before?
What's with that blissful expression?
"Sister Jasmine, are you alright?"
Seeing Jasmine eating Pokéblock, the apprentice next to her asked a question.
"I'm fine, just a little exhausted."
Jasmine ate about half of the Pokéblock in her hand, then took out Poké Ball to recall the degenerated Steelix, and handed it to a Gym Apprentice, asking him to take the Poké Ball to the Pokémon Center for treatment.
After consuming the Pokéblock, Jasmine felt her physical strength had recovered considerably, but she certainly wouldn't be able to undergo Mega Evolution again for some time.
The battle ended the moment she was exhausted and consumed the Pokéblock.
There's no doubt she lost to Roy.
Seeing that Roy had also retrieved the Dhelmise, Jasmine dragged her still somewhat weak body to Roy's side and gave Roy a grateful smile.
Thank goodness Roy didn't take advantage of my inability to control the situation and have Dhelmise attack Steelix again.
Roy nodded slightly and said:
"It's nothing serious, shouldn't we get down to business now?"
"Oh? Okay."
Jasmine thought Roy wanted the Badge from her, so she casually took out a regular octagonal silver Mineral Badge from her Spatial Bracelet.
"Roy, you won this battle. This Mineral Badge, symbolizing an iron will and unwavering determination, is yours..."
"Wait a minute!"
Roy interrupted Jasmine, who was full of enthusiasm and preparing to award him the Mineral Badge.
He wondered if Jasmine had made a mistake.
Shouldn't defeating Jasmine mean he should battle the gym leader?
Why would you give yourself a pass for customs clearance?
Looking at the smooth, unmarked Mineral Badge in Jasmine's hand, Roy knew that this wasn't what he wanted.
"Jasmine, where is the Ba Su Gym Leader now? Shouldn't defeating you mean I should challenge the Gym Leader?"
After hearing Roy's words, Jasmine looked puzzled.
Seeing Jasmine's expression, Roy seemed to realize something and said:
"Jasmine, I'm here to challenge the highest difficulty level, the Olivine Gym."
Highest difficulty?
Roy is going to challenge her grandfather?
"What else?"
"Huh? I thought you'd just get a Gym Badge."
Jasmine couldn't remember the last time anyone had challenged her grandfather, so she instinctively assumed that Roy, the traveling Pokémon Trainer, was there to challenge her for Badge.
When Ami learned that Roy wanted to challenge the most difficult Gym, Jasmine was a little at a loss.
Because her grandfather, Hassel, went to the Hoenn last month to attend an energy conference organized by Devon Corporation, he is not currently at the Gym.
Isn't it inside the Gym?
Jasmine then explained that the Olivine Gym does not have a rule that you must defeat the acting Gym Leader before you can battle the gym leader.
If Roy can prove he has the ability to take on the challenge, then he can challenge Ba Su.
Roy was feeling conflicted; he regretted not asking from the beginning.
It seems I've come up empty-handed this time.
Jasmine realized she had made a mistake; she had simply pulled Roy onto the command platform and started the battle without asking him what he wanted to do.
But it's too late to say all this now. Jasmine quickly started thinking of a solution, and as if she suddenly remembered something, she said to Roy:
"Although Grandpa isn't here, he left me his Trump Card. I can ask Uncle Wang if you can challenge Grandpa's Trump Card?"
Hearing what Jasmine said, Roy had no choice but to follow Jasmine to one of the Gym's Arenas.
At this moment, an apprentice is battling Pokémon Trainer in the Arena.
The Uncle Wang that Jasmine mentioned is the referee at the Olivine Gym.
The Gym Apprentice's Magneton used Discharge on its opponent's Venomoth, instantly rendering the Venomoth unable to battle.
After the referee finished judging the match in the Arena, Uncle Wang turned around and saw Jasmine waiting for him.
Jasmine reasoned with and appealed to the emotions of Uncle Wang, the referee of the Gym, explaining Roy's current situation.
"Please, Uncle Wang!"
Jasmine clasped her hands together and looked at Uncle Wang with an expectant expression. Her two big, watery eyes seemed to be shining, making it hard to refuse her.
"Jasmine, it's not that I don't want to help you, but rules are rules. Even if your grandfather, the Master of the Ba Su Pavilion, came, he would still have to follow the rules of the Pokémon League."
Despite Jasmine's pleading, referee Uncle Wang, though helpless, clearly refused.
He added that he might listen to Jasmine for a normal challenge, but he would absolutely not go easy on Roy for this kind of extremely difficult challenge.
The challenge rules set by Ba Su at the Gym required him to engage in a 3v3 Pokémon battle, but his opponent was not present, so the Gym Challenge could not proceed according to the rules.