Admitting Defeat

"Go ahead and ask."

"Do you understand the rules of the challenge?"

Erika said.

"Defeat two Pokémon, right?" Takuya said.

He remembered it seemed to be something like that.

Erika nodded. "All right, then let's begin now."

As she spoke, Erika walked toward the opposite side. "Wait until I call the start before you begin."

Erika glanced back, decided the distance was about right, and stopped.

"All right, begin."

Erika took two Poké Balls from her robe, glanced at them, stuffed one back inside, and threw the one in her hand.

A Grass-type Pokémon appeared on the field.

Takuya immediately threw Salamence's Poké Ball and released Salamence.

Fortunately, this indoor battle arena was large enough to accommodate Salamence.

Presumably, when the Gym had been built, the Gym Leader had already considered this issue. After all, some Pokémon were enormous.

Erika, who had originally been groggy and half-asleep, instantly woke up when she saw the Salamence Takuya had summoned. Her eyes widened.

She had clearly recognized Salamence, and the moment it appeared, her own Pokémon began trembling.

Erika swallowed. This Salamence...

Wasn't this cheating?

This Salamence was incredibly strong. Although she could not tell its exact level, it was at least Elite Level or higher.

After all, before evolving into Salamence, it had been a Shelgon, and a Shelgon was at least Special Level.

Her Pokémon was only Intermediate Level, two whole levels below Special Level. Of course, this was not her strongest Pokémon, but even her strongest was only Special Level.

It was at the same level as a Shelgon that had yet to evolve into Salamence, but her Special Level Pokémon might not necessarily be able to defeat a Shelgon. After all, hers was Grass-type while the other was Dragon-type.

Although neither could gain a type advantage over the