With nothing else blocking his way, Yong climbed smoothly to the top floor and arrived at the Gym Leader's battle hall!
A vast, uneven battlefield strewn with jagged boulders greeted him, perfectly suited to the Rustboro Gym's Rock-type specialty. At the entrance to the hall, a Chansey stood in front of a healing machine, smiling at Yong.
What was this?
Chansey, Nurse Joy's assistants at Pokémon Centers, were rare Pokémon. They had one here, too?
"No need to be surprised. The Pokémon League assigned Chansey here. Hand over your Marshtomp! It'll be back in peak condition in no time. That's the only way to have a fair battle!"
A girl's voice came from nearby. Yong nodded in understanding.
Just what I'd expect from an official Pokémon League Gym!
He nodded and handed Marshtomp's Poké Ball to Chansey.
"Sorry for the trouble, Chansey!"
"Chansey~~"
Chansey happily accepted the Poké Ball, returned to the machine, and began operating it. Yong waited nearby.
Soon, Chansey returned the Poké Ball to Yong and indicated that everything was fine.
After all, Marshtomp hadn't taken much damage in the earlier battles. It had mostly just used up its stamina, so recovery was quick.
After thanking Chansey again, Yong walked toward the challenger's platform.
On the platform directly opposite, a girl who looked sixteen or seventeen was studying Yong as he entered the battle area. She introduced herself.
"I'm Roxanne, the Gym Leader. Welcome to the Rustboro Gym!"
Roxanne carried a powerful air of confidence, and that confidence came from strength!
"Hello, Miss Roxanne. I'm Yong from Dewford Town. I look forward to learning from you!"
Yong showed no sign of backing down either. He took his place on the battle platform and answered loudly.
"Very good. That's certainly not the presence of someone who's just starting out! I'm looking forward to today's battle!"
As she finished speaking, a young man emerged from a concealed door beside the field and took his place at the referee's station. He was the referee assigned by the Pokémon League. In a booming voice, he announced the rules.
"Rustboro Gym Leader Roxanne will battle Yong from Dewford Town! Each Trainer may use two Pokémon. The match will end when all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle! Only the challenger may switch Pokémon during the battle!"
Once Roxanne and Yong nodded to show they understood, the referee swept his green flag through the air.
"Then, begin the battle!"
Without hesitation, Roxanne sent out her first Pokémon the instant the battle began.
It had a round body and a gray exterior, like a stone!
It was Geodude!
But compared with Wufu's Geodude, Roxanne's was not only slightly larger, but also sharp-eyed. The dark cracks across his body spoke of countless battles, and his entire presence was imposing!
Pokémon: Geodude, Lv. 20. Rock Pokémon. Usually found on mountain trails, they bury half their bodies in the ground to observe passing climbers. Gender: Male Type: Rock + Ground Nature: Adamant Ability: Rock Head. Prevents damage from the recoil of its own moves. Moves: Tackle (proficient), Defense Curl (proficient), Rollout (mastered), Harden (proficient), Rock Polish (proficient), Rock Throw (proficient), Smack Down (proficient) Egg Move: Block (proficient) TM Moves: Rock Tomb (proficient), Gyro Ball (mastered), Protect (proficient)
Was this really a Geodude?
Both Rollout and Gyro Ball were mastered! How much training and how many battles had that taken? And this definitely wasn't one of Roxanne's main Pokémon!
I have a system helping me. Don't tell me you have one, too?
Is this the standard for testing a rookie Trainer? That's going too far.
Yong felt his teeth ache. With no other choice, he took out a Poké Ball. White light burst forth, and Marshtomp appeared on the field!
Roxanne looked fondly at Marshtomp.
"You've raised it very well. But this Geodude is the leader of all the Geodude I raise here! You'd better be careful!"
Well, thanks a lot! Too drained to complain, Yong could only strike first!
"Marshtomp, Water Gun!"
"Dodge it and use Full Boost!"
A powerful jet of water shot from Marshtomp's mouth toward Geodude, but his opponent shifted sideways and nimbly evaded it.
Yes, nimbly. It was hard to associate that word with a lumbering Rock-type Pokémon, but that was exactly how it felt to Yong.
"You shouldn't let your mind wander! Geodude, Rollout!"
"Geo-dude!"
Cracking sounds rang out! With his body enhanced by Full Boost, Geodude wrapped his arms around himself, curled into a ball, and began rolling rapidly around the field. His hard body even crushed the rocks in his path!
"Stop him! We can't let him keep building up power!"
Watching Geodude pick up speed, Yong gave a decisive order.
"Marshtomp, Rock Smash!"
"Marsh!"
Marshtomp once again blocked the rolling Pokémon's path, gathering power in both arms and preparing to intercept him.
Trying the same trick again?
Roxanne smiled at the sight but gave no orders.
In the space of a breath, Geodude spun faster and faster, hurtling straight into Marshtomp!
Bang!
As their bodies collided, Marshtomp clamped both arms tightly around Geodude and gritted its teeth against the tremendous impact and rotation. Even so, the violent force kept driving it backward!
"How is this possible?"
For the first time, Marshtomp was losing a head-on clash. The strength advantage that both it and Yong had been so proud of had vanished.
"Marshtomp isn't the only one training hard! This little fellow has been giving everything he has to grow stronger!"
Roxanne watched Geodude on the field with deep feeling.
"I've seen all your hard work, Geodude! Speed up and use Gyro Ball!"
"Geo! Dude!!"
Geodude accelerated again, silver-gray energy coating his rapidly spinning body. Harsh scraping sounds rose from between the two Pokémon.
As a Steel-type move, Gyro Ball grew stronger the slower its user was compared with the opponent!
Geodude was unquestionably slower than Marshtomp. Under the rapid rotation of Gyro Ball, Marshtomp, already losing the contest of strength, was finally sent flying! This was a mastered Gyro Ball!
"Marshtomp!"
Watching Marshtomp slam into a rock and struggle back to its feet, Yong truly felt the pressure!
"Can you still hold on? Geodude, Full Boost!"
With this second boost, Roxanne was not holding back. She wanted to see just how far this boy could go!
Could he understand the strength of Rock-type Pokémon?
Curious, she smiled slightly.
"Gyro Ball!"
"Geo-dude!"
Obeying without hesitation, Geodude spun rapidly and charged at Marshtomp again!
"Hang in there, Marshtomp! Protect!"
The charging stone, coated in silver-gray energy, slammed hard into a white barrier and sent ripples across it.
The two forces resisted each other for some time. As the rotation gradually slowed, the barrier also grew transparent.
"Now! Water Gun!"
This was his chance! At this distance, it had to hit! Yong gave the order without hesitation.
Marshtomp swiftly gathered Water-type energy in its mouth, and an enormous jet blasted the nearby Geodude away.
Boom!
Water pounded the rocky ground and completely engulfed its opponent!
"Great! A direct hit!"
"Marsh~!"
Panting heavily, Marshtomp turned and nodded to Yong, as though to say it was no big deal.
On the opposite platform, Roxanne showed no panic whatsoever. She still smiled as she watched the field. Sensing something was wrong, Yong looked nervously toward it as well.
As the water seeped into the ground, Geodude emerged, still standing firm with both arms crossed protectively in front of him!
Although the super-effective Water-type attack had drained much of his stamina and left him panting hard, he was not unable to battle.
That was quadruple damage!
"What do you think? Hard training can improve resistance to water, reducing that weakness as far as possible!"
Roxanne spoke pointedly.
"Types are only a guideline. Real battles always come down to your own strength! And if Geodude has minimized his weakness, who can call him weak? That's the quiet, steadfast will of Rock-type Pokémon! It's also strength as solid and sturdy as an unyielding stone!"
So this was Gym Leader Roxanne's philosophy? As expected, every Gym Trainer had forged a path of their own! Then what was my path?
Uh... it was a little too early to think about that.
Shaking his head, Yong thanked Roxanne.
"Thank you for the lesson, Miss Roxanne!"
She was showing me her path. Was it because I used Ground-type and Rock-type Pokémon, too?
"Very good. Now, this will be the final blow!"
With a sweep of her hand toward Geodude, Roxanne gave another command.
"Show them the stubborn strength of stone! Gyro Ball at maximum power!"
"Us, too! Marshtomp! Show them our fighting spirit! Rock Smash at full power!"
"Geo-dude!"
"Marsh!"
Their cries rang out as silver-gray Steel-type energy spun rapidly toward the other side once more!
Marshtomp did not retreat. Watery blue ripples enveloped its body, and its presence suddenly surged!
That was... the Torrent Ability!
Even without using a Water-type move, drawing out its remaining stamina was still a good thing!
Marshtomp gathered its last reserves of Fighting-type energy and brought both arms down with all its strength on the stone hurtling toward it!
Oh? Torrent?
Two entirely different expressions appeared on the Trainers' faces. At the same time, violent crashes and shattering sounds intertwined on the field as Steel-type and Fighting-type energy collided!
Bang!
Boom!!
The airflow stirred up by the rapid rotation scattered the loose stones across the field!
At the heart of the collision, the energy fluctuations could no longer be contained and erupted! A powerful shock wave blasted outward in every direction! Caught in the violent explosion and shock wave, both figures were flung backward and slammed down at opposite ends of the field!
Dust immediately billowed everywhere!
Roxanne and Yong both watched their own Pokémon.
Both Pokémon struggled to get up, showing their determination!
A long moment passed.
Thud!
Thud!
As the dust dispersed, two soft thuds signaled the end of the battle.
Ding! Marshtomp drew an official battle! Gained 200 Training Points! Gained a large amount of experience! Ding! Rock Smash, Water Gun, and Protect proficiency increased! Ding! Marshtomp leveled up to Lv. 20! Learned Superpower (beginner)!
Yong's eyes lit up at the system messages.
What a haul! Not only did it level up, it learned Superpower, too! That was a major Fighting-type move. It looked like their training was heading in the right direction. Marshtomp's talent for moves was incredible.
As Yong privately celebrated, the referee checked the Pokémon's condition on the field and decisively waved his red flag.
"Geodude and Marshtomp are both unable to battle, so the first round is a draw! Both Trainers, please send out your Pokémon for the second round!"
Yong let out a light breath. He did not feel disappointed. They had done their best, and the gains had been enormous!
He recalled the unconscious Marshtomp and looked at Miss Roxanne across from him.
Now this was a meaningful battle!
Roxanne also recalled Geodude. Stroking his Poké Ball, she smiled slightly.
"That was a good battle!"
She, too, raised her head to look at the boy opposite her.
Hehe, the real showdown was only just beginning!