In the blink of an eye, more than half the allotted time had passed.
At this time of year, whether because of the travel routes Trainers chose or the difficulty of its challenges, the Rock Solid Gym had entered a relatively quiet period.
The number of Trainers booking challenges continued to decline.
Yong also kept his promise, giving Doba, Grant, and Siebold a week off after their many busy days.
Qingcao manned the Intermediate Battlefield, while Yong naturally took charge of the Final Battlefield himself.
That day.
Inside the Rock Solid Gym.
"Onix, Serpentine Sway! Catch it with your tail!"
"Roar!"
On the Final Battlefield, Onix watched the figure charging toward him. Just as his opponent's arms turned into blades and slashed down, his rocky body suddenly swayed nimbly from side to side, slipping past Grovyle's Leaf Blade in an S-shaped motion!
"Gro?!"
Grovyle's expression changed drastically. Suspended in midair with nothing to push off, he fell toward the ground, but a thick, rocky tail reached him in an instant!
It bound Grovyle tightly.
Yong said softly,
"Use Slam!"
"Roar!"
Onix roared, twisted his body, and smashed his tail hard into the ground!
Boom!!!
The ground shook, rocks shattered, and dust billowed everywhere!
"Grovyle!"
Across from him, a bespectacled boy with a mild, scholarly appearance cried out, anxiety written all over his face.
After a long while, everything settled down.
Onix lifted his tail. In the crater, Grovyle lay motionless, his eyes swirling.
The referee announced the result without hesitation.
The boy rushed anxiously to Grovyle's side to check his injuries.
Yong approached with the referee and spoke softly to the dejected boy.
"Don't worry! Grovyle will be fine. Take him to the Pokémon Center and have Nurse Joy examine him. He'll recover in no time!"
"Ah... yes! Gym Leader