Outside the Oreburgh Gym, Paul stood to one side expectantly, waiting for Young Master Mao and Roark's first Gym battle.
"An outdoor battlefield? You're a little too clever, kid." Young Master Mao surveyed the surrounding Rock Field with a peculiar smile.
Is this guy trying to keep me from demolishing his Gym...?
"Haha, mainly because it's spacious out here, so my Pokémon can cut loose a little more," Roark explained.
A middle-aged assistant with shoulder-length wavy hair stepped forward and raised his hand. "The official Oreburgh Gym challenge will now begin! Each side will use three Pokémon. The battle ends when all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle!"
"My first Pokémon-Onix, go!" Roark threw out his lead without hesitation.
"Roaaar!" The two-story-tall Onix looked thoroughly imposing.
Paul watched Young Master Mao intently from beside the battlefield. What Pokémon would his senior use against this big fellow?
Young Master Mao smiled faintly and tossed the Beast Ball in his hand. "Kartana, go!"
Rustle, rustle. His thin body fluttered in the wind, and the palm-sized Kartana made a striking visual contrast with the two-story-tall Onix.
"So small!" the middle-aged referee exclaimed despite himself.
Roark frowned. "Such a tiny body. Are you trying to make it impossible for me to aim?"
Young Master Mao murmured softly, "No... I just don't want to give you a chance to set up hazards. I'm in a hurry..."
"Then... begin!"
Roark shook his head. "Small, sure, but I can't underestimate you. Onix, Rock Sli-"
The final word had barely left his mouth when Roark's jaw dropped, as though someone had seized him by the throat.
"Solar Blade." Young Master Mao spoke calmly.
Shing! A forty-meter arc of sunlight flashed past. Onix did not even feel any pain...
Boom! Black smoke burst from Onix's neck, and