Defeating Brock

Combusken used the recoil from its strike against Graveler to flip through the air, landing outside the smoke and watching warily.

Soon, the smoke dispersed, and Graveler's eyes turned into spirals.

"Graveler has lost its Combat Capability and is unable to battle. Challenger Tetsuya Tamaki wins!" The referee immediately raised his flag and announced the result.

Brock recalled Graveler with a Poke Ball, a bitter smile on his face.

"An excellent Combusken. Extremely fast, incredibly powerful, with highly potent flames and smooth Skill Linkage between its Fighting-type moves. It had an overwhelming advantage against Graveler."

Brock thought back to how he had initially felt that Tetsuya's command for Combusken to keep up had been a joke.

After all, once Graveler built up speed with Rollout, ordinary Pokémon simply could not catch it, especially after it had used Rock Polish.

But his upbringing had taught him never to underestimate an opposing trainer's commands. The other side was not an idiot; they would not do something so pointless.

If Combusken could catch up, then Graveler would definitely be unable to evade. Rather than ordering it to dodge, it would have been better to use Endure and counterattack.

Unfortunately, the opponent's speed had been absurd. Graveler had been kicked flying by Low Sweep before it could even use a move.

Then it had simply taken a beating. There had been no suspense at all.

As he thought this, Brock did not slow down. He quickly took out a second Poke Ball.

"Does the challenger wish to switch Pokémon?" the referee asked Tetsuya.

Tetsuya Shook Head to indicate that there was No Need, and the referee gestured for Brock to send out his second Pokémon.

Brock threw out his Poke Ball. "My second Pokémon is this one. Go, Dugtrio!"

"Heat Wave. Give our opponent a greeting." Tetsuya seized the opportunity to have Combusken wear down its opponent.

"Dugtrio!" Dugtrio had barely emerged and assumed a battle stance when the oncoming Heat Wave struck it head-on, drawing a pained cry from it.

Tetsuya assessed its condition.

"Stronger than Graveler, but only by a limited amount. Looks like there's No Need for Pidgeot to come out."

Tetsuya was not surprised. There was a certain logic to Gyms using Pokémon roughly equal in strength to the challenger's.

That Graveler had been around level 29, while this Dugtrio was probably around level 35. Overall, it was on par with Tetsuya's two Pokémon.

However, both of Brock's Pokémon only had Elite Level potential. They were far inferior to Combusken.

That was why the battle had turned out this way. An ordinary trainer would never have had such an easy time in a Gym Battle.

"Besides, Combusken is only getting stronger and stronger." Tetsuya smiled faintly.

Brock had no idea what Tetsuya was thinking. He was merely amazed by Combusken's performance.

"Dig. Approach the opponent from underground," Brock ordered Dugtrio.

Dugtrio sank into the ground and Disappeared.

"Maintain Agility. Watch your footing." Tetsuya gave his command. Without a move like Earthquake, Combusken currently had no way to deal with an opponent using Dig.

Still, dragging things out was not a Bad Thing for him.

Brock watched Combusken move at high speed and Frowned. What was the point of the opponent doing something so pointless? Dugtrio was waiting at ease below ground, ready to attack.

Combusken's simple evasion would not only consume stamina, but if it continued for too long, it would be judged as having lost the will to fight and declared the loser.

Brock observed closely for a while before he suddenly Discovered Something Was Wrong.

"Why is this Combusken getting faster and putting more force into its movements?

No, its stamina consumption hasn't changed that much.

Could this be... its Hidden Ability, the Speed Boost Ability?!"

Brock immediately realized that things were bad. While prolonged evasion alone would be judged as a loss of fighting spirit, Combusken's use of its Speed Boost Ability would not be considered simple evasion.

Only when it reached its limit and could no longer accelerate would the referee intervene. But that would take far too long, and before then, Dugtrio would instead be declared the loser for failing to attack.

"Arena Trap!" Brock immediately ordered the underground Dugtrio to attack, trying to slow Combusken down.

But Brock's command had come Too Late. With the dual boost of its Speed Boost Ability and Agility, Combusken had become far too fast for Dugtrio to react to.

One second, a mass of swirling sand surrounded Combusken's feet. The next, it had already broken free and run far away, having suffered only minor damage.

Dugtrio could not restrain Combusken after it had built up speed.

"Damn." Brock felt rather helpless. His chances of winning had suddenly dropped drastically.

He had suffered from lacking information. But identifying an opponent's Ability was Originally Is something a trainer should do. He could only say that he had not done well enough.

Besides, the criteria for awarding the Boulder Badge at Pewter Gym had always been based on the strength and coordination of the trainer and Pokémon, Not Simply on achieving victory.

Tetsuya had long since met the requirements for receiving a Pewter Gym Badge.

Brock simply was not willing to admit defeat so easily.

Brock issued a desperate command. "Dugtrio, Sucker Punch, then use Tri Attack!"

"Double-Edge, then keep it from attacking with consecutive Fire Punches." Having Gained The Upper Hand, Tetsuya was ready to end the battle quickly.

Dugtrio turned into a blur as it rapidly closed in on Combusken, slamming into it with Sucker Punch.

Combusken Endured the blow and unleashed Double-Edge, striking Dugtrio's body viciously.

Dugtrio had just been about to use Tri Attack when Combusken's Double-Edge interrupted it.

Enduring the intense pain, Dugtrio continued with Tri Attack, trying to restrain Combusken.

Combusken flashed aside, circling behind Dugtrio at a speed it could not even see and evading its Tri Attack.

Flames gathered around its Claws as it forcefully struck Dugtrio's exposed body above ground again and again.

"Dugtrio!" Dugtrio let out an agonized cry.

"Don't give up, Dugtrio! Use your final Reversal!" Brock shouted.

Dugtrio exhausted its last bit of strength and used Reversal, charging at Combusken.

By then, Combusken had calmly used its speed to retreat into the distance, continuously evading Dugtrio's attacks.

"Dugtrio!" Dugtrio struggled to strike Combusken, but it could never land a hit. Soon, it ran out of stamina, its eyes turning into spirals as it collapsed onto the field.

"Dugtrio has lost its Combat Capability and is unable to battle. Challenger Tetsuya Tamaki wins!" The referee immediately raised his flag and announced the result.

Brock helplessly recalled Dugtrio.

Although Brock had known the instant he identified the Speed Boost Ability that this battle was almost certainly doomed, having it end so easily still left him somewhat dissatisfied.

Tetsuya recalled Combusken as well.

The two walked outside the field and shook hands.

"Congratulations on your victory. The Boulder Badge will be issued at the service counter of the Gym's Front Desk. Once your information has been entered, you can collect it with your ID Card."

Brock smiled as he congratulated Tetsuya.

Though losing was unpleasant, there were wins and losses every day when facing challengers. Brock had long known how to handle them.

Besides, this trainer was extremely strong. His defeat was not strange at all.

Perhaps I can get to know him.

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Thanks to Yuelong for the 100 Qidian Coin reward.

Thanks to reader 20210406211530991 for the 100 Qidian Coin reward.

Thanks to Jörmungandr_Dust for the 100 Qidian Coin reward.

P.S. From now on, I'll update one chapter at ten in the morning and another at five in the afternoon. Updating at midnight is too annoying; I have obsessive-compulsive tendencies and need to check my posts right on the hour, so I can't stay up late.

Sometimes there will be three chapters, with the third posted at nine in the evening.

(To make up for my mistake, there will be an extra update at five tonight.)