"Blastoise…ヾ(■_■)"
Even with the type advantage, Blastoise didn't dare lower its guard. Beads of sweat rolled down its forehead.
This is bad… That thing looks strong!
The sheer pressure is overwhelming!
"Golem, use Rollout!"
Golem tucked its limbs in, transforming into a spinning wheel that tore across the battlefield, kicking up clouds of dust.
"Blastoise!" Blastoise aimed its cannons—two thunderous Water Guns erupted with a deafening roar!
"That Water Gun… Why does it have Hydro Pump's power?" Jasmine blinked.
"Classic Natsume-sensei strategy," Maylene coughed. "Calling Hydro Pump 'Water Gun' to lull opponents into false security."
"Oh!" Jasmine nodded in realization.
The move was legitimate. Whether that "Water Gun" was legitimate remained questionable.
BOOM!!
The attack cratered the ground, but Golem used Stone Edge's terrain to launch itself skyward, its Rollout now descending like a meteor!
Natsume frowned.
The attack hadn't missed—Brock had used the evasion to power up Rollout's momentum.
Even Blastoise risked serious damage taking a fully charged Rollout head-on.
"Aim at Golem," Natsume commanded. "Water Pulse!"
A midair Golem was the perfect moving target.
Blastoise's cannons hummed as torrential energy gathered, twin water jets merging into a crushing tidal wave that swallowed Golem whole!
"That control over Pulse…" Maylene shuddered.
Even my Lucario couldn't pull that off.
"Is that Blastoise or a Lucario in disguise?!"
Then—everyone's eyes widened.
Golem kept spinning, splitting the watery onslaught apart in a spray of droplets!
"It endured with Sturdy," Jasmine said admiringly. "Sturdy—the pride of Rock-types."
Unshakable as bedrock, Brock embodied that ability perfectly.
Now, having closed the distance with his trump card—
"Golem, Thunder Punch!!" Brock roared.
Gym Leaders trained their Pokémon in diverse moves to cover weaknesses.
Golem, Brock's longtime partner, bellowed as its rolling momentum supercharged its fist—crackling electricity erupting around it!
Even Lt. Surge, the Electric specialist, grinned fiercely.
Not bad, rockhead!
"Rollout's power plus Thunder Punch…" Ash counted on his fingers, gulping.
Could Natsume-sensei's Blastoise actually lose?!
Channeling its trainer's resolve, Golem's Thunder Punch descended—
Blastoise's eyes narrowed.
Torrent, activate!!
Water surged from beneath, coiling around Blastoise in a protective Aqua Ring as it pushed its condition to the limit.
Blastoise took a deep breath.
"Then," Natsume looked up, "we'll meet it with fists too!"
"Blastoise, Ice Punch!!"
The thunderous strike crashed down—
As glacial shards scattered around Blastoise.
Room temperature plummeted. The aura-stirred gale whipped at Natsume and Brock's clothes.
"Blastoise!" The ground beneath Blastoise fractured radially.
Its uppercut met the descending lightning.
BOOOOM!!
Lt. Surge's jaw dropped.
Since when was Blastoise a mixed attacker?!
"Golem, endure it!" Brock barked.
Ice Punch smashed through Golem's guard—
Lightning scorched Blastoise's shoulder—
"Blastoise!" With a final heave, it sent Golem flying.
Golem hit the ground, clinging to consciousness by a thread.
"ROOOAR!!"
Then—white light erupted from its body!
"Blastoise, Withdraw into Protect!"
Golem's Explosion detonated like a bomb, shockwaves cratering the arena walls.
KABOOOM!!
Debris rained down. Ears rang.
Lt. Surge turned pale.
Just say you wanted to demolish my gym!
Even I don't let my Electrodes go this wild!
The blast zone centered into a meteorite-like pit.
"Blastoise…" Peeking out from its shell, Blastoise wiped its brow.
Too close too close too close!!
My shell's scratched for real this time!!!
Natsume twitched.
This Explosion did more cosmetic damage than the whole Tree of Beginning incident.
And this time, no evolution glow to magically buff it out.
"To push a type disadvantage this far…" Maylene whispered. "That's Leader Brock's pride as a Rock master."
"Because no Pokémon here wants to lose!" Jasmine said sternly.
Lt. Surge raised an eyebrow.
"But that Blastoise looks ready to keep going?"
Natsume and Blastoise exchanged glances.
Could they fight?
Sure.
But by Blastoise's standards, this HP was practically a critical condition.
"If you hit yellow or red health…" Natsume mused. "Would you unlock second or third gear?"
"Blastoise…" It nodded gravely.
Wonder how many Energy Roots it'll take to fix me up this time…
Natsume exhaled.
Brock had gone all out.
Now—it was his turn to respond in kind!
"Gengar!" Levitating beside him, Gengar cracked its knuckles.
For some reason, Brock smiled.
The essence of Rock-types was never retreating.
Just as he'd never shirked his burdens.
"Brock," Natsume said solemnly. "I won't hold back either!"
Brock grinned, shifting his stance. "Bring it!"
"Go, Gengar!"
"Gengar~~"
"Steelix, I choose you!"
CRASH!!
An enormous shadow loomed over Brock—a metallic serpentine body gleaming coldly.
"Steelix~"
Maw gaping, crimson eyes burning with battle lust, Steelix coiled protectively before its trainer.
Natsume rubbed his chin.
A Steel-type Leader's ace: Electric-type Ampharos.
A Rock-type Leader's ace: Steel-type Steelix…
Something feels off here.
"Tch. Still gives me the creeps," Lt. Surge muttered.
"So cool!!" Ash cheered.
"Leader Brock's Steelix…" Jasmine, the Steel expert, noted quietly. "Has reached mastery-tier specialization."
Evolved from Brock's starter Onix, it stood as his ultimate weapon.
Now, amidst the ruined arena, Steelix glared down at its foe.
Opposite it, Gengar planted its feet and grinned.
"Let's battle, Brock (Natsume-sensei)!"
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