The howling blizzard engulfed the battlefield, blanketing it in swirling snow. The once-clear arena grew hazy as a thin layer of frost coated the ground.
Giovanni narrowed his eyes, impressed.
Such precise weather control… he silently praised.
But this wouldn't hinder his strategy.
"Rhyhorn, use Takedown," Giovanni instructed, his hand lifting in a subtle motion.
"Rrr-ha!"
The Rhyhorn exhaled a cloud of hot steam, steam rising from its rugged body as it adjusted to the frigid air. Then, with a forceful snort, it barreled forward, locking onto the Vulpix.
"'Rock Head' ability?"
Johan speculated upon hearing Giovanni's command.
When the Rhyhorn initiated its charge, the Pokémon's data appeared in Johan's mental catalog, confirming his guess.
But when Johan glimpsed the extensive list of moves the Rhyhorn had mastered, he couldn't help but whistle in astonishment.
Wow.
Even knowing Rhyhorn could learn a diverse array of moves, finding someone who trained a Rhyhorn to Giovanni's level was rare.
Though impressed, Johan's response was swift.
"Vulpix, Baby-Doll Eyes!"
"Oowu~~"
Amidst the falling snow, Vulpix's eyes glistened with a pitiful, teary sheen as it stared pleadingly at the charging Rhyhorn.
"Rrr… ha…"
Even a battle-hardened Rhyhorn—conditioned under Giovanni's rigorous training—was caught off guard. Its heart skipped a beat.
"How… adorable!"
Off to the side, acting as referee, Matori was already smitten, a blush rising to her cheeks.
How could a Vulpix be this cute?
My heart… can't take it!
"Rhyhorn!" Giovanni called sharply, his tone grounding the Pokémon.
Even Giovanni had to admit that Johan's Vulpix was disarmingly cute. But in battle, appearances shouldn't sway a Pokémon's resolve.
Snapping out of its trance, Rhyhorn growled and redoubled its charge. Though briefly distracted, the slight pause gave Johan and Vulpix valuable time.
"Light Screen!"
"Oowu!"
Vulpix's eyes flashed with psychic energy, summoning an invisible wall that materialized between it and the charging Rhyhorn.
But—
Crack!
The Light Screen shattered under Rhyhorn's powerful Takedown. While it had slowed the attack, it couldn't stop it entirely.
Bang!
Rhyhorn felt the impact resonate through its body. But something was off.
Did it just shatter the Vulpix?
Rhyhorn blinked, confused, as it surveyed its surroundings.
Snowmen?!
The arena was suddenly filled with snowman replicas of Vulpix, scattered strategically across the battlefield.
"Building snowmen…" Giovanni's lips curled into an amused smile.
Even Giovanni had to acknowledge Johan's ingenuity in crafting battlefield strategies inspired by his Pokémon's unique talents.
By capitalizing on Rhyhorn's hesitation from "Baby-Doll Eyes" and its pause from crashing through the Light Screen, Johan had given Vulpix enough time to create decoys.
However…
"Earthquake," Giovanni commanded, his voice steady.
Boom! Boom! BOOM!
Centered on Rhyhorn, a massive shockwave erupted, shaking the arena violently. Cracks spiderwebbed across the battlefield, and Vulpix's snowmen were obliterated in an instant.
As expected of "The Earth's Giovanni," a single Earthquake from Rhyhorn reduced the terrain to rubble, even with its Attack stat weakened by Baby-Doll Eyes.
"Oowu!"
Through the howling winds came a faint yelp of pain.
Got you.
Giovanni's eyes glinted.
"Stone Edge."
Rhyhorn reared onto its hind legs before slamming its forelegs into the ground.
Boom!
The battlefield erupted with jagged stone pillars that surged toward Vulpix's location like a wave of spikes.
Johan finally called out,
"Vulpix, Blizzard!"
With the snowy weather enhancing its Ice-type attacks, a powerful Blizzard roared into existence, enshrouding Rhyhorn in a flurry of snow and ice. Frost clung to its rocky armor.
"That's… a strong Blizzard!" Matori exclaimed.
Even though Rhyhorn wasn't one of Giovanni's main Pokémon, it had defended the gym against countless challengers, often taking down opponents with a single Earthquake.
But Johan's Vulpix had not only withstood Rhyhorn's attacks but managed to launch an effective counteroffensive.
When was the last time a challenger pushed the Earth's Giovanni this far?
A Calculated Gamble
Within the Blizzard's howling winds, Vulpix seemed to "fly" out of the icy tempest, narrowly evading the oncoming Stone Edge.
How did it dodge that?!
Even Giovanni was momentarily surprised. His sharp eyes caught a faint shimmer around Vulpix—an aura of psychic energy.
Psychic energy? Was that… Future Sight in action?
"Rhyhorn, Heavy Slam! Break free!"
As Giovanni spoke, Rhyhorn's body glinted with metallic energy, shaking off the frost that had clung to its rocky exterior.
Using Heavy Slam as both an attack and a defensive maneuver?
Johan inwardly cursed.
Giovanni's cheating!
There was no way Rhyhorn should still be standing after eating a Blizzard that strong.
But Johan didn't relent.
"Vulpix, another Blizzard!"
"Oowu—!"
As the Blizzard surged once more, Giovanni's calm smile sent a shiver down Johan's spine.
In the renewed storm, Rhyhorn finally collapsed with a heavy thud.
A Sneaky Comeback
But before Vulpix could celebrate, a massive shadow loomed overhead—a boulder materializing in midair.
Rock Slide!
The falling rock smashed into the arena.
Johan tensed.
"Vulpix!"
As the dust settled, Vulpix shook itself off, looking battered but still conscious.
It blinked up at Johan, its wide eyes seeming to say, That was close.
Johan let out a relieved sigh, though his hand trembled slightly.
This sneaky little fox… it kept one trick up its sleeve.
The Final Showdown
"Go, Gengar!"
"Ka-kaah!! ヽ(▼皿▼ヽ)"
Gengar burst from Johan's shadow, tossing its sunglasses into its mouth and flashing its sharp teeth.
Giovanni's second Pokéball opened, revealing a roaring Nidoking!
"Ni-do!!"
Even Gengar hesitated for a split second.
This isn't Nidoqueen.
But Giovanni's Nidoking emanated a commanding presence, its battle-hardened body exuding immense pressure.
With Gengar's Levitate ability replaced by Cursed Body, it no longer had immunity to Ground-type moves.
Johan didn't need a Pokédex to know Nidoking was packing the Sheer Force ability, likely paired with a Life Orb.
"Gengar, that's the guy who bullied Nidoqueen!" Johan lied with a straight face.
"Ka-kaah?!"
Gengar's eyes burned with rage.
It dramatically pulled out a twisted tag from its mouth and licked it.
"This ends now!"
Tactical Exchange
"Earthquake!" Giovanni's voice rang out.
"Gengar, Will-O-Wisp!"
As Nidoking stomped the ground, the arena quaked violently. But Gengar leaped into the air on a trail of shadowy mist, hurling spectral blue flames at Nidoking.
The Will-O-Wisp connected, burning Nidoking and halving its physical attack.
Giovanni nodded in acknowledgment.
A well-timed move.
But Nidoking wasn't just a physical powerhouse.
"Earth Power!"
With a low growl, Nidoking formed an orb of golden energy, its sheer speed leaving Johan no time to counter.
"Shadow Ball!"
Gengar smirked, forming its own sphere of dark energy.
The two attacks collided midair with a deafening explosion, sending shockwaves through the arena.
"Gengar, Skill Swap!"
A sudden pulse of energy surrounded both Pokémon. Gengar swapped its Cursed Body for Nidoking's Sheer Force.
The next Shadow Ball exploded with amplified power, striking Nidoking hard.
Even Giovanni smiled.
He predicted Nidoking's ability… clever.
The Last Exchange
But Giovanni wasn't done.
"Shadow Ball!" Giovanni ordered.
Nidoking summoned one final orb of dark energy, but instead of aiming at Gengar, it hurled it at the ground.
Boom!
The explosion scattered debris, ricocheting a chunk of rock into Gengar.
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar staggered but stayed upright long enough to see Nidoking collapse.
"Gengar is unable to battle!" Matori announced.
"Both
trainers have no usable Pokémon left!"
Johan's Vulpix technically had some strength remaining, giving him the win by default.
Matori's eyes widened.
Johan-sensei… just won?
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Powerstones?
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