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The crimson bird, cloaked in flames, plummeted from the sky, its descent resembling that of a falcon honing in on its prey with a Lock-On.
Swellow was the target, yet in the falcon's fierce eyes, it was nothing more than a small, helpless swallow.
Dodging past Hurricane? Then striking Swellow mid-flight with a devastating Flying-type attack?
"Your thoughts and dangers, young man!" Norman chuckled, his voice carrying a challenge.
"Avoid with Quick Attack!"
Swellow instinctively wanted to respond with Brave Bird, a powerful collision to repel the intruder trespassing in its aerial domain. Yet, its trainer's command held sway, and it obeyed. Swellow's wings flared with sudden energy as it darted sideways, evading Blaziken's blazing Flame Charge and soaring higher into the sky.
"Aerial Ace!" Chris called out with precision. Though Blaziken was a flightless Pokémon, it was remarkably adept at utilizing Flying-type moves.
As if defying gravity itself, Blaziken launched into the air with Smack Down, using the force to reverse mid-flight. Like a nimble swallow skimming close to the ground, it pushed off the battlefield floor with another explosive Bounce! The fiery fighter rocketed upwards like a surface-to-air missile, targeting Swellow no matter how high it tried to flee.
The Pokédex once noted Blaziken's incredible Bounce—capable of surpassing over a hundred floors in height. Against such power, Swellow seemed trapped under the battlefield's ceiling.
"Swellow is doomed!" Chris thought, his confidence swelling.
Norman's eyes widened in disbelief. Was this even possible?
Combining Aerial Ace and Bounce into a seamless strike—was this the true Flying Pokémon?
"Counter it! Air Cutter!" Norman ordered sharply.
Swellow, still anticipating the opportunity to unleash Brave Bird, adjusted swiftly to the new command. It pivoted mid-air and unleashed sharp wind blades, aiming to knock Blaziken down before the fiery bird could close in.
Chris, however, had foreseen this. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and commanded, "Overheat!"
"Blaze!!"
Blaziken transformed into a raging inferno as flames enveloped its body. The Air Cutters dissipated upon contact with the intense heat, unable to penetrate the fiery armor.
With an explosive *boom*, the blazing meteor collided unreservedly with Swellow. The mid-air collision unleashed a deafening explosion, and thick black smoke billowed, shrouding the sky.
As the smoke cleared, Blaziken emerged first, descending gracefully with a roll to land near Chris, unharmed and brimming with fighting spirit. Moments later, Swellow's charred form fell lifelessly from the haze, smashing into the ground.
The outcome was clear.
"Swellow is unable to battle. Blaziken wins!" Jasmine announced, her voice slicing through the fading smoke.
Norman stood in stunned silence, his eyes fixed on Swellow's fallen form. He couldn't believe the outcome—his Flying-type Pokémon, known for its speed and aerial mastery, had been soundly defeated by a Pokémon it should have countered.
After a moment, he composed himself, returning Swellow to its Poké Ball. His voice, though steady, carried an edge of respect.
"You've shown remarkable skill, boy. This battle is worthy of my respect."
"But don't celebrate just yet," Norman warned, his tone shifting to anticipation. "The real fight starts now!"
From his waist, he retrieved a third Poké Ball and pressed its central button. With a flash of light, his next Pokémon materialized on the battlefield.
A Slaking appeared, its bulky frame immediately drawing attention. The brown-haired gorilla-like Pokémon lay lazily on its side, scratching its chest with one hand while supporting its head with the other. Despite its lethargic posture, its half-lidded eyes betrayed immense power and confidence.
Chris tensed. The challenge had only just begun.
It's the Trump Card Pokémon that Norman is renowned for across the Hoenn region: **Slaking!**
**Level 52**
Chris felt his pulse quicken as he sized up Norman's ultimate powerhouse. "Finally, the last big boss," he muttered, his voice a mix of excitement and tension. After the grueling battle with Kangaskhan, his expectations for Slaking were sky-high.
Reflecting on Swellow's earlier loss, Chris knew the battle had gone in his favor because Norman hadn't had the chance to fully implement his strategies. Even so, the victory had cost Blaziken, who had to expend Overheat, lowering its Special Attack by two stages.
"Slaking, had enough rest? Get up and fight!" Norman called out to his Pokémon with a grin. "After this, I'll take you fishing."
Slaking slowly rose from its lounging position, letting out a massive stretch. It casually picked its nose with one hand, its dull expression giving the impression of indifference. Still, it looked ready to battle.
Chris wiped his sweat nervously. *Fishing? Really?* This casual air was unnerving—Norman made Slaking seem like a laid-back house pet rather than a fearsome fighter.
Luck didn't seem to be on Chris's side this time. Instead of facing Slaking during its typical Truant-induced rest phase, he had to deal with it fully awake and primed for combat.
Was this bad luck for him? Or perhaps good fortune for Norman?
*Wait… when did Togepi switch from spreading happiness to playing opposites?*
"Slaking, use Focus Punch!" Norman's command cut through Chris's spiraling thoughts.
Slaking let out a massive yawn, lazily raising its fist skyward. As it did, an incredible surge of light blue energy rippled outward, swirling into its fist like a vortex. The air seemed to crackle with power.
Chris stared, dumbfounded. *So this Slaking wields the power of aura too?*
Both Chris and Blaziken were on high alert, their gazes locked on Slaking, ready to evade its strike. Yet, Slaking showed no intention of charging forward.
Once the Focus Punch had fully charged, Slaking's vacant eyes shifted to Blaziken, and it stepped forward, delivering a thunderous punch.
**BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!**
In an instant, a blinding white light consumed Chris's vision, overwhelming his senses. He couldn't see a thing. The deafening rumble that followed left his ears ringing. The sheer force of the attack reverberated throughout the battlefield.
When the light finally dissipated, Chris blinked as his surroundings came back into focus. The ground before him was unrecognizable—a trail of scorched earth stretched from Slaking's position all the way to the far end of the gym. The devastation even reached the outer wall of the building, where Chris had entered earlier.
Embedded in that wall, motionless, was Blaziken.
Chris stood frozen, glancing between the fainted Blaziken and the eerily calm Slaking. His thoughts raced. *I know Slaking's power is immense, but this… this is beyond absurd!*
Even more baffling, the Focus Punch hadn't even landed directly on Blaziken. Slaking had seemingly punched the air, yet the force of the attack had created an explosion of catastrophic proportions.
*When did Focus Punch become a long-range attack?*
The implications were staggering. Was Slaking holding back, aiming for the air to avoid destroying the entire gym? Or had it deliberately tempered its power to prevent the destruction from spilling out into the streets?
Chris's jaw tightened as he tried to rationalize what had just happened. *In the games, Slaking's attack stat is undeniably high, but it's not *this* exaggerated—barely 30 points higher than Garchomp. It's strong, sure, but this…*
There had to be more at play—something beyond raw stats. A mix of technique, precision, and sheer force had created this devastating attack. Chris clenched his fists.
This was no ordinary battle. Norman and Slaking were on an entirely different level.