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With his mind spinning, Collin quickly issued the order.
"Rock Tomb, block!"
When Rhydon heard this, it roared loudly, its tail slamming into the ground. Several massive rocks rose up in front of it, forming a shield.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Lurantis' golden sword energy clashed against the rocks and was successfully blocked.
Not wasting any time, Collin called out another command. "Rhydon, Earthquake!"
Roar!
Behind the Rock Tomb, Rhydon roared again. Its tail slammed into the ground with immense force, causing the earth to tremble. The vibrations grew faster and stronger.
Facing this challenge, Lurantis made its move. It leaped high into the air, avoiding the shaking ground entirely.
While airborne, Lurantis prepared a new attack—Leaf Storm. However, this time, it wasn't directed at Rhydon. Instead, Lurantis aimed the powerful gust at itself, propelling it forward toward Rhydon like a bullet.
Collin was stunned. "What?!" he exclaimed. "Can that move even be used this way?" He couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity of the technique.
Lurantis, known for lacking speed-enhancing moves like Agility or Quick Attack, had found an alternative solution. Its Leaf Storm wasn't damaging enough to itself to be a problem, but it provided the perfect boost to close the gap between it and its opponent.
As Lurantis hurtled through the air, the golden glow of its blades intensified. It was set to deliver a decisive strike.
Rhydon, seeing the incoming attack, didn't hesitate. Its Earthquake ceased, and white light began to condense around its fist.
"Rhydon, Mega Punch!" Collin commanded.
Boom!
The two Pokémon collided midair with incredible force. Lurantis was sent flying, its glowing blades shattering into scattered energy. It crashed hard into the ground but quickly rose to its feet. Its legs sank slightly into the soil as it braced itself for another counterattack.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Golden sword energy surged forward once more, this time in greater volume than before. Collin, however, wasn't fazed. "Rock Tomb!" he commanded once again.
Rhydon executed the move flawlessly, erecting another barrier of rocks to block the incoming attack.
"Heavy Slam, finish it!" Collin shouted.
Roar!
Rhydon's body glowed with energy as it charged toward Lurantis with massive force. Lurantis, seeing the towering figure rushing at it, frowned slightly.
"So troublesome," it seemed to think. As its green eyes gleamed brightly, it prepared its next move.
Grass Knot!
Roots of green grass suddenly erupted from the ground, entwining around Rhydon's powerful legs. The armored rhinoceros tried to push forward, but the roots held firm.
Boom!
The immense force of its charge backfired, causing Rhydon to crash to the ground with tremendous impact. Dust flew into the air as the massive Pokémon hit the floor, leaving it momentarily dazed.
The sight made Collin's face twist in alarm. "Danger!!" he shouted.
As if on cue, golden light began gathering in Lurantis' hands. The light particles grew denser, spreading across its arms as they began to shimmer brightly. In one fluid motion, Lurantis raised its arms, now glowing with radiant energy, high above its head.
The energy coalesced into a magnificent Sacred Sword, nearly ten meters long and blazing with golden light. Without hesitation, Lurantis swung the gleaming blade down mercilessly.
Boom!!
A golden beam of light slashed downward, striking Rhydon with incredible power. The resulting impact shook the battlefield. The arena remained filled with glittering particles of light that lingered, making the air around Lurantis glow.
If Evan had been present, he would have shouted, "That's how a ninja strikes!"
Collin watched in stunned silence as his Rhydon lay motionless. The gym's automated system declared its judgment: Rhydon was unable to battle.
"Lurantis is so fierce!" murmured a spectator, breaking the silence.
The once petite and seemingly harmless Lurantis had overwhelmed everyone with its tactical ingenuity and sheer power. From using Leaf Storm to propel itself to the masterful Sacred Sword strike, it had left spectators in awe.
Collin sighed in defeat, recalling Rhydon into its Poké Ball. He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a Stone Badge, its metallic gleam catching the light. With practiced ease, he tossed it towards Gallade, who had accompanied the victorious Trainer. The Badge landed neatly in Gallade's hands with a faint ding.
"This is the Badge. Congratulations," Collin said with a faint smile of resignation.
Gallade caught the Badge, inspected it briefly, then nodded. "Thanks," it said telepathically before returning Lurantis to its Poké Ball. Without a moment's pause, Gallade disappeared in a flash of light, using Teleport to leave the gym.
Collin watched them leave, shaking his head. "Well... onto the next one."
He called out to the staff, directing them to take Rhydon for treatment. As he turned back to the arena, another Trainer approached, ready to challenge the gym. Collin gave them a quick look, noting the badges displayed on their vest.
"Let's see how you handle this!" he declared, tossing out a Poké Ball that released a quasi-Elite Pokémon onto the field. With a determined expression, Collin resumed his work, ready to reclaim victory in the next battle.