Takashi called out to Xerneas, "Xerneas, could you be the referee, please?"
Xerneas walked over gracefully, radiating vitality like a messenger of spring. Her gentle and elegant voice was refreshing to hear. "Alright, the match will be between Trainer Takashi and novice Trainer Lisa. The battle format will be one-on-one, with each trainer using one Pokémon. The match ends when one Pokémon loses the ability to fight or forfeits. There is no time limit."
Takashi wiped his nose and kindly suggested, "Miss Lisa, before we start the battle, I recommend you use the Pokédex to check Tynamo's moves."
Lisa looked lazily at Amber. "Amber, let me borrow it."
"Here you go, good luck, Lisa!" Amber said cheerfully, handing over the Pokédex.
Lisa scanned Tynamo with the Pokédex.
"Tynamo, an Electric and Poison-type Pokémon, possesses the ability Static. Its moves are Acid, Growl, and Nuzzle."
"Acid is a Poison-type move that can lower the opponent's defense while dealing damage. Growl is a Normal-type move that can lower the opponent's attack. Nuzzle is an Electric-type move that deals damage." Lisa read the skill analysis from the Pokédex and, with her strong analytical skills as a top student, determined that Nuzzle would be the most effective attack against Feebas.
Takashi felt little pressure facing Lisa.
Although this was his first match against someone, Tynamo's level was still considerably lower than Feebas'.
In the early stages of their development, Takashi had not introduced the concept of Pokémon levels to them, just like how a math teacher wouldn't start teaching sequences to students who had only just begun learning numbers.
Novice trainers had subjective initiative, which was a good thing, and it needed to be encouraged.
At the same time, gentle guidance would help foster the bond between trainers and their Pokémon.
That was the true meaning of this battle.
Lisa returned the Pokédex to Amber with a confident smile. "Shopkeeper, it seems you'll be the one buying that dandelion wine."
"Oh? Is that so?" Takashi wiped his nose. "Ladies first. You may attack."
With that, he nodded to Xerneas.
"The match begins," Xerneas announced.
Lisa pointed at Feebas on the lake's surface and lazily commanded, "Tynamo, use Acid on Feebas."
"Yee-yee-yee..." Tynamo's eyes suddenly sharpened, its four small legs hopping cutely on the grass before it leaped high.
Its belly bulged slightly, and it spat out a mouthful of black Acid toward Feebas.
"Quick, dodge it!" Takashi swung his right hand.
"Gul-gul..." Feebas slapped its fins and dove into Cider Lake.
The Acid instantly turned a section of the lake water black.
"Ah?" Amber exclaimed. "Lisa, won't this pollute Cider Lake? If Master Jean finds out, we're in big trouble."
Seeing Feebas easily dodge Tynamo's Acid attack, Lisa felt a pang of anxiety.
With Feebas diving into the lake, the entire Cider Lake became its hiding place. Moving unpredictably, even Tynamo would have trouble dealing with it.
It was clear that Acid could not hit Feebas.
However, if Lisa thought Feebas could rest easy in the lake, she was sorely mistaken.
Lisa smiled, feeling delighted by her cleverness. "Tynamo, use Nuzzle!"
Once Nuzzle hit, Feebas would be paralyzed, making its movements sluggish. Lisa would then follow up with Acid, ensuring victory.
Takashi smiled slightly. Lisa's judgment was correct—using water's conductivity to attack Feebas.
However,
she overlooked one point. Nuzzle was a close-range move, meaning it only worked when in close contact with the opponent.
As long as Feebas didn't allow Tynamo to approach, Nuzzle wouldn't be effective.
Tynamo's small legs ran faster and faster, and in the blink of an eye, it reached the lake's edge.
Its sharp gaze scanned the surroundings, but all it saw was the lake water made murky by Acid—Feebas was nowhere in sight.
While Tynamo was lost in thought...
"Now's the time," Takashi shouted excitedly. "Dragon Breath!"
Suddenly, the quiet lake surface splashed as Feebas leaped high, spitting a purple beam that exploded beside Tynamo.
With a loud "boom," black smoke rolled up, and Tynamo's small body was thrown into the air by the powerful impact. It landed on the lawn with its feet up and its eyes in a daze.
Xerneas immediately declared, "Tynamo has lost the ability to fight. The winner is Takashi and his Feebas."
Lisa was stunned. She hadn't expected her well-planned strategy to fail.
"Tynamo..." she muttered, her heart aching. She quickly ran over and picked Tynamo up.
Takashi nodded slowly toward Xerneas, who then released a soft green glow that enveloped Tynamo.
In a short time, Tynamo's wounds healed at a visible speed, and it slowly opened its eyes.
"Yee-yee-yee..." Tynamo bounced back to life and smiled at Lisa.
Lisa's worried expression finally softened. "Thank goodness, you're alright."
She stood up, holding Tynamo, and said generously, "I lost."
"Thank you for the match." Takashi touched his chest and returned a gentleman's bow.
"But you'll be covering Tynamo's medical expenses, nutrition fees, and emotional damages," Lisa added insistently.
Takashi smiled, "How about I buy you a cup of dandelion wine next time instead?"
"Deal."
Amber and Lumine watched the exciting battle, their palms sweating nervously.
So, fighting alongside Pokémon was this thrilling.
Just watching made them feel eager to join.
Paimon crossed her arms, speaking with an air of maturity. "Looks like type advantages aren't everything."
Lumine: →_→ (What did you say earlier?)
Takashi turned to the trio, explaining, "You have only recently received your Pokémon, and you've had little time to bond. With time, your Pokémon will grow stronger and stronger. While type advantages do matter, there are ways to overcome them. Adaptability and skill are also key to victory."
Lumine nodded slightly. "So, defeating Lisa's Tynamo with Wingull isn't just a dream?"
Takashi rolled his eyes. Another aspiring type-counter Pokémon master?
Amber stroked her Ponyta. "Hehe, I'll work on my bond with Ponyta first before considering a battle with Lisa's Tynamo."
Klee hugged Lotad, tilting her head at Takashi, asking in her sweet voice, "Can Lotad also defeat Lisa?"
Lisa thought to herself: *Everyone's ganging up on me? Am I really that easy to pick on!?*