Lt. Surge was getting fired up.
If Luo Yuan really wasn't going to use that monstrously strong Dragapult, then maybe… just maybe… he actually had a chance to redeem himself here.
"Well, if you insist on a match, then let's battle!" Surge's face lit up. "How about a 3-on-3?"
Seeing Luo Yuan's nod, Surge's hand swept across his belt as he casually tossed out an Ultra Ball.
Bang!
Sparks crackled—
A Magneton, made up of three Magnemites combined, appeared on the battlefield.
"My first Pokémon is Magneton!" Surge announced.
Seeing Magneton, Luo Yuan sighed, his expression disappointed as he looked at Lt. Surge.
"Surge, Surge… what have I done to make you look down on me like this?"
"Am I really that weak in your eyes? You don't even bother bringing out one of your main team?"
He pointed at the Magneton.
Surge had at least a dozen of these Magnetons. Did he really think Luo Yuan without Dragapult was just a pushover?
Surge wanted to nod in agreement, but memories of how Luo Yuan's Dragapult had once crushed him into questioning his entire career made him hold his tongue.
"Ahem... we're doing three rounds, aren't we?" Surge explained quickly. "My heavy hitters are up for the last one."
"Tch."
Luo Yuan didn't seem convinced.
He casually took out Charmeleon's Poké Ball.
"Here comes your opponent, Charmeleon!"
For Magneton, he wouldn't need anyone else; Charmeleon was just right for the job.
"That's the starter you got from old Professor Oak?" Surge sized up Charmeleon, already anticipating his first victory.
Although Charmeleon's Fire-type moves counter Magneton's Electric-Steel typing, Surge's Magneton had been specially selected from a large group of Magnemites, making it much stronger than your average Magneton.
A confident smile spread across Surge's face.
"Well, we'll see if you're still smiling soon." Luo Yuan snapped his fingers. "Charmeleon, Flamethrower!"
"A Flamethrower from that range? It won't even reach my Magneton…"
After years as a gym leader, Surge knew Charmeleon's limits well.
There was no way Charmeleon's Flamethrower could reach Magneton all the way across the battlefield!
"Was that just a show of force, trying to intimidate?"
Surge was pondering Luo Yuan's tactic when he caught a flash in the corner of his eye.
Charmeleon took a deep breath, its belly glowing red before it opened its mouth and let loose in one fiery blast.
Whoosh—
A column of fire shot across the battlefield, rushing toward Magneton with surprising speed!
"No way!"
Surge's eyelids twitched.
This Flamethrower's power defied all logic.
But his experience as a Rocket executive kicked in. "Magneton, dodge it!"
Luo Yuan didn't give Charmeleon any new commands.
With a base Speed of 70, Magneton wasn't exactly slow, but it wasn't fast enough to dodge a well-aimed Flamethrower, either.
Whoosh!
The flames surged forward, engulfing Magneton.
Surge briefly regretted not teaching his Magneton a move like Light Screen for defense.
But it was too late now.
As the flames dissipated, Magneton was left scorched, wobbling in midair as if it might fall at any moment.
Surge tried commanding Magneton to use Thunder Shock several times, but it couldn't even manage to land a hit on Charmeleon, only draining its already low energy reserves.
Eventually, Charmeleon finished it off with a simple Fire Spin.
"I told you—don't bring a Magneton just to humor me. Show me what you've really got, Surge!"
Luo Yuan patted his victorious Charmeleon, a smile on his face.
Losing a battle he'd expected to win, Surge's face flushed. "Since you're asking for it... Raichu!"
Recalling Magneton, Surge sent out one of his top Pokémon, Raichu.
A flash of white light revealed a plump, battle-ready Raichu on the field.
"Rai-chu!"
Its long, thin tail waved behind it, sparking with arcs of electricity as it looked eagerly at its opponent.
But when Raichu spotted Luo Yuan, a shiver ran through its body, and it glanced away.
"Raichu, huh. Brings back memories."
Luo Yuan was lost in thought for a moment.
Surge's Raichu was no pushover; back in the day, it had held its own against Dragapult for quite a while.
"Charmeleon, can you keep going?"
Luo Yuan called out to his Pokémon.
Roar!
Charmeleon bounded toward Raichu in large strides, clearly indicating its answer.
Seeing that its opponent wasn't the Dragapult that had once completely overwhelmed it, Raichu's eyes filled with renewed determination.
"Raichu! Quick Attack!"
"Raichu~!"
The plump Raichu blurred into an orange streak, charging toward Charmeleon.
The two Pokémon clashed in the center of the field.
Fiery red collided with bright orange.
The impact sent a gust of dust swirling across the field.
Charmeleon was slower than Raichu and was often left reacting, rather than attacking.
But Charmeleon's counterattacks were powerful; its sharp claws and flame-tipped tail presented a real threat each time they connected with Raichu.
They exchanged blows, and in just half a minute, they'd traded over a dozen moves.
Raichu was clearly in control.
Luo Yuan wasn't surprised.
Raichu was, after all, one of Surge's mainstays. Charmeleon had only been with him for a month, and although it had an affinity with Fire moves, it was still far from surpassing Raichu in a close-quarters fight. If Charmeleon could manage that, then Surge should probably consider a career in farming.
However, it wasn't Luo Yuan on the defensive who changed tactics—it was Surge, who was on the offensive.
"Raichu, Thunderbolt!"
Surge waved his hand, intent on capitalizing on his advantage.
He watched the battlefield intently.
This time, he had brought out a main team member—if he still lost to Luo Yuan, it would be beyond humiliating.
"Charmeleon, dodge and create distance!"
Dodging moves in the Pokémon world was a test of a Pokémon's perception, anticipation, and reflexes.
The first two factors Luo Yuan had specifically trained with Charmeleon, and the Fire affinity boosted the last.
So when Thunderbolt crackled down, Charmeleon didn't panic. With a nimble sidestep, it easily dodged the strike.
Seeing Raichu briefly catch its breath after Thunderbolt…
"Charmeleon, give it your best Fire Blast!" Luo Yuan commanded.
"Fire Blast!?"
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T/N: OH IM EATING SO GOOOOD RN LETS FUCKING GOOOO