December Double Drop!---Shhh!
A shimmering Light Screen appeared in front of Dragonair, intercepting the incoming Acid Spray with a hissing, corrosive sound as it sizzled against the barrier.
Behind the Light Screen, Dragonair's expression remained calm as its body began moving in a rhythmic, mysterious dance.
Erika and her Victreebel could feel the growing menace radiating from Dragonair with every cycle of Dragon Dance it completed.
As Luo Yuan had anticipated, Erika had planned to seize control of the battle by launching a chain of attacks if Dragonair tried to dodge. But he hadn't fallen for her trap.
Now, with the roles reversed, Erika was on the defensive, forced to try and disrupt Dragonair's buildup.
"Victreebel, stop it! Use Razor Leaf!"
Victreebel gave a swift shake of its leaves, sending a dozen crescent-shaped blades flying toward Dragonair, each leaf curving around the Light Screen to strike from behind.
"Don't worry—keep using Dragon Dance!" Luo Yuan instructed calmly.
Razor Leaf's damage wouldn't pose much of a threat to Dragonair, especially with no additional effects. Given the boost from Dragon Dance, taking a few Razor Leaf hits was a small price to pay.
Receiving its Trainer's command, Dragonair didn't dodge. Instead, it maintained its graceful dance in midair, fully focused on boosting its power and speed.
As it turned out, Luo Yuan's decision was spot on.
Razor Leaf wasn't as precise as Magical Leaf, which meant Victreebel's technique, though impressive, wasn't guaranteed to hit accurately.
Under Erika's intense gaze, only a handful of the leaves managed to hit their target, with a few more deflected by the Light Screen. The few that connected barely left a scratch on Dragonair.
Meanwhile, the power increase from Dragon Dance had brought Dragonair's strength to a whole new level.
"Now, counterattack! Dragonair, use Agility, then Slam!"
"Victreebel, use Protect!" Erika quickly countered.
But Dragonair had already disappeared in a blur, darting toward Victreebel with blinding speed.
Whoosh!
Dragonair's tail arced through the air, aimed directly at Victreebel's head. With Dragon Dance boosting its attack, Victreebel's defenses wouldn't be enough if this move connected.
In that instant, a blue aura flickered around Victreebel as it activated Protect just in time!
Bang!
Dragonair's tail collided with the energy barrier, creating a deep, resonant sound that sent dust swirling across the field, drawing coughs from the Celadon Gym staff watching nearby.
"It blocked it!" Erika's eyes lit up as she quickly followed up, "Victreebel, use Bind!"
With Dragonair's enhanced speed, Erika knew her best chance to win was to restrict its movements.
Victreebel complied without hesitation. At such close range, it would be difficult for Dragonair to escape.
Its vines shot out, closing in on Dragonair and ready to wrap around it.
But…
Watching Victreebel move in close, Luo Yuan's face lit up with a hint of amusement. "You came to me willingly? I'm not about to waste this opportunity—Dragonair, Outrage!"
With Luo Yuan's command, Victreebel and Erika's plan fell to pieces.
A fierce crimson glow lit up Dragonair's chest jewel and eyes, unleashing a torrent of energy. The once-graceful Dragonair was now enveloped in a blazing red aura, its demeanor transformed into one of pure, fierce rage.
Cry!
Dragonair let out a more intense, battle-hungry cry, sending a shiver through Erika.
But it was too late to call for Victreebel to dodge. The close distance worked in Dragonair's favor as well.
With a quick twist, Dragonair shattered the vines binding it, following up with a devastating tail strike powered by both Dragon Dance and Outrage.
Boom!
The massive impact launched Victreebel across the field, where it crashed into the thick trunk of a nearby tree.
Splurt
Its flattened stomach expelled a pool of acidic fluid onto the ground, emitting a pungent stench, almost as if Dragonair had knocked the wind right out of it.
"..."
The scene was more than a bit comical.
Victreebel's defeat had left it in a rather embarrassing state.
It took a moment for the referee, Kiku, to recover and announce, "Victreebel is unable to battle. Dragonair wins again!"
"Return, Victreebel!" Erika said, recalling her Pokémon.
She realized that even though she'd already raised her expectations, she had still underestimated Luo Yuan.
Luo Yuan gave her an apologetic smile, silently assuring her that the hit had been unintentional. He used his psychic link to soothe the now-raging Dragonair, whose temperament had been affected by Outrage.
Erika, however, didn't mind. She was already contemplating her next Pokémon.
"Dragonair's Dragon Dance paired with Outrage is indeed tough to counter…" Erika muttered, withdrawing another Poké Ball. "In that case, my last Pokémon will be you!"
She threw her Poké Ball into the air.
Boom!
"La-boo~!"
"Vileplume!"
Vileplume, Erika's signature Pokémon and her ace, took its place on the battlefield.
As one of Gloom's two evolutions, Vileplume looked more like Gloom compared to the alternative, Bellossom. With the same indigo body and an enormous, umbrella-like red-spotted flower, Vileplume was essentially Gloom's supersized counterpart.
However, unlike Gloom's drooling, sleepy-eyed appearance, Vileplume stood confidently, its small eyes open and alert.
The moment Vileplume appeared, Luo Yuan could catch its distinctive, heady fragrance even from across the field.
More notably, his psychic sense picked up on countless tiny spores and pollen drifting in the air around Vileplume. These spores held the same paralyzing effect as Stun Spore, in addition to causing severe allergic reactions.
"A tough opponent…" Luo Yuan murmured, calling out to his Dragonair, "Can you keep going?"
Vileplume's spores would make close-range attacks especially challenging.
He was already considering switching to Charmeleon for a distant Flamethrower to wrap things up quickly.
Cry!
Dragonair nodded, determination gleaming in its eyes.
Luo Yuan had expected as much from Dragonair. Perhaps due to spending so much time alone before joining his team, often getting picked on by other Pokémon, his Dragonair had developed a fiercely competitive streak.
"Well then… let's continue!" Luo Yuan smiled, his confidence restored. "Erika, show me Vileplume's full strength!"
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Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check! Remember this is a fan translation!
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