James fixed his gaze on the two Pokémon facing each other. If Grimer were to engage Machop directly, the chances of victory would be high. However, it was evident that his opponent was no amateur and knew how to leverage Grimer's strengths.
"Grimer, use Harden!"
Upon receiving the command, Grimer's body began to emit a silver glow. Observing this, James couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence.
"Opportunity! Machop, Bullet Punch, quickly interrupt it!"
"Machop~"
The moment the command was given, Machop exerted force with its legs and swiftly charged toward Grimer, throwing a punch. However, due to Grimer's unique body structure, the attack didn't interrupt the move. Grimer successfully executed Harden, raising its Defense by one stage.
This was undoubtedly bad news for Machop, which relied on physical attacks.
"We must end this quickly."
Just as James muttered to himself, his opponent's command came through.
"Acid Bomb, then finish it with Sludge."
A blob of purple substance hit Machop, causing it to groan in pain. Immediately after, James's voice rang out.
"Our turn to counterattack. Machop, Bullet Punch!"
Since Machop had already closed the distance to Grimer, during the brief moment before Grimer could execute Sludge, a barrage of punches landed on Grimer.
As the sun began to set, both Pokémon were panting heavily. Clearly, Machop was breathing faster than Grimer. However, just as sunlight bathed Machop, with its stamina depleting and the Lansat Berry it had consumed earlier, a red glow flashed through Machop's body.
"Grimer, finish it with Toxic Gas."
Upon hearing this, James hesitated not for a moment.
"Machop, Fire Punch! Aim for Grimer's mouth."
The opposing Trainer appeared flustered, clearly not anticipating that Machop had mastered the powerful move Fire Punch. But it was too late. As Grimer puffed up its cheeks, preparing to unleash Toxic Gas, a fiery fist struck Grimer's mouth. Accompanied by a faint explosion of gas, a piercing scream erupted from Grimer. Its robust body trembled under the critical hit from Fire Punch, crashing heavily to the ground and creating a deep crater. This final blow drained Grimer's remaining stamina. Unable to resist, Grimer collapsed.
The match concluded with a loud whistle from the referee.
As the sun slowly set, students began to leave the arena. James, holding the prize money he had won today, felt a sense of pride. Although the amount wasn't substantial, it was comparable to his earnings from a month of working at the library.
After leaving the arena, James took a bus to the northern part of the city. Before him stood a magnificent circular building—the "Planet Battle Club." This club offers Pokémon battle services for Trainers, with various levels of competitions ranging from novice to elite, and from beginner to advanced. A young lady in professional attire at the front desk greeted him warmly and patiently introduced the club's services.
The club's different divisions correspond to various levels of Trainers. Currently, James could only participate in the beginner division. After each match, he could earn certain points. The more consecutive wins he achieved, the more points he accumulated. Every time he reached a five-win or ten-win streak, he would receive additional points. These points could be used to exchange for Pokémon items or even eggs of Pokémon with strong potential at the club's shop.