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"Since you're not switching Pokémon, Senior, then the battle continues~"
"Alright~ I now declare! The second match of the Fortree Gym battle—begin!"
Seeing that Liam had decided not to switch Pokémon, Winona paused briefly before announcing the start of the match.
"We'll make the first move this time! Tropius—use Razor Leaf!"
"Troo!"
At Skyla's command, Tropius swung its massive leaf-like wings, releasing a flurry of sharp leaves!
"Piplup! Block it with Bubble Beam!"
"Piplup!!"
On Liam's side, Piplup counterattacked!
A stream of bubbles shot out from its beak at high speed, colliding head-on with the incoming leaves!
After a series of crackling impacts, the ground in front of Piplup was covered with shredded leaves.
"Piplup! End this quickly! Use Ice Beam!"
"Piplup!!"
Piplup was already injured and running low on stamina, so Liam didn't dare drag things out. Against the Grass/Flying-type Tropius, an Ice-type move would deal massive damage!
"Tropius, fly up and dodge it!!"
"Troo!"
Piplup fired Ice Beam straight ahead, but Tropius reacted instantly!
It leapt upward—just the height of the jump alone was enough to evade the beam!
Then—
"Tropius! Use Magical Leaf!"
"Troo!!"
With a cry from Tropius, the scattered leaves in front of Piplup suddenly glowed green!
In the next instant, they rose from the ground and slammed straight into Piplup without mercy!
"Piplup!!"
Piplup cried out as it was struck, knocked backward onto the ground!
"Piplup!"
Liam shouted anxiously.
"Piplup… Piplup…"
Already exhausted, and now struck by a Grass-type attack, Piplup's condition looked dire. It struggled to sit up, one eye tightly shut, staring at Tropius in the air while panting heavily.
"Reached your limit, have you? Then stop struggling! Tropius—finish it with Body Slam!"
Skyla saw that Piplup had reached its limit. With a faint smile, she gave the finishing command!
"Troo!!"
Tropius flapped its wings and returned above Piplup, then began a heavy downward drop!
"Come back, Piplup!"
At that moment, Liam threw out a PokeBall, releasing a red beam of light!
Piplup had no strength left to fight—keeping it on the field would only mean taking more damage. As a trainer, Liam made the correct call.
But—
"Piplup!!"
Bathed in the red light, Piplup suddenly cried out! A faint white glow burst from its body, forcefully shattering the recall beam!
BOOM!!
At the same instant, Tropius crashed down from above!
"Piplup!"
Liam hadn't expected Piplup to be so stubborn—it had used sheer willpower (Endure) to break free from the PokeBall's recall!
"Well done, Tropius! That should even the score—!"
Skyla began praising Tropius with a smile—
"Piplup!!"
BOOM!!
"Troo!!"
Suddenly, a loud cry erupted from beneath Tropius! A white pillar of energy blasted upward, lifting Tropius's massive body into the air!
"What?! Tropius!"
"Troo!!"
The sudden turn shocked Skyla. She looked up and shouted as Tropius was blasted skyward!
Tropius struggled free from the energy beam and tumbled back down to the ground.
"Troo…"
The attack had clearly done significant damage. Tropius landed with a pained expression, staring in shock at Piplup.
"Piplup?"
Liam was equally stunned—Piplup had managed to counterattack in that state!
Looking at Piplup standing motionless in a small crater, Liam called out.
At that moment, Winona stepped onto the battlefield. When she approached Piplup, she saw Piplup was still standing… but its eyes had lost all focus. It had already fainted, yet its body refused to fall.
Seeing this, Winona's eyes couldn't help but grow moist.
"Senior… it has already fainted."
Holding back her tears, she gently picked up Piplup and walked toward Liam.
Liam quickly took Piplup into his arms. Looking down at the small but determined body, a trace of pride flashed in his eyes.
"Rest well, Piplup. You did incredibly well. I'm proud of you."
At that moment, Piplup could no longer resist the recall. A red light flashed, and it quietly returned to its PokeBall.
"The battle continues. Next is my second Pokémon! Come out, Electabuzz! For Piplup—win this battle!"
"Elek!!"
Liam threw his next PokeBall. A flash of white light appeared—Electabuzz (Electabuzz) landed on the field!
Winona had already returned to her position. The moment she saw Electabuzz, her eyes lit up—she still remembered how Liam's Electabuzz had defeated Steven's main Pokémon before.
Knowing an exciting battle was coming, she immediately announced:
"Tropius versus Electabuzz! The final match for the Fortree Gym Badge—begin!"
"Electabuzz! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Elek!!"
A fast finish! The moment the battle began, Electabuzz unleashed a powerful attack!
A fierce golden bolt of lightning shot forward and struck Tropius directly!
"Tropius, break free! Fly up and use Air Slash!"
"Troo!!"
Though Tropius was part Flying-type, it was also Grass-type—so Electric attacks only dealt normal damage.
Tropius flapped its wings forcefully, shaking off the electricity and rising into the air. Its four wings beat rapidly, sending a massive blade of air slicing toward Electabuzz!
"Electabuzz! Use Quick Attack and rush in!"
"Elek!"
Seeing the incoming air blade, Liam immediately gave his command!
Electabuzz flashed white and shot forward like lightning, dodging the attack and appearing directly beneath Tropius!
"Tropius! Ascend quickly! Don't let it hit you!"
"Troo!!"
Skyla reacted instantly, ordering Tropius to climb higher!
But at that moment—
"You won't escape! Electabuzz—use Thunder Wave and drag it down!"
"Elek!!"
With Electabuzz's cry, several blue-white waves of electricity shot out like ropes, instantly binding Tropius's body and wings!
"Elek!"
With a powerful pull, Tropius was dragged down from the air, completely losing control!
"Electabuzz! Ice Punch!"
"Elek!!"
As Tropius fell toward the ground, Electabuzz's right fist became enveloped in freezing energy. Then, stepping forward—
It threw a powerful Ice Punch!