The exposed Beldum showed no awkwardness at all; instead it floated and wove around the arena with even greater ease.
Its silvery shell gleamed under the lights, and it wagged its body playfully, lively and adorable.
When those ruby eyes looked toward Gym Leader Wattson, they held an almost artless innocence, so endearing everyone watching couldn't help but smile.
Wattson stared at the floating Beldum for a few seconds, then burst out with a clear, hearty laugh.
His voice rang with unreserved praise. 'Cunning little Pokémon, hiding a tactic so clever you fooled me—bravo!"
At his words thunderous applause swept the stands, mixed with laughter and cheers: "Beldum is too cute! Caught and still acting innocent—adorable!"
"The streamer is a genius, bringing out every one of his Pokémon's strengths!"
The live-chat barrage went berserk, comments flying faster than eyes could follow:
[Haha, Wattson's expression—priceless. Loving every second!]
[Beldum's brilliant—strong and cute—impossible not to love!]
[Thought it would be pure brute force, but it's textbook deception—10/10 reversal!]
[Never thought Beldum had Iron Defense up its sleeve—my paralysis plan to slow you down is doomed.]
Wattson surveyed the field, rueful, then shook his head.'Should've simply attacked outright.'
"Electrode, use Electro Ball! We can't let anyone underestimate Mauville Gym!"
Electro Ball is a special electric move whose power rises with speed, and it needs no physical contact.
Iron Defense boosts only physical defense, so special strikes slip past it.
At the order Electrode gathered crackling currents; a golden orb spun in front of it.
As more energy poured in the sphere blazed brighter, zinging as it shot like a cruise missile straight at Beldum.
"Beldum, Encore Zen Headbutt—target the Electrode!"
Lionel was equally swift.
Electrode was already wounded; Beldum now held a clear edge.
There was no need to dodge; it was time to finish this.
The two commands rang out together.
Blue light flared again, psychic energy sheathing Beldum like armor.
Instead of blocking Electro Ball head-on, Beldum curved mid-air, Confusion twisting its flight.
The silver body carved a sleek S through the air, slipping past the orb.
Electrode had to keep guiding the electric sphere while retreating, its round body jerking left and right to dodge the charging Beldild!
Splitting focus between dodging and steering the orb left it flustered; within moments it was clearly struggling.
Its surrounding electricity flickered, and Electro Ball's trajectory wobbled.
At the last instant Electrode's eyes hardened; it abandoned evasion.
All concentration snapped into the orb—Electro Ball, once avoided, jerked to a halt.
It whipped around and rocketed at Beldum's exposed back.
"Beldum!"
Lionel shouted.
Using its psychic sense Beldum twisted as if it had eyes behind it; blue Confusion met the golden orb.
Iron Defense was little help against special power; sparks danced over its frame in a web of light.
Beldum withstood the shock, the recoil giving it speed; Zen Headbutt smashed into Electrode.
The physical boost from Iron Defense let the headbutt hit like a hammer.
Bam!
Electrode shot back like a marble struck by a mallet, crashed to the floor in a puff of dust—badly hurt.
Beldum was hurting as well; the psychic coating faded and its silver body quivered, exhaustion flickering in its ruby eye.
Still it hovered stubbornly, refusing to fall.
Sudden white light blazed around the wounded Electrode: a suicidal last resort.
It meant to blow itself up to take Beldum with it.
"Enough, Electrode!"
Wattson barked, flicking out a Poké Ball. "My plan was wrong. Come back—you did your best."
Red light swept the orb back inside.
He stroked the sphere gently. "Well done."
Raising his eyes to Lionel he offered a frank smile. "Your Beldum is superb."
"I thought it was newly caught, yet you've polished it like this—impressive."
Lionel inclined his head. "You flatter me; Beldum did the work."
"However,"
Wattson twirled a second Poké Ball,"we can't have you thinking Mauville Gym is done—Manectric, you're up!"
Boom!
Light flashed, and a regal Pokémon stepped out.
Its sleek blue body bore yellow mane, as though cloaked in thunder.
Four paws struck the floor, sparks crackling beneath them.
Even standing still it radiated overwhelming force.
"That's Gym Leader Wattson's Manectric!"
Walter's excited voice rang via the speakers. "This Manectric is a Superior-grade Pokémon that competed in the League—speed and power, using Agility and lightning to crush foes!"
۞۞۞۞
p-atreon.com/PokeFicLord
40+ Chapters in p-atreon.com.
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)