Peter smiled faintly and began explaining:
"I can tell—you've done quite a bit of research on my team. You also prepared a classic Fire-type Trainer's favorite: a sun team."
"Your lead Ninetales used Drought to set up sunlight, then planned to trap my Baton Pass user, Lopunny, with Flamethrower…"
"But unfortunately—because of Fake Out, I always have priority control. Unless you opened with Protect, you were bound to play passively."
"Your prediction with Safeguard to block Thunder Wave was impressive. But…"
Peter tilted his head slightly.
"As a special attacker, using Ninetales against a fast-paced Lopunny without creating distance first…"
"…was a bit disrespectful."
"And after that—"
He grinned.
"This unbeatable defensive system kicks in."
"Double Baton Pass, double Fake Out, combined with Thunder Wave and Circle Throw…"
"I call it…"
'Paralyze Your Entire Team~!'
"How's that name? Pretty good, right?"
Brent's face twitched.
"Professor Peter… how long has it been since you last showered?"
"…Huh?"
"Because this strategy is filthy as hell!!!"
Peter burst out laughing.
After all—
This was Whitney's Gym now.
And that "bottom-ranked Gym" reputation?
It was about time to change it.
…
Meanwhile, the livestream chat exploded again:
"Holy crap! This actually looks unbeatable!"
"First Baton Pass… now DOUBLE Baton Pass?? Professor Peter is insane!"
"'Paralyze your entire team'? Yeah… naming is definitely not his strong suit…"
"The worst part is Talonflame—it's completely shut down by Psychic Terrain!"
"Talonflame: I choose death."
"…."
Battle Continues
Mega Lopunny—
Now boosted with Speed from Baton Pass—
Closed the distance instantly.
Thunder Wave shot forward.
"Talonflame—Protect!"
The electric wave was blocked.
Brent immediately recalled Talonflame and threw out another Poké Ball.
"Camerupt—your turn!"
A bulky orange camel carrying two rocky humps appeared.
[Camerupt Lv.52 (Gym-tier Low)]
Fire/Ground typing—
Which meant—
It was immune to Thunder Wave.
But—
"Lopunny—Circle Throw!"
Before the command even finished—
Mega Lopunny had already rushed forward.
"Camerupt—Protect!"
A shimmering barrier blocked the attack.
But—
Lopunny changed direction instantly—
Circling around to Camerupt's side—
Fighting energy surged again.
Another Circle Throw!
Brent clenched his fist.
"Camerupt—use Fire Spin on yourself!"
"Rum-pt…"
Camerupt unleashed a spiral of flames—
Wrapping around its own body.
The Circle Throw landed—
But failed to force a switch!
It had trapped itself—
Preventing the forced swap.
"…Wow."
Peter couldn't help but laugh.
"You bound yourself to counter me?"
But in doing so—
Brent had effectively broken Peter's forced-switch strategy.
Peter looked up.
The sunlight above—
Faded.
The harsh sunlight ended.
He raised his hand.
"Lopunny—Baton Pass!"
The glowing baton flew again.
This time—
It was caught by Arboliva.
"Li-va…"
Elegant as a noble lady—
Arboliva appeared.
A faint fragrance spread across the field.
"Heh… finally holding ground," Brent said, smirking.
"Camerupt—Flamethrower!"
"Light Screen."
A translucent barrier formed.
Flamethrower struck—
But Arboliva remained calm.
A seed dropped.
Grassy Terrain bloomed.
Green light spread—
Arboliva calmly took a bite of its Leftovers.
Its HP—
Recovered rapidly.
Brent: "…"
He had prepared mentally.
But still—
A Grass-type Pokémon—
Making a Fire-type specialist struggle like this—
Was a first.
Brent's eyes sharpened.
"…Fine."
"Camerupt—use Eruption!!!"
Eruption: A Fire-type nuke. Power scales with HP—up to 150 at full health.
"CA-MA!!!"
Camerupt stomped the ground.
The air—
Turned scorching hot.
Then—
From its volcanic humps—
A massive column of molten fire erupted!
Lava-like flames surged toward Arboliva—
Engulfing everything.
Facing this overwhelming attack—
Peter's expression turned serious.
"Arboliva—full power Protect!"
"Li-va…"
Behind Light Screen—
Another shimmering barrier rose.
And in the next instant—
It was swallowed by flames.
The heat raged for over ten seconds.
Smoke covered the entire field.
When it cleared—
The battlefield was scorched black.
Grassy Terrain—
Burned to ashes.
"…tap."
Another seed fell.
Green life—
Bloomed again from the charred ground.
Within the faint glow—
Arboliva stood back up.
Covered in soot—
But its aura remained steady.
"…What the hell…"
Brent's mouth hung open.
Peter smiled.
"Arboliva—use Toxic."
Poison spread across Camerupt—
It couldn't dodge.
Badly poisoned.
"I refuse to believe it!"
"Camerupt—Eruption again!!!"
But—
Before it could act—
A thick vine wrapped around its legs—
Grass Knot!
For a Pokémon over 200kg—
This move hit with 120 base power.
With STAB—
That's 180 effective power.
Ground typing gave Camerupt immunity to Electric—
But removed Fire's resistance to Grass.
"BOOM—!"
Camerupt collapsed.
Poison damage triggered.
…
Meanwhile—
Arboliva calmly munched on Leftovers—
Regenerating under Grassy Terrain.
The contrast—
Was overwhelming.
"Don't give up! Camerupt—Fire Spin!"
Brent switched tactics—
Trying to trap Arboliva.
Another Grass Knot landed—
Camerupt fell.
But before fainting—
Fire Spin activated.
It had done its job.
Brent exhaled.
"Professor Peter… your Arboliva's defense is terrifying."
"But—"
He grinned.
"This battle is just getting started!"
"Go—Castform!"
"Bo-wa…"
A small gray Pokémon floated into the air.
Round body.
Big eyes.
A curled tuft on its head.
It looked like a floating bubble.
[Castform Lv.50 (Quasi Gym-tier)]
Ability: Forecast
→ Changes form and type based on weather.
Rotom chimed in:
"Castform, the Weather Pokémon! Its body is mostly made of water. To protect itself, it changes form depending on the weather, Rotom~!"
The battlefield—
Shifted once again.
And the next phase of the battle—
Was about to begin.
--------------
T/N:
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