In Pokémon battles, although a Pokémon that has evolved to a higher stage will have an advantage in terms of its inherent attributes, that doesn't mean it is guaranteed to win.
After all, just think about Ash. He'd taken a whole bunch of Pokémon that were still in their initial evolutionary stages and stubbornly refused to evolve, yet still managed to defeat one powerful opponent after another. That level of ability... tsk, tsk. No comment.
Still, although the ultimate outcome of a battle depended on the efforts of both the Trainer and their Pokémon, no matter how you looked at it, evolved Pokémon possessed a considerable innate advantage!
"Garchomp! We'll use Dragon Claw too!"
"Garrr!"
The same Dragon Claw, but Garchomp's strength was greater, and the move's power was even more terrifying!
A sharp draconic claw of energy similarly formed around Garchomp's arm before crashing violently against Gabite's Dragon Claw!
Bang!
The instant the two sides collided, the enormous difference in strength became immediately apparent!
Gabite, which had been charging forward at full speed, was stopped dead in its tracks by Garchomp. Meanwhile, despite taking the full force of Gabite's charge, Garchomp didn't budge an inch!
"Garrr!"
Immediately afterward, Garchomp swung its Dragon Claw and sent Gabite flying!
"Gaba!"
Feeling Garchomp's tremendous strength, Gabite slid backward uncontrollably. It suddenly plunged both of its claws into the ground, using them to bring itself to a stop.
Even then, Gabite continued sliding for quite some distance, leaving two long gouges across the ground.
"The difference in strength really is that great?"
Cynthia had already expected there to be a gap in strength between Gabite and Garchomp, but even she hadn't imagined the difference would be this enormous.
And so, she immediately changed her battle strategy!
"In that case! Gabite!"
"Gaba!"
"Use Dig!"
"Gabite!"
At Cynthia's command, Gabite growled and rapidly burrowed underground!
"Hmm? You actually dare to use Dig?"
But the moment Liam saw Gabite disappear underground, his eyebrows furrowed.
Garchomp was also a Ground-type Pokémon, and digging was practically second nature to it. Garchomp could clearly sense Gabite's movements beneath the ground.
"But since you've chosen to do that, I'll teach you a lesson! Garchomp! Use Earthquake!"
"Garrr!"
BOOM!!
Without showing the slightest mercy, Garchomp raised one foot the instant it heard Liam's command and stomped heavily onto the ground!
In an instant, the entire battlefield shook violently! Huge cracks rapidly spread across the entire field!
"GABAA!!"
As Earthquake erupted through the ground, Gabite, which had been tunneling beneath the surface, was violently blasted out!
Bang!
Gabite crashed heavily onto the ground. Its entire body was covered in injuries, and for the moment, it didn't even have enough strength to get back onto its feet.
Seeing Gabite's condition, Cynthia immediately became anxious and exclaimed in astonishment,
"Gabite! H-how can Garchomp use Earthquake?!"
Due to geographical differences, TMs were currently widespread only in the Kanto and Johto regions. They had only recently begun expanding into the Hoenn market, while in regions such as Sinnoh and Unova, they were still rarely circulated.
Therefore, Cynthia, who believed herself to be quite familiar with Garchomp's moves, was naturally shocked.
Liam, however, was somewhat surprised that Gabite still hadn't fainted.
"It took an Earthquake from Garchomp and still hasn't gone down. This Gabite of yours is already very impressive, Ms. Lan. I think the outcome has been decided, don't you? You should probably have Nurse Joy treat Gabite as soon as possible."
"Gar, gar~"
Garchomp voiced its agreement.
After all, when a Pokémon using Dig was struck by Earthquake, the damage was doubled.
"Mm, I understand. Gabite, you've already done very well. Come back!"
Cynthia quickly nodded after hearing Liam's words. Although she was somewhat reluctant to concede, she still took out her PokeBall and fired a beam of red light toward Gabite.
But just as the PokeBall's red light was about to reach it—
"Gaba!"
Gabite, which had been lying on the ground, suddenly rolled aside and dodged the beam!
Then, enduring the pain coursing through its body, Gabite slowly struggled back onto its feet. It turned its head toward Garchomp on the opposite side of the field and—
"GABAAA!!"
Gabite suddenly raised both claws toward the sky and unleashed a tremendous roar!
Immediately afterward—
Bzzzzzz!!
A brilliant white light erupted!
Right before Garchomp's eyes, Gabite began evolving into its final evolutionary stage!
"I-it's evolving! Ha! That's wonderful! Gabite, you can do it!!"
The sudden change in Gabite made Cynthia stop what she was doing. Amid her ecstatic cheers, Gabite's body, enveloped in brilliant white light, rapidly grew larger.
Finally—
"GARCHOOOMP!!"
Accompanied by a roar slightly different from Garchomp's, the dazzling white light rapidly dissipated.
The next moment, a well-proportioned Garchomp stood roaring on the battlefield!
"Yahoo!! You did it! Gabi—no! Garchomp, you're amazing!!"
Cynthia was so excited at seeing her newly evolved Garchomp that she began jumping up and down on the spot.
"Garchomp~!"
Hearing Cynthia's cheers, her Garchomp first turned around, narrowed its eyes into a happy smile, and nodded.
Then it turned back toward Liam's Garchomp.
The flames of fighting spirit had once again ignited within its sharp eyes!
"ROAR!!"
Without even waiting for Cynthia to issue a command, the newly evolved Garchomp suddenly charged straight toward Liam's Garchomp!
"Gaar!"
A pair of enormous Dragon Claws rapidly formed around its fins. The instant it reached Garchomp, those claws came slashing down!
"Bring it on! Garchomp! Dragon Claw!"
"Garrr!"
Once again, Dragon Claw met Dragon Claw head-on.
Except this time, the Gabite from before had already evolved into Garchomp.
BANG!!
With a sharp crash, the four Dragon Claws of the two Garchomp collided violently!
Immediately afterward—
"Garchomp!"
With its Dragon Claw blocked, the newly evolved Garchomp took advantage of the momentum from its charge and suddenly unleashed every ounce of its strength!
The tremendous force caused Liam's Garchomp's body to sink slightly, and even the ground beneath its feet shattered under the immense pressure!
Yet despite the ground breaking apart beneath it, Garchomp still didn't take a single step backward!
"Garchomp! You can't lose to your junior! Show it your strength! Push it back!"
"GARRR!!"
With another tremendous roar, Liam's Garchomp, which had seemingly been suppressed, rapidly increased the strength behind its Dragon Claws!
Then, under the astonished gaze of the other Garchomp, Liam's Garchomp began overpowering it once again!
And that wasn't all.
With their Dragon Claws locked together, the newly evolved Garchomp couldn't retreat or disengage. It could only use all of its strength to resist Garchomp's overwhelming pressure!
But it was futile.
Its body was visibly being forced lower and lower by Liam's Garchomp!
By now, the newly evolved Garchomp's head was covered in sweat. Gritting its teeth tightly, it summoned the last of its strength to withstand Garchomp's overwhelming power!
But then—
BOOM!!
Finally unable to endure any longer, the newly evolved Garchomp was slammed directly into the ground by Liam's Garchomp!
The tremendous impact caused the earth beneath them to crack once again!
Finally—
"Alright. This time, there's absolutely no question that the battle is over."
Liam smiled faintly as he looked at Garchomp pinning the other Garchomp helplessly to the ground, its two Dragon Claws positioned around its opponent's neck like a pair of scissors.