"Nothing!"
"Big Sister's Seviper was defeated!"
"This Gary… he's not ordinary…"
Lucy's apprentices froze, their eyes wide with disbelief. A Pokémon as prideful and aggressive as Seviper was rarely beaten head-on, yet here it lay defeated by Gary's Rhyperior.
Lucy's Seviper had always been notoriously arrogant. It struck first, struck hard, and never bothered to defend itself. Over the many years since the Battle Frontier had been established, only a handful of challengers had ever managed to confront Lucy's Seviper and survive.
Barbara, standing beside the command area, was practically fuming. Her cheeks puffed up in frustration, and she stomped her foot in anger.
"Seviper has lost its ability to battle! Rhyperior wins!" she announced reluctantly, her voice tinged with disappointment.
Seeing her big sister's Pokémon defeated so decisively, Barbara slumped in her seat, clearly demoralized.
Lucy, however, remained composed. Calmly, she recalled Seviper into its Poké Ball with a flash of light.
"Milotic, it's your turn," Lucy commanded, tossing the next Poké Ball toward the pool on her side of the battlefield.
From the water, a graceful Pokémon emerged, its long, serpentine body gliding across the surface with elegance. The Milotic's scales shimmered like liquid silver, catching the light in waves as it entered the pool.
[LV66 Milotic ♀ / Elite Potential]
Gary's eyes narrowed. Milotic's presence alone was a warning. A Pokémon of Elite potential was not only powerful but also highly trained over years.
Considering its level and Lucy's meticulous care, this Milotic had likely been nurtured for decades—an experience and skill that far outclassed raw stats.
He knew instantly that Rhyperior was at a disadvantage. Its Lightning Rod ability could not protect it from Milotic's devastating Water-type moves.
And with the rules of the Battle Pike forbidding substitutions, there would be no chance to switch it out.
"Rhyperior! Stone Edge!" Gary commanded, setting his strategy in motion.
The massive Rhyperior slammed its fists into the ground, sending a barrage of jagged stone spires shooting toward Milotic.
"Milotic, Hydro Pump!" Lucy countered immediately.
"Miloooootic!"
Milotic's elegant tail lashed the water, creating a titanic wave that washed over the Stone Edge attack.
The colossal surge rolled across the battlefield, forcing Rhyperior back several meters. The sheer force of the wave battered the Drill Pokémon, leaving it shaken but still standing.
Before Gary could issue another order, Milotic had already retaliated, its eyes focused, as a concentrated jet of water shot toward Rhyperior.
"Rhyperior, brace yourself!" Gary bellowed.
With a mighty roar, Rhyperior attempted to withstand the Hydro Pump, yet the Elite potential of Milotic was staggering.
The Pokémon was moving with perfect balance, evading attacks while simultaneously striking with relentless precision.
The combination of wave and water blast forced Rhyperior backward repeatedly, each strike chipping away at its stamina.
Barbara squealed. "Rhyperior can't take much more! Milotic wins!"
Gary frowned. He had expected Rhyperior to at least land some damage, but Milotic moved with unmatched grace. Every attack was countered flawlessly. He recalled Rhyperior and prepared his next Pokémon.
"Electivire, it's your turn!"
The golden Pokémon appeared in a flash of electric energy, sparks dancing along its arms as it flexed.
[LV63 Electivire ♀ / Champion]
Gary's Electivire had grown stronger since their last encounter. Its level had increased by one, and its recent training had honed its Thunderbolt precision to near perfection.
"Milotic, Hydro Pump!" Lucy's voice rang out.
"Electivire, Thunderbolt!" Gary responded in unison.
The two attacks collided with a spectacular clash: golden electricity surged along the cascading wave of water.
Hydro Pump and Thunderbolt intertwined mid-air, neither attack losing momentum. Electivire surged forward, charging through the elemental storm with determination.
Bang!
Electivire was knocked back by the force of Milotic's Hydro Pump, its body tensing as it absorbed the impact.
Ugh!
Simultaneously, Milotic was struck by the raw electric energy of Thunderbolt. Its shimmering scales crackled with electricity, yet the Water-type Pokémon remained upright, gliding gracefully across the pool's surface.
Gary's eyes gleamed. "Electivire! Thunder!"
"Hydro Pump, now!" Lucy's command was crisp, precise.
The two Pokémon collided again and again, each exchange leaving a spray of water and crackling sparks.
Electivire's lightning surged over the cascading water, while Milotic's Hydro Pumps crashed down with relentless force. Their battle became a rhythm of give-and-take, a pure display of endurance and elemental might.
Milotic's special defense was formidable, yet repeated hits from Electivire's Thunder inflicted noticeable strain. Conversely, Hydro Pumps hammered Electivire continuously, draining its stamina bit by bit.
After the fifth collision, Milotic's movements began to falter. A wave hit too hard, a surge of electricity too precise—finally, the elegant Pokémon sank into the pool, unable to continue.
Barbara gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Milotic has lost its ability to battle! Electivire wins!"
Electivire, though battered from repeated Hydro Pumps, stood tall, its sparks flickering lightly across its body. It had weathered the Elite Pokémon's attacks and emerged victorious, at least for now.
Scott's eyes shone with excitement. "Now that's a real showdown! This head-to-head clash is exactly the kind of battle that gets hearts racing!"
Barbara, still recovering from the shock, could barely speak. "I… I can't believe it…"
Lucy's expression remained composed as she recalled Milotic. "Steelix, it's your turn."
A massive flash of light erupted as the last Poké Ball left Lucy's hand. From it emerged a towering Steelix, its silver body gleaming with metallic precision. Its segmented form stretched nearly ten meters into the air, eyes gleaming with a fierce, predatory intelligence.
[LV64 Steelix ♀ / Champion]
Gary's eyes narrowed. Electivire's Electric-type attacks would be nearly useless against this Ground-type behemoth. Only a direct, close-quarters assault could work.
"Electivire! Close in on Steelix!" Gary commanded.
"Elec-tiiive!"
Electivire surged across the battlefield, sparks trailing like comets. Its strategy was clear: speed, agility, and precise strikes.
"Don't let Electivire approach! Earthquake!" Lucy countered.
Steelix slammed its massive tail into the ground, sending tremors rippling across the field. But Electivire, anticipating the attack, leaped gracefully over the quake, landing skillfully near Steelix's head.
"Iron Head!" Gary shouted.
Steelix lunged, attempting to ram Electivire headfirst. Gary's hand shot up. "Protect!"
A shimmering green barrier enveloped Electivire, absorbing the full brunt of Steelix's strike. Sparks flew as metal collided with the protective shield, but Electivire remained unharmed, now only a few meters from the colossal Steelix.
"Dynamic Punch! Now!" Gary bellowed.