Chapter 508: Water Gym Battle (1)
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Pastoria City – Gym]
The humidity of the Pastoria City Gym was thick enough to taste, a heavy mixture of chlorinated pool water and the musk of a marsh. The cheers of the small gathered crowd—mostly local sailors with sun-darkened skin and wide-eyed gym apprentices—echoed off the high, glass-domed ceiling.
Platinum stood tall, her breath still coming in slightly rhythmic puffs from the adrenaline of her victory. In her hand, she clutched the Fen Badge, its silver surface gleaming with a fresh, cold light. She turned away from the battlefield, her blue eyes finding her companions.
Pearl shouted excitedly, punching the air with his usual boisterous energy, "Excellent work, Platinum! That Empoleon of yours was like a fortress! Wake didn't know what hit him!"
Diamond was less vocal, mostly because his mouth was currently occupied by a large, bean-stuffed manju he'd somehow procured during the final rounds of the match. He managed, a stray crumb clinging to his chin, "Mmf—good job!"
Beside them, the group was a peculiar sight. Azure's Pikachu sat perched on a bench, its ears twitching in anticipation. Eevee groomed its neck fur, while a small, curious Pichu (Mew) peered out from the collar of Azure's jacket, its eyes wide. Hovering behind them was a shadow with a distinct silhouette: Azure's Gengar.
Gengar's voice rasped in a low, feminine tone, "She did well, didn't she? But now, the real show starts. Look at the boss."
Azure stepped forward. He didn't walk with the frantic energy of a new trainer, nor the arrogance of many who had conquered leagues. He moved with the practiced, economical grace of a man who had seen hundreds of battlefields.
His hair ruffled slightly in the gym's ventilation, and his expression remained a mask of calm focus. He didn't head for the exit. He headed for the challenger's platform. The atmosphere in the gym shifted instantly.
Wake, the 'Torrential Mask,' roared with laughter, his massive chest expanding as he wiped sweat from his brow. Wake shouted, his voice booming like a tidal wave, "Gah-ha-ha! The main event! The Ace Gym Match!"
He turned to the statue referee, who remained stoic and silent, and then back to Azure as he continued, "Platinum was a delight, truly! A scholar's tact! But you… You're the storm on the horizon, aren't you?"
The rules for the Ace Gym Match were more stringent than the standard badge challenge. Azure stood at the edge of the waterlogged arena. The maze of floating planks beneath them bobbed gently.
Wake announced, raising his Rotom Phone, "Six Pokémon registered. Choose 4 for the field. Two at a time. A Double Battle format! The way the seas intended!"
*BDMP*
A scanner, glowing with a soft blue light, swept over Azure's side of the field. Six empty slots appeared on a holographic display above the arena. One by one, Azure placed six Poké Balls into the tray provided by a waiting Sailor.
*HUMMMM*
The scanner hummed, logging the power levels of his Rotom, Hisuian Lilligant, Tangela, Electabuzz, Porygon-Z, and Froslass. It didn't reveal their stats to Wake—only that they were within the legal 'Ace' bracket.
Azure reached out and tapped four specific spheres: Tangela, Electabuzz, Porygon-Z, and Froslass. Azure said quietly as he reviewed their status screen, "The choice is made. Let's do this, you guys…"
|Name: Electabuzz (Electric Pokémon)
|Type: Electric
|Tera: Electric
|Level: 41
|Gender: Male
|Held Item: [Magnet]/[Zap Plate]/[Muscle Band]/[Punching Glove]
|Ability: Static
|Nature: Jolly
|Moves: Protect, Detect, Teleport, Charge, Magnet Rise, Thunder Wave, Light Screen, Screech, Shock Wave [A][S],Thunder Shock [A][S], Volt Switch [A][S],Discharge [A][S], Thunderbolt [A][S], Thunder [A][S], Thunder Punch [A][S], Power-Up Punch [A][S], Fire Punch [A][S], Ice Punch [A][S], Mega Punch [A][S], Dynamic Punch [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Quick Attack [A][S], Psychic [A][S], Swift [A][S], Low Kick [A][S], Barrier (EM) (0 Moves left to learn)
|Name: Froslass (Snow Land Pokémon)
|Type: Ice/Ghost
|Tera: Ice
|Level: 41
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: [Never-Melt Ice]/[Froslassite]/[Icicle/Spooky Plate]
|Ability: Snow Cloak
|Nature: Serious
|Moves: Protect, Hail, Reflect, Light Screen, Confuse Ray, Double-Team, Haze, Will-O-Wisp, Pain Split, Taunt, Destiny Bond, Thunder Wave, Attract, Blizzard [A][S], Powder Snow [A][S], Ice Shard [A][S], Icy Wind [A][S], Frost Breath [A][S], Ice Beam [A][S], Freeze-Dry [A][S], Shadow Ball [A][S], Astonish[A][S], Water Pulse [A][S], Psychic [A][S], Crunch [A][S], Ominous Wind [A][S] (IM), Hex [A][S] (IM), Draining Kiss [A][S] (IM), Disable (IM), Block (EM) (0 Moves to learn)
|Name: Porygon-Z (Virtual Pokémon)
|Type: Normal
|Tera: Normal
|Level: 43
|Gender: Genderless
|Held Item: [Blank Plate]/[Silk Scarf]/[Wise Glasses]
|Ability: Analytic (Adaptability/Download) (Hidden Ability)
|Nature: Timid
|Moves: Protect, Conversion, Sharpen, Conversion 2, Teleport, Agility, Recover, Recycle, Lock-On, Gravity, Magnet Rise, Heal Block, Telekinesis, Barrier, Thunder Wave, Nasty Plot, Hyper Beam [A][S], Swift [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Self-Destruct [A][S], Giga Impact [A][S], Hidden Power [A][S], Discharge [A][S], Zap Cannon [A][S], Psybeam [A][S], Shadow Ball [A][S], Psychic [A][S], Thunderbolt [A][S], Ice Beam [A][S], Dark Pulse [A][S], Charge Beam [A][S], Discharge [A][S], Tri Attack [A][S] (IM)
|Name: Tangela (Vine Pokémon)
|Type: Grass
|Tera: Grass
|Level: 34
|Gender: Male
|Held Item: [Leftovers]/[Meadow Plate]/[Binding Band]
|Ability: Regenerator (Hidden Ability)
|Nature: Relaxed
|Moves: Protect, Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, Poison Powder, Growth, Ingrain, Absorb [A][S], Vine Whip [A][S], Mega Drain [A][S], Giga Drain [A][S], Energy Ball [A][S], Constrict [A][S], Bind [A][S], Confusion [A][S], Knock Off [A][S], Acid Spray [A][S], Double-Hit [A][S], Shock Wave [A][S], Cut [A][S] (HM), Amnesia (IM), Rage Powder (EM) (1 Moves left to learn)
A Sailor stepped forward, presenting Wake with a silver plate. On it sat his four selected Poké Balls and a necklace crafted from blackened steel. Embedded in the center was a polished Key Stone, its internal rainbow swirling like a trapped nebula.
Wake slipped the necklace over his head, the weight of the stone resting against his chest. Wake shouted, his grin widening to reveal those iconic white teeth, "No secrets from my side either! I'm bringing the heavy hitters! Politoed! Kingdra! Gyarados! And a guest from the history books—Samurott!"
The crowd gasped. Gyarados and Kingdra were staples of Wake's power, but a Samurott—especially the rumored Hisuian variant—was a rarity that made the apprentices whisper frantically. Azure's expression didn't flicker.
He looked at the water, then at the sky—or rather, the ceiling. He knew what was coming. Azure said calmly, "Let's go."
Wake bellowed, hurling two Poke Balls to the field, "THEN LET THE RAIN FALL! Politoed! Kingdra! CRASH ONTO THE FIELD!"
*POP*
Wake tossed two Poké Balls with such force that they whistled through the air. In two synchronized bursts of white light, his openers appeared.
*THWACK*
Politoed landed on a floating plank with a wet thwack, its green skin glistening, and a small, [Damp Rock] tied to its waist. Beside it, Kingdra emerged from the deep water, its snout breaking the surface as it hovered with draconic grace, with its held item around its neck a [Life Orb].
*RMBL*
Immediately, the Politoed's Hidden Ability Drizzle took hold. The air became heavy, and within seconds, a localized downpour began to pelt the gym. The sounds of hundreds of raindrops hitting the water's surface created a rhythmic, percussive roar.
*Pitter-patter*
*Pitter-patter*
Kingdra's eyes narrowed, its fins fluttering with impossible speed as its Ability Swift Swim kicked in, fueled by the falling rain.
Diamond muttered, pulling his hood up to avoid getting wet, "Rain. That's not good for Electabuzz's aim, is it?"
Platinum corrected as she eyed the situation with a wry expression, "Actually, it makes Thunder impossible to miss. But it also doubles Kingdra's speed thanks to Swift Swim. This is a race against time."
Azure commanded, "Tangela, Electabuzz, front and center."
*POP*
He released his own pair. Tangela landed with a soft rustle of vines on a central plank, the [Leftovers] tucked safely within its tangle of blue appendages. Electabuzz followed, its yellow-and-black fur crackling with electricity that sizzled whenever a raindrop touched it. The [Magnet] hanging from its belt pulsed with a dull, metallic hum.
Wake laughed as he began the battle, "A grass type and an electric type? Kingdra! Politoed! Hydro Pump and Weather Ball!"
Azure commanded, "Tangela, Rage Powder! Electabuzz, Light Screen!"
The battle erupted. The battle moved with a speed that blurred the vision of the apprentices in the stands.
*PEW*
Kingdra's snout glowed with a terrifying blue light. Because of the rain, Kingdra moved like a streak of indigo lightning, its Swift Swim Ability making it the fastest thing in the room. It unleashed a spiraling vortex of water—a Hydro Pump—aimed directly at Electabuzz. Simultaneously, Politoed gathered a sphere of pure rainwater, the Weather Ball infused with the power of the storm, turning it into a high-pressure bomb.
*POOF*
But Azure's Tangela was faster than it looked. Tangela's movements became a fluid blur. It didn't just release powder; it wove it into the air with a dance-like grace. The Rage Powder glittered through the rain, glowing with an irritating, hypnotic light.
The Hydro Pump and the Weather Ball, both destined for the fragile Electabuzz, suddenly veered off course. The Pokémon couldn't help themselves; the powder's scent was an irresistible taunt. Wake blinked as he exclaimed, "What?! He forced the redirection!"
*BOOM*
The twin water attacks slammed into Tangela. The impact was massive, a gout of white spray obscuring the blue vine Pokémon.
Pearl cried out, "Tangela!"
Platinum said, her eyes fixed on the field, "Wait…"
As the spray cleared, Tangela was still standing, though pushed back to the very edge of its plank. The [Leftovers] tucked into its vines began to glow, slowly mending the bruises on its surface as it was holding the line.
Taking advantage of the diversion, Electabuzz roared, "ELBUUUUAA!!"
*SLAM*
Slamming its fists together. A shimmering, translucent wall of golden energy erupted in front of Azure's team. Light Screen was up, halving the damage from the special-attack-heavy team Wake was running.
Wake yelled, "Good defense! But let's see you handle the pressure!"
Azure called out over the roar of the downpour, "Kingdra is too fast in this rain, Wake! But speed isn't everything when the ground is buzzing. Electabuzz, Thunder Wave on Kingdra! Tangela, Strong Style Giga Drain on Politoed!"
Wake countered as he roared, "Not so fast! Kingdra, Dragon Pulse! Politoed, use Ice Beam on the vines!"
*PEW*
The Kingdra opened its maw, a sphere of purple-and-blue draconic energy forming before it tore through the air, aimed directly at Electabuzz. Politoed, meanwhile, tried to unleash a freezing ray of light that turned the falling raindrops into mid-air hailstones, tracing a path toward Tangela.
Azure countered, "Electabuzz, Teleport."
*SWOOOSH*
In a flash of psychic light, Electabuzz vanished from the path of the Dragon Pulse. The projectile struck the water behind where he had been, sending a geyser of spray thirty feet into the air...
*SWF*
Electabuzz reappeared on a plank to the far left, his hand already crackling. He flicked a concentrated bolt of paralysis at Kingdra. The Kingdra tried to dodge, its Swift Swim propelling it through the water like a torpedo, but the bolt arced through the rain-soaked air, drawn by the moisture.
*Crack-thrum*
Kingdra's body seized for a split second, yellow sparks dancing across its blue scales. It was paralyzed.
Azure commanded, "Now, Tangela!"
*WHIP*
Tangela ignored the Ice Beam aimed its way by shifting its weight, the vines absorbing the chill but not freezing solid, thanks to its vitality. Tangela's vines extended, glowing with a deep, predatory emerald light.
*ZAP*
Using the Strong Style, Tangela sacrificed speed for raw, soul-sucking power. The vines lashed out, wrapping around Politoed's plump middle before the frog could react. Politoed let out a startled croak as its life energy was forcibly ripped away, "POLI!!!"
The green glow surged back through the vines, healing Tangela almost back to full health. One of the apprentices shouted, "What?! That Tangela is a tank!"
Wake shouted, rubbing his chin, "Gah! Super-Effective play! You're trying to wear us down! Kingdra, shake it off! Use Hydro Pump on Electabuzz! Politoed, use Mud Shot to ground that sparky beast!"
*PEW*
Kingdra roared—a sound like grinding stones—and unleashed a massive pillar of pressurized water. Politoed followed up by spitting a glob of heavy, thick mud at Electabuzz's feet.
*SPLAT
The Rain/Swift Swim combo was still a threat, even with paralysis. Kingdra's [Life Orb] glowed an angry red, draining a portion of its health to empower the Hydro Pump to devastating levels. Even with the Light Screen and the healing, the sheer force of a [Life Orb]-boosted Kingdra in the rain was still a threat.
Azure's voice was sharp, "Electabuzz, protect yourself with Agile Style Shock Wave! Tangela, Strong Style: Giga Drain on Politoed!"
Electabuzz didn't try to dodge the mud this time.
*ZZZZZT*
He punched the air, releasing waves of electricity that didn't just strike the opponent—they filled the space around him. The Shock Wave collided with the Hydro Pump, the electricity traveling up the stream of water. The two forces neutralized each other in a spectacular explosion of steam and sparks.
*BOOM*
The gym shook.
*WHIP*
Meanwhile, Tangela's vines had become thick, pulsing with a deep emerald light thanks to Strong Style. The vines didn't whip; they hammered. They slammed into Politoed with the weight of a falling tree.
*ZAP*
Politoed let out a pained croak as the vines began to drain its very life force, the green energy flowing back into Tangela, healing every scratch it had taken from the Ice Beam. Tangela cried out happily, fully back to health, "TANG! ELA! (I'm at full health! And it feels good!!)"
Wake was sweating now, despite the cold rain. He saw the opening as he barked, "Kingdra! Focus on everything! We're taking them down! Draco Meteor!"
The Kingdra's eyes glowed a blinding white and uncoiled with raw power. Energy began to gather in its mouth, swirling into an ominous, purplish orb that crackled with destructive potential…
*Shhhh*
The air around it grew unstable, warping under the immense pressure of the nascent dragon-type attack. Draco Meteor, a move known for its overwhelming force, was being charged, aimed directly at Azure's dual Pokémon.
The crowd gasped. Direct hits from Draco Meteor were devastating.
Pearl clenched his fists as he whispered, "Oh no, that's a direct hit coming!"
Diamond, ever the pragmatist, frowned and added, "Kingdra's quick thanks to Swift Swim in the rain. And a Life Orb boost… that's going to hurt even if it's paralyzed."
Platinum, however, noticed Azure's calm demeanor. His eyes, fixed on the charging Kingdra, held a glint of absolute focus as she thought, 'And yet Azure isn't phased at all… does he have a plan?'
Azure's Gengar cackled softly, seeing her expression as she said, grabbing her attention, "Oh, he's got one. Just watch."
Wake yelled, "This is it!"
Azure's eyes, however, held a glint of strategic anticipation. Azure murmured, a predatory edge to his normally placid tone, "This is what I was waiting for…"
His voice then rose, clear and sharp above the falling rain as he commanded, "Electabuzz! Toss Tangela! Now!"
The command was so sudden, so unexpected, that it stunned the crowd into silence. Electabuzz, without hesitation, moved with lightning speed.
*ZOOOOM*
Its powerful arms reached out, grabbing hold of Tangela's dense, vine-covered body. With a grunt of effort that reverberated with electrical energy, Electabuzz spun, gathering momentum, and then, with a mighty heave, launched Tangela directly at the charging Kingdra.
*BOOOOM*
Tangela, with a surprised but knowing battle cry, was launched like a living projectile through the air, propelled by Electabuzz's powerful move directly towards the charging Kingdra, "Tange-la! (HERE I COME! MY BODY IS READY!!!)"
The crowd gasped. A sailor exclaimed, "What?!"
Pearl exclaimed in shock, "He's attacking his own Pokémon?"
Platinum cried out, a small smile playing on her lips, "No, look! It's a trajectory!"
Kingdra, still focused on gathering the immense energy for its Draco Meteor, was momentarily caught off guard. Tangela, mid-flight, twisted its body with astonishing agility. It's tough, prehensile vines snapped out.
Azure commanded, "Tangela, Bind!"
*WHUMP*
With pinpoint accuracy, Tangela's thick vines wrapped tightly around Kingdra's snout, constricting its mouth and effectively clamping down on the volatile Draco Meteor before it could be fully released. The dragon energy, unable to burst forth, began to build up within Kingdra's head, causing its face to swell to enormous, grotesque proportions.
Kingdra thrashed wildly, its powerful body contorting in visible agony, its frustrated roars muffled by Tangela's grip. The sheer audacity of the move stunned everyone.
Pearl yelled, completely awestruck, "He stopped it!"
Platinum's eyes widened as she uttered in disbelief at the scene, "He actually stopped a Draco Meteor!"
Diamond nearly dropped his Poffin, his jaw hanging as he uttered, stunned, "That was... that was nuts!"
Even Crasher Wake's booming voice faltered, "What in the gym?!"
He exclaimed, his confident grin replaced by a look of genuine shock, "Kingdra! Get that thing off you!"
Seeing his Kingdra in distress, Wake barked an order at his remaining active Pokémon, "Politoed! Use Ice Beam to dislodge Tangela!"
Politoed immediately began preparation to help, redirecting its energy into forming a swirling orb of ice, aiming for Tangela. Azure's voice cut through the chaos, cold and precise, "Electabuzz! Thunder, Strong Style! Finish Politoed!"
Electabuzz, having successfully launched Tangela, was now free. The rain, amplified by Politoed's Drizzle, was still pouring down, and Electabuzz's [Magnet] pulsed with power. A dark cloud of electricity gathered around Electabuzz, crackling violently. With a roar, it unleashed a colossal bolt of pure, raw lightning, "ELUBAAAA!!!"
*K-ZZZZZZZZAP*
The electric blast, super-charged by the weather and Electabuzz's item, tore through the air with terrifying speed, slamming into Politoed before it could even release its Ice Beam. Politoed shrieked, its vibrant green skin instantly singed and smoking.
*Thud*
The immense power of the Thunder, coupled with the rain, was overwhelming. Its eyes rolled back, and its small body seized up entirely. With a final, weak croak, Politoed slumped onto its plank, completely knocked out, "… toad… (I'm cooked...)."
The statue referee declared, its voice surprisingly loud and clear over the din, "Politoed is unable to battle!"
At the same moment, as Politoed collapsed, Azure issued another sharp command, "Tangela! Release!"
Azure's Tangela, having completed its perilous mission, instantly loosened its Bind. Without the external pressure, the pent-up Draco Meteor energy within Kingdra exploded outward without restraint...
*BOOM*
The Kingdra, still reeling from the internal pressure and the sudden release, was sent flying across the vast gym, propelled by the residual force of its own unreleased attack. Its serpentine body spun wildly through the air, hitting the surface of the artificial lake with a deafening...
*SPLASH*
The impact sent a geyser of water high into the air, momentarily obscuring the Pokémon. When the water settled, Kingdra floated limply on the surface, its eyes spiraling.
The referee confirmed, the declaration echoing through a gym now gripped by stunned silence, "Kingdra is unable to battle!"
Two Pokémon down. The silence soon erupted into a cacophony of gasps, cheers, and bewildered shouts from the crowd. Sailors slapped each other on the back, apprentices stared with wide eyes, and Pearl let out a whoop of pure amazement, "NO WAY! He took out two of them in one go! That was genius!"
Diamond, having finally eaten his Poffin, was now vibrating with excitement, and added, "He used Tangela as a weapon! And Electabuzz's Thunder was insane!"
Platinum watched Azure with a sense of profound admiration in her eyes as she muttered, "A brilliant, unconventional strategy. He saw the opening and seized it perfectly."
Gengar hovered beside them, her shadowy form rippling with amusement, stated, "Told you he had plans. Wake's face was priceless."
On the battleground, Tangela untangled itself, its vines swaying triumphantly. Electabuzz swaggered over, extending a fist.
*Whack*
Tangela responded by gently tapping its vine against Electabuzz's fist, completing a silent high-five. The duo stood ready, the rain still falling, having annihilated two of Crasher Wake's best in an audacious move.
Crasher Wake stood frozen for a moment, his mouth slightly agape, processing the sheer audacity and effectiveness of Azure's strategy. His eyes, usually dancing with joviality, now burned with a fiercer, more serious fire.
His Ace Match was proving to be far more challenging than anticipated. He let out a low chuckle, a deep, raspy sound that held a hint of grudging respect, "Well, I'll be! Never seen a challenger pull a stunt like that! You really know how to make a splash, kid!"
He retrieved his Politoed and Kingdra, his movements precise as he stated excitedly, "Alright, Azure! You've earned my full attention! Time to see if you can handle the true power of the deep!"
With a sharp intake of breath, Wake threw two more Poké Balls with renewed intensity. "Gyarados! Samurott! It's showtime!"
*POP*
From one ball burst a magnificent Shiny Gyarados, its scales a striking, menacing red, its massive form shimmering as it crashed into the water. The moment it appeared, an invisible wave of oppressive pressure washed over the battlefield and the crowd alike – its Intimidate Ability, instantly lowering the Attack stats of Tangela and Electabuzz.
Gyarados fixed Azure's Pokémon with a furious, crimson-eyed glare, a raw, untamed power radiating from it. Around its neck, a glimmering [Gyaradosite] necklace pulsed softly. From the second ball materialized a formidable Hisuian Samurott, a stoic, powerful figure, its dark blue and cream carapace glistening in the rain.
It held a [Muscle Band] tightly on one of its forelegs, its twin seamitars drawn and ready. Standing on one of the planks, it exuded a silent, deadly aura, its piercing gaze reflecting the serious turn the battle had taken. The rain continued to fall, the atmosphere in the gym growing thick with tension. The fight was far from over.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!