"What's happening?!" Blaine exclaimed in shock. Ninetales clearly had the Flash Fire ability, so how could it be hurt by flames, especially flames released by Ninetales itself?
"Could the move Gengar just used be...?"
"Skill Swap, a Psychic-type move," Red explained with clinical precision. "Its effect is to exchange abilities between the user and target. Accuracy and evasion don't affect this move."
Upon realizing it could no longer be immune to flames, Ninetales immediately used Psychic to completely dispel the fire engulfing its body.
Just as Ninetales was breathing a sigh of relief, something strange happened again. The Fire-type's entire body began floating uncontrollably, slowly rising into the air and awkwardly making eye contact with the ancient Gengar hovering before it.
"Shouldn't Gengar's ability only be Cursed Body? Ninetales' current condition seems more like it's gained the Levitate ability," Blaine wondered aloud, turning his questioning gaze to Red.
"My Gengar is a thousand-year-old Shiny Pokémon," Red said evasively, not explaining the origin of his partner's abilities in detail. "Its capabilities might be more special than current Gengar. Perhaps the Gengar species had the Levitate ability a thousand years ago."
"I see..." Blaine murmured, no longer dwelling on the ancient Gengar's mysterious powers.
"Since Fire-type moves can't be used, then let's use Psychic-type moves that are effective against Gengar. Ninetales, use Psychic!"
"My Gengar won't lose to Ninetales either. Use Psychic!"
Both Pokémon released their psychic powers in a battle of wills. In the brief mental confrontation, Ninetales ultimately lost, its concentration shattered by the ancient ghost's superior experience.
Unable to adapt to its floating state, Ninetales was caught off guard and controlled by the Millennium Gengar's Psychic, being manipulated like a puppet and continuously slammed against the ground.
"Ninetales, use Disable!" Although his Pokémon's stamina was gradually being depleted, the extremely experienced Blaine remained calm and gave his command with practiced composure.
Ninetales' eyes released azure light, temporarily sealing the ancient Gengar's Psychic move.
"Boring. I never expected I'd be caught by this move," the Millennium Gengar said with mild irritation.
"Although you managed to save Ninetales from danger in time, unfortunately, Mr. Blaine, I won't give my opponent any chance to catch their breath."
Red looked calmly at the struggling Ninetales and slowly gave his partner its final command.
"Gengar, finish it with Shadow Ball!"
The ancient Gengar condensed dark energy in both hands, then hurled the Shadow Ball directly at Ninetales, landing a devastating hit on the Fire-type's body.
Seeing Ninetales collapse with swirling eyes, Blaine looked at Red with genuine admiration and slowly took out a Poké Ball to recall his defeated partner.
"I still underestimated you, Lord Red. You truly deserve to be recognized as an opponent by all the gym trainers in the Kanto region," Blaine praised, then threw another Poké Ball with renewed determination. "No wonder that Giovanni fellow acknowledges your strength."
"My second contestant is this one!"
As the white light faded, Rhydon, a living embodiment of raw power, appeared before Red and the ancient Gengar. The Rock-type snorted aggressively, continuously scraping the ground with its right foot, fully prepared for battle.
"Come back for now, Gengar!" Just as the Millennium Gengar wanted to continue fighting, it was called back by Red.
"What's the matter, Boss? I was just getting into the groove!" The ancient Gengar approached Red with a theatrical expression, acting spoiled to try to convince him to continue the battle.
"You'd better stop this meaningless performance, or I'll have to deal with you after I finish this gym challenge," Red criticized with mild irritation, then threw another Poké Ball from his waist.
"This is your first official battle. Win this round for me, Tauros!"
As brilliant white light faded, a robust gray Tauros appeared before Rhydon. Its three tails swayed continuously, and Tauros scraped the ground powerfully with its right hoof, comparing battle momentum with the Rock-type ahead.
"Looks like another power-type contestant. This should be a very exciting match," Blaine nodded approvingly.
"Tauros, use Iron Tail!" Red commanded, giving Blaine no chance to react.
"Rhydon, quickly use Hammer Arm!" Blaine said urgently, not expecting Red to battle so aggressively.
Tauros snorted, its three silver-glowing tails whipping fiercely toward Rhydon.
Rhydon wasn't to be outdone, raising its thick right arm high and using its powerful, heavy fist to clash with Tauros's metallic tails. The power struggle began in earnest.
Both Pokémon continuously scraped the ground, trying to use leverage to suppress each other's strength.
Under Red and Blaine's watchful eyes, Tauros ultimately gained the advantage, landing a precise Iron Tail hit on Rhydon's body, making it cry out in pain.
"That Iron Tail's power really isn't to be underestimated!" Blaine said cautiously, amazed by the terrifying extent of Tauros's strength.
"Rhydon, use Stone Edge!"
"Tauros, we'll also use Stone Edge!"
Sharp stone blades materialized around both Pokémon, then under their control, continuously fired toward each other's position.
In the center of the field, both sides' stone projectiles collided violently, producing sounds of shattering rock.
After a tense moment, Stone Edge ultimately ended with Rhydon's victory, the remaining stone blades continuing their assault toward Tauros.
"After all, it's not a same-type move. Tauros, use Horn Attack to shatter the incoming stone blades!"
After hearing Red's command, Tauros immediately used the thick horns on its forehead to easily shatter the incoming projectiles into harmless fragments.
"Rhydon, use Horn Drill!"
Rhydon's forehead drill spun with deadly precision as it took heavy steps, continuously approaching Tauros's position.
"Tauros, first use Rock Tomb to seal Rhydon's movement," Red commanded strategically.
Tauros controlled the surrounding rocks, continuously hurling them in front of Rhydon. To reach its target, Rhydon had to use brute force to smash through the rocky barriers, indirectly slowing its advance.
"Tauros, use Iron Tail!"
Tauros let out a thunderous roar. After Rhydon shattered the last obstacle, it decisively rushed forward first, its three silver-glowing tails striking Rhydon's vital point with devastating precision.
Rhydon couldn't help but cry out in agony, but to achieve victory, it endured the searing pain and forced itself to reach Tauros, using Horn Drill to strike the Normal-type's vital point.
After being hit critically by Rhydon, Tauros's eyes turned blood red with fury. It snorted angrily, its entire body's muscles swelling several times over, and the fur on its neck began floating due to extreme rage.
"Use the final Iron Head!"
Under Blaine and Rhydon's shocked gazes, Tauros used brute force to break through the Horn Drill attack, then used its steel-hard, silver-glowing head to slam into Rhydon's body.
Tauros's terrifying power even forced Rhydon back to the corner. If Red hadn't spoken up to stop it in time, Rhydon might have tragically fallen into the boiling lava below the battlefield.
"What terrifying power..." Blaine murmured, his voice filled with genuine awe at the display of raw strength before him.