"Mimikyu, Protect!"
As Salamence initiated its offensive opening stance, Okamoto instantly reacted, commanding Mimikyu to block the attack.
Salamence was a mixed attacker capable of using many special moves with considerable power.
Mimikyu, however, was somewhat lacking in this department.
In simple terms, it couldn't win a special attack trade-off.
Of course, the main reason was that Okamoto wanted to preserve Mimikyu's Disguise ability as much as possible—it might turn the tide at a critical moment.
Flames collided with the barrier, and the residual heat made the already narrow battlefield scorching hot.
Affected by the temperature, a bead of sweat gradually formed on Okamoto's face as his mind raced at full speed, trying to figure out how to handle the current predicament.
Good news: Mimikyu wasn't hurt, and had preserved its costume that could block one more attack.
Bad news: As expected of Teacher Azure's Pokémon, this Salamence's Flamethrower was absolutely ridiculous—it definitely exceeded Gym Leader level!
So there was no point counting on Mimikyu's Shadow Ball. He had to find a way to close the distance.
"Salamence, continue using Flamethrower!"
Aiden's commanding voice rang out again, and Salamence, circling in the air, immediately began gathering power, flames burning intensely in its mouth.
Okamoto furrowed his brow, focusing all his attention on thinking.
After one Dragon Dance boost, Salamence's speed was already too fast for the naked eye to follow. Combined with its constant Flamethrower harassment of Mimikyu, and his lack of any countermeasures on his end—
It looked like he had no choice but to switch out and use Scizor, who was better at aerial combat, to deal with it?
No!
Calm down. Think about what Teacher Azure would do in this situation!
Okamoto took a deep breath, and a sudden gleam burst forth in his eyes. Then he spoke decisively without hesitation: "Mimikyu, tank Salamence's attack and gather energy to set up Trick Room!"
That's right—if there was a huge speed disadvantage, Trick Room was the best answer to regain priority!
This was also recorded in Teacher Azure's small lecture sessions, so as one of the outstanding class representatives in the livestream, Okamoto quickly came to his senses and made a very "Teacher Azure-style" command.
"Roarrrr!!"
Salamence mercilessly unleashed its flames, waves of heat and fire columns continuously shooting toward Mimikyu, quickly causing its crudely-made Pikachu costume to deflate, its head falling backward.
Protected by the costume, Mimikyu took no damage, and thus was able to secretly accumulate power, soon extending a shadowy arm from the shadows below.
A burst of mysterious psychic energy erupted, rapidly expanding outward until it covered the entire room, maximizing the effect of Trick Room.
And Salamence, wrapped within it, clearly slowed down its wing-flapping speed, looking very uncomfortable.
"Oh, not bad. To think you'd come up with this method."
Aiden nodded.
Using the Disguise ability to regain priority and rebalance the situation was definitely better for Okamoto than wasting a setup opportunity to preserve Mimikyu and switching to Scizor in the back.
However, the problem of having no anti-air capability still seemed to exist, right?
Okamoto, how will you solve this problem?
"Salamence, continue!"
Aiden spoke, compressing his opponent's thinking time as much as possible so he could demonstrate his true level.
And this point was already within Okamoto's calculations—
"Mimikyu, use Phantom Force—get behind Salamence!"
Okamoto revealed a confident smile, making a commanding gesture with a grand wave of his hand.
His idea was excellent. Using Phantom Force's properties to let Mimikyu lurk into another dimension to dodge attacks, then utilizing the elusive nature of Ghost-type Pokémon to silently appear behind Salamence.
This way, not only could he enter its blind spot, but he could also land on its back and unleash Mimikyu's best move—Play Rough.
"Salamence, land first and wait for your opponent's attack!"
Aiden immediately understood his intention, so he decided to remain unchanged and respond to change, waiting to counter after Mimikyu attacked.
When Mimikyu's figure gradually faded, transforming into a shadow that submerged into the other dimension, Salamence stopped flapping its wings. Its four limbs slammed onto the ground with a thunderous crash.
"Now!"
Okamoto seized the opportunity and attacked without hesitation.
The vanished Mimikyu instantly appeared behind Salamence, extending sharp long claws toward its vulnerable neck!
"Salamence, turn around and throw Mimikyu off, then use Crunch on it!"
Affected by Trick Room, Aiden didn't command Salamence to dodge, instead making an immediate counterattack.
The attacks of both Pokémon landed in sequence, with Mimikyu's sneak attack striking Salamence's neck first.
However—after Mimikyu's claws slashed across, they only left a white mark on the skin, seemingly unable to break through its thick hide.
Okamoto: ?
Isn't Teacher Azure's Salamence a mixed attacker? Why is its durability so ridiculous?
Although Mimikyu was Intimidated when it entered, its combat power after Swords Dance was definitely not to be underestimated.
Taking down a Champion-level opponent in one move was certainly unlikely, but it should at least deal effective damage, right?
If it can't even break through defense, how is this game playable?!
On Salamence's side—
When attacked, Salamence subconsciously closed its eyes, preparing to endure the pain through willpower. However, after the attack landed, it felt nothing.
So, with a confused expression, it could only turn its head and look at Mimikyu standing on its back, its eyes carrying a few more points of mockery.
Is that all you've got?
Aiden vaguely read Salamence's thoughts and felt somewhat speechless for a moment.
As a late bloomer Pokémon, Salamence after growing up could be called a hexagonal warrior, but it was just a bit lacking in brains—
But whatever.
At least this kid still listened to his commands.
"Roar!!"
After a brief silence, Salamence immediately counterattacked, beginning to use its wings and tail to drive Mimikyu away, while constantly swaying its body left and right. Sure enough, it quickly threw its opponent off.
And facing an opponent flying in mid-air with no leverage point, Salamence was not polite either, revealing its iron teeth and copper jaws, using the Dark-type move Crunch to fiercely attack its opponent.
This move worked surprisingly well. Without the Disguise ability to protect it, Mimikyu could only struggle a few times before falling to the ground motionless.
One-hit KO!
"—"
Okamoto's mood was completely numb at this point.
Teacher Azure, if you don't want us students to win, you could just say so. There's no need to use this stat monster to discourage us!
This Salamence is too ridiculous. Who could possibly defeat it—
Of course, complaints aside, he knew very well that Teacher Azure still understood boundaries and wouldn't give them opponents they couldn't handle at all.
Should he have been more direct just now, immediately withdrawing Mimikyu after Trick Room was set up and switching to another Pokémon more suitable for aerial combat?
Although Mimikyu had the Fairy type and could somewhat counter Salamence, he had indeed been too naive.
Scizor was definitely out of the question too—with its 4x weakness to Fire, even touching a spark would make it fall asleep.
So, his only choice was—
"Next up, I choose you!"
After recalling the fallen Mimikyu, Okamoto took out another Ultra Ball and threw it.
After a flash of red light, a very distinctive lobster Pokémon appeared before Aiden.
It was a small lobster curled up as much as possible to minimize its surface area. Notably, its right claw resembled a dragon's head, looking very powerful—even several times larger than its main body.
Clawitzer?
Aiden immediately recognized this Pokémon and revealed a pleased smile.
That's more like it!
With this Pokémon, why didn't you send it out earlier?
"Clawitzer, use Blizzard to suppress Salamence!"
As soon as his Pokémon appeared, Okamoto made a decisive command, using Blizzard, which posed a great threat to Salamence.
Mimikyu's sacrifice just now wasn't in vain—at least it had set up Trick Room that would last for a while, allowing Clawitzer, which he had been somewhat afraid to send out, to enter without worry.
Although this Pokémon's arm looked thick and powerful, it was actually a powerful artillery piece with extremely high water pressure output, said to be able to easily sink cruise ships.
And as a Water-type Pokémon, its offensive moves naturally included some extremely powerful Ice-type attacks.
While a 4x weakness to Ice was a badge of strength in some sense, it was also a genuine defensive weakness.
"Salamence, Protect."
Aiden temporarily stalled for one turn with Protect, but had no intention of withdrawing it.
"Continue using Blizzard!"
After the roles reversed, the previously troubled expression on Okamoto's face immediately turned into a smile, and that confident feeling returned to his body.
That's right—besides his commanding skills improving along the way, what mattered more was that he had encountered a group of trustworthy good partners during his journey!
It was also through their combined efforts that he could come to the Champion Road battlefield and face the even stronger Teacher Azure once again!
This Clawitzer had been quite disobedient when first caught, but after challenging several Gyms together, they had now established a considerable bond.
And the other companions too!
Flashes of his journey passed through his mind, and Okamoto's eyes had already become resolute.
The weak me of the past is already dead!
This time, I will win!!!
Reading the determination in his opponent's eyes, Aiden had to admit that he was indeed somewhat affected by this momentum in his judgment.
Facing such an opponent, choosing to escape would be too impolite.
So—
"Salamence, break through the Blizzard with Fire Blast."
Aiden didn't make the safest command, but instead actively met the challenge head-on.
"Roaaar!!!"
Salamence roared again, spewing even more intense flames from its mouth. When colliding with the cold air current, it immediately exploded into a large character shape, trying to block as much ice debris as possible.
The fierce collision of fire and ice in the air quickly formed wisps of white steam in the air, which soon condensed into clusters of water droplets falling to the ground.
Both sides entered a stalemate, trying their best to suppress the other.
"Right now, Clawitzer!"
And at this moment, Okamoto suddenly opened his eyes wide and spoke forcefully.
"Use your left hand to fire Dragon Pulse, target Salamence!!!"
This was his trump card move. He hadn't expected to be forced to pull it out so early against Teacher Azure.
Generally speaking, Clawitzer's output method was indeed through that powerful right claw—its volume dozens of times smaller left claw was almost completely useless.
But Okamoto realized this and boldly hypothesized: if Clawitzer's left hand could also use moves, wouldn't it be able to catch opponents completely off guard at critical moments?
So, after arduous training, he and Clawitzer finally developed their own signature move.
With the Mega Launcher ability, Clawitzer's left claw could indeed use some pulse-type moves.
Although the power wasn't great, when used suddenly, opponents would definitely be completely unprepared!
"Roar?!"
Just as Salamence was concentrating all its attention, preparing to burst out with full force to break through the opponent's Blizzard in one breath, a purple pulse suddenly blasted out from below caught it off guard.
Because this shrimp bro's left claw had no strength, the Dragon Pulse's power wasn't too strong—at best it could only count as a bit of interference.
But when both sides were fairly trading blows—being interfered with caused Salamence huge problems.
Subconsciously pained, it subconsciously stopped its energy output for an instant, and it was this instant that allowed Okamoto's Clawitzer to push forward unimpeded, with Blizzard instantly slamming into its face at terrifying speed!
This is bad.
Aiden frowned and shook his head helplessly.
"Roar—"
When hit by an Ice-type move that 4x countered it, Salamence immediately shivered, its body instinctively retreating backward continuously.
And when there was nowhere left to retreat, it turned into a red light and was recalled into the ball by Aiden.
"Great!"
A hint of ecstasy appeared on Okamoto's face.
Anyone who had challenged the Sunlight Gym knew what Teacher Azure's action of recalling a Pokémon usually meant?
It meant he had finally broken through this first Pokémon!
"Not bad. It seems I've underestimated your growth along the way."
Aiden narrowed his eyes and smiled, nodding toward Okamoto.
"You've passed the Salamence stage. Congratulations—both Mimikyu and Clawitzer contributed greatly."
"However, my trial isn't over yet~"
After speaking, Aiden raised his arm, revealing the second Poké Ball in his hand.
"The second Pokémon I'm sending out is Indeedee. In this battle, it will not use any attacking moves."
"And what you need to do is very simple—defeat it with the smallest possible cost."
"Now, the second round of the trial begins."
"Indeedee!"
A red light flashed from Aiden's hand, and Indeedee made her dazzling entrance, immediately setting up a Psychic Terrain on the ground that extended outward.
"Teacher Azure, I will definitely win!"
After defeating Salamence, Okamoto was now greatly boosted in confidence, speaking with more backbone.
That's right, the weak me of the past is already dead!
To become a strong Trainer, one must have the ability to match Teacher Azure!
"Let's keep working hard, Clawitzer!"
Okamoto revealed a confident smile and immediately looked at his proud partner not far in front of him.
A mere Indeedee was nothing to worry about!
However, when he looked carefully, he suddenly realized—wait? Why did his Clawitzer seem to be swaying, unable to walk straight?
This was—hypnotized?
But when?
Okamoto's expression instantly became very colorful.
Because just now, Aiden had taught him another very vivid lesson—sometimes, battle doesn't begin when both sides give commands.
Perhaps the moment both Pokémon entered the field, the battle horn had already sounded!
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