The Rock and Ground typing was disadvantageous to both Pikachu and Pidgeotto. Given the level difference, he cautiously chose the other one.
"Eevee, get ready to battle!"
"Bui~" In a flash of light, the little Eevee appeared, letting out a cute cry.
"Mmm... so cute~" Ayumi couldn't help but hug the Eevee in her arms. She had no resistance to such cute creatures.
After her recent special training and dual cultivation, Eevee was at level 33, but there was still an 8-level gap between her and her opponent.
Flint's expression turned cold. He could tell at a glance that this Eevee was probably a whole rank lower in level. In his mind, Ash was already labeled as an arrogant kid who didn't know his place.
"Are you sure you want to challenge my Pewter Gym with this Eevee?"
Ash smiled slightly. "Of course."
"Then let me see what gives you that confidence."
Flint was determined to teach Ash a lesson.
"Eevee, use Charm."
Ash did not attack immediately because he knew that Rhydon, with its 130 base Attack stat, would likely deal a devastating blow to Eevee if it got close.
"Earthquake!"
Flint started with a big move.
As one of the signature Ground-type moves, Earthquake was very practical.
A violent tremor spread from the center of the field, and the energy waves of the Ground-type move rushed toward Eevee, who calmly sent a wink to Rhydon.
Charm lowers the opponent's Attack by two stages.
This nearly halved Rhydon's attack power.
Then, the aura around Eevee shifted, and she changed from brown to a sky-blue color. In front of everyone, she floated off the ground and hovered in the air!
While this did not completely negate the damage from Earthquake, she only received a minor aftershock!
"What?!!!" Flint was shocked, and so was everyone in the room.
How could an Eevee fly?
Ash smiled mischievously. This was the result of Eevee's recent special training.
After her gene chain was repaired and she gained the ability to change types, she could now freely change her typing. However, she lost the ability she originally had to evolve into three different forms at will.
Ash figured it would likely require more elemental energy to make her evolve again.
Right now, besides her Normal type, Eevee had mastered the fast switching of five other types: Flying, Grass, Psychic, Water, and Electric.
That's right, the types of Pikachu and her other friends. The reason she mastered them so quickly was thanks to the mutual help of her sisters.
That's why Eevee looked so calm when facing Rhydon's Earthquake.
"Next, use Muddy Water!"
Ash's command once again broke Flint's understanding of the world. This time, Eevee turned a sea-like azure blue, and a muddy stream of water shot out of her mouth, hitting Rhydon right in the chest!
"Awo!" The four-times super effective hit made it cry out in pain.
Flint didn't have time to think. He made a quick decision. "Rock Polish followed by Dragon Rush!"
Flint's skill as a veteran Gym Leader was evident.
Since the opponent's attacks were endless, passive defense was meaningless. It was better to take the initiative and attack.
And in this day and age, most Pokémon couldn't resist or were immune to Dragon-type damage, so Dragon Rush was a very appropriate big move.
"Stay calm. Switch to Fairy type!" Ash used his psychic power to command her.
Although Eevee couldn't switch to her remaining types quickly, she could do it with a little time.
So, just before Rhydon's attack hit, she stood there blankly, and her fur gradually turned pink.
"Boom!" Eevee was sent flying, but she looked completely unharmed!
Ash: "Again, Muddy Water!"
Flint: "What?!!!"
Ash knew that an Eevee who turned into a Fairy type could be immune to Dragon-type moves. She had only taken the impact of the charge and was not hurt at all.
But at this point, Flint had begun to question his entire life's experience.
Based on his experience, he could tell that Eevee was only a little more than an Advanced-level Pokémon. And since she hadn't evolved, she shouldn't have been a match for Rhydon...
But in the actual battle, she could easily use a four-times super effective move, and on top of that, she could fly. But the most insane part was when his Dragon Rush did nothing to her.
Did this Eevee have six Randuin's Omen in her bag or something?
No one answered Flint's question... because Rhydon had already collapsed after being hit by this Muddy Water...
"Rhydon is unable to battle! The Gym Leader, please send out your next Pokémon!"
The referee's voice broke the silence of the Gym.
At once, all ten of Flint's children started whispering.
"How could this be... Dad should be stronger!"
"Exactly, Dad must have let him win on purpose."
"I think this handsome brother cheated!"
The children's whispers reached Flint's ears, and his dark face flushed.
He had given his all in the battle. But he had lost so confusingly without even understanding the opponent's moves...
This was not "letting him win"... this was being completely crushed!
He looked at Ash. "Ahem... While this may be a little sudden, your Eevee..."
"It's Eevee's special ability. She can, to a certain extent, become immune to her opponent's damage."
Ash rubbed the little one's head, giving a vague answer.
Flint nodded slightly and then sent out his second Pokémon.
"Go, Golem!"
Golem lv49 (Elite, High-tier)
Seeing the level, Ash's eyes narrowed.
What was Flint trying to do?? He got crushed, so now he wants to crush me back?
It was only when Ash saw him looking at his kids in the stands that he realized what was happening.
It was likely that this old father was trying to save face in front of his children...
Flint was indeed thinking the same thing.
With his Champion-level skill, he naturally wouldn't make things difficult for Ash. But his children's words had provoked him quite a bit. If he sent out another low-Elite level Pokémon, Eevee would probably take it out in one go.
But while he was thinking this, Ash had no intention of letting his little girlfriend get hurt.
"Eevee, use Charm."
He used the same tactic again.
But this time, Flint had learned his lesson. "Golem, use Stone Edge!"
A Rock-type move can't be dodged by you flying, can it?
Ash immediately changed his plan. "Baby-Doll Eyes followed by a continuous Quick Attack for dodging!"
Baby-Doll Eyes, a priority move, uses a mesmerizing gaze to lower the opponent's Attack by one stage.
Eevee turned into a flash of white light, zipping back and forth, but the near-Gym-Leader-level Golem was too powerful. The continuous Stone Edge attacks finally hit her.
"Bui...!" Eevee fell to the ground, looking like she was in a lot of pain.
Although Baby-Doll Eyes had lowered the attack, a level gap of nearly 20 was still too big.
Ash's face turned cold. He could have accused Flint of using a high-level Pokémon, but it was he himself who had asked for an Elite-level battle, so now he had to make a comeback!
"Muddy Water!"
The four-times super effective attack was released again. Flint confidently prepared to counter it.
He had it all figured out. As long as Eevee's moves couldn't hit Golem, there was no way he could lose a stamina battle!
Without realizing it, Flint had completely forgotten that this was just the first Gym battle for a brand-new trainer...
He had even adopted the battle stance he used when he challenged the Elite Four.