"Kadabra!"
Kadabra took the field—an old-soul fox's face, a chest like leather armor, and a silver spoon gripped in one hand.
A Psychic type, the stage before Alakazam, a natural foil to Haunter.
Grey sized it up and offered a fair assessment.
And only fair.
If a Tyrogue faced it, it really might get knocked out.
But the one on stage was Primeape—the dojo's poster boy.
"The Gym challenge will now begin, with badges on the line. Format is 2-on-2. As the challenger, you attack first."
Grey stated the rules and waited where he stood, sneaking a peek at the system's read on both sides.
[Pokémon: Kadabra]
[Level: 24]
[Pokémon: Primeape]
[Level: 45]
Hmm…
Hard to sandbag that.
With Kadabra's paper-thin bulk, Primeape could punt it across the room with a single kick.
"Kadabra, use Confusion!"
Gary knew type matchups; he started by ordering Kadabra to pin Primeape.
At low-to-mid tiers, Psychic might as well be a cheat.
If it lands, the beatdown's guaranteed.
That's what Gary thought: against a Fighting type, if Kadabra keeps the pressure, it might win this clean.
Too bad the gap was massive.
Kadabra raised its silver spoon and tracked Primeape—but the target was too mobile. Every Confusion pulse missed as Primeape slipped past with ease.
After dodging, Primeape even turned around and waggled its butt at Kadabra.
"Kad—!"
A flush rose across Kadabra's face. Heat climbed; it was seeing red.
"Gary, your Kadabra's over-aiming. For a glass-cannon like it, that's bad."
Grey offered a tip: "Against something much faster, that tunnel-vision is fatal. Primeape—use Swagger."
First the coaching, then the command—classic Grey.
"Prime!"
Primeape turned and beckoned.
Kadabra, already keyed up, blew a gasket. Red light surged—
and the instant it faded, dizziness swept in to replace the rush.
Kadabra staggered like a drunk salaryman, wobbling across the floor.
"Kadabra!"
Sensing danger, Gary recalled it fast and sent out his other ace. "Growlithe—I'm counting on you! Use Leer!"
"Arf arf!"
The orange pup burst from its ball, bared its fangs at Primeape, and let out a huffing, menacing rumble.
Ability: Intimidate!
At the same time, Growlithe's round eyes snapped wide, a cutting glare aimed to drop Primeape's Defense.
This was Gary's game plan.
He'd prepped two layers!
If Kadabra couldn't cut it, Growlithe would come in and stack Ability + Leer—
Lower Attack and lower Defense; repeat enough and the foe falls.
Just as planned, blue light flashed over Primeape: its Attack and Defense each fell a stage.
"Heh…"
Gary lifted his chin—only to jolt in shock a beat later. "Nani?!"
Two red flares snapped off Primeape's body!
Its Attack spiked—hard!
If its earlier feral aura felt vague,
now it was almost tangible.
One heavy step and the shockwave made the floor groan—nearly flipping Growlithe!
"Gary-san, forgot to mention—my Primeape's Ability is Defiant."
Grey's smile widened.
To Gary, that smile felt… ominous.
[Defiant: When any of the user's stats are lowered, Attack rises sharply (+2).]
[No idea what just happened, but Gary took the L—love to see it ^_^]
[He's losing composure. Outsmarted himself.]
[Tried to cheese a leader who can't switch mid-challenge and got taught by Defiant—serves him right.]
Chat laughed Gary out of the room—especially Aiming to be a Pokémon Master (Ash), whose typing clattered like a machine gun. He was here for the slander, recording every second for future looped playback.
"G-Growlithe! Use Agility!"
Shaken or not, Gary remembered this was an official challenge. He didn't swing blindly; he ordered a Speed boost.
"Encore."
Grey's voice stayed soft.
"Prime!"
Primeape clapped, "praising" Growlithe so hard it hard-stunned the pup mid sprint.
Agility—interrupted on the spot!
Feet planted again, Growlithe stared Primeape down and used Leer a second time.
Primeape's Defense dropped—its Attack spiked sharply again.
At this point Primeape had stacked five boosts—one step shy of the six-stage cap.
Even a single practice jab shredded the air with its wake.
Gary: ???
This is a Fighting Dojo, right?
Since when do Fighting-types pull this kind of cursed setup?!
Seeing the Attack climb to the stratosphere, Gary actually felt like backing out and trying again next year.
[Who told me Fighting-type leaders are all upright and honorable? This is "upright" calling?]
[One trainer's choices ≠ the whole type.]
[Wis! Dom! Teeth! Of! Jus! Tice! Sever!]
Chat flipped on a dime—after watching Grey's commands, they suddenly pitied Gary.
This was poetry of pain.
Who teaches a Primeape Encore?
So many attacking moves out there—and you chose Encore?!
"Primeape, use Rage—…nah. Use Scratch."
Grey scratched his cheek and tossed the Pacific.
Primeape thundered forward. Every step rattled the floor like an earthquake.
Growlithe bolted on sight, but in that shaking landscape its speed cratered. There was no outrunning Primeape.
In seconds, Primeape had it by the scruff.
"Arf! Arf! Arf!"
Growlithe yipped, pleading for mercy.
"Heh-heh."
Primeape chuckled—and threw.
BOOM!!!
Growlithe shot off like a shell, smashed the wall, and slumped, out cold.
Good thing Primeape had pulled the punch; otherwise we'd be serving Growlithe jam.
"..."
Gary recalled Growlithe with a blank face—and sent Kadabra back out.
…Which flatly refused to emerge, having watched the whole thing from inside its ball.
And with that, Gary completely lost it.
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