As the referee waved the flag, Ethan Cross quickly threw his Pokéball. "Gyarados, I choose you!"
With a thunderous roar, the enormous Gyarados splashed into the pool area, sending waves crashing all around.
Of course, it's Gyarados... District Leader Wu muttered under his breath, glancing at Richard Foss beside him, silently acknowledging his prior analysis.
This specially-designed arena, with its mix of water and sandy beach, clearly favored Water-type Pokémon. Coupled with Gyarados's Flying type, it was an effective counter to Carl's Blaziken. The odds seemed firmly in Ethan Cross's favor.
"Gyarados, use Rain Dance!"
Ethan Cross immediately seized the initiative. As the challenger, he had the advantage of making the first move.
A wise choice, Richard Foss nodded approvingly.
Rain Dance would not only boost Water-type moves but also weaken Fire-type attacks, giving Ethan Cross both a tactical and environmental advantage.
"Bulk Up!"
Carl's command followed swiftly.
Gyarados roared to the sky, summoning storm clouds with its Water energy. Meanwhile, Blaziken assumed a defensive stance, channeling its Fighting energy to bolster its strength.
"Is this... foresight?"
In the stands, Hep suddenly straightened, surprise flickering in his eyes. As the Champion's brother, he keenly noticed Carl's unusually quick response.
Typically, trainers at a type disadvantage would choose to defend or wait for an opening to counterattack. Yet, Carl's rapid reaction seemed as if he had anticipated this. Hep pondered: was this just coincidence, or precise foresight?
If Carl knew of this doubt, he would surely commend such a perceptive observer.
He had immediately noticed something off about this Gyarados.
While Gyarados is usually a physical powerhouse, this one primarily wielded special attacks. Its move set, filled with Water Pulse and Hurricane, diverged from the norm.
Carl shook his head internally. It was almost as if they were training a Milotic instead. However, this anomaly presented an opportunity—since the opponent focused on special attacks, close combat was the best counter.
"Charge in!" Carl capitalized on the momentary gap as Gyarados used Rain Dance.
Blaziken, now enhanced by Bulk Up, shot forward like an arrow. This choice puzzled many in the audience—why close the distance when at a type disadvantage?
"Use Water Pulse!" Ethan Cross hastily ordered, as Gyarados prepared to counterattack.
"Flamethrower," Carl instructed, further confounding the spectators.
Without hesitation, Blaziken executed the command, engaging Gyarados head-on in the rain. The audience was in shock, the battle taking an unexpected turn.
Flames clashed with water in mid-air, creating a deafening explosion.
Logically, water should quench fire, but when the flames are intense enough, they can evaporate the water. At this moment, both sides were evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand.
Gyarados's special attack prowess wasn't exceptional. While a direct hit could inflict significant damage on Blaziken, in a ranged duel, it lacked the advantage.
"Sssss—"
The streams of fire and water neutralized each other, generating a thick mist that quickly enveloped the arena. Blaziken vanished from sight, leaving Gyarados without a target.
Ethan Cross leaned forward instinctively, trying to discern the situation amidst the haze.
Then, Carl's voice rang out, "Thunder Punch!"
Thunder Punch?
Ethan Cross's eyes widened, and the crowd erupted.
Blaziken with Thunder Punch? That was an unusual combination.
In this world without technical machines, Pokémon learn moves either through heredity or intensive training. Typically, a Pokémon naturally learns moves related to its type, sometimes picking up unique ones due to its anatomy.
Cross-type moves usually demand more effort and yield uncertain results.
For a young trainer like Carl, who had only been training Blaziken for about a year, investing time in non-Fire type skills seemed inefficient. Given the same effort, mastering Fire moves or developing combo techniques seemed far more productive.
Yet Carl never followed conventional paths, once again leaving observers baffled.
"Crackle—"
Electricity crackled as a crimson figure leapt high from the mist, closing in on Gyarados with fists charged with blinding lightning.
Ethan Cross's heart tightened, urging, "Water Pulse!"
The entire audience was bewildered—what was with the bizarre strategies today?
Gyarados, now at close range, should have opted for quicker moves like Aqua Tail or Ice Fang. Yet, it stuck with a longer-charging special attack. Could it not use anything else?
Indeed, it couldn't.
Blaziken's Thunder Punch struck right into Gyarados's open maw. The electric surge coursed through its body, triggering a violent explosion.
Blaziken landed gracefully on the beach, while Gyarados collapsed with a pained cry.
"Gyarados is unable to battle. The winner is Gym Leader Carl," the referee announced.
A hush fell over the crowd.
No one anticipated a one-hit knockout.
"Is it over already?"
"Where's the thrilling contest we were promised?"
"Weren't they just analyzing how Ethan Cross had all the advantages?"
"Gyarados is four times weak to Electric; a knockout makes sense."
"But Ethan Cross's command was poor. Even amateur trainers could see that."
"Maybe it really couldn't use other moves?"
The audience buzzed with speculation. Some predicted Ethan Cross's victory, others anticipated a close match, while a few loyal fans of Carl had unwavering faith in his success. Yet none foresaw such a swift conclusion.
Unexpected, yet reasonable?
"Blaziken's Thunder Punch lacks STAB; Gyarados should withstand it. Must've been a critical hit."
"Quite the lucky break."
Having won the first match, Carl remained composed. He knew this victory was due to his informational edge and unexpected tactics, with the final critical strike being sheer luck. If they battled again, Ethan Cross might not lose so decisively.
"This... how is this possible?"
Ethan Cross paled, nearly losing his balance. He had prepared extensively for this comeback. That elite Gyarados, traded for a high-level Empoleon and cash, was meant to counter Carl's Blaziken.
Water trumps Fire, Flying counters Fighting—this should have been a guaranteed win. Throughout high school, his Water starters had been overshadowed by Carl's Fire types. He was determined to prove himself. Yet not only did he lose, he was defeated instantly?
Thinking of the effort he put into acquiring Gyarados and inviting classmates to witness the match, Ethan Cross felt a tightness in his chest. It was utterly humiliating.
His father, Richard Foss, was even more unsettled. Moments ago, he had boasted to District Leader Wu about their win's certainty, only to be proven wrong instantly. Beyond pride, he worried about a crucial opportunity slipping away.
"District Leader Wu, actually..." Richard Foss began to explain, but Daniel Ward interjected, "Our company's new game was independently designed by Carl. We only handle its distribution."
"Is that so?" District Leader Wu's eyes lit up. "My son and I both enjoy that RPG game. So it was designed by Gym Leader Carl. Truly impressive for someone so young."
Daniel Ward called out to Carl, "You should get an autograph for me to bring back to my son."
"An autograph won't suffice," Daniel Ward chuckled. "There are hidden features in the game only Carl knows. Maybe he can share one."
District Leader Wu's interest was piqued. "Hidden features? A game like that deserves more promotion."
Daniel Ward shared a knowing smile. Carl's display, defeating Ethan Cross with such flair, had fully swayed the previously undecided District Leader Wu to their side.
This kid is something special, Daniel Ward thought, watching Carl with admiration.
Meanwhile, Ethan Cross struggled to contain his anger. "I was careless. I want a rematch."
No one mocked him. Despite consistently being second, this loss was so swift that it could be chalked up to overconfidence.
"You're always welcome," Carl replied nonchalantly. If not for his obligations at the gym, he wouldn't bother with these matches. Even as a gym leader, he only aimed to meet the minimum of ten matches a month. The opponent didn't matter to him.
However, next time Ethan Cross wanted a challenge, he'd have to join the queue.