🎄 Christmas Special Discount 🎄From December 23 to December 25, there will be a public 50% discount on the following tiers:Intermediate Trainers, Advanced Trainers, Elite Trainers, Elite Four Trainers, Champion Trainers, and Legendary Trainers.
🎆 New Year Discount 🎆There will also be a 50% discount, but it won't be public. On December 31, the discount code will be published inside the chapters, so stay tuned 👀✨
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"The move Ingrain? What is he trying to do?"
Seeing Cacturne using the move Ingrain in the same spot, Olivia Reed was a little confused.
"Humph, it doesn't matter what they're trying to do. Since they decided to huddle together, that actually works in my favor."
Patrick Mills and the others cast a cold smile at the small clustered Pokémon and quickly gave the order for their Pokémon to use Hydro Pump.
Even if they didn't understand the enemy's intentions, the fact that they grouped up made it easier for their Pokémon to concentrate their fire.
Immediately, the five Pokémon opened their mouths and began charging powerful Water-type energy, which then turned into water jets fired simultaneously.
Surprisingly, the Hydro Pumps, under each Pokémon's control, crossed and spiraled through the air, fusing into a gigantic spiral Hydro Pump.
"Here it comes!"
"Onix, use Rock Tomb!"
Jasper Reid, who had always been the team's defender, didn't wait for his companions to react and was the first to give an order.
Immediately, Onix lifted its tail and slammed it against the ground, raising a stone wall that blocked the Hydro Pump.
Boom!
With a loud crash, the terrifying spiral-shaped Hydro Pump easily shattered the stone wall.
"Altaria, Cotton Guard!"
Seeing this, Altaria's feathers puffed up rapidly and detached, forming a cotton wall in front of it.
This time, when the Hydro Pump hit the cotton wall, there was no sound; it simply sank into the cotton.
Then, the Hydro Pump, reduced to just a fraction of its original size, came out silently from the wall—only to be instantly sliced apart by Bisharp.
"Well done. Cacturne, roots!"
Ethan Black smiled and gave the command.
Swish, swish, swish!
Instantly, roots emerged from the ground and began to entangle the opponent's five Water-type Pokémon.
It could be seen that these roots faintly glowed green, a sign that Cacturne had imbued them with energy from the move Magical Leaf.
"Frenzy Plant?"
Seeing Cacturne's attack, the five opponents were stunned and ordered their Pokémon to resist.
Golduck, the fastest, leapt and vanished from its position, dodging one root.
However, the advantage of Magical Roots was that the roots could chase just like the move Magical Leaf: no matter how fast the opponent, if they let their guard down for a moment, they'd be caught.
Golduck didn't expect the roots to turn, and it paid dearly for that mistake: it was completely immobilized.
At the same time, the other four Pokémon also fell prey to the Magical Roots.
"Hurry, break free!"
Seeing their Pokémon trapped, Patrick Mills and the others paled, shouting orders to attack and cut through the roots.
"Cacturne, Absorb!"
"It's too late. Go, Bisharp!"
"Altaria, use Dragon Pulse!"
"Onix, Rock Throw on Golduck!"
"Nincada, Dig—our target is also Golduck."
While the enemy Pokémon tried to break the roots, Ethan Black's team concentrated their attacks on Golduck.
Cacturne was the fastest: its Absorb, transmitted through the roots, turned into green beams that surrounded the five enemy Pokémon, draining their energy and strengthening the roots, which in turn delayed their escape even further.
This allowed Altaria, Bisharp, Onix, and Nincada to land their attacks, launching Golduck into the air and smashing it against the protective wall, knocking it out instantly.
"Well done."
"Now it's five against four."
Seeing Golduck eliminated, the five smiled.
The veterans, on the other hand, looked grimly at the roots still thrashing in the air.
"Is that really Frenzy Plant?"
"No, they're just normal roots."
"That Cacturne must be a Pokémon with great mastery over the Grass type. This ability to make plants grow so quickly—some powerful Pokémon can do that too."
"The most impressive thing is how Cacturne infuses Magical Leaf energy into the roots, and also uses Absorb through them. It's an excellent tactic."
Professor Langford, who was watching the battle, was momentarily surprised at the Ingrain, but soon understood.
"Ha, this battle is already won."
Lucas Silver smiled as he saw Golduck being eliminated so quickly.
The team was very balanced: Cacturne controlling the field, Bisharp as the attacker, Onix on defense, Altaria dominating from the skies, and Nincada waiting underground to strike.
And indeed, that's what happened: Bisharp fought the opponent's Poliwrath and, thanks to the roots' support, defeated it.
Vaporeon and Quagsire couldn't withstand Cacturne and Altaria's aerial pressure, falling one after the other.
Walrein, though tough, couldn't endure the combined firepower of all five and was defeated, while its trainer clenched his fists helplessly.
The battle ended far too quickly and frustratingly for them. All of the Veteran Team's Pokémon had only managed to use Hydro Pump once before it was all over.
"Battle over."
Professor Langford calmly announced the result.
The ten trainers recalled their Pokémon and gathered before him.
"Very good, that was a great battle."
Ethan Black and his team smiled happily.
The veterans, in contrast, wore dark and frustrated expressions.
"From now on, train properly and report to me every Monday. If you have questions, you can consult me."
"Also, Ethan Black, Lucas Silver, Marcus Foster, Jasper Reid, and Kyle Miller: this month you'll receive 50% more resources from the university team. These will be deducted from Patrick Mills, Claire Dawson, Jonathan Turner, Brandon Cole, and Olivia Reed."
"Next month there will be another battle, and the distribution of resources will follow the same rule: the losing team will hand over 50% to the winner."
With that, Professor Langford, with Blaziken at his side, left the gym, leaving the ten behind in an atmosphere heavy with tension.
(End of Chapter)