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Steven recalled Lairon into its Poké Ball and said with a troubled expression, "My luck was really terrible. You did great, Skarmory."
Skarmory had defeated two Pokémon and even endured Slaking's Earthquake. It had performed exceptionally well.
It was just unfortunate timing with the paralysis. Otherwise, it could have dealt significant damage to Slaking!
"Go, Lairon!"
Steven sent out his third Pokémon—Lairon!
Piplup was still resting inside its Poké Ball. It had only exhausted its stamina, not lost its ability to battle completely.
Skarmory, on the other hand, was thoroughly spent and had fainted.
As any experienced Trainer knew, when a Pokémon returned to its Poké Ball, it experienced a minor recovery effect—like a weakened version of the Regenerator Ability!
Even if Lairon couldn't defeat Slaking outright, it could at least weaken it severely. Then Piplup could finish the job with a +6 Special Attack Hydro Pump.
"Kuo!" After materializing, Lairon looked at the lazy but massive Slaking across the field, then immediately turned toward Steven.
If I win this, you're giving me triple my usual snack portion!
Steven watched Lairon clumsily lift one foreleg, its three silver claws wiggling. He roughly understood what it wanted.
"Double portions."
"Kuo!"
Deal!
Lairon immediately adopted a serious, battle-ready expression. This fight would determine whether it got double snacks!
Once I evolve into Aggron, I'll be able to eat even more ore!
There's nothing more delicious than ore in this world!
Well... energy cubes come close, but they're still second to ore.
The rested Slaking stood up again. Its 2-meter frame brought immense pressure to the 0.9-meter Lairon.
"Kuo..."
I really wish your whole body was made of rock, not all that bulk...
"Slaking, Earthquake!"
Norman struck first, but chose Earthquake over a Fighting-type move.
Perhaps he worried Slaking would be too lazy to move for a physical attack...
But Earthquake was a Ground-type move that dealt quadruple damage to the Steel/Rock-type Lairon!
"Endure it, then use Metal Burst!" Steven commanded in a firm voice.
Even though Lairon's defensive capabilities were exceptional, enduring Slaking's incredibly powerful, quadruple super effective Earthquake would be extremely difficult.
But sometimes in battle, what seemed impossible became possible through sheer determination.
Just like when Lairon was still an Aron, it could always get back up—as if it perpetually held a Focus Sash...
For its double ore snack package, Lairon's willpower was more than capable of pushing through!
In close combat, Lairon stood no chance against Slaking. Only by using this counter-attack strategy could it deal massive damage in one strike!
Lairon gritted its teeth and endured the Earthquake's impact, forcing its body to remain upright even as its legs trembled violently!
"Pip?!" Piplup, watching from inside its Poké Ball, saw everything clearly.
My best friend actually withstood that through pure willpower?!
"La!!!"
For my beloved rocks, I'll give everything!
Meanwhile, Slaking, having finished its attack, was lazily preparing to lie down and rest.
Lairon clenched its jaws, shifted its weight forward, and its entire body began glowing with silvery-white light!
"Heck..." Slaking lay on the ground, lazily raising one hand to shield its eyes from the brightness.
Ah... so bright...
The silvery-white light condensed into a sphere of energy, carrying both the power from Earthquake and Lairon's own strength, hurtling toward Slaking!
Boom!!!
The energy sphere exploded directly in Slaking's face! Slaking took the full brunt of the attack head-on.
Metal Burst didn't care about type resistances or weaknesses—as long as the target wasn't immune to Steel-type moves, it had to endure Metal Burst's full power!
Furthermore, Metal Burst's damage was calculated based on how much damage the user had taken previously.
It would return even more power than the original attack!
Silvery-white light flooded the entire battlefield!
Both Steven and Norman were forced to close their eyes, unable to see what was happening on the field.
As the light weakened and dissipated, Steven shook his head and reopened his slightly dazed eyes.
He saw thick black smoke billowing across the field, with Lairon panting heavily nearby.
Norman quickly activated the arena's smoke extraction system, clearing the black smoke away.
A massive crater had formed in the battle arena!
Inside the crater, a battered and bruised Slaking still lay sprawled in the center!
"Heck..."
It hurts too much... Don't wanna move... Just gonna rest...
Slaking closed its eyes halfway, having already given up on continuing.
"Return, Lairon! You were amazing!" Steven quickly switched Poké Balls, sending out Piplup!
"Piplup?!"
Why me again?!
Piplup appeared at the crater's edge, looking down at the defeated-looking Slaking below.
"Piplup, don't let Lairon's effort go to waste!" Steven called out loudly.
"Piplup!"
Piplup's expression turned unexpectedly serious as its aura steadily intensified!
I can't waste the opportunity my best friend created!
"Slaking! Use Slack Off!" Norman sensed danger and quickly shouted to the Slaking in the crater.
After all, no matter how lazy it was, surely it wasn't too lazy to use Slack Off, right?
If Slaking used Slack Off to recover, Steven would lose this battle.
A Professional-level Piplup had its limits no matter how many stat boosts it accumulated. It stood no chance against a Slaking at even half health!
"Piplup! Hydro Pump!" Steven commanded sternly.
"Piplup!"
Piplup suddenly charged up its power and unleashed a Hydro Pump even more powerful than before!
This is... the bond between me and my best friend!!!
Slaking, lying on its side, casually picked at its ear. There was no sign of its injuries recovering!
Norman was stunned. Was this Slaking so lazy that it was even too lazy to use Slack Off?!
Slaking had taken too much damage, crushing its fighting spirit. It only wanted to rest now.
If Norman's ace Slaking could use Slack Off to recover while being lazy due to its Truant Ability, Slaking would truly be ridiculously overpowered.
You could tell him an Elite Four's Slaking could challenge a Champion-level Pokémon, and he'd believe it.
But apparently, once Slaking's laziness kicked in, it became too lazy even to use Slack Off...
Otherwise, it would truly be broken in terms of strength.
As long as it didn't faint in one hit and could recover by using Slack Off during its rest turn, it would probably take a Legendary Pokémon to even scratch it.
Bang!
Finally, Piplup's +6 Special Attack Hydro Pump successfully knocked Slaking out cold, leaving it with swirls in its eyes.
"Piplup!" Although its stamina was once again completely depleted, Piplup still forced itself to raise its short flippers triumphantly.
With my best friend's power... victory was inevitable!
"I lost." Norman recalled Slaking and smiled ruefully.
"Just lucky timing." Steven also recalled Piplup, returning Norman's smile.
That was close. If Slaking had actually managed to use Slack Off just now, I'd have to question whether it was even tournament-legal!
Though... his own Piplup wasn't exactly standard either.
"This is proof of your victory at the Petalburg Gym—the Balance Badge!"
Norman walked up to Steven and took out a gray badge composed of two connected circles, handing it to him.
"Your strength is impressive. I look forward to seeing your performance at the Ever Grande Conference!"
"Thank you. I'll continue working hard."
Steven chatted briefly with Norman and also asked about Aran's whereabouts.
Unfortunately, Norman didn't know anyone by that name.
Steven left the Petalburg Gym and headed straight to the Pokémon Center to restore his team's condition.
Next, it was time to uncover the truth for Scyther!