Aerodactyl darted through the thunder and lightning, waiting for the perfect moment to counterattack.
It was impossible for Electabuzz to sustain Thunder for a long period of time. All Sam and Aerodactyl needed to do was wait until Electabuzz's stamina was exhausted and strike the moment a weakness appeared.
As time passed, that moment grew closer and closer.
Electabuzz's stamina was clearly draining. The thunder covering the battlefield began to weaken—its density, speed, and power all noticeably declining.
Sam knew the opportunity had arrived.
The instant Electabuzz paused to catch its breath, Sam gave the command.
"Aerodactyl, Giga Impact!"
If you seize an opening, you must go all out. Never give your opponent a chance to recover.
With the boost from Agility, Aerodactyl's speed reached its absolute limit. Every ounce of strength in its body was poured into this attack.
One moment, Aerodactyl was still dozens of meters away.
The next—
It was already in front of Electabuzz.
The speed was so incredible that even Gary, who had been watching Aerodactyl carefully, failed to react.
Electabuzz, already exhausted, had even less chance.
Aerodactyl's rock-hard head slammed directly into Electabuzz's vulnerable abdomen.
Electabuzz's eyes nearly popped out from the impact.
Without any surprise, Electabuzz immediately lost its ability to battle.
"Return, Electabuzz."
Gary calmly recalled his Pokémon, showing little reaction to its defeat.
"Go—Blastoise!!!"
Blastoise?
This surprised Sam. He had expected Gary to save Blastoise for the final Pokémon.
"Blastoise, Water Gun!"
The moment Blastoise appeared, Gary launched an attack without hesitation, giving Sam and Aerodactyl no time to react.
Gary's strategy worked perfectly.
The recoil from Giga Impact prevented Aerodactyl from moving.
It could only watch as the powerful Water Gun slammed into it.
"Blastoise, Hydro Pump!!!"
After trapping Aerodactyl with Water Gun, Gary immediately followed up with the stronger Hydro Pump.
It was obvious—
Gary intended to defeat Aerodactyl in one decisive move.
"I see," Sam said calmly. "Using Electabuzz to exhaust Aerodactyl and then sending out Blastoise… Gary, you've really grown."
Sam didn't attempt to force Aerodactyl to move.
The recoil from Giga Impact was too severe.
Once Water Gun connected, Aerodactyl's defeat was already inevitable.
When the powerful Hydro Pump struck, Aerodactyl finally lost the ability to battle.
Seeing this, Gary allowed himself a rare smile.
"Yes, that was my plan. But I didn't expect you to use Giga Impact. That actually made my plan even easier."
Sam chuckled lightly.
"Don't celebrate too early, Gary. The battle may be exciting, but the final result won't change."
Sam recalled Aerodactyl and continued applying pressure with his words.
Gary didn't seem affected at all.
Instead, he smiled calmly.
"Winning isn't my only goal right now."
"I know the gap between us."
"Even though I want to defeat you, I'm not foolish enough to ignore reality."
"I will defeat you one day—but not today."
"What matters now is enjoying this battle and letting my Pokémon grow stronger through it."
Sam was genuinely surprised.
Those words were very different from the arrogant Gary he used to know.
It seemed Gary had truly matured.
Sam stopped talking and returned Aerodactyl to its Poké Ball.
His next Pokémon had been waiting eagerly for this moment.
"Come out—Venusaur."
Venusaur stepped onto the battlefield.
The partner who had journeyed with Sam since leaving Professor Oak's Laboratory had finally returned to center stage at the Indigo Plateau.
Across the battlefield stood Blastoise.
Two old friends.
Both had started their journey together at Professor Oak's lab.
Both had followed their Trainers across the world, gaining experience and strength.
After months of growth, they were finally meeting again on this grand stage.
---
Far away in Pallet Town, inside a villa—
A young girl named Stephanie watched the live broadcast.
"Charmeleon… I'm sorry. If it weren't for me, maybe you'd be the one standing there."
Beside her sat a Charmeleon watching the match quietly.
Charmeleon gently shook its head and patted the girl's head with a soft smile.
Every Pokémon had its own life.
Some fought on grand stages.
Others simply stayed beside the people they loved.
And both lives were meaningful.
---
Back at the stadium, the commentator's voice rang out excitedly.
"Venusaur! It's Venusaur!"
"Sam chose Venusaur without hesitation against Gary's Blastoise!"
"It seems Sam isn't worried about type disadvantage at all!"
"If Sam's starter had been Charmander, he probably would have sent out Charizard in this situation without hesitation!"
"No one can resist watching two partners from the same starting point clash on the stage of the Indigo Plateau Conference!"
"These two Pokémon once trained side by side in Professor Oak's laboratory!"
"Now they stand here as rivals!"
"Let's witness this incredible battle!"
---
"Blastoise, Ice Beam!"
Blastoise had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Cold energy gathered inside its mouth, forming a sharp beam of freezing light that shot toward Venusaur.
Type advantage?
So what?
Even if Venusaur was stronger—
Blastoise would never bow its proud head before an old friend.
"Venusaur, Razor Leaf."
Gary's idea of concentrating Ice Beam into a sharp projectile was clever.
It increased both speed and penetration.
But against a huge gap in strength—
Tricks meant nothing.
Ice-type moves were indeed strong against Grass-type Pokémon.
But that only mattered when the two sides were roughly equal in strength.
The difference between Venusaur and Blastoise was far greater than Gary realized.
Dozens of razor-sharp leaves shot forward like green scimitars.
They sliced the incoming Ice Beam apart almost instantly.
By the time the freezing energy reached Venusaur—
Only scattered ice fragments remained.
Aside from making Venusaur feel slightly cool under the blazing sun, the attack had no real effect.
---------------Author---------------
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