Facing off against a Hariyama with a 4x Fighting-type weakness.
Even with a potential level advantage, it was objectively a poor choice. But Kashiwagi had his own designs.
"Curse!"
"AGG-RRON!"
Aggron watched Hariyama with predatory focus, letting out a low growl as black mist swirled around his metallic frame.
When used by a non-Ghost-type, Curse has a unique effect. Unlike Galarian Corsola, who used it to sap life at the cost of her own, Aggron used it to lower his Speed in exchange for boosting his Attack and Defense. It was the perfect embodiment of "slow but steady" power.
Simultaneously, Brawly threw a punch into the air. "Arm Thrust!"
Hariyama moved with heavy, rhythmic strides, each step causing the ground to tremble as it closed in on Aggron.
Its massive, fan-like hands glowed with a bright, reddish-brown light.
Kashiwagi wasn't about to let the sumo Pokémon get within grappling range so easily.
"Back off! Use Sand Tomb!"
"ROAR!"
Enveloped in dark aura, Aggron retreated several paces to maintain distance. He slammed his silver claws into the earth with a sharp crack, sending a fissure racing toward Hariyama's feet.
"Dodge to the right!" Brawly shouted.
Hariyama performed a heavy roll to the side just as the ground beneath its previous position collapsed into a terrifying, funnel-shaped pit of sinking sand. Had the heavy Pokémon fallen in, its massive weight would have made climbing out nearly impossible.
Brawly knew he couldn't let Aggron keep terraforming the arena. "Continuous Force Palm!"
"HARI-YA!"
With a booming shout, Hariyama thrust its palms forward. A shockwave shaped like a hand shot through the air, followed immediately by a second, then a third!
A barrage of concussive energy rained down on the silver beast.
However, Kashiwagi and Aggron had already anticipated this.
The moment Hariyama raised its hands, Aggron dived into the earth, using Dig to evade the shockwaves. The resulting explosions kicked up a massive cloud of dust, creating a natural smoke screen that obscured Brawly's vision.
"Don't panic! Close your eyes and feel the earth with your feet! Listen closely! Just like listening to the rhythm of the tide!"
"YAMA!"
Hariyama closed its eyes, sensing the vibrations of the ground and the sound of shifting soil to track Aggron's movements.
Brawly, strangely enough, closed his eyes too, as if the human and Pokémon had entered a state of perfect mental resonance.
But Kashiwagi was all too familiar with their "surfing" philosophy.
"Rock Tomb!"
"GROOOO!"
Aggron burst from the sand pit. Hariyama snapped its eyes open, striking out toward the direction it had sensed!
"There!" Brawly's voice was filled with excitement.
Whoosh!
A reddish shockwave blasted forward. At the same time, jagged boulders erupted from the ground—not to trap Hariyama, but to strike it directly in the arches of its feet!
THUD! THUD!
Two distinct sounds echoed: the shockwave whistling past Aggron's horns as he lowered his head, and the heavy thud of Hariyama collapsing as the rocks jabbed its sensitive soles.
"It missed!?"
Brawly looked on in disbelief. He had given up visual observation to achieve perfect harmony, only to be punished for it.
"Dig!"
Aggron dove back under and burst out directly beneath Hariyama as it tried to stand!
BOOM!
Brawly yelled,
"Grab him!"
"HARI... YAMA!"
Hariyama's 250kg frame was nearly sent flying, but it endured the pain, grabbing Aggron's sharp horns to anchor its feet back onto the ground.
Using its grappling expertise, it wrapped an arm around Aggron's head.
"Seismic Toss!"
Brawly's command was frantic—this was a rare opening. But Kashiwagi was just as fast.
"Hold your ground! He can't generate leverage! Use Low Kick!"
"Aggrrron!"
Aggron roared, standing firm like a mountain. A flash of pain crossed Hariyama's face; just as Kashiwagi predicted, it couldn't find the strength to lift him.
The stinging pain in its bruised feet made it impossible to push off. For a Pokémon as heavy as Hariyama, its relatively small feet were its greatest weakness—they had to support its entire weight.
Since Hariyama couldn't throw, it was Aggron's turn.
Aggron's tail whipped around, snagging Hariyama's ankle. Combined with the sheer force of his unshakable legs, he pulled!
THOOM!
Hariyama's massive body crashed to the ground, leaving it dazed and disoriented.
"Yama..." it groaned in pain.
Kashiwagi had originally intended to save Low Kick for a later fight, but seeing its utility against heavy Gym leaders, he had taught it to Aggron. It was paying off brilliantly.
"Snap out of it! It's not over yet! We will ride this wave to the end! Focus Blast!"
Brawly refused to yield. Hariyama, still on the ground, cupped its massive hands to condense a sphere of brilliant blue energy.
"Charge in! Metal Burst!" Kashiwagi countered instantly.
At this range, and with Aggron's speed lowered by Curse, dodging was impossible. Tanking and reflecting the damage was the only way.
"GRR-OOO!!"
Trusting his Trainer implicitly, Aggron's body took on a brilliant metallic sheen. He didn't wait for the Focus Blast to fire and lunged straight into it!
BOOM—!!
An ear-splitting explosion rocked the gym. The Focus Blast detonated like an unstable bomb, sending a visible shockwave of dust and debris in all directions.
Kashiwagi and Brawly shielded their eyes. Several seconds passed as the smoke slowly settled.
Brawly expected Aggron to be down—a Focus Blast at point-blank range should have been the end. But seeing the calm smile on Kashiwagi's face, his heart sank.
The smoke cleared.
Aggron was pinning Hariyama down.
His once-silver head was blackened from the blast, but his azure eyes glowed with an incredible intensity.
Inside his massive maw, a sphere of brilliant silver light had already condensed.
"The Sturdy ability!?" Brawly gasped.
"No! He's standing on pure willpower! Fire!"
Aggron let out a primal roar!
"ROOAAAR!!"
The blinding light of Metal Burst, Hariyama's terrified expression, and Brawly's look of resignation were all frozen in that moment.
As a silver mushroom cloud of energy rose toward the ceiling, the referee, Shauna, stood frozen in awe.
When the dust finally settled:
"Hariyama is unable to battle! Aggron wins!! The victory goes to the challenger, Kashiwagi!!"