After finishing the training plan, Peter's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"One Lopunny playing bunny-girl, one Indeedee acting as a little maid… huh?"
"Anyone who knows I'm building a Normal-type team will understand. Anyone who doesn't might think I've got some very questionable hobbies…"
He shook his head and refocused.
"But at least my special attackers are basically locked in now."
Dolliv, Indeedee, and the planned Zorua—three special attackers already secured.
Add the Slakoth his teacher Norman was helping him search for, plus Lopunny, and all that remained was choosing the final physical attacker.
Just as he was mentally sorting through candidates, the broadcast echoed through the arena.
"Contestants No.76 Peter and No.98 Nessa, please prepare. The match is about to begin."
Peter exchanged a glance with Nessa across the field.
The two stood up at the same time and walked toward the player tunnel.
-----
"Up next, the ever-impressive prodigy Peter! And his opponent—Gym Leader from the Galar region, Nessa!"
"ROAAAR—!"
The cheers exploded, even louder than before.
The livestream chat instantly went feral.
"MY WIFE—DON'T ANY OF YOU DARE—"
"Coach… I wanna fall in love."
"I came to learn tactics from that dog Peter, but appreciating long legs is totally normal, right?"
"Legs wider! I'm almost there—"
"Bro I'm already washing my hands."
"↑ This duo is cursed, please ban."
"…Yeah, never mind."
-----
Both sides took their positions. On the referee's signal, Poké Balls flew.
"Go, Drednaw! Crush him!"
"Dolliv—battle ready!"
With a heavy BOOM, a massive, snapping-turtle-like Pokémon slammed onto the battlefield.
A battle-axe-shaped crest crowned its head, radiating brute power.
[Drednaw lv30 (Advanced)]
Peter raised an eyebrow.
"So it evolved after all… but that's as far as it goes."
"To beat you, I trained specifically for this!" Nessa declared, voice ringing with confidence.
"Even if you have the type advantage, you will not win!"
"Then I'll be watching closely."
"Drednaw—charge in and use Scary Face!"
Scary Face sharply lowered the opponent's Speed—clearly Nessa planned to slow Dolliv down and overwhelm it head-on.
Peter remained calm.
"Grassy Terrain."
"Dolliv~"
Vibrant life surged outward. Emerald light spread beneath Dolliv's feet as lush grass rapidly covered the arena floor. Its control over Grassy Terrain had become visibly refined.
"The face of a charging Drednaw—and Peter opens with Grassy Terrain on the spot! Doesn't he know Drednaw excels in close-quarters combat?!"
Nessa's eyes lit up.
"Now! Full power—Body Press!"
Body Press—a Fighting-type move she had trained specifically to counter Peter.
Peter barely lifted his eyelids.
"Growth."
"What?! Another shocking call from Peter! Body Press is super effective against Dolliv's Normal typing!"
Nessa's expression darkened.
This wasn't just confidence—this was contempt.
The chat exploded again.
"LOL does he think that tiny body can tank Drednaw's monstrous head?"
"Report upstairs, that comment was definitely driving."
"Here it comes! Reverse-type tanking again! I hereby crown Dolliv the Ultimate Shield!"
"Wait—people seriously think this will work?"
"FYI for new viewers: Peter's Dolliv once tanked a Beak Cannon head-on and drained a Toucannon dry with Leech Seed. This non-STAB Body Press is nothing."
…
The two Pokémon collided.
BOOM!
Drednaw slammed into Dolliv, shoving it several meters back—still pushing forward with sheer mass!
"Dolliv—!"
At the last moment, Dolliv twisted, narrowly slipping past the axe-like crest. Gentle green light rose from the Grassy Terrain.
It had taken far less damage than expected.
"My god!! Dolliv tanked it head-on!!!"
The arena erupted.
Peter smiled.
Maxed defensive investment, Grassy Seed already triggered by the Terrain, granting +1 Defense from turn one.
Drednaw's level advantage wasn't large enough to break through.
"Strength Sap."
Threads of green light flowed from Drednaw into Dolliv. Wounds closed instantly—while Drednaw's Attack dropped visibly.
"…How is this possible?"
Nessa's clenched fist slowly loosened.
A Fighting-type move, a clear counter—and it still couldn't break through.
Dolliv hadn't even attacked once, yet it radiated an immovable, mountain-like pressure.
"You're not attacking?" Peter chuckled lightly, waiting.
Nessa frowned.
"Drednaw—Iron Defense!"
Iron Defense sharply boosted Defense.
Since Strength Sap had weakened its Attack, she planned to stack Defense to empower Body Press instead.
"Excellent adjustment!" the commentator cried.
"Body Press scales with Defense—if Drednaw boosts enough, it could break through! But can it survive against a Pokémon it's four-times weak to?"
However—
Peter simply crossed his arms, watching calmly.
The commentator froze.
"He's… waiting? Peter isn't capitalizing on this opening?!"
Nessa's chest rose and fell sharply.
"Stop looking down on me! Drednaw—charge! Full-power Body Press!"
"DREDNAAAW!"
Fueled by anger, Drednaw thundered forward.
Peter's lips curved into a strange smile.
"…Huh?"
Nessa's heart skipped.
She knew Dolliv's moveset.
As a defensive ace, it lacked strong offensive options—only Mega Drain at best.
Drednaw specialized in defense. She was confident it could tank at least one hit.
If she could force a second Body Press between Dolliv's recovery windows, Peter would lose.
The turtle's heavy steps tore through the grass.
At that moment—
Peter and Dolliv lifted their heads together.
"End it," Peter said softly.
"Grass Knot."
The grass beneath Drednaw's feet surged upward—coiling, tightening—
And the battlefield fell deadly silent.
--------------
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