"It's evolved!" Giselle cried out in terror. Originally, Gabite couldn't even defeat Pidgeotto. Now, witnessing Pidgeot's evolution spectacle, both Giselle and Gabite were thrown into panic.
...
"What a surprise. Good thing I switched opponents in time~" Gary joked, carefully observing the battle between Wartortle and Ditto.
Ditto is an extremely mysterious Pokémon. The only move it can learn is Transform. By perfectly copying the opponent's appearance, it can use the same moves. However, due to incomplete genetic alteration, each copied move can only be used five times, and its HP remains unchanged.
"Gary, I didn't expect your Wartortle to be this strong. Even after taking heavy damage from Red's Pidgeot, it can still keep fighting!" Leaf praised.
During Red and Giselle's battle, Leaf and Gary hadn't been idle either. Although Ditto had the advantage of full stamina, Wartortle was ultimately Gary's specialty Pokémon. For a time, the two sides were locked in mutual suppression.
"Are you not going to switch Pokémon?" Leaf asked curiously.
"No need! Red didn't switch, so how could I be the first to give in!" Gary said firmly, unwilling to concede even on such a minor detail.
"You boys really are something…" Leaf said helplessly, unable to understand what Gary was insisting on. Perhaps this was just the romance between men.
"Bang—"
Wartortle spun at high speed and knocked Ditto away. Its body erupted in a blue aura—it had triggered Torrent. A thick column of water blasted Ditto to the ground.
(Torrent: When HP falls below 1/3, the power of Water-type moves increases to 1.5×.)
"Nice one, Wartortle!" Gary shouted excitedly, realizing this was the crucial moment to decide the match with Leaf.
"Ditto, use Ice Beam!"
"Wartortle, aim at the ground and use Water Gun to dodge!" Gary calmly commanded.
"Pshh—"
Wartortle fired a Water Gun rapidly, using the recoil to propel itself briefly into the air, narrowly avoiding Ice Beam.
"Come crashing down with a full-power Skull Bash!" Gary shouted in excitement.
"Oh no! Ditto, hurry and dodge!"
"Not a chance—Ice Beam, seal Ditto's movement!"
Ditto tried to evade Wartortle, but panic clouded its judgment. It failed to escape in time and had its feet frozen by Ice Beam.
"The match is decided!"
Ditto could not break free and was struck squarely by Wartortle's Skull Bash.
"Ditto has lost the ability to battle!" Professor Oak announced.
A flash of white light faded, and Ditto reverted to its soft, squishy form.
"Come back, Ditto!" Leaf recalled it with a Poké Ball and sent out another Pokémon. "I'm counting on you—Ivysaur!"
A fully restored Ivysaur entered the field, staring seriously at Wartortle. Both Pokémon were official starter Pokémon cultivated by the League during the same period, their talents surpassing many of their peers—though they had still been bullied daily by Charizard in their youth. After all, the title of the starters' 'tyrant' was not undeserved.
"Ivysaur, use Leech Seed!"
"Wartortle, use Rapid Spin!" Gary said confidently. "Leaf, you should know that probing attacks like this won't defeat me!"
"That's not necessarily true!" Leaf smiled mysteriously. The moment Wartortle deflected the Leech Seed, she immediately ordered, "Now use Vine Whip and throw Wartortle into the air!"
"What?!" Gary's face showed shock. "Wartortle, dodge!"
Four vines extended from Ivysaur's back, splitting into two directions to grab Wartortle.
"If that's the case, Wartortle, use Ice Beam!" Gary shouted, intending to take both sides down together.
"Ivysaur, I believe in you—use Solar Beam!"
"Dane!"
(Ivysaur's cry is "Dane," Venusaur's is "Bana," and as for Bulbasaur…)
Ivysaur clenched its teeth, enduring the freezing cold of Ice Beam. Fortunately, the beach of Acapulco had a warm climate, indirectly weakening Ice Beam's power. With abundant sunlight as well, Solar Beam quickly formed on Ivysaur's back.
"Fire at full power!" Leaf shouted excitedly.
A golden beam of energy struck Wartortle head-on.
"Wartortle has lost the ability to battle!"
"This is troublesome…" Gary shook his head helplessly. "I didn't expect Pidgeot's attack to be that high. If I'd known, I would've played it safer!"
Though Gary criticized his own impatience now, if he returned to a few minutes earlier, he would still choose to clash head-on with Red. Perhaps this was obsession.
"Come back, Wartortle!" Gary recalled it and prepared his next Pokémon. "This time, I'll send out a power-type Pokémon!"
He threw his Poké Ball. "It's your turn—Nidorino!"
"What Pokémon is that?" Leaf took out her Pokédex to analyze it. "Nidorino, Poison Type Pokémon. It is easily angered and eager to fight. When its horn pierces an opponent, it releases powerful toxins."
"It looks pretty scary…" Leaf muttered, having Ivysaur stay alert.
"Too bad Ivysaur is also part Poison-type. Otherwise, Nidorino could've worn it down with Poison Point," Gary said calmly, openly revealing Nidorino's Ability.
(Poison Point: When hit by a contact move, there is a 30% chance the attacker will be poisoned.)
"But what my Nidorino prides itself on most is its power. Nidorino, use Horn Attack!"
"Roar—"
Nidorino let out a beast-like howl, charging toward Ivysaur with heavy breaths.
"Ivysaur, stop it with Vine Whip!" Leaf quickly commanded.
"Too naive! My Nidorino has undergone strength training—Ivysaur's vines won't be enough to hold it back!" Gary said confidently, not even issuing another order.
"Dane!"
Ivysaur's four vines wrapped around Nidorino, but the enraged Pokémon easily tore free. With a powerful leap of its four legs, it drove its sharp poisonous horn into Ivysaur.
"Dane…"
Ivysaur struggled to rise from the ground, a green aura emerging from its body.
(Overgrow: When HP falls below 1/3, the power of Grass-type moves increases to 1.5×.)
"It looks like Ivysaur doesn't have much stamina left," Gary murmured, signaling Nidorino to continue with Horn Attack.
Heavy footsteps charged forward again. Realizing this was her final chance, Leaf ordered Ivysaur to use Solar Beam, attempting to take down Nidorino first.
The only types that could effectively counter Nidorino were Ground and Psychic. Ivysaur had neither of those moves, while Nidorino could continuously wear Ivysaur down with sheer strength.
"Too late—Nidorino, use Double Kick!"
"This is bad!"
Ivysaur, still absorbing sunlight, couldn't dodge. Nidorino struck its vital points with a sideways Double Kick, then followed up with Horn Attack, knocking Ivysaur flat to the ground.
"Ivysaur has lost the ability to battle!"
Professor Oak looked at his grandson with satisfaction, noticing Gary's growth.