Castform made a dazzling entrance.
As the ultimate support Pokémon on Red's team, it was only after obtaining the Dragon Orb that Castform's combat ability underwent a true qualitative transformation.
Embedded in the center of its chest, the glowing Dragon Orb had almost completely fused with its gaseous body, becoming one with it.
Looking at Castform, Red smiled.
"Today's battle is going to depend on you."
Pokémon: Castform ♀
Level: 43
Talent: Exceptional
Attack: 27Special Attack: 31Defense: 30Special Defense: 28Speed: 30HP: 31
Total IVs: 177
Ability: Forecast (Changes form and typing according to the current weather.)
Moves: Water Gun, Ember, Powder Snow, Tackle, Future Sight, Amnesia, Rain Dance, Snowscape, Sandstorm, Sunny Day, Weather Ball...
Special Ability: After fusing with the Dragon Orb of a Champion-level Dragonair, Castform's control over all weather phenomena has increased dramatically. It has also mastered an entirely new weather condition—Thunderstorm.
Evaluation: An exceptionally gifted Castform that has devoted all of its efforts to mastering weather control. Its command over weather surpasses that of others of its species, especially when manipulating rainstorms.
Castform was currently the highest-level Pokémon on Red's team.
(Swampert had only just evolved, so its experience bar had been reset.)
Although Castform couldn't receive the massive power boost that came with evolution...
Since joining Red, it had tirelessly trained its weather manipulation day after day.
Because of Castform's relatively low base stats, it had always served as the team's support.
Every evolution...
Every battle...
Every training session...
Had relied on Castform's assistance.
Now, after obtaining the Dragon Orb...
It had finally received its own legendary power-up.
The ability to command Thunderstorm Weather.
Unlike the four standard weather conditions, this wasn't a natural weather pattern recognized by Trainers.
It was a unique offensive weather phenomenon Castform had learned directly from Dragonair's Dragon Orb.
When everyone saw Red send out a Castform...
The audience—
Even his opponent, Miyuki—
Couldn't help but look puzzled.
After all, Castform wasn't exactly famous.
Before Songzao Gym made use of them...
Castform's primary role had been weather forecasting.
The most famous example was the Weather Institute in Hoenn.
Back during Red's grandfather's era, Castform had once achieved considerable fame throughout Kanto.
That tiny white figure...
Had become countless Trainers' nightmare.
During Red's father's generation, however...
Castform gradually faded into obscurity once more.
Aside from briefly appearing at Songzao Gym and on the Indigo Plateau...
It had remained largely unknown.
Only now...
Was this unusual Pokémon finally returning to the public eye.
Red raised a hand.
"Go, Castform!"
Following his command, Castform floated high into the sky.
The next instant—
Dark clouds rapidly gathered overhead.
As Castform's strength had grown, it could now effortlessly spread its weather across nearly half of the Indigo Plateau.
Even the skies above the nearby Pokémon League tournament arenas were beginning to change.
Miyuki stared at the gathering storm clouds.
A sense of unease suddenly welled up inside her.
Ordinarily...
Rainy weather was wonderful for a Trainer specializing in Water- and Ice-type Pokémon.
Yet...
Something felt wrong.
Standing before her, her Level 46 Lapras also looked nervously toward the sky.
As a Pokémon that spent its life crossing the oceans...
Lapras understood better than most just how terrifying weather could be.
"Lapras!"
"Ice Beam!"
At Miyuki's command, Lapras fired a brilliant beam of ice toward where it believed Castform was hiding.
It was completely useless.
The Ice Beam pierced through the clouds and shot into the heavens.
But clouds weren't physical objects.
The opening it blasted through was immediately filled by more storm clouds.
Watching the increasingly oppressive cloud cover—
Within which flashes of lightning were beginning to flicker—
Miyuki frowned.
This was exactly what made Castform so troublesome.
Once it hid inside the clouds...
It was practically impossible to hit.
No matter who the opponent was...
The battle inevitably became a bizarre contest.
Would Castform run out of stamina first...
Or would the opponent's defenses fail first?
It was an almost impossible dilemma.
Realizing the situation, Miyuki calmly gave a new order.
"Lapras."
"Prepare to withstand the storm."
"A weather effect covering this large an area can't be maintained for very long."
Lapras nodded.
It immediately erected a thick wall of ice around itself, sealing itself behind solid defenses.
Bruno looked thoughtfully toward the sky.
"Is that really just a rainstorm?"
"It doesn't look like one."
A single raindrop fell.
Then another.
Soon, a light drizzle spread across the battlefield.
"Huh?"
"Why is the rain so weak?"
"No idea."
Just as everyone began whispering among themselves—
Lt. Surge, the Electric-type Gym Leader, finally noticed the truth.
"The energy gathering inside those clouds isn't Water-type energy at all."
"It's far more violent..."
"It's Electric-type energy!"
"This isn't a rainstorm."
"It's a thunderstorm!"
"That little bit of rain is only there to soak the ground!"
Red glanced at him with slight surprise and nodded.
"As expected of Gym Leader Lt. Surge."
"Your eyesight is far better than your cousin's."
Almost as if to prove Red's words—
Before his sentence had even finished—
A bolt of lightning as thick as a water barrel crashed down from the sky.
BOOM—!!
The terrifying strike exploded upon impact.
A massive scorched crater instantly appeared in the battlefield.
Everyone present unconsciously swallowed.
"What terrifying power..."
"That lightning strike was on par with an attack from a Gym Leader-level Pokémon..."
And above Lapras...
There wasn't just one bolt waiting.
There were countless more.
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