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"I don't need your pity!"
Delia immediately raised her voice in refusal after hearing Eusine's words, not even thinking before replying.
"This isn't pity," Eusine said, shaking his head slightly. "It's called having confidence in my own strength. How about this—since you don't agree with what I said earlier, let's change it up. If—and I mean if—you can defeat my Voltorb, then I'll arrange a proper Gym battle for you. At that time, I'll use my full power as a Gym Leader to fight you seriously. How does that sound?"
Faced with Delia's stubbornness, Eusine rubbed his temples helplessly. After thinking for a moment, he decided on this compromise—one that would let him fight using his real Ghost-type Pokémon as a Gym Leader.
"Hmm… fine! It's decided then!"
After a moment of thought, Delia nodded firmly.
"All right then! Voltorb versus Wartortle! The final match begins now!"
"Let's go again, Wartortle! Use Aqua Wartortle!"
"Wartortle~!"
The instant the battle restarted, Delia used the same opening move. Her Wartortle, surrounded by rushing water, leapt into the air and rocketed toward the opposing Voltorb!
"Meet it head-on, Voltorb! Use Spark!"
"Bzzzt!"
Having anticipated the same move, Eusine commanded sharply. Voltorb rolled forward, its entire body crackling with electricity as it sped across the ground, leaving a scorched path behind it. In the blink of an eye, it collided with the water-wreathed Wartortle.
Boom!
The two attacks clashed violently, releasing a burst of energy that sent both Pokémon flying backward.
"Limit its movement, Wartortle! Use Bubble Beam!"
"War!"
As soon as Wartortle regained its balance, it opened its mouth wide and unleashed a stream of shimmering bubbles that rapidly floated toward Voltorb.
"Shatter them, Voltorb! Use Sonic Boom!"
"Bzzzt—!"
At Eusine's order, Voltorb let out a powerful screech. A wave of sound burst forth, cutting cleanly through the air and bursting every single bubble in its path. The shockwave slammed directly into Wartortle, who was still mid-attack.
"Wartortle!"
Caught off guard, Wartortle staggered backward several steps before steadying itself. The attack forced it to close its mouth and stop firing bubbles.
The remaining bubbles hanging in the air popped one after another, filling the field with misty droplets that mingled with the rain falling from above.
At that moment, the rain clouds began to dissipate—the Rain Dance had ended. Sunlight broke through the lingering mist, refracting into a faint rainbow above the field.
"Voltorb, get ready to attack! First use Charge, then Charge Beam!"
Seeing the mist obstructing visibility, Eusine frowned slightly and called out decisively.
"Bzzzt—!"
Voltorb began to glow with golden light. Electricity crackled outward from its spherical body, looping back around as it charged up power, its entire form gleaming a brilliant gold.
It was ready—Eusine only had to wait for the mist to clear.
"Wartortle!"
But just then, a blurred figure darted through the fog! From the outline, it was clearly Wartortle! Without hesitation, Eusine shouted—
"Now, Voltorb! Fire!"
"Bzzzt!!"
With a piercing cry, Voltorb unleashed its stored energy. A golden spear of lightning shot forth, tearing through the mist and striking the incoming silhouette dead-on!
"Yes! Got it! Huh? What—"
Eusine's triumphant smile froze as he noticed the hit figure fading away, its form dissolving into thin air.
At the same instant—
"Go, Wartortle! Use Skull Bash!"
"War!!"
From the opposite side of the mist came Delia's sharp voice. A spinning, water-wrapped figure shot out like a cannonball—its shell gleaming under the rainbow light! The full-force Skull Bash smashed straight into the Voltorb that had just finished its attack, sending it flying into the air!
"Wha—?! That was… Double Team!"
Eusine stared in shock as his Voltorb rolled to the side, sparks flickering weakly. Then, as the mist cleared, he noticed several fading afterimages around Delia's Wartortle. His expression shifted from surprise to realization.
"Hmph! You tricked my Pokemon with illusions earlier—this time I just returned the favor. How's that? Impressed by my strength yet?"
Delia raised her chin proudly, her expression glowing with satisfaction.
"Heh… that was a clever move, I'll admit. But my Voltorb hasn't fainted yet. And take a closer look at your Wartortle—this match isn't over."
Eusine smiled calmly as he glanced from his recovering Voltorb to Delia's Wartortle, whose posture had stiffened.
"What? Wartortle—what's wrong?!"
Delia turned quickly toward her partner. Wartortle was trembling slightly, his body twitching as faint sparks flickered across his shell.
"Paralysis?! But how?! You didn't even get hit by an Electric move!"
Delia's eyes widened. Wartortle was clearly paralyzed, but Voltorb's last electric attack had missed. So how did this happen?
"It's Static…" came a calm voice from the sidelines. It was Liam. "That Voltorb's Ability is Static. Your Wartortle made contact during Skull Bash, and that triggered paralysis."
Liam sighed softly. He already understood—Delia's chances of winning were nearly gone.
"That's right! Static it is! Looks like you know your stuff. Since you understand, let's not waste any more time. Voltorb, use Spark again and finish it!"
Eusine grinned, nodding toward the battlefield.
"Bzzzt—!"
A bright surge of electricity crackled from Voltorb's body as it rolled rapidly toward the paralyzed Wartortle!
"Wartortle, use Protect!"
"War…!"
Delia quickly commanded a defensive move, but—
"Warr!!"
As Wartortle spread its arms to activate Protect, a painful jolt ran through its body. The paralysis locked up its muscles, interrupting the move completely! In the next instant, the golden lightning engulfed it entirely.
"Wartortle!!"
Delia's worried cry rang out as arcs of electricity flared around her Pokémon.
When the light faded, Wartortle stood in place, eyes squinted, body scorched—but still on its feet, gritting its teeth determinedly.
"Wartortle!"
"Impressive! To withstand a direct Electric-type hit and remain standing—your Wartortle's tough! But this is the end! Voltorb, use Spark again to finish it off!"
Despite his admiration, Eusine showed no mercy.
"Bzzzt—!!"
Voltorb's body flared with electricity once more, rolling forward like a thunderball straight at Wartortle—
And then—
BOOM!!
"Ahhh!!"
A sudden explosion erupted nearby! Everyone's attention snapped toward the sound. Even Voltorb halted, its electric aura flickering out as it turned toward—
—the black smoke rising from the Burned Tower!