Read up to 30 advanced chapters exclusively on my Patreon at - patreon.com/LoverrBoy
--------------------------------
Seeing countless streams of Bubble Beam rushing toward her, Delia frowned slightly and immediately gave her command to Blastoise!
"Blastoise! Use Withdraw!"
"Blastoise!"
In an instant, Blastoise retracted into its shell. The massive turtle shell slammed heavily onto the ground, and the next moment it was completely engulfed by Kingdra's Bubble Beam!
"Mm, using Withdraw at this moment isn't wrong," Claire said as she watched Delia's reaction, a hint of approval flashing through her eyes.
"But Delia, what will you do next? Even in Withdraw, Blastoise still takes damage. If you only defend passively, the one who falls in the end will definitely be Blastoise."
"I understand that! That's why I never planned to keep defending!" Delia replied without hesitation.
"Blastoise! While staying in place, use Rapid Spin!"
"Blastoise!"
Upon hearing the command, Blastoise immediately began spinning rapidly inside its shell. Using centrifugal force from the rotation, it flung away all the Bubble Beam attacks that came close!
"Hmm! That's a good method!"
Claire's eyes widened slightly, and she praised Delia without holding back.
"Hehe~ This isn't over yet! Blastoise! Keep spinning and use Hydro Pump!"
"Blas—toise!!"
With a deep roar from Blastoise, the rapidly spinning Blastoise fired two high-pressure water cannons from the twin barrels on its back!
The surging torrents swept across the battlefield like twin water dragons! Even Kingdra, which was moving at high speed, couldn't dodge in time—
It was struck head-on, cried out in pain, and was violently flung away, smashing into the wall at the edge of the arena!
"What?! Kingdra!"
The sudden turn of events shocked even Claire. Her mouth fell slightly open as worry crept into her voice.
"Perfect chance, Blastoise! Fire another Hydro Pump!!"
Seeing her strategy succeed, Delia broke into a confident smile and issued another command!
"Blastoise!!"
Blastoise immediately stopped spinning, extended its limbs and head from its shell, leaned forward slightly—and once again unleashed two roaring jets of water!
The torrents slammed into Kingdra again, lifting it clean off the ground and pinning it hard against the wall!
Even the reinforced wall began to crack under the overwhelming power of the attack!
"Finish it, Blastoise! Aqua Jet!!"
"Blastoise!"
Although Blastoise had grown much larger after evolving, under the propulsion of Aqua Jet, it still moved at incredible speed!
The moment the Hydro Pump stopped, Kingdra—previously pinned against the wall—began to slide downward.
But in the very next instant, Blastoise, wrapped in surging water, smashed into Kingdra once again!
BOOOOM!!
This time, the already battered wall could no longer endure it. With a thunderous crash, it collapsed into rubble.
Kingdra, having endured repeated attacks, lay amid the debris with spiraling eyes, weakly blowing bubbles.
"Kingdra has lost the ability to battle! The winner of the first match is Blastoise!"
With the outcome decided, the old butler twitched at the corner of his eye, gazing at the ruined wall with obvious heartache. After a brief pause, he loudly announced the result while waving both flags.
"Hey! Delia, honestly—couldn't you hold back a little?" Claire said with an exaggerated pout, pretending to be upset.
"If you're this rough, I'll get angry! Hmph! Come back, Kingdra! You worked hard—go rest well."
"Huh?! Did I… hit too hard?! Th-then… I'll be more careful?"
Although Claire was clearly joking, Delia didn't realize it at all. Thinking she had truly upset her, Delia looked troubled and asked cautiously.
"Pfft—hahaha!"
Claire finally burst out laughing.
"Delia, you're just too cute! Haha—don't worry about it! I was only joking. I'm a Gym Leader, after all. Normally I'm the one holding back—how could I expect you to go easy on me?
Still… your strength is really impressive. You're getting me excited now! Delia, be careful—because next, I'm getting serious!"
"Whew—You scared me!"
Delia finally realized it was a joke and relaxed.
"Alright then! Come at me, Gym Leader Lance! I'm getting serious too!"
"Mm, that's more like it~"
Claire smiled brightly.
"Then next—your turn! Go! Dragonair!"
"Ha-woo~"
She threw her second PokeBall, which burst open in midair as a Dragonair emerged, floating gracefully.
"Wow! Dragonair! I have one too!"
Delia's eyes lit up with excitement.
"In that case—come back, Blastoise! Go, Dragonair!"
"Ha-woo~"
"Ha-woo~"
The two Dragonair hovered in the air, greeting each other warmly, clearly pleased to meet a counterpart of the same species.
"Alright! Both Pokémon are on the field!" the old butler announced loudly.
"Dragonair versus Dragonair! The second match of the Gym Challenge—begin, now!!"
"I'm really happy, Delia!"
Claire said with a bright smile.
"I didn't expect you to have a Dragonair too—looks like we really are compatible!
Come on, show me how well you've trained yours! We're attacking! Dragonair—Dragon Breath!"
"Ha-woo!!"
As her command fell, Dragonair opened its rounded mouth and unleashed a torrent of green dragon energy, surging straight toward Dragonair!
"Dragonair! Show them what you can do! Counter with Dragon Rage!"
"Ha-woo!!"
Dragonair didn't back down at all. A blue-purple energy sphere shot from its mouth, colliding directly with the incoming Dragon Breath!
BOOM!!
The clash of the two moves triggered a violent explosion, and thick black smoke instantly spread across the battlefield.
"Dragonair! Charge in! Use Thunder Wave!"
"Ha-woo!!"
Although her vision was blocked, Delia sensed an opportunity and immediately ordered Dragonair to rush into the smoke!
Dragonair surged forward, diving into the black smoke toward the direction it had already locked onto.
The next moment, Dragonair burst out of the smoke, electricity crackling from the horn on its forehead as arcs of lightning shot straight toward Claire's Dragonair!
"Dragonair! Safeguard!"
"Ha-woo!!"
Just as the Thunder Wave was about to land, a green barrier instantly enveloped Dragonair, completely blocking the attack!
"Now's the chance! Dragonair—Dragon Rush!"
"Ha-woo!!"
Claire's Dragonair was clearly high-level—it had even mastered Dragon Rush.
Its sleek body shot upward before plunging down in a violent dive, wrapped in raging dragon energy, slamming directly into Dragonair!
BOOM!!
With a thunderous impact, both Dragonair crashed down onto the battlefield simultaneously!