After a five-minute break, the second half of the match resumed.
Gary and Jon stepped onto the battlefield once again.
"Now, let's see which Pokémon Jon will send out first."
Jon threw his Poké Ball.
Whoosh!
A Rhyhorn appeared on the field.
[LV42 Rhyhorn / Gym Level]
Gary was speechless. Jon had sent out a Level 42 Pokémon—but the key issue wasn't just the level. It hadn't even evolved yet.
"Electivire, time to wrap this up." Gary tossed his Poké Ball.
Whoosh!
Electivire landed with a powerful stomp, sparks crackling from its body.
"Oh! Gary has sent out Electivire—but it's at a disadvantage against Rhyhorn!" the announcer commented.
The audience didn't care about type advantages. They were there to see strength—and Gary's Electivire had proven itself before. A little type disadvantage wasn't going to shake their confidence.
The match began.
Rhyhorn charged at Electivire, its horn spinning as it used Drill Run.
Gary made no move to dodge. Instead, he ordered, "Dynamic Punch!"
Electivire surged forward, lifting its glowing fist. As Rhyhorn neared, Electivire's punch connected squarely with its head.
BAM!!
The impact stopped Rhyhorn cold. It was lifted off the ground and sent flying backward.
THUD!
Rhyhorn crashed to the ground, unconscious.
"Rhyhorn is unable to battle! Electivire wins!" the referee announced.
Rhyhorn hadn't stood a chance.
"Damn it! I won't give up!" Jon shouted stubbornly. He sent out his fifth Pokémon.
Whoosh!
A metallic screech filled the stadium as Skarmory took flight.
[LV47 Skarmory / Gym Level]
"No wonder it hadn't been used yet," Gary muttered. He now understood why Jon's previous choices seemed mismatched. Apparently, Jon had built his team without truly countering Gary's lineup.
"Thunder!" Gary called out.
A massive bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, slamming into Skarmory.
BOOOOM!!
Skarmory crashed to the ground in a smoking heap, instantly knocked out.
"Skarmory is unable to battle! Electivire wins!"
The crowd and viewers watching from home erupted in excitement. Gary was pulling off a three-Pokémon sweep in the Silver Conference semi-finals—a rare and historic achievement.
At past League tournaments, such decisive victories had been extremely rare. Naturally, betting odds and merchandise prices spiked. Some gamblers who had gone all-in on Gary were now jumping for joy.
"Hahaha! I finally broke even! I'm in the clear!"
"Gary is unbelievable—even in the semi-finals, he's still holding back!"
"No wonder he said in interviews that the Silver Conference players weren't on his level—he wasn't wrong!"
No one was surprised that Gary had won, but a three-Pokémon sweep in the semis was still stunning.
Jon, refusing to back down, shouted, "I'm playing my trump card! Go, Feraligatr!"
Whoosh!
A large, powerful Feraligatr roared as it emerged onto the field.
[LV56 Feraligatr / Quasi-Elite Level]
This was clearly Jon's strongest Pokémon.
"Now that's more like it," Gary smirked. "You should've started with this. Electivire, Thunder Punch!"
Electivire charged forward, fists glowing with electric energy.
"Feraligatr, don't let it get close—Hydro Pump!" Jon shouted.
Feraligatr unleashed a high-pressure blast of water. Electivire couldn't dodge in time and swung its Thunder Punch directly into the oncoming Hydro Pump. Electricity surged through the stream and traveled toward Feraligatr.
Startled, Feraligatr immediately stopped the attack to avoid being electrocuted.
Gary narrowed his eyes. He had expected a straight fight, but if Jon wanted to play tactically, then so would he.
"Electivire, Charge, then use Thunderbolt!"
Golden sparks surrounded Electivire as it entered a powered-up state.
"Feraligatr, use the rocks as cover—get close and counter with Aqua Tail!" Jon ordered.
Using the terrain, Feraligatr zigzagged through the field, closing the distance.
Electivire unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt. The blast struck a rock, shattering it—and the fragments slammed into Feraligatr, who had been hiding behind it.
CRASH!!
"Ahhh!!"
Feraligatr cried out in pain. The Thunderbolt had hit hard.
But it wasn't over. Feraligatr got up, eyes blazing with fury. He charged at Electivire, his tail cloaked in swirling water. He swung hard with Aqua Tail.
Feraligatr was strong, but on land, he was slower than Electivire. Electivire quickly blocked with another Thunder Punch.
Electricity surged from Electivire's fist, flowing along the water-coated tail and shocking Feraligatr again.
"Feraligatr, use Thrash!" Jon shouted.
Driven into a frenzy, Feraligatr charged forward wildly, slashing and grabbing with both claws. Electivire raised its arms to block each blow.
"Use Ion Deluge!" Gary commanded.
Electivire released a wave of blue static electricity, coating itself—and Feraligatr—in charged particles.
Now all of Feraligatr's attacks had become Electric-type moves.
It was over.
Electivire backed away briefly, then lunged forward with an uppercut Thunder Punch.
WHAM!!
The punch struck Feraligatr under the jaw and launched him into the air.
BANG!!
Feraligatr crashed to the ground. He tried to get up… but after a few seconds, his body gave out.
"Feraligatr is unable to battle! Jon has lost all his Pokémon! The winner is Gary!" the referee declared.
"Congratulations to Gary for advancing to the finals!"
Gary calmly recalled Electivire. Without acknowledging the roaring crowd, he turned and walked off the field—expressionless, as though the match hadn't even happened.
"Wow~ Gary's cold attitude is killing me!"
"I want to be like Gary someday—he's just built different!"
"Gary's going to win another three-on-three in the finals, just watch!"
Gary left the field with cheers still ringing in his ears.
Later that afternoon…
Gary had lunch with Professor Oak, Delia, and Ash.
"Gary, congratulations," said Professor Oak. "It looks like you'll be bringing another trophy home to Pallet Town."