Creak!
Axel and Platinum walked into the gym hand in hand. The first thing that came into sight was the Gyarados in the center of the gym.
Behind Gyarados, Quagsire, Floatzel, Ludicolo, Sharpedo, Kingdra, and other Pokémon were floating on the water's surface.
Axel's gaze swept across these Pokémon, and instantly a very traditional playstyle appeared in his mind.
Rain Team!
This kind of lineup isn't hard to put together, and the tactics are very straightforward and easy to understand.
The idea is simple: the weather setter uses Rain Dance, then Pokémon with the Swift Swim ability double their Speed, while Water-type moves gain increased power.
The difficulty lies in collecting and training the Pokémon.
There's also a weakness, such a team is easily swept by Grass-types with "Giga Drain," so you need to raise other Pokémon to cover the blind spot.
"Looks like this guy's trying to trip us up…"
All the Pokémon the opponent had sent out were level 30 and above, with Kingdra the highest, close to level 50.
There's no way Axel would believe this was a normal gym challenge lineup.
With a light sigh, Axel pulled the young lady's hand and started walking toward the door.
"What, we're not battling?"
"Nope," Axel gave Platinum a quick explanation of the Rain Team strategy, leaving her dumbfounded.
"That's just bullying! What kind of trainer battles like that?"
"A proper, outstanding trainer should be like you. Max out the skill tree on raising Pokémon, then crush the opponent with unmatched momentum."
"People who play tactics are the worst!"
Hearing Platinum's words, someone's face turned red instinctively.
"Actually… people who play tactics aren't necessarily shameless, maybe it's just a hobby?"
After a dry cough, Axel's professional instinct kicked in, and he quickly started thinking of ways to break Crasher's Rain Team strategy.
Once he worked through the possibilities, the blush faded and his face returned to normal.
Anyway, the opponent used tactics first, what's wrong with countering him?
Fight fire with fire. That can't be called dirty, right?
"In a bit, let's check the nearby woods, see if there's an Exeggutor. That Pokémon grows quickly, and with your money and my skill, we can raise it fast."
"Then we teach it Trick Room and Giga Drain, and straight up annihilate this Rain Team."
After speaking, Axel smiled at Platinum.
If he remembered right, didn't Platinum just say people who play tactics are the worst?
Thinking of the jelly incident just now, Axel took a deep breath and nodded in satisfaction.
This move? It's called double insurance.
Being thought of as "weak" is the first layer of insurance.
Having different worldviews? That's the second.
With both stacked together, Axel felt absolutely safe now!
"Eh, so you can do that!", Unexpectedly, Platinum's dislike for tactics instantly vanished from her eyes.
She looked at Axel with near worship.
"You're so smart!"
"No wonder my father's research says when Pokémon are weak in one area, they get stronger in another. Turns out people are the same."
"Axel, you're brilliant!"
Axel: "???"
'Wait, double standards?'
'Also, why do I feel so annoyed when you call me smart?'
"Ahem!", Just as they were about to leave, Crasher let out a dry cough.
"You two… you're just going to walk out like this?"
"Yeah," Axel nodded, eyes falling on Crasher.
"Even if you're a gym leader, you can't force trainers to battle, right?"
"We plan to step away, calm down, and come back in a few hours."
Crasher fell silent.
Indeed, he couldn't force challengers to fight.
But he had already been posing here for hours to crush Platinum's spirit.
Wait a few more hours?
By then he and his Pokémon would be exhausted before a battle even began.
"How about just one match first?"
"No," Axel decisively shook his head.
If the opponent didn't fix the order of challengers, Axel could go up first, wipe out the gym's strength with his powerful Pokémon, and let Platinum reap the reward.
But Axel had seen clearly just now. This gym had a strange rule: the gym leader decides the challenge order.
Might as well write "targeting Axel" on his face.
His time was valuable, and Platinum couldn't possibly beat Crasher right now. No need to waste time here.
"Just one battle, it'll be boring otherwise?", Crasher's tone lost some of its arrogance, sounding almost like persuasion.
Axel still shook his head, "No."
"Clear the gym and you get a reward, Rain Dance TM!"
Axel glanced at Platinum, "Don't need it."
Crasher: "..."
'Damn it, this guy doesn't budge to soft or hard tactics!'
"No, today you can leave. But only if you battle me first."
Perhaps realizing his state wasn't quite right, Crasher feared being reported, so he weakly added, "Win or lose, I'll still give you a Rain Dance TM."
Axel froze for a moment.
He had thought Crasher went through all this effort to block Platinum from clearing the gym.
'But turns out this guy is rushing toward self-destruction?'
"I accept!"
"Excellent!"
Seeing Axel agree, Crasher's lips curled into a smile.
Of course, the fact that this man was willing to be a bodyguard showed he needed money.
As long as he defeated Axel in front of Platinum, using overwhelming strength to intimidate her, she would definitely tread carefully.
"Pokédex holder… even if you have a Pokédex and Glastrier at your side, you mustn't underestimate the bond between us gym leaders."
"The eight of us share everything, united against outsiders."
"You may clear our gyms, but you will never stomp on our faces and crush us!"
Feeling his fighting spirit reach its peak, Crasher hurriedly stood up, afraid Axel would change his mind if he hesitated.
First movement… his body didn't move an inch, and Crasher's face turned pig-liver purple.
'Damn, I really went numb from sitting!'
'No way, you can't show momentum while sitting!'
Bracing his hands on either side, Crasher forced his body to stand.
Then…
"Huh? Where are my legs?", Crasher couldn't feel them at all, only a tingling numbness below the waist.
The next moment—
Sploosh!
With a crash, the water in the arena splashed over a meter high.
Crasher plunged into the water, sinking into deep silence.
The young lady nudged Axel's arm, "Didn't he say gym battle? Why's he swimming now?"
After a few seconds of silence, Crasher forced a smile.
"Was my dive impressive?"
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