Leiming frowned, struggling to understand...
A Water-type Pokémon that wasn't afraid of electricity? That was absurd!
At the Indigo Plateau Conference, before every battle began, both trainers had to lock in their teams. Once the match started, no changes were allowed.
Out of Leiming's roster, his Ursaring, Skarmory, and Typhlosion had already been defeated. Of his three remaining Pokémon, Ampharos was still in play.
Ampharos was an Electric-type Pokémon.
No matter the level, just by typing alone, it held an overwhelming advantage against Yozora's Golduck.
And if you added the level gap, the match should have been decided already.
But...
"If that Golduck really isn't afraid of electricity, then my Ampharos won't be able to do much at all." Leiming muttered bitterly to himself.
He had thought facing a rookie trainer would be easy, that victory would come without effort, and he could secure at least a Top 8 finish in this year's Conference.
Yet somehow, he had fallen into a bitter struggle.
Shaking his head, Leiming took a sip of water, rested for a while, then stood as the announcement called him back to the arena.
The battle resumed, and just like before, Yozora sent out his Golduck.
The Indigo Plateau Conference was a full 6-on-6 match. Each trainer was allowed to switch freely only twice.
Yozora had already used one switch earlier when he recalled Nidoking. That left him with only one substitution left.
"Go, Ampharos!" As expected, Leiming's fourth Pokémon took the field.
Ampharos, the final evolution of Mareep, stood tall and upright like a humanoid sentinel.
Its yellow skin gave off a sense of warmth and reliability—if it were your partner.
But as an opponent, the sheer force of its electrical power made it a nightmare to face.
"As expected, Ampharos! In terms of typing, Ampharos completely outmatches Golduck. However, from the last round, we saw that Yozora's Golduck doesn't seem particularly afraid of electricity!" The announcer's voice hyped up the crowd.
The referee raised his hand and signaled. The battle began!
Without Yozora needing to say a word, Golduck instantly used Rain Dance. Heavy rain poured down, saturating the battlefield.
The fire element dwindled while the water element grew stronger.
Fire-type moves were weakened, while Water-type moves grew in power.
One buff, one nerf. The difference was massive.
"Let me confirm this again—whether that Golduck really isn't afraid of electricity!"
Leiming's eyes glinted. "Ampharos, use Thunderbolt!"
CRACK!
A terrifying bolt of lightning split the air, roaring down like a dragon of thunder, and slammed directly into Golduck.
This time, Golduck clearly grimaced in pain.
Even with Volt Absorb siphoning away most of the energy, Ampharos's power was simply too overwhelming, boosted by STAB as well.
Golduck may have absorbed the majority, but damage still leaked through.
Seeing this, Leiming's spirits soared. "Ampharos, keep using Thunderbolt! Don't stop!"
His only fear had been that electricity would be ineffective.
But since it landed, then all he had to do was rely on Ampharos's higher level and crush his way through.
"Slide, Golduck!"
Instead of trading blows, Yozora gave a sharp command.
Immediately, Golduck darted across the rain-slick battlefield, drifting across the wet ground like a racer. It weaved through bolt after bolt, slipping past Ampharos's attacks without pause.
"Woooaaah!"
The crowd erupted in cheers at Golduck's breathtaking performance.
"It's too fast! Golduck's speed is unbelievable—Ampharos can't land a hit at all!" The announcer gasped.
And Golduck wasn't satisfied with dodging. While it drifted through the rain, it fired Hydro Pump after Hydro Pump, blasting Ampharos from different angles.
Its mobility was so overwhelming that Ampharos simply couldn't guard against every strike.
One after another, the Hydro Pumps hit home, leaving Ampharos staggering, drenched, and panting heavily.
"This Golduck..." Leiming's expression darkened, his face growing more and more grim.
Instant Rain Dance, super-speed drifting in the storm, and it wasn't even afraid of electricity...
What kind of monster was this thing? Did such creatures truly exist in this world?
"Golduck is amazing!" On the sidelines, Misty jumped up in excitement, flailing her arms. Ash and Brock had to grab her before she leapt into the air.
"Unreal, this Golduck is invincible!"
"No kidding! Just this speed alone is worthy of the Top 8!"
The crowd roared their approval, swept away by Golduck's performance.
In a flash, Golduck had captured the hearts of countless new fans.
Meanwhile, Leiming grimaced. Before Ampharos could collapse, he quickly recalled it.
"Leiming's withdrawing Ampharos before it faints! Next—oh, it's Crobat! His fifth Pokémon is Crobat!" The announcer hyped up the switch.
Crobat, the evolved form of Golbat, was a dual Poison/Flying-type Pokémon. Its level was high, reaching the entry rank of Gym Leader-level.
Even in the downpour, Crobat's speed was unaffected. It zipped through the air, wings cutting arcs of motion too quick for the eye to follow—its speed easily rivaling Golduck's.
After all, Crobat was naturally blistering fast, and with its level advantage, it had no trouble keeping up.
Golduck's speed doubled in the rain, but even so, they were just about even.
"Take it down, Crobat! Use Cross Poison!"
At Leiming's command, Crobat surged forward, its wings glowing with a venomous aura.
"Pshhh!"
Golduck fired Hydro Pumps in rapid succession, but this time, it was Crobat's turn to put on a drifting show. It twisted and weaved, avoiding every blast, before slashing its glowing wings straight across Golduck's chest.
"Cross Poison connects! And it looks super effective!" the announcer shouted.
Golduck was sent skidding backward, its feet carving twin tracks through the water as a huge splash rose up.
It winced in agony, a deep wound marked across its chest.
Worse yet, a purple cross-shaped symbol burned on its body—
Poisoned!
Golduck's face turned pale, then sickly purple. Its whole body trembled under waves of searing pain, the toxins already seeping into its nervous system.
Its fighting strength dropped sharply.
"This isn't good—Golduck looks like it's been poisoned! Can it keep fighting like this?" The announcer's voice rang with concern.
Across the field, Leiming finally allowed himself a grin.
With Golduck poisoned and weakened, this was his chance. "Crobat, finish it with Steel Wing!"
"Kyeh-heh-heh!" Crobat cackled, gathering Steel-type energy. Its wings gleamed like polished blades of iron.
With a sharp cry, Crobat dove, Steel Wings cutting through the rain as it streaked toward its prey.
"Golduck, use Water Pulse!" Yozora's voice cut through the storm.
Linked by their bond, Golduck instantly understood. Fighting through the poison's agony, it gathered water into a dense sphere and hurled it at Crobat.
But Crobat easily slipped past, laughing in mockery as it drew closer.
"Kyeh-heh-heh..."
It closed the gap, ready to strike.
And then—Leiming's eyes widened in shock.
That Water Pulse, though dodged, hadn't vanished. It spun around—
BOOM!
—and detonated against Crobat's back, blasting it midair in a shocking counterstrike!
(End of Chapter)