[ID: Giovanni of the Earth]
The chat exploded the moment that message popped up, with a lot of viewers spamming, "Boss has lost it!"
This also made him the second Star Guardian in Grey's stream.
Still, Grey hadn't expected Giovanni to be watching.
"Big thanks to 'Giovanni of the Earth' for the Star Guardian. If you've got time later, drop by the dojo."
Grey kept his expression steady, turning his gaze back to Riolu's fight.
Faced with Solar Beam, Riolu once again burst out with blistering speed!
Brilliant white light washed over it as Riolu trailed a white afterimage, slipping past the beam at the very last second!
Its right arm brushed the edge—heat bit into the skin.
Behind it, Solar Beam gouged a deep trench into the floor, like a brutal scar across the field.
Riolu's eyes were steady; its pace didn't flag.
While Ninetales was still maintaining the Solar Beam, Riolu closed the distance even more!
"Now—Force Palm!"
Riolu planted a foot against Ninetales and drove forward, channeling every drop of fighting power gathered in its core into both palms!
Solar Beam cut out. Ninetales bared its fangs, furious at the blue jackal pressing both hands to its flank!
"Fire Spin!"
Blaine aimed to use a fast, low-power move to chip away at Riolu's stamina.
But paralysis had Ninetales hobbled.
That instant Solar Beam just now was a Drought "cheat"; Fire Spin depends on the user's condition.
So…
"Rio!"
Riolu slammed both palms flat against Ninetales' fur; two torrents of fighting power crackled like thunder and erupted!
BOOM!!!
The shockwave rampaged through Ninetales' body, whipping it around and slinging gravel as it tumbled, finally skidding to a stop at the edge of the arena.
"Rio…"
Riolu panted, the repeated bursts in such a short span pushing its limits.
Still…
It won!
[Holy hell, this Riolu. Last time I saw it, it was beating up a psychic. Now it's sparring with Blaine?]
[I can tell that Ninetales wasn't his ace, but a Riolu taking down Blaine's Ninetales is still wild.]
[You're getting more interesting by the minute. (Governor unlocked)]
"Appreciate the Governor from 'Giovanni of the Earth.' The more gifts, the more 'interesting sides' you'll see~
By the way, Mr. Giovanni, you're the Viridian City Gym Leader, right? Planning to reopen soon?"
After thanking, Grey steered the topic to Giovanni.
[Me? In a few days, perhaps. After all, the Gym elimination tournament is about to begin. I'm looking forward to our match.]
Giovanni's line sent the chat into a frenzy.
[No way—the strongest Gym Leader in Kanto is gonna face the streamer?]
[No time to mourn Ninetales—next up, Giovanni!]
[Grey: I'm gonna win!]
[Where's Erika? Where's Sabrina? Where are the Cerulean sisters? Why are all his fights with grizzled dudes—fight some girls already!]
Chaos reigned in chat. A few even joked that if Grey didn't battle a girl soon, they'd "visit him offline" so he'd "drink some juice." (Yeah… sure.)
"Anyway, folks, I've got a second round to run—let's chat later. Giovanni, I'll DM you on Line after the stream."
Grey skimmed the barrage—mostly jokes—and recalled Riolu. Time for his second pick.
"Ralts, I choose you!"
"My flames haven't cooled yet—Rapidash! You're up for round two!"
Compared to Grey's plain intro, Blaine sounded like a hype veteran setting the arena on fire.
[Let's go, hot-blooded grandpa!]
Chat leaned into the bit, cheering for Blaine nonstop.
A lot of viewers wanted to see Grey stumble for once.
And as an old-guard powerhouse, Blaine could still put pressure on him.
Two Poké Balls burst.
Ralts swung its little arms, all adorable and cutesy.
Across from it, Blaine's pick—
A magnificent Rapidash, wreathed nose to tail in roaring flame. It looked anything but easy to handle.
Standing next to that, Ralts… looked a bit outmatched.
[Pokémon: Rapidash]
[Type: Fire]
[Level: 40]
[Ability: Run Away]
[Moves: (omitted)]
Scan → Ability: Run Away
Seeing that, Grey's brows drew together slightly.
Flash Fire or Flame Body would've made sense, but Run Away on Rapidash?
That alone put pressure on Grey.
Blaine felt pressure too—
Because Grey had sent out a Ralts.
Same as last round's Riolu—another "baby" Pokémon.
A divine opponent is one thing; a weird opponent is worse.
Trainer and steed locked eyes.
Rapidash pawed the ground; battlefire rose in its gaze.
Blaine didn't dare underestimate it. He swept his thumb forward, voice booming: "Flame Charge!"
"Frrr!"
Rapidash screamed, hammering the ground in a rush that made the arena tremble.
Its flames surged higher, sheathing its body as it charged straight for Ralts!
Smoke and cinders—tense as gunpowder.
"Double Team."
"Raaalts~"
Ralts hopped forward, hands flying through a quick sign; Normal-type energy surged.
In a blink, its small body rippled—splitting into a dozen green afterimages!
Swish—swish—swish!
The Ralts moved in sync, all lunging at Rapidash together!
Rapidash found itself surrounded and, for a moment, couldn't tell which to hit.
"Fire Spin—clear them!"
Blaine had his own answers for clones.
Big-area coverage is the best answer.
"Frrr!"
Flame spirals streamed from the horn, whirling into a widening ring that blasted outward!
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!
Clones popped like bubbles—but there was no impact, no contact with a real body!
Ralts—vanished!
"Now—Knock Off!"
Grey's call snapped like a whip.
Ralts flashed into being on Rapidash's back; its palm, wrapped in inky light, smacked down hard!
Teleport → Knock Off!
It was one of the few psychic techniques it could actually use; Ralts couldn't spam it, so it had to be a surprise tool.
Clearly, the trick worked.
Thump!
Black light burst against Rapidash's back; a chunk of Charcoal clattered to the floor.
"Hnn!"
Rapidash whinnied in pain and staggered forward a few steps.
That Knock Off hit like a truck—left Rapidash a little glassy-eyed.
"This Ralts… has some bite."
Blaine was glad he hadn't let his guard down. He hadn't expected Grey's baby Pokémon to be this quirky—one after another.
Good thing it was Rapidash.
If it had been Ponyta, it would've been down already…
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