Espeon landed gracefully on the battlefield.
"Get ready to witness my greatness up close."
Espeon's usual flare was no surprise to Silas.
Flint immediately studied her, unaware of her cocky words communicated telepathically.
"I can tell she's well trained from the depth and shine of her coat."
"This guy knows his stuff, clearly."
"He's our opponent, get serious."
Espeon took a battle ready stance.
Flint gestured forward.
"You may have the first move."
Silas had no intention of wasting the opportunity.
"Espeon, use Calm Mind."
Espeon closed her eyes.
Psychic energy slowly gathered around her body as she entered a focused state.
Flint smiled.
"Haha! You're quite cautious but cocky, setting up right in front of us like that."
He pointed toward Espeon.
"Rhydon, use Rock Blast!"
Rhydon stomped.
Several large rocks tore free from the battlefield. With a roar, Rhydon launched them toward Espeon at high speed.
Silas gave no command but Espeon didn't need one.
Without breaking Calm Mind, she gracefully shifted her body around the incoming projectiles.
One boulder passed beside her head. Another slammed into the ground behind her. A third flew underneath as she lightly jumped over it.
Not one of them touched her. Her agility surprised Flint and his Pokémon.
Silas smiled.
"Use Calm Mind again."
Flint raised an eyebrow.
"Is that all you can do? While it's impressive you can use Calm Mind while in motion, you can't be so foolish."
He immediately changed tactics.
"Rhydon, use Thunderbolt!"
Electricity gathered around Rhydon before exploding forward.
Espeon waited until the last possible moment before she jumped aside.
Thunderbolt tore past her and cracked on the ground nearby.
Rhydon roared in frustration. This was the second time Espeon had effortlessly dodged his attacks.
Espeon had now completed her second Calm Mind.
Silas finally moved to the next stage.
"Remember when you called my strategy foolish? Espeon, use Future Sight."
Psychic energy erupted around Espeon.
A dense orb of terrifying psychic power formed above her. Then, it suddenly vanished.
Flint's eyes narrowed.
He understood the move.
"Rhydon, use Swords Dance."
Rhydon began moving rhythmically and its physical power started rising.
Silas immediately attacked.
"Espeon, use Stored Power."
Dozens of small psychic orbs materialized. After 2 Calm Minds, Stored Power had become significantly stronger.
The barrage rushed toward Rhydon.
"Endure the attack!"
Rhydon continued its Swords Dance.
Psychic blasts struck repeatedly. The orbs exploded against its shoulder and its chest.
Several more detonated across its armored body.
Rhydon grunted but refused to stop. When the final orb disappeared, its Swords Dance was complete.
Flint immediately attacked.
"Now, Rhydon! Iron Tail into Drill Run!"
Silas' eyes widened.
Rhydon's massive tail began glowing with metallic energy.
But instead of simply swinging it toward Espeon, Rhydon coiled its tail tightly behind its body like a spring.
Silas realized what was happening a fraction too late.
The tail snapped like a coiled snake and the force launched Rhydon forward at surprising speed.
Its massive body accelerated far faster than something that size should have been able to move.
Then Rhydon began rotating. Ground type energy converged densely around its horn as it started using Drill Run.
"Espeon, dodge it quick!"
Unfortunately, it was far too late.
Rhydon slammed directly into her and the impact was devastating.
Espeon was launched backward and smashed deep into the arena wall.
Cracks spread around where her body smashed into the wall.
Silas' expression immediately hardened.
Espeon groaned.
Psychic energy spread around her as she forcibly pulled herself free from the wall.
"Shake it off, Espeon."
She landed unsteadily but remained standing.
"Now, use Work Up."
Espeon steadied herself.
Her physical and special power began increasing.
Flint frowned.
"Kid, if this is the extent of your skill, then I'm disappointed. Initially, I was intrigued but now…"
He raised his hand.
"Rhydon, repeat the same move!"
Rhydon's tail once again began coiling behind its body.
BOOM!
The tail propelled it forward again and Rhydon began rotating into Drill Run.
However, this time Espeon knew exactly what was coming.
She waited as Rhydon closed the distance.
At the last possible instant, Espeon jumped sideways while twisting her body in the air at high speed.
The rotating horn passed only inches from her.
Rhydon couldn't stop and it crashed violently into the wall causing the entire arena to shake.
Rhydon pulled itself free and shook its head in irritation.
Silas immediately attacked.
"Espeon, use Iron Tail!"
Espeon rushed forward.
Her tail became coated in metallic energy.
Flint reacted.
"Rhydon, use Shadow Claw!"
Dark ghostly energy covered Rhydon's claws.
The 2 Pokémon prepared to clash.
Then Flint noticed something.
A psychic orb suddenly appeared high above Rhydon.
His eyes widened.
This was Future Sight activating.
The enormous orb split into several smaller projectiles and they descended simultaneously.
One after another exploded against Rhydon.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Rhydon staggered and Espeon arrived, ready to strike.
Iron Tail slammed into its body. The combination finally inflicted serious damage. With Work Up used once, Espeon had respectable physical attack power.
Silas smiled.
"You see my strategy now?"
Flint's eyes narrowed.
Silas reached for Espeon's Poké Ball.
"Well, it gets worse, stay tuned. Espeon, use Baton Pass."
Espeon began glowing.
Her body transformed into red light and returned to her Poké Ball.
However, something remained behind.
It was a glowing pink orb that represented the accumulated energy from her boosts.
Silas immediately threw another Poké Ball.
"Go, Tropius!"
Light erupted and Tropius appeared in the arena.
The pink energy instantly entered her body.
All of the boosts transferred, Tropius was now at +3 for Special Attack, +2 for Special Defense, and +1 for Attack.
Flint's expression changed.
"Alright, kid. I admit it. I underestimated you. I can acknowledge you are a dangerous trainer."
Silas grinned.
Tropius was now a disaster for a Rock-type gym.
She wasted no time.
"Attack by combining your Magical and Razor Leaf attacks."
Tropius took to the air. Dozens of glowing leaves filled the arena. Some twisted unnaturally through the air, tracking Rhydon while others flew like sharpened blades.
Rhydon attempted to fight back, but Tropius deliberately maintained her distance.
Another barrage came.
Then another.
The combination of increased special attack and type advantage was simply too much.
"Rhydon, use Shadow Claw and knock away all the leaves."
Dark energy converged on its hands and formed into sharp claws. He struck out fiercely, slashing through many of the energy leaves but it was still not enough.
He fought admirably and deflected many of the attacks but an omnidirectional combination attack like this was hard to defend against.
Grass type attacks were 4 times effective against a rock and ground type like Rhydon.
Rhydon endured as long as it could before eventually collapsing in the vortex of leaves.
Flint recalled it.
He stared at Tropius.
"So you were preparing for your Tropius this whole time?"
Silas said nothing.
Flint reached for another Poké Ball.
"What a wasted effort."
He threw it.
"Go, Aggron!"
A massive armored Pokémon materialized.
Aggron roared.
Steel armor covered most of its body.
Flint smiled confidently.
"Now without your type advantage, what will you do?"
Silas looked at him.
"Is this supposed to scare me?"
Tropius attacked again with his Leaf Storm combination move.
Another storm of Grass type attacks surged toward Aggron.
Flint immediately responded.
"Aggron, use Sandstorm!"
Aggron roared.
Sand erupted throughout the battlefield. The swirling storm became increasingly dense until Aggron was partially obscured.
Tropius' combination attack entered the Sandstorm. Most of the leaves were shredded, deflected, or robbed of momentum before they could reach their target.
Flint immediately followed.
"Now use Rock Slide!"
Large rocks formed inside the rotating storm.
Instead of simply launching them forward, Aggron allowed the swirling Sandstorm to accelerate the stones.
Then they shot outward at high speed.
Tropius' eyes widened.
"Razor Leaf!"
A dense wall of sharpened leaves formed in front of her.
The leaves collided with the rocks. Several were sliced apart or redirected. One passed dangerously close to Tropius' wing. She barely managed to defend herself.
Silas studied the Sandstorm and suddenly got some inspiration.
"Tropius, use Hurricane."
Tropius spread her leaf-like wings.
Wind began gathering around them as she flapped.
"Have it rotate opposite the Sandstorm."
Flint's expression changed.
Tropius flapped harder and a massive vortex formed.
The Hurricane collided with the Sandstorm.
But instead of rotating with it, Silas had deliberately ordered Tropius to generate the wind in the opposite direction.
The 2 weather-like forces grinded against each other.
Wind screamed throughout the arena and sand sprayed everywhere. For several seconds, neither side gave way. The gym was covered in sand and wind as the 2 energies canceled each other out.
They both eventually collapsed when they ran out of power. Sandstorm and Hurricane both vanished.
Aggron was exposed.
Flint immediately noticed something strange.
Tropius wasn't attacking.
Then he saw it.
A glowing green sphere was already flying through the fading sand.
Tropius had launched it before the Sandstorm completely disappeared. The timing was impeccable.
Flint had never seen it coming and neither had Aggron.
The Energy Ball struck directly. It caught him completely off guard.
BOOM!
The attack exploded across Aggron's body. The Steel type staggered several steps backward but it remained standing.
Silas' smile disappeared slightly.
That durability was impressive.
"You are truly worthy of being called a Gym Leader to raise such a terrifying Pokémon."
"Haha!"
Flint looked toward Tropius.
"Your Tropius isn't bad either."
He glanced at the scorched mark across Aggron's armor.
"That sneaky Energy Ball went completely unnoticed by us."
"I figured that would knock it out but I underestimated Aagron's defense."
"Don't worry, you aren't the first to say that!"
Flint smiled proudly as he puffed out his chest.
Silas smiled again.
"Unfortunately, sir…the battle is basically over."
Flint laughed.
"Are you really that confident? Actions speak louder than words. Show me what you got."
Silas nodded.
"Let me show you what I mean."