Norman raised an eyebrow, then smiled confidently.
“Linoone, prepare for battle!”
The moment Kuroba saw Norman’s Pokémon, he subconsciously breathed a little easier.
After all, Norman was famous online for using the Slaking evolutionary line as his main force.
The radically different fighting styles of its three stages made his tactics unusually flexible, earning him considerable fame across multiple regions.
“Corphish, start with Harden. Strengthen your defenses.”
Kuroba chose a relatively conservative opening.
Norman smiled.
“Use Icy Wind.”
Linoone’s natural movepool wasn’t especially deep, and there weren’t many ranged attacks it could learn on its own.
But Norman had deliberately taught it several long-range moves to handle different situations.
White light flashed across Corphish’s body as Harden took effect.
Icy Wind swept over it immediately afterward, coating parts of its shell in frost, but Corphish merely shivered.
“Kuroba, your Corphish has impressive resistance to the cold.”
Norman was relaxed enough to offer advice even in the middle of the battle.
“Corphish, Bubble Beam!”
Corphish shook the ice crystals from its shell and spread its powerful pincers.
Countless bubbles shot forward.
“Pupupupupu—!”
Linoone bounded around the battlefield with astonishing agility, weaving between the bubbles as it charged straight toward Corphish.
“Headbutt.”
Norman’s calm voice rang out.
A milky-white glow gathered around Linoone’s head as it rushed forward.
“Don’t be afraid, Corphish! Meet it head-on with Night Slash!”
Kuroba was surprised by Linoone’s reactions, but he immediately ordered a counterattack.
“Extreme Speed!”
Just before the two attacks collided, Linoone abruptly changed direction.
It slipped past Corphish’s descending pincer, curved around its side, and smashed into Corphish from an angle, knocking it over.
Then Linoone planted its feet.
Extreme Speed was ready to erupt again.
“Not good! Corphish, Protect!”
Still rolling across the ground, Corphish didn’t even have time to stand.
It immediately created a protective barrier around itself.
BOOM!
Empowered by Extreme Speed, Linoone slammed into the barrier at extraordinary speed.
“Double Hit! Push it back!”
Corphish swung its left and right pincers in succession.
Using the momentum of Linoone’s charge against it, Corphish successfully stopped the assault.
“Use Vice Grip! Catch Linoone’s tail!”
Kuroba had noticed a weakness.
Linoone wasn’t particularly good at making tight turns.
Its body was naturally suited to straight-line sprints and short, explosive movements, but sharp changes in direction were awkward for it.
Sure enough, immediately after using Extreme Speed, Linoone couldn’t turn away quickly enough. This story is hosted at g.com.
Corphish’s pincer snapped shut around its tail.
“Linoooone!”
A cry of pain escaped it.
“Finish it with Aqua Jet!”
Kuroba’s voice turned cold and decisive.
Water erupted around Corphish’s body, quickly enveloping it.
Still gripping Linoone at close range, Corphish launched itself forward like a surging projectile.
BANG!
Linoone was sent flying.
It crashed into the center of the battlefield, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Kuroba held his breath.
Even May, watching from the stands, puffed out her cheeks and stared intently at the battlefield.
The dust gradually dispersed.
Linoone lay unconscious in the center of the arena, its eyes spiraling.
“Linoone is unable to battle! Gym Leader, please send out your second Pokémon!”
The referee swept a flag through the air.
Norman calmly recalled Linoone.
“That was an excellent Corphish. Its Bubble Beam is released very quickly, its pincers have been trained well, and the transitions between its moves are first-rate.”
He looked at Kuroba.
“And your judgment of the overall battle is impressive. You don’t fight like a rookie Trainer at all.”
Norman showed no frustration over losing the first round.
A Gym Leader’s role wasn’t simply to crush challengers.
It was also to help the League cultivate the next generation of Trainers.
That was why Norman had deliberately selected Pokémon around Kuroba’s current level.
Kuroba clearly understood this.
“Thank you for the guidance, Mr. Norman. But most of the credit belongs to Corphish. It’s worked hard. I wouldn’t dare claim all the credit for myself.”
Then he smiled slightly.
“Besides, you haven’t been fighting at full strength in the first place, have you?”
Kuroba knew perfectly well that this battle had been instructional from the beginning.
That Linoone probably wouldn’t even qualify for Norman’s second-string team—perhaps not even his third.
Norman smiled faintly.
“This Kuroba really is promising. I can’t find much fault with either his words or his actions.”
While the two Trainers politely praised each other, May and Caroline were having an animated conversation in the spectator area.
“I’ve never heard Daddy praise a Trainer that much before!”
May rested her little chin in her hands, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Kuroba.
Caroline smiled gently.
“Then you should watch carefully and learn, May. This is the very first challenge battle since our Gym was established. It’s quite memorable.”
Mother and daughter returned their full attention to the battlefield.
“My next Pokémon will be… Vigoroth!”
Norman threw a Poké Ball.
White light flashed, revealing an energetic white primate that immediately looked ready to fight.
“Challenger, would you like to switch Pokémon?”
The moment Norman finally sent out one of his signature Pokémon, Kuroba’s expression became serious.
Pressure gradually built in his chest.
“Come back, Corphish.”
“Carvanha, prepare for battle!”
Kuroba decided to preserve Corphish’s remaining stamina.
It had already used numerous moves against Linoone, and the previous battle had consumed a considerable amount of energy.
Besides, this was a perfect opportunity to let Carvanha experience fighting on land.
Sure enough, the instant Carvanha appeared, it looked as though it had been thrown into a steamer.
Its entire body felt uncomfortable.
It could only hover a short distance above the ground, desperately searching for cooler, more humid air.
“Vigoroth, Bulk Up.”
Norman immediately ordered Vigoroth to strengthen itself before the next exchange.
Vigoroth became even more animated.
It was already the Wild Monkey Pokémon, a species that hated remaining still.
Now it bounced excitedly from foot to foot as power gathered through its body.
“Carvanha, use Screech! Stop it!”
Kuroba’s heart tightened when he saw what Norman was doing.
Carvanha opened its mouth and released an earsplitting shriek.
The sound was painfully sharp.
But Vigoroth refused to let the disruption break its rhythm.
Its muscles tightened.
Its fur stood on end as if challenging its opponent.
Gradually, a blood-red aura appeared over Vigoroth’s body—the visible effect of Bulk Up.
“Carvanha, don’t stop! Screech again!”
Kuroba shouted urgently.
Carvanha opened its mouth once more.
The second Screech was even louder and harsher than the first.
Even May covered her ears in discomfort.
But Vigoroth remained unmoved.
It endured the interference and continued strengthening itself.
Finally, Bulk Up was complete.
Vigoroth’s body looked noticeably more powerful, its muscles more defined.
Its Attack and Defense had both risen.
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