“So that’s how it is. Get up first. Coincidentally, ever since Brock left, I’ve been so busy every day that I barely know which way is up. Having a disciple would help share some of the pressure. But I still need to see how strong you are before deciding whether or not to accept you,” Flint said seriously after thinking for a moment.
Jasper was pleasantly surprised when he heard that.
Then he said confidently, “All right. I’m very confident in my strength. Come out, Crystal Onix.”
As Jasper spoke, he threw out his Poké Ball.
With a flash of white light, a Crystal Onix with a body made entirely of crystal appeared before Flint.
“This… this is unbelievable!”
Clearly, Flint was shocked by this Crystal Onix.
As a Rock-type Gym, Pewter Gym’s Gym Leaders had always had the habit of using Onix throughout the generations, but Flint had never seen an Onix whose entire body was made of crystal.
“Roar!”
The Crystal Onix had been inside its Poké Ball for several days.
As soon as it came out, it saw Flint staring straight at it, and it let out a dissatisfied roar.
Only then did Flint snap out of his shock.
“I really didn’t expect this. To think it would be an Onix like this. Is it a Shiny Pokémon? No wonder you said it was a little special,” Flint said with a complicated look in his eyes.
“But I wonder how strong it is. If you want to become my disciple, relying on good looks alone won’t be enough.”
“Come out, Onix.” Flint tossed out a Poké Ball.
With a flash of white light, Flint’s Onix appeared on the battlefield.
Not only was its body one-quarter larger than Jasper’s Crystal Onix, but the rocks that made up its body were also a heavy grayish-brown color.
Anyone could feel the power contained within that enormous frame.
“Roar… roar.”
After coming out, Onix looked at the Crystal Onix opposite it in surprise, as if wondering why the one across from it looked different from itself.
It let out a puzzled cry.
“Roar.”
“You can attack first. Let me see just how strong this Crystal Onix is,” Flint said with a smile.
“All right. Then I won’t hold back.”
“Go, Crystal Onix. Use Dig.”
“Too naive. Earthquake,” Flint ordered decisively, frowning.
“Sand Tomb,” Jasper quickly commanded.
Flint’s Onix was just about to use Earthquake.
Its tail had already risen high and slammed down with force, but no tremor appeared.
When it looked around, it realized that the ground surrounding its body had already turned into sand.
Immediately after, Onix’s massive body began sinking downward.
This was a battle method Jasper had specially thought up.
By using Dig, he could lure the opponent into using Earthquake.
Then, while in the Dig state, Crystal Onix could use Sand Tomb to prevent Earthquake.
Not only could this offset the damage from Earthquake, but it could also trap the opponent and deal damage at the same time.
Moreover, the Ground-type Sand Tomb could continuously deal double damage to Onix.
Onix struggled in the sand, unable to escape.
The larger its body, the easier it was for it to sink into the sand.
“Onix, use Dig,” Flint ordered.
Since it could not get out from above ground, it could only dig to a place that had not turned into sand.
“Now! Take Down!” Jasper shouted.
This was exactly what he had been waiting for.
Earlier, when Onix was trapped in the sand and struggling to escape, it had still remained on guard against the Crystal Onix’s possible attack at any moment.
If Crystal Onix rashly launched an attack and the opponent dodged, Crystal Onix would very likely fall into the Sand Tomb as well.
If that happened, it would lose the advantage it had worked so hard to obtain.
That was why Jasper had kept waiting.
In any case, Sand Tomb was continuously damaging Onix.
As a Ground-type move, Sand Tomb dealt double damage to Onix.
The situation was very favorable for Jasper, so he had been waiting for Flint’s next move.
No matter how alert a Pokémon was, the moment it used a move, its guard would loosen at least a little.
That was the opening Jasper had been waiting for all along.
A flash of white light erupted in front of the Crystal Onix.
Then it charged at Onix just as it was burrowing into the ground and slammed into it at the waist, sending Onix flying.
Even though Rock-types had considerable resistance against Normal-type moves, this attack still dealt quite a bit of damage.
“Again! Take Down!” Jasper planned to press the advantage.
“Impressive. But don’t underestimate me too much. Onix, use Iron Tail,” Flint praised Jasper with a smile, then gave his order decisively.
“Roar! Roar!”
Flint’s Onix let out an angry roar.
After being attacked repeatedly by the Crystal Onix opposite it, it had finally been successfully enraged.
Its huge rocky tail gave off a metallic luster as it collided with the Crystal Onix.
Boom!
The entire battlefield was covered by the dust stirred up by the explosion.
“This ends now. Onix, Earthquake,” Flint ordered.
“Oh no. Crystal Onix, we’ll use Earthquake too!” Jasper shouted urgently.
In the Crystal Onix’s current condition, there was no way for it to dodge Earthquake, so Jasper planned to use Earthquake as well to resist the opponent’s move.
Immediately afterward, the battlefield shook violently.
After the smoke and dust dispersed, the Crystal Onix was lying on the ground.
Although Flint’s Onix had not lost its ability to battle, it was panting heavily and seemed to have suffered considerable injuries as well.