With no further obstacles along the way, Leo smoothly climbed to the very top floor and arrived at the Gym Leader’s battle hall!
What caught his eye was a massive, rugged field filled with jagged boulders, perfectly matching the Rock-type identity of the Rustboro Gym.
At the entrance of the hall, a Chansey was standing in front of a medical machine, smiling at Leo.
This is?
As the assistant to Nurse Joy at Pokémon Centers, Chansey was also a very rare Pokémon.
They actually had one here?
“Don’t be surprised.
This is equipped by the League.
Hand your Marshtomp over to it!
It will recover to its peak condition very quickly.
That way, the battle will be fair!” The young girl’s voice drifted over from not far away.
Leo nodded in understanding.
So that’s how it is.
As expected of an official League Gym!
Nodding, he handed Marshtomp’s Poké Ball to Chansey.
“Thank you for your trouble, Chansey!” “Chansey~~” Happily taking the Poké Ball, Chansey returned to the machine and began operating it.
Leo waited on the side.
Soon, Chansey returned the Poké Ball to Leo, indicating that there were no problems.
After all, the previous battle hadn’t actually caused much injury; it had only expended stamina, so the recovery was very fast.
After thanking Chansey again, Leo walked toward the platform designated for challengers.
At this moment, on the platform directly opposite, a young girl who looked about sixteen or seventeen years old was sizing up Leo as he entered the battle zone, introducing herself.
“I am the Gym Leader, Roxanne.
Welcome to the Rustboro Gym!” Roxanne exuded a powerful aura brought about by confidence—confidence that stemmed from strength!
“Hello, Miss Roxanne.
I’m Leo from Dewford Town.
Please advise me!” Leo, refusing to back down, stood firmly on the battle platform and responded loudly.
“Very good.
You indeed possess an aura that a fresh-faced rookie couldn’t have!
Then I will be looking forward to today’s battle!” As her words fell, a young man walked out from a hidden door on the side of the field and stood at the referee’s stand on the edge.
This was the League-appointed referee.
Using a resonant voice, he introduced the rules: “Rustboro Gym Leader Roxanne vs.
Leo from Dewford Town!
The battle will be 2-vs-2!
The match ends when one side’s Pokémon are all unable to battle!
During the match, only the challenger may switch Pokémon mid-battle!” Seeing Roxanne and Leo nod to show they understood, the referee waved the green flag in his hand.
“Then, the battle begins!” Without hesitation, the moment the battle started, Roxanne released her first combatant.
A spherical body, gray exterior, looking like a rock!
It was a Geodude!
But compared to Takeo’s Geodude, Roxanne’s was not only slightly larger in size and sharper in gaze, the dark cracks on its body were enough to show that it had been through hundreds of battles.
The entire Pokémon looked imposing!
[Pokémon: Geodude, Lv.20, Rock Pokémon.
It lives in mountainous paths and often buries half its body in the ground to observe mountain climbers.
Gender: Male Type: Rock / Ground Nature: Adamant Ability: Rock Head (Protects the Pokémon from recoil damage) Moves: Tackle (Proficient), Defense Curl (Proficient), Rollout (Mastered), Harden (Proficient), Rock Polish (Proficient), Rock Throw (Proficient), Smack Down (Proficient) Egg Moves: Block (Proficient) TM Moves: Rock Tomb (Proficient), Gyro Ball (Mastered), Protect (Proficient)] Is this a Geodude?
Double Mastered in Rollout and Gyro Ball!
How much training time would that take, and how many battles would it require to achieve?
And this was definitely not Roxanne’s main Pokémon!
‘I have the System’s blessing, could you have one too?’ Is this the standard to test a Rookie Trainer?
This is going too far.
Leo felt a bit of a toothache coming on.
Helpless, he took out a Poké Ball, and with a burst of white light, Marshtomp appeared on the field!
Roxanne looked at Marshtomp affectionately.
“You’ve trained it wonderfully.
However, this Geodude is the leader among the Geodude I’ve raised here!
Be careful!” Thank you very much!
Unable to even complain, he decided that striking first was the best strategy!
“Marshtomp, Water Gun!” “Dodge it, Full Boost!” A powerful water column spewed from its mouth, rushing toward Geodude, but the opponent shifted sideways, nimbly dodging it.
Yes, nimble.
It was hard to associate this word with a clumsy Rock-type Pokémon, but that was exactly the feeling Leo got.
“Spacing out is a bad habit!
Geodude, Rollout!” “Geodude!” Clacking sounds!
Accompanying its Fully Boosted body, Geodude wrapped its arms around itself, its whole body forming a ball, rapidly rolling around the field.
Its hard body even crushed the rocks in its path!
“Stop it, we can’t let it keep boosting!” Leo looked at the gradually accelerating Geodude and decisively commanded, “Marshtomp, Rock Smash!” “Marshtomp!” Standing once again in the inevitable path of the rollout, it gathered power in both arms, ready to intercept.
Using the same trick again?
Roxanne watched this scene with a smile but didn’t issue any command.
In a matter of breaths, the increasingly fast-spinning Geodude slammed toward Marshtomp!
Bang!
Amidst the sound of bodies colliding, Marshtomp’s arms tightly gripped Geodude’s body.
Gritting its teeth, it endured the intense impact and rotation, but was still forced to continuously retreat by the fierce collision!
“How?” This was the first time Marshtomp had fallen to a disadvantage in a head-on collision.
The strength advantage that both Leo and Marshtomp were proud of had completely vanished.
“Marshtomp isn’t the only one who trains hard!
This little guy is also desperately trying to become stronger!” Roxanne looked at Geodude in the field with a touch of emotion.
“I have witnessed all your hard work, Geodude!
Accelerate, use Gyro Ball!” “Geodude!!” Accelerating again, its high-speed spinning body glowed with silver-gray energy.
Intense friction sounds emanated between the two Pokémon’s bodies.
As a Steel-type move, the slower the user’s speed compared to the opponent’s, the greater its power!
Compared to Marshtomp, Geodude was undoubtedly the slower party.
Therefore, under Gyro Ball’s high-speed spin, Marshtomp, which was already at a disadvantage in a contest of strength, was finally sent flying!
And this was a Mastered-level Gyro Ball!
“Marshtomp!” Watching Marshtomp crash into a rock and climb up with difficulty, Leo truly felt the pressure!
“Can you keep going?
Geodude, Full Boost!” Boosting its status for the second time, Roxanne wasn’t holding back.
She wanted to see exactly how far this boy could go to the maximum extent!
Can he understand the true strength of Rock-type Pokémon?
Thinking curiously, she smiled slightly.
“Gyro Ball!” “Geodude!” Executing the command without hesitation, Geodude spun at high speed toward Marshtomp once again!
“Hold on, Marshtomp, Protect!” The stubborn stone, crashing forward and covered in silver-gray energy, slammed fiercely into a white shield, creating a ripple.
The two energies resisted each other persistently.
As the spinning speed slowly weakened, the shield gradually became transparent.
“Now!
Water Gun!” This was an opportunity!
At such close range, it would definitely hit!
Leo spoke decisively.
Marshtomp rapidly gathered Water-type energy in its mouth, and a massive water column blasted the Geodude, which was just inches away, into the distance.
Boom!
The water slammed against the rocky ground, completely submerging the opponent!
“Great, a direct hit!” “Marshtomp~!” Panting heavily, Marshtomp looked back at Leo and nodded, indicating it was no big deal.
On the platform opposite, Roxanne’s face showed no panic whatsoever.
She was still smiling, watching the field.
Sensing something was wrong, Leo also looked nervously into the field.
He saw that as the water seeped into the ground, Geodude appeared, still standing strong with its arms crossed in front of its chest!
Although the Water-type move’s super effectiveness had caused a massive loss of stamina, making it pant heavily, it had not lost its ability to battle.
This was 4x super-effective damage!
“How is it?
Through hard training, you can improve your resistance to water, even weakening it to the extreme!” Roxanne spoke with pointed meaning.
“Types and attributes are just a reference.
True battles have always relied on your own strength!
For a Geodude that has weakened its weakness to the absolute limit, who could call it weak?
This is the silent yet steadfast will of Rock-type Pokémon!
It is also a power as firm and sturdy as a stubborn stone!” ‘Is this Gym Leader Roxanne’s philosophy?
As expected, every Gym Trainer has walked down a path of their own!
Then what about my path?’ ‘Uh…
thinking about it now is still a bit far off.’ Shaking his head, Leo expressed his gratitude to Roxanne, “Thank you for the lesson, Miss Roxanne!” She was showing him her own path.
Was it because he also used Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon?
“Very well, then this is the final blow!” With a wave of her hand, pointing at Geodude, Roxanne commanded again, “Show the stubbornness of rock!
Gyro Ball at maximum power!” “Us too!
Marshtomp!
Let them see our fighting spirit!!
Rock Smash at maximum power!!” “Geodude!” “Marshtomp!” Shouts rang out loudly.
Silver-gray Steel-type energy spun at high speed, charging toward the opposite side once again!
Marshtomp didn’t back down.
A blue wave enveloped its body, and its aura suddenly spiked!
This is…
the Ability, Torrent!
Even if it wasn’t using a Water-type move, being able to stimulate its remaining stamina was still good!
Marshtomp gathered its last bit of Fighting-type energy, swinging both arms down with all its might toward the oncoming stubborn stone!
Oh?
Torrent?
Two completely different expressions appeared on the two trainers’ faces.
At the same time, in the field, violent collision sounds and shattering sounds intertwined.
A massive clash of Steel-type and Fighting-type energy!
Bang!
Boom!!
The airflow caused by the high-speed spinning blew away the rubble in the field!
At the very center of the collision, the energy fluctuations finally stopped suppressing themselves and erupted violently!
A strong shockwave dispersed in all directions!
Under the influence of the violent explosion and shockwave, the two figures were sent flying backward!
They crashed toward opposite ends of the field!
Instantly, dust billowed!
Roxanne and Leo both looked at their respective Pokémon.
Both Pokémon were trying hard to climb back up, showing their tenacity!
After a long while…
Thud!
Thud!
As the dust cleared, these two soft thuds represented the end of this match.
[Ding!
Marshtomp official battle draw!
Obtained 200 Training Points!
Obtained a large amount of experience!]” [Ding!
Rock Smash, Water Gun, and Protect proficiency increased!] [Ding!
Marshtomp leveled up to Lv.20!
Learned Superpower (Beginner)!] Looking at the System’s information, Leo’s eyes lit up.
‘A massive haul!
Not only did it level up, but it also learned Superpower!
This is a major ultimate Fighting-type move.
It seems the direction of our hard work wasn’t wrong.
Marshtomp’s move talent is just too strong.’ Secretly rejoicing, the referee, having confirmed the current status of the Pokémon in the field, decisively waved the red flag.
“Geodude and Marshtomp are unable to battle!
Therefore, the first match is a draw!
Will both trainers please send out their second Pokémon!” Exhaling softly, Leo didn’t feel disappointed about it.
As long as they gave it their all, it was fine, and the harvest was massive!
Recalling the unconscious Marshtomp, he looked at Miss Roxanne opposite him.
This is what a meaningful battle is!
Roxanne, who had similarly recalled Geodude, gently stroked the Poké Ball and smiled slightly.
“That was a good match.” She similarly looked up at the boy opposite her.
Hehe, the true battle has only just begun!