Absol

Yuga's first Pokémon was a Bellossom.

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Type: Grass

Ability: Chlorophyll

Gender: Female

Potential: Blue

Level: 53

Moves: Absorb, Mega Drain, Giga Drain, Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, Sweet Scent, Magical Leaf, Leaf Storm, Razor Leaf, Sunny Day, Solar Beam, Strength Sap, Sludge Bomb, Energy Ball, Dazzling Gleam, Grassy Terrain.

...

Bellossom's progress was rapid, and its strength had significantly improved compared to before.

After Yuga released his Pokémon, Riley also released his.

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Type: Normal

Ability: Guts

Gender: Male

Potential: Green

Level: 58

Moves: Hammer Arm, Scratch, Leer, Lick, Fury Swipes, Scary Face, Rest, Bulk Up, Earthquake, Shadow Claw, Close Combat, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Stone Edge.

...

This Pokémon was close to the pseudo-Elite level, and it's no wonder Riley asked Yuga to go all out. In a regular Gym Leader's perspective, it would be quite challenging.

However, Gym Leaders didn't exist solely to defeat challengers. In comparison, Riley's request seemed more like he wasn't here to challenge the Gym.

Nevertheless, since Riley asked, Yuga had no reason to refuse. After all, he came all the way from a distant Sinnoh region. A guest was a guest, and agreeing to some minor requests wouldn't hurt.

Yuga speculated that since Riley was an Aura user, he probably had a more powerful Lucario than the one before him. The only Pokémon stronger than Ursaring would likely be a pseudo-Elite level Pokémon.

"Challenger goes first," Beidou, standing in the referee position, shouted.

"Ursaring, Bulk Up," Riley didn't attack directly but chose to enhance Ursaring.

Bellossom didn't need Yuga's command; it was a standard strategy.

While Ursaring used Bulk Up, Bellossom initiated Sunny Day and then started dancing to strengthen itself.

Bellossom's Quiver Dance was fast, but Ursaring's Bulk Up was no slouch either. Just as Bellossom completed one round of dancing, Ursaring had already finished two rounds of Bulk Up.

After Ursaring's Bulk Up, it quickly approached Bellossom with heavy strides, raising its frost-covered fist towards Bellossom's head without any hint of mercy.

Bellossom was terrified by the gigantic fist, and its agile body twisted just enough to narrowly avoid Ursaring's punch.

Ursaring's punch hit the ground, instantly creating cracks on the previously flat battlefield, spreading frost everywhere.

"Bellossom, Dazzling Gleam," Yuga ordered after Bellossom narrowly escaped Ursaring's attack.

Now that Bellossom had distanced itself from Ursaring, it responded to Yuga's command. Bellossom clasped its hands together, creating a colorful disc about the size of a grindstone. It struck Ursaring's back.

Ursaring, struck by Dazzling Gleam, staggered forward but managed to regain its balance.

However, there was no trace of Bellossom behind it.

Taking advantage of its speed, Bellossom put some distance between itself and Ursaring once again.

Yuga: "Bellossom, Sweet Scent."

Bellossom, far from Ursaring, started dancing. Along with its dance came a fragrant and sweet pink gas.

Upon inhaling this scent, Ursaring wobbled as if it were intoxicated, swaying unsteadily.

In Yuga's Ecopark, there was also an Ursaring, so he was well aware that Ursaring, a Pokémon of this kind, had a strong sweet tooth and was particularly susceptible to the sweet scent.

"Ursaring, wake up!" Upon seeing Ursaring affected, Riley immediately shouted loudly.

However, Ursaring still had a foolish expression, constantly sniffing the air as if it had caught a whiff of something delicious, completely oblivious to Riley's voice.

Sometimes, small tactics could catch opponents off guard. This was something Yuga had learned from Mr. Kuni'o.

With Ursaring unable to regain consciousness after being affected, it naturally couldn't escape defeat.

It must be said that in this battle against Ursaring, Bellossom won quite easily.

What surprised Yuga, though, was Riley's second Pokémon, which turned out to be an Absol.

This was the first time Yuga had seen someone else with this kind of Pokémon, except for himself.

...

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Type: Dark

Ability: Super Luck

Gender: Male

Potential: Green

Level: 62

Moves: Scratch, Fling, Quick Attack, Taunt, Fury Swipes, Double Team, Feint Attack, Razor Wind, Hail, Hidden Power, Ice Beam, Play Rough, Dark Pulse, Icy Wind.

...

These Absols were rare, and seeing one was extremely uncommon. Apart from being a pseudo-Elite level Pokémon, Yuga also noticed a move it knew—Play Rough.

This made Yuga very envious.

Play Rough was a physical Fairy-type move, a rarity among Fairy-type moves, and Absol had to inherit it as there was no other way to learn it.

Unfortunately, Yuga's Absol didn't have this move in its skill set, and there was no way for it to learn it.

The Ursaring in the Ecopark also knew this move, so Yuga stubbornly tried to have Absol learn it from the Ursaring, but Absol just couldn't master it.

Riley: "Absol, use Double Team, followed by Quick Attack."

The snowy-white Absol on the field suddenly disappeared after hearing the command, and over a dozen identical Absols appeared out of thin air. These Absols then simultaneously sprinted towards Bellossom.

Bellossom, standing there, was momentarily perplexed, not knowing which one was the real Absol. Its expression showed confusion.

Yuga didn't expect Riley's Absol to use this technique.

Using Double Team and Quick Attack simultaneously was already a combination move, which was not easy to execute.

Under the boost of Quick Attack, the over a dozen Absols closed in on Bellossom rapidly.

"Bellossom, use Leaf Storm."

With no other choice, Yuga had to let Bellossom use this powerful move, even though it had side effects.

After this move, Bellossom's previous Quiver Dance would be in vain.

The attack range of Leaf Storm was vast, and the tornado of green leaves swept towards those approaching Absols.

The Absols formed by Double Team were shattered one by one under the onslaught of Leaf Storm.

However, when Leaf Storm hit the real Absol, it showed no sign of retreat and still rushed towards Bellossom under the violent tornado of green leaves.

With a loud "bang," Bellossom was sent flying, and the tornado of green leaves dissipated instantly. The leaves, once as sharp as blades, fluttered down lightly.

As Bellossom was knocked back by Absol's Feint Attack, it struggled to get up. But before it could recover, an Icy Wind descended upon it, freezing almost half its body. Immediately after, Absol's sharp claws were ready to greet Bellossom.

Bellossom was defeated!