Chapter 376 · A Narrow Victory! Metagrossite!

Bang!!

Lairon slammed down on Camerupt, causing the ground beneath Camerupt's feet to crack and sink under the sheer weight. Camerupt was pinned and unable to move.

Even Moore was shocked. Most four-legged Pokémon could withstand enormous pressure, but his Camerupt was crushed by Lairon's weight.

Just how much force did it take to do that?

"Lava Plume!" Moore immediately counterattacked.

Camerupt's humps erupted with thick, scalding smoke, engulfing Lairon—but Lairon didn't budge. Its heavy, steel-armored body withstood the assault without being knocked back.

"Use Iron Head!" Gary commanded.

Bang!!

"Baku!!"

Lairon charged and smashed its steel-plated head into Camerupt's skull.

Despite Camerupt's resistance to Steel-type moves, it was still a living creature. A direct collision with a fully armored Lairon left it dazed.

"Camerupt, Earth Power!" Moore shouted.

"Lairon, Stone Edge!" Gary countered.

Both Pokémon stomped the ground at the same time. Jagged stone spikes burst upward beneath Camerupt's feet, while golden light surged beneath Lairon, and a massive energy pillar blasted toward it.

Both Pokémon were struck head-on.

Moore wasn't worried. In a trade of blows, he was confident Camerupt would win.

After all, Earth Power was a Ground-type special move—and against Lairon's Steel/Rock typing, it should deal quadruple damage. Logically, Lairon should've been knocked out instantly.

But when the dust cleared, Lairon was still standing. It was injured, but far from defeated.

Moore: ???

What happened? Why hadn't Earth Power taken Lairon down in one hit?

Earth Power was a special attack, and Lairon's Special Defense was low. Moore was certain it should've been enough.

"Vee-ee!" Eevee cheered enthusiastically from the sidelines.

The truth was, Gary had given Lairon an Eviolite—an item Eevee usually carried. The Eviolite boosted Lairon's defenses, allowing it to survive the powerful Ground-type attack.

"Body Slam!" Gary ordered.

"Dora!!"

Lairon leapt into the air and crashed down on Camerupt.

Moore quickly called out, "Eruption!"

Camerupt's humps spewed out molten magma and fireballs.

But Lairon charged through the flames, enduring the searing heat, and slammed down hard onto Camerupt's back. Camerupt, already weakened, was pinned helplessly beneath Lairon's massive body.

"Metal Claw!"

Still pinning Camerupt, Lairon raised one claw and struck Camerupt's head repeatedly.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Three sharp blows in a row. Finally, Camerupt's eyes spun in circles as it collapsed, fainted.

"Camerupt is unable to battle—Lairon wins!" Flannery declared.

"Gym Leader Moore's three Pokémon have all been defeated. The winner of this Gym challenge is Gary!"

"Amazing—Gary actually won!" Max exclaimed, full of admiration.

Max respected battle strategy and rules. Gary's team had been at a type disadvantage the entire time, yet he still claimed victory. It was simply remarkable.

"Young people these days... truly impressive," Moore said, smiling.

When Moore was Gary's age, he certainly couldn't have done the same—winning a Gym battle using Pokémon with a disadvantage in type matchups.

"We won."

Gary finally exhaled in relief. Without the Eviolite, this battle would have been nearly impossible.

He couldn't help but feel the Hoenn Gym Leaders were especially tough. If his newly trained Hoenn Pokémon hadn't been at a type disadvantage, the battle would've been a lot easier.

"Gary, this is the Heat Badge—the proof of victory at the Lavaridge Gym." Moore handed over the badge.

"Thank you."

Gary accepted the badge.

[Ding! Mission complete. Rewards have been sent to your inventory.]

"Zinnia is still waiting at the hotel. I'll head back first," Gary said, taking his leave.

Ash and the others stayed behind. Flannery still wanted to treat them to a sand bath in Lavaridge Town, and Ash was eager to battle Moore himself.

Mission Rewards: Metagrossite!

After leaving the Gym, Gary checked his system to see what reward he had earned.

[Metagrossite obtained!]

"What the—? A Mega Stone?!"

Gary was stunned. He hadn't expected to randomly receive another Mega Stone—and this one was for Metagross.

"Seriously? But I don't even have a Metagross!" Gary sighed in frustration.

Mega Metagross was an outstanding Pokémon with the Tough Claws ability and devastating offensive power.

But right now… Gary didn't even have a Beldum, let alone a Metagross.

Actually, he did have his sights set on a specific Metagross—rumored to be a powerful shiny Metagross in the Sinnoh region.

Gary made a mental note: Capture the shiny Metagross in Sinnoh.

"Well, I'll hang on to the Metagrossite for now," he decided.

If nothing else, Steven Stone would probably be thrilled to see it. At this stage, Steven likely hadn't found a Metagrossite yet.

"Too bad Steven doesn't have the Mega Stone I want," Gary muttered.

What he really wanted was the Blastoisinite, the Mega Stone for his Blastoise. Unfortunately, Steven didn't own one.

Gary then thought about Fire-type moves.

Most Fire-type techniques were special attacks, and aside from the move Sunny Day, there weren't many utility Fire-type skills.

But he already had plenty of general utility moves—exchanging for Sunny Day didn't seem worthwhile.

As for Blast Burn, only Fire-type starter Pokémon could learn it, and his Skill Disc from the system could only be used on his own Pokémon—not others'.

Otherwise, Gary joked to himself, he could open a skill training shop and become the richest man in the world overnight.

"Let's just go with Fire Punch," Gary finally decided.

Fire Punch was a physical Fire-type attack introduced in the newer games, with 75 base power. It allowed physical attackers to have a solid Fire-type move.

He especially thought of Rhyperior, whose massive Attack stat would make Fire Punch terrifying.

[Skill exchange complete.]

After exchanging for Fire Punch, Gary immediately taught it to Torchic and Rhyperior—both could learn it.

Once the Pokémon were healed at the Pokémon Center, Gary returned to the inn to find Zinnia.