Chapter 124. Water Battle

"Singles Battle, 6v4. Gym Trainer Gus versus Challenger Alex. Begin!" the referee called out.

Right as the battle began, the Intimidate ability from Gus's Gyarados took effect, lowering Alex's Gyarados's Attack by one stage.

At the same time, Alex's Gyarados charged forward with Lash Out, capitalizing on the lowered Attack stat to deal double damage without waiting for a command. This was exactly what it had been training for.

Dark-type energy surged as Alex's Gyarados slammed into its opponent, dealing massive damage. The Priority +1 of the move ensured it closed the distance and landed first.

"Crunch," Gus called out.

His Gyarados countered with its own Dark-type energy move, delivering a massive bite that tore into Alex's Gyarados. Fortunately, it did significantly less damage. It was clear that Alex's Gyarados was far stronger. He would win this fight easily.

Another two exchanges of Dark-type attacks followed, and Gus's Gyarados looked like it was about to fall. One more hit would likely knock it out.

Alex, however, had other plans.

"Substitute," he commanded.

Just as Gus's Gyarados lunged with another Crunch, Alex's Gyarados created a clone made of Normal-type energy. The attack connected, but the substitute held strong.

"Giga Impact! Destroy it before you faint!" Gus shouted in a panic.

"Lash Out! End it!" Alex responded.

Before Gus's Gyarados could break the clone, Alex's Gyarados struck first, delivering the final blow and knocking it out. Moxie activated, erasing the earlier Attack drop.

"Damn," Gus muttered, accepting defeat as he retrieved his Gyarados and threw out the next one.

As the new Gyarados hit the field, Intimidate activated again, but the substitute absorbed the effect. Just as Gus had feared, Intimidate had failed.

Still, Gus was glad to avoid another empowered Lash Out in exchange.

Two exchanges of Dark-type attacks followed. The substitute was destroyed, and Alex's Gyarados took one hit. The final confrontation arrived for Gus's second Gyarados.

This time, Gus was ready. "Giga Impact!"

Unfortunately, Alex read him like a book.

"Protect."

Gus's Gyarados crashed into the barrier, doing no damage and becoming unable to act on the next attack. Alex capitalized, using Substitute once more with a sliver of health left, then lashed out for the knockout. Moxie triggered again, boosting Gyrados's Attack to +1.

Two Gyarados down, four more to go.

The third Gyarados entered. Once again, Intimidate failed, and Alex immediately called out, "Rest."

His Gyarados fell asleep, lost the substitute, then endured one hit before waking up. This time, it took only one attack to bring Gus's Gyarados close to fainting, the effect of Moxie becoming more and more obvious.

Now they were at an impasse: Crunch or Giga Impact versus Substitute or Protect.

As both trainers played stupid mind games, Alex's Gyarados made the decision for them. It lashed out, knocking out the third Gyarados to the shock of both trainers.

Moxie activated once more bringing the stack up to +2.

While they stood bewildered, Alex's Gyarados immediately created another substitute. Gus scrambled to release his fourth Gyarados in hopes of activating Intimidate in time.

Unfortunately, he was too late.

The substitute formed and resisted the new Intimidate.

'You can do that?' Alex thought, stunned, as his Gyarados continued fighting on its own.

Gus's Gyarados used Giga Impact, destroying the substitute, while Alex's Gyarados used Lash Out twice, securing the fourth knockout, activating Moxie, and raising its Attack stat to +3.

By the time Gus's fifth Gyarados hit the field, Intimidate had become a liability. With Lash Out doubling in power when a stat is lowered, and an already boosted Attack stat at +2 doubling it again, the move became a guaranteed one-hit KO. Moxie continued to stack after every knockout, and even the Attack drop from Intimidate wasn't enough to bring its damage below that threshold.

Since Lash Out had Priority +1 and Intimidate always triggered beforehand, Gus could do nothing but send out his remaining two Gyarados to be swept away one by one. 

Even when Gus had his final Gyarados use Protect on the first exchange to negate Lash Out's double damage, Alex simply had his Gyarados follow up with Outrage instead. With Moxie stacked to Attacked +2, it was still a one-hit KO.

"Winner, Challenger Alex," the referee declared.

"Good job beating my younglings," Gus said, returning to his fishing despite the fact that there were no fish in the pool.

Alex was tempted to respond with a similar backhanded comment, but he held his tongue. He didn't know the guy. Old people were the most dangerous in this world in Alex's opinion. For all he knew, Gus had a hundred more Gyarados out there, given his hobby. 

Alex released Clawitzer and had her heal Gyarados while he thrashed around excitedly. He had just defeated six others of his kind, a major victory for someone who was used to getting his ass kicked by the other Pokémon on the farm.

He used to have pride once upon a time. That pride was quickly crushed by the overwhelming presence of the many Elites living on the farm, and more recently by the combat junkie Tsareena, who would literally kick his ass every chance she got. It was not like he lacked the advantage either, but she kept coming back stronger each time. It was frustrating.

As Alex moved forward, his second encounter was with a woman who was sunbathing.

She wore an outfit similar to the referee's, complete with a sun hat and sunglasses, as she lounged on a beach chair. This was despite the fact that there was no actual sun, since they were indoors.

"Come for a challenge?" she asked lazily.

"Yes," Alex replied.

"Alright then. My darlings could use the exercise."

"Singles Battle, 3v4. Gym Trainer Lisa versus Challenger Alex. Begin!" the referee called out.

Lisa released a Seaking while Alex released Milotic.

Name: Milotic, Expert

Type: Water, Female

Ability: Competitive

Moves: 

Basic: Flail, Splash, Tackle, Wrap, Water Gun, Water Pulse, Disarming Voice, Twister, Attract, Life Dew, Dragon Tail, Recover, Aqua Tail, Safeguard, Rain Dance, Coil, Hydro Pump, Skitter Smack, Dragon Dance, Dragon Pulse, Scale Shot, Breaking Swipe, Dragon Cheer, Alluring Voice, Confuse Ray, Bulldoze, Mud Shot, Icy Wind, Avalanche, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Haze, Triple Axel, Take Down, Protect, Facade, Swift, Endure, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Substitute, Helping Hand, Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Weather Ball, Psych Up, Double-Edge, Light Screen, Rest, Imprison, Iron Head, Chilling Water, Waterfall, Scald, Flip Turn, Whirlpool, Muddy Water

Advanced: Surf(+50% Range), Aqua Ring(Effect Up +1), Draining Kiss(+50% Damage)

Description: Milotic, the Tender Pokémon. Revered for its breathtaking beauty, it is said to calm emotions and bring peace to those who behold it. Milotic's presence can soothe hostility, and it is often seen as a symbol of serenity. When threatened, it unleashes powerful Water-type moves with graceful precision.

Milotic would have been the correct choice in the previous battle given her ability, but Alex had decided it was not challenging enough, so he used Gyarados instead. This time, with the opponent's Pokémon unknown, he chose to give Milotic some combat experience.

Like the rest of Alex's water team, Milotic had trained Surf to Advanced proficiency, increasing its range by 50%. Similar to Gyarados's Lash Out, Alex had Milotic training up Aqua Ring from the very beginning. It was absolutely essential given her natural defenses. Draining Kiss was the final touch, a reliable option to maintain sustainability throughout the fight.

"Agility."

"Imprison."

They both commanded at once.

Alex could feel that Seaking was close to Elite rank, but Milotic's naturally higher stats made them roughly equal overall. Even so, Agility allowed Seaking to break ahead in Speed, creating a dangerous advantage.

Meanwhile, Milotic's Imprison blocked Seaking from using common status moves like Protect or Substitute to stall for time.

"Substitute," Alex called out quickly.

Whatever happened next, Aqua Ring would require missing health to heal. That made using Substitute first a strategic choice, especially since Aqua Ring had an increased healing rate thanks to being trained to Advanced proficiency.

"Horn Drill."

Before Alex could fully process what had happened, Seaking launched forward like a rocket, its head down and its horn spinning with Normal-type energy. The speed was so intense it felt like a bullet had just flown past.

Fortunately, Horn Drill's 30% accuracy proved reliable, and Seaking missed completely. Milotic successfully created her substitute.

The problem now was that Seaking had become faster than Milotic. Once the substitute was broken, there was a very real chance it could land a one-hit knockout.

"Megahorn."

With Lisa's command, Seaking struck first, repeating its earlier charge, this time cloaked in Bug-type energy. Its accuracy was significantly greater, and the attack struck Milotic dead center, breaking her Substitute.

"Wrap it up and stay away from the horn," Alex instructed.

Most of Seaking's remaining moves relied on its horn or face, so Alex had Milotic avoid it completely. By wrapping around her opponent and avoiding its face that couldn't turn, she could prevent it from ever reaching her.

Milotic obeyed, quickly wrapping herself around the struggling fish, squeezing tightly while keeping clear of its dangerous head.

"Horn Drill!"

"Stay on and use Dragon Pulse at point-blank range."

Seaking launched forward like a torpedo, but Milotic held on, her coils gripping tighter against the sudden burst of speed. In retaliation, she blasted a Dragon Pulse directly into Seaking's exposed side.

"Bounce," Lisa called out, prompting Seaking to leap high out of the water with surprising grace.

Milotic clung on as they soared upward, unleashing another Dragon Pulse mid-air.

As they reached the apex and began to fall, Alex wasn't worried about this bit of damage. There was no direct blow coming from Seaking, and the water would not offer enough resistance to cause significant damage from the fall alone.

Just as they were about to crash into the pool below, Lisa suddenly called out, "Horn Drill up!"

In a brutal shift of momentum, Seaking spun its horn upward mid-fall and launched back into the air, creating a sudden counterforce that flung Milotic off its body.

Like a child born of teen pregnancy, she was discarded by the violent jolt and crashed into the water alone.

Out of spite, Milotic surfaced and immediately fired another Dragon Pulse, striking the free-falling Seaking just before it splashed back down into the water.

"Dragon Pulse."

"Horn Drill."

They called out simultaneously as Seaking lunged forward with Horn Drill, missing Milotic entirely, just before her final Dragon Pulse struck true and knocked it out.

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