"Challenge my Gyarados?" Natsui was very surprised by her request. "Why are you so set on battling it?"
"No particular reason," Clair shook her head. "It's just that I saw your Gyarados in battle yesterday in the Dragon's Holy Land. To be honest, although its opponent at the time wasn't strong enough for it to show its full power, its scarred body and ferocious performance still left a deep impression on me. That's why I want to have my Gyarados compete against it, to see which one is truly the strongest."
A battle between the same species…
There were no type advantages in such a battle. It was a true test of who was stronger, whose trainer's commands were more strategic. In a fair environment, this was also Clair's only chance to even the score.
But… should I really do this?
Natsui pondered for a moment.
To be honest, among the Pokémon he currently owned, besides Gengar and the three legendary birds, Gyarados was now the strongest.
After being tempered and growing through so many great battles, only Jolteon had a strong advantage over it. Even Gardevoir and Charizard were no match for it.
All I can say is, Clair, you've picked the wrong opponent…
To leave the Dragon-type Gym Leader with a shred of dignity, Natsui asked one last time, "It's no problem, but… are you sure?"
Clair didn't answer, but just nodded solemnly.
"Alright then," Natsui shrugged. "Since you're asking, I have no reason to refuse."
As he spoke, he recalled Crystal Steelix and took out the Poké Ball containing Gyarados.
When both of them released their Pokémon at the same time, amidst two beams of blue light, two Gyarados appeared on the battlefield.
But compared to Clair's clean Gyarados, Natsui's was covered in scars, looking even more ferocious.
ROAR!
As soon as it appeared, it let out a long roar to the sky. The resounding draconic cry echoed through the Blackthorn Gym. Both Lance and Clair frowned, surprised by Gyarados's astonishing presence.
As Dragon Tamers who had been dealing with Dragon-type Pokémon since they were children, they understood that a Gyarados's presence was often linked to its own strength.
It seems this Gyarados is indeed extraordinary…
And compared to those two, Kabu, being older and much closer, found the sound so deafening that he subconsciously covered his ears.
Looking at Clair's Gyarados, it was taken aback by the preemptive roar from Natsui's Gyarados and paused for a moment. Although it also let out a roar immediately after, its voice was not as powerful, and in terms of presence, it had already lost by more than just a little.
Seeing that both sides were ready, Kabu rubbed his ears and signaled for the third time for the match to begin.
However, unlike Clair, who immediately gave a command, Natsui at this moment had his hands in his pockets, not saying a word, not giving any command, just watching quietly, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Strange, why isn't he commanding his Pokémon?
The thought had just popped into Clair's mind, but before she could figure out what was going on, Natsui's Gyarados had already charged forward on its own.
Quickly focusing her attention on the field, Clair shouted, "Gyarados, use Dragon Rage!"
A beam of purplish-blue light shot from Gyarados's mouth.
But Natsui's Gyarados just ducked, dodging the attack, then rushed forward and bit down on it with its massive mouth.
Clair's Gyarados was naturally not one to be outdone. The two Gyarados bit and crashed into each other, fighting from the ground to the pool, and from the pool back to the ground.
A large amount of pool water splashed out, and as the two Pokémon twisted and tangled, the entire gym began to shake slightly under their immense power.
But soon, Clair's Gyarados couldn't take it anymore.
The one before it seemed to feel no pain. No matter how it attacked, it would be ignored, and it would retaliate in an even more brutal manner, always hitting its weak points with precision.
In just a moment, with scales falling off and blood flowing, it was already covered in wounds.
"This…"
Seeing such a bloody scene, not only were Clair and Kabu astonished, but even Lance in the spectator stands, after his initial surprise, couldn't help but have a grave expression on his face.
Natsui's Gyarados was just too strong.
It was as if it were fighting with primal instinct. Compared to its performance yesterday, it was like a completely different creature.
Glancing at Natsui and seeing his calm and composed look, Lance knew that this was definitely not the first time this had happened.
But why isn't it using any moves?
Could this be its fighting style?
At this moment, Clair's Gyarados was completely powerless, only able to struggle desperately under the continuous assault from Natsui's Gyarados.
Unable to bear watching her Pokémon be tormented like this, Clair gritted her teeth and called a stop to the match.
"Stop, I've lost…"
This battle was basically one-sided. Although it wasn't a one-hit knockout, the ease with which it defeated its own kind clearly showed the gap between the two Pokémon. The blood flowing from her Gyarados was about to dye the pool red.
No wonder Natsui seemed reluctant to let his Gyarados battle. So this was the reason…
Clair realized this a bit too late, but it was already over.
Normally, she would never surrender midway through a battle, but the fight before her forced her to set aside her Dragon Tamer pride and lower her noble head.
Kabu raised the green flag high.
"The gym challenge is over! Ms. Clair concedes! The winner is Mr. Natsui!"
Natsui took out a Poké Ball and recalled his own Gyarados, afraid that after seeing blood, it would go into a frenzy and continue to attack Clair's Gyarados.
Just then, Lance came down from the stairs and walked up to them.
"Well, Clair, did you lose fair and square?"
Lance made a joke, but was met with Clair's silence.
For Clair, this was indeed a complete and utter defeat.
Especially after these last two battles, she had developed a great trauma for the move 'Bite'.
Both her Altaria and her Gyarados could be said to have fallen into the massive jaws of their opponents.
Turning his head to Natsui, Lance asked again, "By the way, how did you train this Gyarados of yours? Not only is its strength extremely formidable, but its presence and ferocity are the main things. I've never seen such a special Gyarados before."
In fact, Natsui often wondered if his Gyarados had become like this because he had damaged its brain when it evolved, leaving it with a screw loose, so that now, all it knew was to constantly tear and bite, preferring to engage in close-quarters combat.
"Perhaps it still has its wild nature," Natsui thought for a moment and smiled. "After all, Pokémon that are caught by trainers, after being trained, often focus more on the power of their moves and are unwilling to trade blow for blow, rarely fighting on instinct anymore."
In fact, there was one more thing Natsui didn't say. For other Pokémon, a battle was a rule-based fight. But for Gyarados, there was only ever slaughter.
"I see." Hearing Natsui's explanation, Lance seemed to have an epiphany. He then said eagerly, "Right now, there's an Elite Four member standing before you. How about it? This is a rare opportunity. Do you want to have a battle with me? I've been waiting for a while now."
"I'll pass," Natsui said, shaking his head and refusing without hesitation. "I don't have any plans for that at the moment. Let's wait until after the Silver Conference."
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