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100 P.S -1 Bonus chapter
Wattson led Steven to the battle arena and explained the rules clearly.
The rules were the same as the previous two Gyms Steven had visited. Like the Fighting Gym, this battle would be three-on-three.
"All right, kid! My first Pokémon is this one!" Wattson called out confidently.
He threw a Poké Ball high into the air, and it burst open mid-flight.
A gray, spherical Pokémon appeared with a single eye at the center of its body. On either side, horseshoe-shaped magnets with opposite poles jutted out. A large screw sat on top of its head, and two smaller screws were positioned on the front of its body.
Electric and Steel dual-type—Magnemite!
"Show them the power of electricity, Magnemite!" Wattson commanded.
Magnemite simply blinked its single eye, hovering silently in the air.
"I choose you, Skarmory!" Steven responded, sending out his steel bird Pokémon.
Skarmory had a clear type disadvantage against Magnemite.
"Hey, hey! Kid, Flying-types are weak to Electric-types!" Wattson said with a puzzled look, trying to warn him.
"I know," Steven replied calmly, a slight smile on his face.
"Well, don't say I didn't warn you! Magnemite, use Thunder Shock!"
Wait, how does a Gym Leader get to attack first? Steven thought briefly but dismissed it.
"Use Agility to dodge," Steven ordered, staying composed.
Magnemite specialized in long-range Electric-type attacks, while Skarmory excelled at close combat. Steven needed to find the right moment to strike.
More importantly, Magnemite resisted both Flying-type and Steel-type moves with quadruple resistance. Skarmory's offensive options were severely limited.
Steven chose to send Skarmory out despite the terrible matchup for a specific reason—he wanted to see if Skarmory could break through its limits in the heat of battle.
This would be a crucial step for Skarmory to reach the Elite rank, potentially saving months of training.
Still, Steven kept a close eye on Skarmory's condition. He wouldn't let it take too much damage.
Skarmory's speed increased dramatically as it dodged the swift electric currents with ease.
If Steven could lower Magnemite's accuracy, Skarmory's chances of winning would improve.
However, getting too close to Magnemite could result in Skarmory being paralyzed by Thunder Wave.
Thunder Wave used in a wide area had a guaranteed hit effect, but when fired in a straight line, there was a chance to dodge it.
"Rock Tomb!" Steven commanded.
Although Magnemite, being Electric and Steel-type, had double resistance to Rock-type moves, Rock Tomb was still one of Skarmory's best options for dealing damage.
Several rocks erupted from the ground, flying toward Magnemite as it hovered in the air.
Magnemite was too slow to dodge and was struck hard by one of the rocks.
"That's not enough! Magnemite, use Thunder Shock!" Wattson countered.
Magnemite shook itself off, floating back up from the ground. Golden electricity crackled around its body before it released a writhing electric snake through the air!
"Use Agility to dodge, then follow up with Steel Wing!" Steven ordered.
Skarmory continued using Agility, boosting its speed further and easily evading the Thunder Shock attack.
Even with Magnemite's quadruple resistance to Steel-type moves, the strength difference between the two Pokémon meant Skarmory's attacks would still deal decent damage.
"When it gets close, use Thunder Wave!" Wattson reacted quickly, recognizing the perfect opportunity.
Skarmory dove from the air, its wings coated in gray energy that gleamed faintly.
Bang!
Magnemite took the full force of Steel Wing, and immediately, electricity burst from its body.
The electric currents coiled around Skarmory like venomous snakes, paralyzing it instantly!
Magnemite, struck by the Steel Wing, crashed to the ground.
"Hold on! Use Drill Peck!" Steven shouted.
Skarmory endured the electricity coursing through its body. White energy gathered at its beak as it spun like a drill, continuing its assault!
Steven had Skarmory engage in close combat specifically to see if it could push past its limits in a desperate situation.
If he had kept using Rock Tomb and playing it safe, he might as well have switched to Metagross and ended the battle quickly.
Gym challenges served two purposes—training and testing both the Trainer and their Pokémon's progress!
Since paralysis was unavoidable, Steven decided to go all-in with a fierce attack!
Magnemite, still grounded, was hit by Skarmory's Drill Peck and sent flying again.
Seeing Skarmory charging forward for a follow-up attack, Wattson immediately countered.
"Magnemite! Use Discharge!"
Magnemite rose and unleashed all the electricity stored in its body. The electricity spread outward continuously, covering a wide area!
This was an area-of-effect move!
Skarmory, hindered by paralysis, couldn't brake or change direction in time. It flew straight into the electric field.
"Yo!" Skarmory cried out, struggling in the electric light with a pained expression.
Despite Magnemite's small size, its Special Attack was impressively high!
And Skarmory's Special Defense was relatively low. Combined with its double weakness to Electric-type moves, the damage was significant.
Steven gripped Skarmory's Poké Ball tightly, hesitating whether to recall it.
Would Skarmory, surrounded by electricity, unleash its full power and fight back? Or would it remain helpless, waiting for Discharge to end?
"Skarmory, you don't want to lose like this, do you?!" Steven shouted suddenly.
"Remember how you fought back even when cornered before!"
"Now it's your turn to make a comeback!"
Skarmory's eyes, which had been tightly shut, suddenly snapped open! Its sharp gaze radiated endless fighting spirit!
It had never lost a battle against an opponent of equal strength before!
How could it lose to a weaker opponent now?! (Ignoring type advantage, considering only raw power)
"Yo!!!" Skarmory's aura exploded outward! The electric light surrounding its body was pushed away!
"Well done, Skarmory!" Steven hadn't expected that a little encouragement would actually trigger Skarmory's breakthrough.
Perhaps all the previous training had accumulated, and now, with the right mindset, Skarmory could finally release its potential.
Skarmory flapped its wings powerfully and flew to the ceiling. Then, it folded its wings and dove down!
"Don't be afraid! Magnemite, use Discharge again!" Wattson ordered.
Looking at the renewed electric light, there was no trace of fear in Skarmory's eyes.
Buzz buzz!
As Skarmory dove, small electric sparks suddenly flickered across its body!
Skarmory's eye twitched, and it gritted its beak.
I won't... lose to this paralysis!
Skarmory let go, allowing its body to free-fall!
Even as Magnemite's Discharge struck it, Skarmory didn't blink.
At this moment, its gaze was exceptionally determined!
Power surged continuously from deep within its body!
When the electric currents on its surface faded, Skarmory endured the Discharge and charged toward Magnemite.
The golden electric light on its body was gradually pushed aside by a white aura!
A white phantom of a large bird formed a protective barrier around Skarmory, similar to Protect!
"Yo!!!" Skarmory let out a sharp cry, colliding fiercely with Magnemite—still in the middle of using Discharge—along with the white phantom!
Bang—boom!
Skarmory slammed into the ground, taking Magnemite down with it!
The explosion of electricity and the burst of the white phantom immediately filled the arena with thick black smoke.
Skarmory, covered in injuries, broke through the black smoke and soared into the air once more!
Skarmory gasped a few times while airborne, then landed back on the ground.
When the black smoke cleared, Magnemite lay in a crater, completely fainted.
"Oh my, an Electric-type Pokémon defeated by a Flying-type Pokémon!" Wattson scratched his sparse hair, smiling wryly with a hint of helplessness.
Soon, the old Gym Leader chuckled again.
"But that Skarmory of yours really has some skill!"
"Come back, Magnemite! You did great!" Wattson recalled the fainted Magnemite, then sent out his second Pokémon.
Wattson's second Pokémon looked like an enlarged Poké Ball without the central button, with a face on the red upper half.
Steven had good reason to suspect that Poké Balls were designed after Voltorb and Electrode!
"Skarmory, how are you feeling?" Steven asked gently.
"Yo..." Skarmory was panting heavily, but its aura showed no signs of weakening.
Steven hadn't expected that after Skarmory's breakthrough, it would actually use Brave Bird!
On the way to Mauville City, Steven had trained Skarmory to learn Brave Bird after mastering Drill Peck, but it hadn't succeeded yet.
It seemed that after breaking through, Skarmory finally grasped the key to using Brave Bird.
Even if it was just a prototype—a rudimentary version—Skarmory had definitely used Brave Bird!
"Take a rest, Skarmory. You've done more than enough," Steven said, pulling out a Poké Ball.
Voltorb was very fast, and Skarmory's current condition wasn't ideal for dealing with it.
Compared to Magnemite, Voltorb was a pure Electric-type Pokémon without resistance to Rock-type moves.
It would be better to let Aron handle this battle.
"Yo..." Skarmory understood its physical condition and knew this wasn't the time to be stubborn.
It nodded, agreeing to be switched out.
"The rest is up to you, Aron!" Steven recalled Skarmory, speaking softly to the Poké Ball.
"Go! Aron!"