The weeds beneath Charmeleon's feet suddenly came alive, growing wildly as they coiled around its legs.
After successfully restraining Charmeleon's movement, Erika calmly followed up.
"Gloom, use Razor Leaf."
Sure enough, no one became a Gym Leader through strength alone without skill to match. With just two simple commands, Erika allowed Gloom to seize complete control of the battle.
Charmeleon struggled desperately, kicking and tearing at the vines wrapped around its legs—but it was useless.
The grass looked fragile, yet its resilience was astonishing. No matter how hard Charmeleon pulled, it couldn't break free.
Raw strength alone clearly wasn't enough to escape Grass Knot.
"Calm down, Charmeleon," Sam said evenly. "Use Ember on the vines on the ground."
Sam's steady voice immediately settled Charmeleon.
Instead of forcing its way out, Charmeleon opened its mouth and spat flames directly at the entangling weeds.
No matter how tough the grass was, it stood no chance against fire. In moments, the vines were reduced to ashes, and Charmeleon was free once more.
"Get down!" Sam shouted.
Razor Leaf had already reached Charmeleon. Without hesitation, Charmeleon dropped flat and rolled across the turf, dodging the attack cleanly.
This was the true test of coordination between Trainer and Pokémon.
The instant Sam finished speaking, Charmeleon reacted perfectly—rolling several times in rapid succession and avoiding Razor Leaf entirely.
"What quick reactions…"
Calm commands and flawless execution allowed Charmeleon to emerge completely unscathed.
"Flamethrower!"
"What?!"
Erika hadn't expected Charmeleon to regain its battle rhythm so quickly after escaping the attack.
Charmeleon's talent was undeniable—not just its potential, but its combat instincts as well.
The moment it finished rolling, it sprang upright without pause, adjusting its posture into perfect battle form.
A pillar of flames erupted straight toward Gloom.
"Mou-na! Mou-na!"
Gloom screamed in pain as the fire struck head-on.
Type advantage still mattered greatly in Pokémon battles. As a Grass-type, Gloom couldn't withstand sustained flames and soon lost its ability to fight.
From holding the initiative to defeat in less than half a minute—
Erika parted her lips, momentarily at a loss for words. After a quiet breath, she recalled Gloom into its Poké Ball.
She turned to the apprentice waiting outside the arena and handed over the ball.
"Please take Gloom to the Pokémon Center."
"Yes, Miss Erika."
It was clear how much Erika cared for her Pokémon. Even though Gloom's injuries weren't severe, she chose to send it for treatment immediately.
Afterward, Erika looked back at Sam.
He noticed the change instantly—her gaze had become sharper, far more intense.
"Sam," Erika said seriously, "you are very strong. But I won't admit defeat."
"Please come out—Vileplume."
[Pokémon]: Vileplume
[Type]: Grass / Poison
[Strength]: Mid Gym Level
[Potential]: Gym Level
Erika was clearly serious now, sending out a mid–Gym-level Vileplume right away.
Sam had originally planned to switch Pokémon.
But Charmeleon had no intention of backing down.
The moment Vileplume appeared, Charmeleon let out an excited roar, flames flickering at the corners of its mouth.
It was eager.
As a Trainer, how could Sam refuse his Pokémon's desire to fight?
Since Charmeleon wanted to keep going, Sam didn't stop it.
Honestly, Sam didn't even mind if Charmeleon took a beating.
After spending so long training it, Sam understood its personality perfectly.
It got cocky easily.
One victory was enough to make Charmeleon swell with confidence. And sometimes, the best cure for arrogance was a hard lesson.
Sure enough, after defeating Gloom, Charmeleon showed no fear toward the far-stronger Vileplume—instead, it charged forward recklessly.
Flames gathered around its jaws.
Fire Fang!
Sam made no move to stop it.
Seeing Charmeleon get punished was sometimes necessary. With its mental resilience, a beating wouldn't cause lasting damage.
Charmeleon sprinted straight toward Vileplume.
Erika's expression darkened slightly. Charmeleon's behavior was outright disrespectful.
"Grass Knot."
Still the same simple move—but this time, Charmeleon wasn't so lucky.
Mid-sprint, the vines surged up again, catching Charmeleon's legs and sending it crashing face-first into the turf.
Its snout slammed into the ground, and the Fire Fang it had been charging detonated inside its own mouth.
Charmeleon was lucky it was a Fire-type with strong heat resistance—otherwise, that alone would've ended the fight.
Erika gave it no chance to recover.
She wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
"Petal Blizzard."
The move's name suited Erika perfectly.
Vileplume smiled gently.
In the next instant, countless petals whirled like a violent storm, sweeping over Charmeleon and dealing massive damage.
Charmeleon tried to escape, but the Grass Knot pinned its legs firmly to the ground.
All it could do was endure the "gentle caress" of the falling petals.
What a beautiful scene.
Truly—a hero buried beneath flowers.
Sam watched for a moment, then recalled Charmeleon once it lost the ability to fight.
That defeat should keep it quiet for a while.
Unlike Erika, Sam didn't send Charmeleon to the Pokémon Center. Despite looking miserable, Vileplume had shown excellent control, and Charmeleon only suffered superficial injuries.
With its recovery ability, it wouldn't take long to bounce back.
"Miss Erika, your Vil
eplume is trained exceptionally well," Sam praised sincerely.
Whether it was move timing or precision control, Erika's Vileplume had reached perfection.
---------------Author---------------
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