Human? Pokémon? Why Not Both?

"Onix!"

Seeing the wound on Onix's tail, Brock was surprised.

Brock never expected that Ryn, a new trainer, would be so skilled.

Scyther, dancing with Sword Dance while dodging attacks, would be a tough opponent even in the League.

And this tactic was made by a rookie trainer.

It was clear Ryn had terrifying talent.

With Sword Dance's boost, Scyther's Brick Break left such a deep injury on Onix with just one strike.

The outcome of the first battle was already decided.

"I lost."

Brock said this calmly, then recalled his Onix.

Misty, sitting in the audience, saw Ryn win the first battle so easily and widened her beautiful eyes in surprise. "Ryn has improved so quickly. Just four days ago, when battling others, he looked so nervous. I never expected him to grow so fast. He's so impressive."

Watching Ryn on the battlefield, Misty noticed the confident smile on his face.

Watching such a Ryn, Misty murmured, "At this rate of improvement, Ryn should be able to grow into a pretty strong trainer before the League Tournament, right?"

Meowscarada, on the other hand, supported her chin on her hands, elbows resting on the railing, her eyes filled with admiration as she watched Ryn.

If only she were the one battling on the field right now, Meowscarada grew increasingly eager for the day when Ryn would command her.

The focus shifted back to the battlefield.

Brock's Onix had been defeated, and now he was about to send out his second Pokémon.

Geodude!

"Go, Geodude!"

Seeing that Brock's second Pokémon was the familiar Geodude, Ryn recalled his Scyther and took out the Poké Ball containing his Charmander.

"Charmander, get ready to battle!"

Seeing Ryn switch Pokémon, and to Charmander no less, Brock was a bit disappointed.

A Charmander that hasn't evolved facing a Rock/Ground-type Geodude is four times weaker.

Though Geodude is also in its base form, Brock could tell at a glance that Ryn's Pokémon was a starter Pokémon given by the League.

Its combat ability was undoubtedly inferior to that of wild Pokémon.

Only through constant training could the starter Pokémon gifted by the League gain combat experience and strength.

Therefore, in Brock's eyes, Ryn bringing out Charmander was a sign of underestimating him.

Brock spoke, "Geodude, use Rollout!"

After Brock issued the command, the Geodude on the field crossed its arms around its body and began rolling rapidly.

Like a tank, Geodude charged toward Charmander at high speed.

It seems that Brock's Geodude has been well-trained in speed.

Additionally, it has undergone special training for the Rollout technique.

By the time Ryn reacted, the opponent's Geodude had already rolled halfway across the distance.

"Charmander, use Protect!" Ryn, having reacted, immediately employed a countermeasure.

"What?!!"

Brock, upon hearing Ryn's countermeasure, blurted out in shock.

If not for his role as Gym Leader, Brock would have shouted, "What kind of Charmander is this? Is it really one of the three starter Pokémon given by the League? It can even use Protect. Are you perhaps the son of someone high up in the League?"

Compared to Brock's shock, Misty on the spectator stand was somewhat accustomed to it.

After traveling together for about a week, she knew that Ryn had an expensive machine and a large number of Tm 's.

The focus returned to the battlefield.

Ryn wouldn't stop his commands just because of Brock's shock.

He watched as Geodude was forced to stop due to Charmander's Protect.

Ryn knew this was a counterattack opportunity.

Geodude was now in a stiff state after its Rollout attack was stopped.

This was the best time to attack!

Seizing the opportunity, Ryn immediately commanded Charmander. "Charmander, use Dragon Claw to knock Geodude into the air!"

Since the Rollout attack was completely blocked, Geodude's Rollout was ineffective, rendering Geodude unable to use any techniques, and it arrived in front of Charmander.

At this moment, Geodude was at its weakest.

"Char!"

The flames of determination burned in Charmander's eyes, and its two small hands were covered in a layer of emerald-green energy claws.

As Charmander swung its arms forcefully, the giant claws struck Geodude's lower body, using a technique to fling Geodude off the ground.

"Oh no!" Because Brock was stunned earlier, he couldn't keep up with Ryn's speed.

By the time he reacted, it was already too late.

In a Trainer's battle, the worst thing you can do is lose focus; you must remain fully concentrated.

This is why, in the anime, even after battling other strong opponents, Ash feels exhausted and sweaty.

Geodude, thrown into the air, couldn't perform any moves.

The only long-range technique it could use was Rock Throw.

However, Rock Throw requires a rock in hand to perform.

Geodude couldn't just make them out of thin air.

So, Geodude, knocked into the air, had become an easy target.

Ryn seized this opportunity and shouted passionately at Charmander, "Charmander, use Dragon Rush!"

This was a move passed down from Charmander's parents, though its accuracy was a bit low.

After Ryn shouted the command, Charmander suddenly leaped into the air, landing above Geodude.

A red aura swirled around Charmander, and it then fell vertically, locking onto Geodude that had already begun its descent.

As it continued to go downward, the red energy surrounding Charmander became more prominent, eventually covering its entire body.

"It can even perform Dragon Rush. Its parents must be incredibly powerful…" Brock, as a breeder, immediately recognized that Charmander's Dragon Rush was a move passed down from its parents.

At this point, no matter what he said, the outcome was already decided.

BOOM!!!!

Charmander's Dragon Rush directly hit Geodude.

A powerful energy erupted on the field, and the force of the explosion caused a cloud of dust to rise from the center of the field, blocking the view.

As the dust cleared, a massive crater remained on the field, with Geodude lying inside, its eyes rolled back.

Charmander, on the other hand, was breathing heavily beside it, looking exhausted.

The Dragon Rush had clearly taken a toll on her stamina, but fortunately, the combined damage from Dragon Claw and Dragon Rush had made Geodude unable to continue fighting.

Otherwise, Charmander, with its greatly depleted stamina, would have been unable to launch a second attack.