I, Gary, Want to Become a Pokemon Master

"Use Leaf Blade to break through Rock Slide!" Gary ordered.

"Scep!"

Sceptile dashed forward, the leaves on its wrists extending and glowing brightly into dual Leaf Blades.

While running, it used Swords Dance, causing the blades to flare with power as it sliced through the falling rocks, shattering them on impact. In one fluid motion, Sceptile lunged at Lairon, bringing its blade down in a sweeping arc.

Clang!!

Lairon quickly countered with Iron Head, meeting Sceptile's blade head-on. The clash of metal and energy rang out across the battlefield.

"Now, Energy Ball!" Gary commanded.

Sceptile opened its mouth and launched a glowing green orb of concentrated energy straight toward Lairon. The heavy Steel-type Pokémon couldn't dodge—it braced for impact.

Boom!!

The Energy Ball detonated on impact, sending shockwaves through the ground. Though it wasn't super-effective against Lairon's Steel-typing, Lairon's low Special Defense made the hit especially damaging.

"Dora...!"

Lairon staggered, clearly winded, its breathing becoming labored.

"Lairon, use Earthquake!" Brendan quickly countered.

Lairon slammed its claws into the ground, sending a powerful tremor through the battlefield. Cracks formed beneath Sceptile's feet.

But just before the tremors reached him, the Forest Pokémon leapt into the air.

"Perfect timing—Energy Ball from above!"

Still airborne, Sceptile charged another green orb in its mouth and fired it down at Lairon.

"Rock Slide!" Brendan shouted, trying to intercept.

Lairon immediately countered by hurling rocks upward, striking the incoming Energy Ball and causing it to explode in mid-air.

"Solar Beam!" Gary called out.

Sceptile landed and, without delay, unleashed a powerful white beam of solar energy straight at Lairon.

BOOM!!

"Doraaa!!"

Caught off guard and unable to block in time, Lairon was blasted by the full force of the Solar Beam. The explosion flipped it onto its back, eyes swirling.

"Lairon is unable to battle!"

Brendan's expression twisted in frustration. "Wait, how did Solar Beam fire so quickly?!"

Gary pointed toward the sky. "Look at the weather."

The bright Hoenn sun beamed down from a clear sky.

"Thanks to Hoenn's tropical climate, it's always sunny during the day. Solar Beam charges instantly in sunlight."

Brendan's eyes widened in realization. He had forgotten to factor in weather mechanics.

"Lairon, return."

He recalled the defeated Pokémon, and Gary returned Sceptile as well. Both reached for their next Poké Balls.

"Go, Milotic!" Brendan shouted.

"Miiitic!"

A graceful sea-serpent Pokémon emerged, glimmering in the sunlight.

[Lv. 32 Milotic ♂ | Quasi-Elite Potential]

"What?! A Milotic?!" Zinnia gasped.

She'd always wanted to see one in person—and never expected Brendan to have caught one.

Gary was just as surprised. Catching a Feebas and evolving it was no easy feat.

"Alright then—Milotic is yours to handle. Go, Breloom!" Gary sent out his next Pokémon.

"Breee-loom!"

A shiny Breloom appeared, full of energy.

[Lv. 35 Breloom ♂ | Gym-Level Potential]

"Milotic, use Water Pulse!" Brendan called out.

Milotic raised its head, summoning a sphere of vibrating water energy before firing it forward.

"Dynamic Punch, knock it away!" Gary ordered.

"Bree!!"

Breloom's fist glowed with red energy. With a mighty swing, it punched the Water Pulse out of the air and dashed toward Milotic.

Milotic, more suited to water than land, struggled to reposition.

"Now, Ice Beam!" Brendan commanded, hoping to catch Breloom at close range.

The strategy was clever—wait until Breloom got close, then strike.

But Gary was ready.

"Mach Punch!"

Whoosh!

Breloom suddenly burst forward with incredible speed. Before Milotic could fully charge the Ice Beam, Breloom struck it squarely in the head, interrupting the attack.

"Aqua Tail!" Brendan responded.

Milotic twisted its elegant body and whipped its glowing tail at Breloom, sending him flying backward.

"Ugh… no spore activation…" Gary muttered under his breath. Breloom's Effect Spore hadn't triggered.

"Ice Beam!" Brendan ordered again, this time from a distance.

Milotic unleashed a frigid blast of ice toward the recovering Breloom.

"Dig!" Gary countered.

"Bree!"

Breloom dove underground, dodging the incoming Ice Beam, which froze the tunnel entrance.

"He knows Dig?!" Brendan was shocked. He hadn't expected that.

"Dynamic Punch!" Gary commanded from the sidelines.

Breloom emerged directly behind Milotic and delivered a devastating punch, sending it reeling and inflicting confusion.

Seizing the opportunity, Breloom fired off Leech Seed, wrapping Milotic in energy-draining vines. Then, with a Thunder Punch, he finished the battle.

Milotic slumped to the ground, unconscious.

"Let's go, Gary! You've got this—total sweep!" Zinnia cheered, thrilled to see Brendan down three Pokémon in a row.

Brendan, meanwhile, was sweating. The pressure of three straight defeats loomed heavy.

Gary had become like a mountain he couldn't climb.

"You've lost three in a row, Brendan. Are you sure you want to go for a fourth?" Gary asked, raising an eyebrow.

After all, the standard format was 3-on-3. The fourth match wasn't necessary.

"Of course! I'm seeing this through to the end," Brendan said with determination.

"Alright then—let's begin round four."

Gary reached for another Poké Ball.

"Sceptile, you're up!" Brendan called out his trump card.

"Scep-tile!"

[Lv. 36 Sceptile ♂ | Elite Potential]

Brendan's Grovyle had evolved—and not long ago, judging by its current level.

"Slaking, I'm counting on you!" Gary said, sending out his powerhouse.

"Slaaa~king..."

The massive, hulking Normal-type appeared, standing instead of its usual lounging posture.

"This Slaking…" Brendan blinked. "It looks just like Norman's!"

"Double Team!" Brendan called quickly, hoping to confuse Slaking.

"Scep!"

Sceptile split into a dozen illusory copies, darting around the field.

"Double Team doesn't work on my Slaking. Earthquake!" Gary commanded.

"Slaaah!"

Slaking stomped hard on the ground, unleashing a massive shockwave.

The entire field quaked violently as the clones vanished and the real Sceptile tried to stabilize itself—