Pokemon: Gym Leader

Selene took a moment to think. How should she deal with that Umbreon?

After a brief pause, she made up her mind.

"Weezing, get ready for battle!"

She tossed her fifth Poké Ball. In a flash of white light, a Weezing floated into place before her.

"Weezing, huh?"

Leaf rubbed her pale chin as she studied the floating dual-headed Pokémon.

Weezing wasn't exactly rare—especially considering how often Team Rocket used them in the past.

Beep~ Weezing, Poison-type, Poison Gas Pokémon.

Ability: Neutralizing Gas

Moves: Destiny Bond, Explosion, Toxic, Sludge Bomb, Haze, Heat Wave, Smog, Pain Split...

Description: Though it draws in less air than the Galarian form, the toxins it produces are even more potent.

Tch.

Leaf clicked her tongue. This Weezing was nothing like those used by Team Rocket grunts.

The move list? Straight from the abyss.

"She's going with Weezing to block Toxic, huh."

Dylan glanced at the Pokémon and smiled quietly.

Umbreon, with its low offense, was best used for stall and control strategies.

His Umbreon was no exception—an opener that could spread status with Toxic or Thunder Wave, or pivot with Baton Pass.

Dylan liked using it—it was reliable.

But today, Umbreon hadn't had many chances to shine. Selene had clearly come prepared for a stall-based strategy.

Dark misty gas began to spread from Weezing, quickly blanketing the battlefield.

Neutralizing Gas.

This ability suppressed all other abilities on the field.

A brutally annoying ability—many Pokémon relied on their abilities for power spikes, and this one neutralized that edge completely.

"Umbreon, Taunt," Dylan commanded decisively.

To be honest, when used right, Weezing could be a serious headache.

Especially with moves like Destiny Bond and Pain Split—classic Selene.

Umbreon let out a mocking cry, eyes locked on Weezing—Taunt activated.

"Weezing, Toxic Spikes!"

Selene moved fast.

A sinister purple sphere materialized above Weezing, then shot into the sky—

Right as Weezing's dopey eyes locked onto Umbreon in anger.

Taunt successful. But the Toxic Spikes were also deployed.

The orb exploded, showering the battlefield in droplets of toxic liquid.

The floor glowed purple for a moment—then vanished.

"Whoa~ Toxic Spikes, huh? Never thought I'd see Boss caught in one of his own tactics," the older sister grinned.

Toxic Spikes were Dylan's signature. The strategy that put him on the map—especially his battle against Red.

"Selene's smart. Trying to beat Umbreon head-on is tough—it's so tanky, especially with Thunder Wave and Toxic in its kit."

"But with Toxic Spikes set up, even Umbreon will get worn down eventually."

The Bird Keeper nodded in admiration—assuming Dylan didn't switch out, that is.

Though realistically, no way would Dylan just let the field stay poisoned.

"Toxic Spikes, huh?" Dylan chuckled softly.

"Baton Pass."

Umbreon's body glowed white and returned to its Poké Ball.

"Honchkrow, take the field!"

Dylan tossed his fourth Poké Ball.

An elegant, dark-winged figure flapped into the air—Honchkrow, Dark/Flying-type.

"Defog!"

"Thunderbolt!"

Dylan immediately gave the order to clear the spikes.

Selene responded without hesitation—Weezing was Taunted, so it could only attack.

Honchkrow whipped up a fierce wind with its wings—Defog swept across the field, clearing the Toxic Spikes.

But Weezing buzzed with static—Thunderbolt crackled and struck Honchkrow midair.

Electricity exploded around it—Thunderbolt was super effective against Flying-types.

Honchkrow cried out, flapping backward in pain.

Its defenses were low—while Weezing's Special Attack wasn't elite, the type advantage made it sting.

Honchkrow glared at Weezing, now furious.

"Again—Thunderbolt!" Selene ordered.

"Sucker Punch!"

Weezing charged electricity again, but Honchkrow's eyes flashed with black light—it dove forward like a blur.

Boom!

Sucker Punch landed before Thunderbolt could fire.

Weezing grunted and was knocked back. It fired anyway—but Honchkrow had already darted away.

"Psychic!"

Honchkrow spun midair, eyes glowing deep blue—Psychic-type: Psychic.

"Weezing!"

Selene's Pokémon floated higher, narrowly dodging the incoming wave of psychic energy.

"Don't let it go! Brave Bird!"

Honchkrow's wings ignited with red flames as it swooped toward Weezing—Flying-type: Brave Bird.

Aggressive and relentless!

Selene's brows knitted—Honchkrow's attacks were overwhelming, coming one after another.

There wasn't even time for Weezing to counter or defend.

BOOM!

The blazing red hawk slammed into Weezing, carrying it down in a spiraling dive.

The crash shook the field—dust exploded outward.

Honchkrow rose again, feathers crackling with red sparks—Brave Bird recoil damage.

"Weezing—Toxic!"

Selene suddenly shouted.

From within the dust cloud, a glob of deep-purple poison launched upward—Toxic hit!

It splattered against Honchkrow's chest and seeped in.

Hm?

Dylan's brows rose. Weezing was still down, unmoving.

But the smaller of its two heads looked fine.

Ah…

Selene was using the smaller head to attack, while the bigger one absorbed the damage.

Clever.

"So the smaller head can attack while the larger one tanks damage? What kind of setup is this?" Leaf blinked.

"This girl really is something," Lillie murmured.

The Toxic had hit. Honchkrow's chest glowed a sinister purple—badly poisoned.

The first tick wasn't too painful… but it'd get worse.

"Psychic!"

Dylan didn't want to wait around—Toxic would only hurt more over time.

Honchkrow's eyes gleamed again—waves of psychic energy shot toward the ground.

"Protect!"

Taunt had worn off—Weezing activated Protect just in time. The Psychic attack collided with the green shield.

As Protect faded, Honchkrow dived again.

Weezing had barely floated upright.

"Heat Wave!"

"Sucker Punch!"

Weezing spewed searing red flames—Fire-type: Heat Wave.

But Honchkrow swerved, dodging in a burst of speed enhanced by Sucker Punch, and appeared behind Weezing.

Its darkened wings slammed down, sending Weezing flying.

"Psychic!"

Dylan prepared to end it.

But then—the second tick of poison hit. Deep purple light burst across Honchkrow's body—it winced.

"T-Bolt!" Selene barked.

Weezing recovered midair—electricity blasted forth.

"Sky Attack!"

Honchkrow's body glowed blue—it barely dodged the Thunderbolt as its energy built up.

But—

Too close.

Selene's eyes widened. If Weezing were closer, Honchkrow wouldn't have had time to charge Sky Attack.

Boom!

Sky Attack slammed into Weezing again, smashing it into the ground.

CRASH!

Another plume of dust. Another impact crater.

"Psychic!"

Dylan wasn't giving Weezing any room to breathe. Sky Attack had no recoil—unlike Brave Bird.

Honchkrow's eyes glowed once more.

"Explosion!" Selene shouted.

Weezing's body flashed with blinding white light—like a small sun igniting on the field.

Art is an explosion!

Alarms blared in Honchkrow's instincts—it turned to flee, but—

Too late.

BOOOOM!

A colossal blast ripped across the arena. The shockwave shook the ground, blowing Dylan's and Selene's clothes back.

"Whoa! Straight to Explosion!"

"She had no choice. One more Psychic and Weezing was done anyway."

"No way Honchkrow survives that—it was already badly poisoned."

The Bird Keeper and friends muttered among themselves.

As the smoke cleared, a massive crater appeared on the battlefield.

At the center—Weezing lay unconscious.

Near the edge—Honchkrow was down, unmoving.

It had taken Thunderbolt, two rounds of Toxic, and the full force of Explosion.

Honchkrow's frail body couldn't take it.

"Weezing and Honchkrow are both unable to battle."

Leaf stepped in and declared the result.

Dylan returned Honchkrow, murmuring a few words of comfort.

Then he looked across at Selene, a flicker of approval in his eyes.

She'd taken down three of his Pokémon.

Even if two of them fell to Destiny Bond and Explosion—still, three.

(End of Chapter)