Chapter 365: Blastoise’s Torrent, Second Gear
“Ka-meh…ヾ(⌐■_■)”
Even with the type advantage, Blastoise didn’t dare let his guard down. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Not good… The opponent looked terrifying!
This pressure—it’s way too intense!
“Golem, use Rollout!”
Golem tucked in its limbs, turning into a rolling boulder that circled the battlefield, gathering momentum. Dust clouds flared behind it.
“Ka-meh!” Blastoise raised his cannons, blasting out two powerful streams of water that echoed like thunder.
“Why does that Water Gun have the power of Hydro Pump?” Marnie asked in confusion.
“It’s one of Mr. Lu’s old tricks,” Ali said with a dry cough. “He yells ‘Water Gun’ but it’s actually Hydro Pump. Just to mess with the opponent.”
“Ohhh!” Marnie nodded, enlightened.
The move was legitimate—the name call... maybe not so much.
BOOM!!
The ground cracked open into a groove. Using the slope left by Stone Edge, Golem shot skyward and crashed down in mid-roll!
Lu Ye frowned slightly.
Not a miss—Brock had steered it just right, avoiding the blast and giving Rollout extra momentum.
Even Blastoise would be injured if he took that head-on.
“Fire at Golem!” Lu Ye ordered calmly. “Water Pulse!”
Mid-air, Golem was a perfect moving target.
Blastoise positioned his cannons, and Aura began to swirl through the gym. Twin jets merged into a crashing wave and swallowed Golem whole! “His control over Water Pulse...” Ali shivered.
Even her Lucario couldn’t compete.
“Are we sure this isn’t Lucario in disguise?”
Next moment, everyone’s eyes widened.
Golem kept spinning, slicing through the water curtain at the center, spraying droplets in all directions!
“He held on using Sturdy.”
Marnie nodded in admiration. “Sturdy is the pride of Rock-types.”
As tough as stone himself, Brock embodied the spirit of Sturdy better than anyone.
And now, closing the gap using that final card—
“Golem, Thunder Punch!!” Brock roared.
Gym Leaders, in order to handle challengers, often had their Pokémon learn broader move coverage.
Having been with Brock for years, Golem let out a thunderous growl. Its spinning momentum charged the strike, and its fist blazed with lightning!
Even Lt. Surge, the Electric-type Gym Leader, cracked a grin.
This guy’s not bad!
“With Rollout’s momentum plus Thunder Punch…” Ash counted on his fingers and swallowed.
Mr. Lu’s Blastoise might actually lose here!?
Infused with the Trainer’s emotion and belief, Golem’s electrified punch came crashing down.
Blastoise’s eyes narrowed seriously.
Torrent, activate!!
Water spiraled up from his feet, swirling into a ring of rushing current—a self-shield and power boost all in one.
Blastoise inhaled deeply.
“Then…” Lu Ye looked up. “Let’s use fists to answer fists!”
“Blastoise, Ice Punch!!”
Thunder crackled down with force.
But around Blastoise, ice crystals began to float.
The air temperature plummeted. Aura winds whipped past Lu Ye and Brock.
“Ka-meh!” Blastoise’s feet cracked the ground—spiderweb fissures spread beneath him.
Then with an upward punch—
The chill of ice met the fury of lightning.
KRA-KOOM!!
Lt. Surge gulped.
D***—Mr. Lu’s Blastoise is double-fisted!
Brock frowned, immediately calling out: “Golem, hold your ground!”
The Ice Punch knocked Golem’s Thunder Punch aside. Lightning still landed on Blastoise’s shoulder, charring it black.
“Ka-meh!!”
With a roar, Blastoise slammed Golem backward.
Now running only on slivers of consciousness, Golem collapsed onto the battlefield, teeth gritted in refusal to give up.
“RROOAARR!!”
Suddenly, Golem’s body lit up with a terrifying flash of white light!
“Blastoise, into your shell and Protect!!” Lu Ye barked.
Golem’s Explosion unleashed a storm, shattering walls around the battlefield.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Chunks of debris rained down. Ears rang with the aftershock.
Lt. Surge turned pale.
You could’ve told me you wanted to demolish Vermilion Gym!
Even I wouldn’t let my Electrode do that!
The explosion cratered the center of the battlefield, looking like a meteor had struck.
“Ka-meh…” Blastoise peeked out from his shell, sweat pouring from his brow.
So close… so close to dying!
He actually got scratched this time!!
Lu Ye winced.
That Explosion did more visible damage than even the battle at the Tree of Beginning.
And back then, he at least had healing from Mega Evolution!
“To push this far despite the type disadvantage…”
Ali whispered, “This is Mr. Brock’s pride as a Rock-type Gym Leader.”
“After all, no matter the Pokémon—no one wants to lose this match,” Marnie added with rare seriousness.
Lt. Surge made a strange face.
“But… that Blastoise still looks like it could go another round?”
Lu Ye and Blastoise locked eyes.
Yeah, it could fight.
But this HP level was definitely not healthy.
“If you hit yellow bar, red bar…”
Lu Ye gave a complex look. “You wouldn’t happen to have… Second Gear? Or even Third Gear?”
“Ka-meh…” Blastoise nodded solemnly, contemplating.
No idea how many Revival Roots I’ll need to fix that…
Lu Ye sighed with mixed feelings.
Brock really had gone all out this time.
Alright then.
Lu Ye returned Blastoise and narrowed his gaze.
Time to respond in kind!
“Gengarr!”
Gengar floated at Lu Ye’s side, already itching to go.
For some reason, Brock smiled faintly.
The charm of Rock-types was never retreating a single step.
All the responsibilities he bore—he’d never run from them.
“Mr. Brock,” Lu Ye said solemnly, “I won’t hold back either.”
Brock grinned and struck a pose. “Bring it on!”
“Go, Gengar!”
“Gengarr~~(⁎˃ꌂ˂⁎)”
“Then I choose you—Steelix!!”
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
A towering figure emerged before Brock, its metallic body gleaming with a beautiful steel sheen.
“ROOOOAAARR!!”
Massive and menacing, with crimson eyes, Steelix raised its head and howled, baring its jagged teeth.
Lu Ye rubbed his chin.
Steel-type Gym Leader with an Electric-type ace.
Rock-type Gym Leader with a Steel-type ace…
Why does something here feel a little off?
“Every time I see that thing, it creeps me out,” Lt. Surge muttered.
“So cool!!” Ash shouted in excitement.
“Mr. Brock’s Steelix…” Marnie said softly. “He’s raised it to a level of Steel-type mastery.”
As Brock’s original partner, the former Onix had evolved into Steelix and become his ultimate trump card.
The steel-bodied behemoth stood tall in the now half-destroyed gym, shielding Brock with its immense form.
Before Lu Ye, Gengar stood on two feet, baring his teeth in a sinister grin.
“Let’s battle, Mr. Lu (Brock)!”