"System, scan and display the data of the two Pokémon on the field."
Alone in the waiting room, Ash stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the battle unfolding in the arena below as he issued the command to the system.
[Ding! Scanning. Please wait…]
[Pokémon: Heliolisk]
Level: LV.51 (Beginner Gym-Class)
Type: Electric, Normal
Ability: Solar Power
...
~
[Pokémon: Escavalier]
Level: LV.73 (Early Gym-Class)
Type: Bug, Steel
Ability: Shell Armor
Will: [Knight's Will]
(Effects: HP +10%, Attack +10%, Defense +10%, Sp. Atk +10%, Sp. Def +10%, Speed +10%)
...
...
Clemont currently had only three Pokémon under his command, and he had devoted most of his time, energy, and resources to Heliolisk.
His other two Pokémon were only in the Advanced Tier, around LV.30–39, and had merely touched the threshold of the Elite Tier at LV.40–49. Heliolisk, however, was his starter Pokémon and the ace of his team, having already reached the Gym-Class level.
Although it was still far behind Ash's Pokémon, such talent and aptitude had already placed Clemont far ahead of trainers like Tierno and Trevor.
As expected of Lumiose City's genius Electric-type Trainer.
However, as talented as Clemont was, and as formidable as Heliolisk might be, there was still an enormous gap between them and Wikstrom, a genuine Gym-Class powerhouse.
The Escavalier Wikstrom had sent out this round was even stronger than the Probopass from the previous battle. Its Will was also the more balanced Knight's Will, granting equal enhancement to both offense and defense.
If Clemont's Heliolisk could Mega Evolve and push its combat power another level higher, perhaps it could actually contend with Wikstrom's Escavalier.
Unfortunately, Heliolisk could not Mega Evolve.
~
"Wikstrom! Wikstrom!!"
"Wikstrom! Wikstrom!!"
"Clemont! Clemont!!"
"Clemont! Clemont!!"
…
…
Both Trainers had taken their positions, and both Pokémon were ready on the field. The battle was on the verge of erupting, the tension in the arena thick enough to taste.
From the spectator stands, the crowd loudly cheered for both sides.
As one of the Kalos League Elite Four, Steel-type Elite Four member Wikstrom naturally enjoyed tremendous popularity and support.
But Clemont was hardly unpopular himself.
After all, he was a renowned genius Electric-type Trainer in Lumiose City and the Gym Leader of the Lumiose Gym. He could practically be considered the representative figure of the city's Trainers.
Everyone knew that Clemont had almost no chance of defeating Wikstrom, a Gym-Class powerhouse.
Even so, the cheers from the crowd remained thunderous.
"Let the battle begin!!"
Seeing that the atmosphere had reached its peak and both Trainers and Pokémon were fully prepared, the referee decisively announced the start of the match.
"Heliolisk, strike first! Use Electric Terrain!"
Knowing full well that he was no match for Wikstrom and Escavalier in terms of raw strength, Clemont wisely chose to seize the initiative right from the start.
"Heli!"
Heliolisk reacted instantly.
The thin, umbrella-like frill around its neck suddenly spread open, making the Pokémon look almost like a miniature sun.
Golden-yellow electrical energy poured from the expanded frill.
In an instant, the entire battlefield seemed to have been dipped in golden paint. Even the air itself appeared tinged with a faint golden hue.
The battlefield had become saturated with active electrical energy.
Under Electric Terrain, the power of Heliolisk's Electric-type moves would be greatly increased.
"If you're not going to attack, then we'll make the first move."
"Escavalier, use Take Down!!"
Wikstrom swept one hand forward, decisively ordering Escavalier to attack.
He knew very well that if he allowed Heliolisk to keep stacking advantages while Escavalier continued fighting under restrained strength, winning later would become much more troublesome.
The wisest choice was to attack immediately, seize the initiative, and control the rhythm of the battle.
"Clang!"
Escavalier answered with a metallic cry.
It crossed its two steel lances before its chest in a defensive stance, then suddenly charged toward Heliolisk like a heavily armored knight storming into battle.
However, Escavalier's base Speed of only 20 was a serious weakness.
Even with the acceleration provided by Take Down, it simply could not compare with Heliolisk's impressive base Speed of 109.
"Heliolisk, dodge it! Then use Thunderbolt!"
Facing the straight-line charge, Clemont remained completely composed.
There was no panic in his expression.
Instead, he calmly issued his counterattack command.
"Boom—!"
"Zzt—!"
Heliolisk moved with astonishing speed.
Its long tail whipped behind it as it darted forward, weaving through the battlefield in an S-shaped path and effortlessly slipping past Escavalier's frontal charge.
Seeing this, a trace of seriousness finally appeared on Wikstrom's face.
Clemont's Heliolisk was only LV.51, having just entered the Gym-Class level, and its strength was not much different from the LV.49 Chesnaught from the previous battle.
But Clemont was a Gym Leader.
The talent and ability he displayed when commanding his Pokémon in battle were on an entirely different level from Tierno's.
This was only their first exchange, yet Wikstrom's originally relaxed expression had already disappeared.
He had no choice but to take Clemont seriously.
"Escavalier, use Swords Dance!!"
Seeing the Thunderbolt crashing toward Escavalier, Wikstrom immediately issued his response.
"—ZZZTTT!!"
"Clang!"
The Thunderbolt struck from above.
At Clemont's command, Heliolisk unleashed its attack with tremendous force.
At the same time, Escavalier swung both of its lances and began spinning rapidly like a gigantic metal drill, preparing to withstand the incoming attack while using Swords Dance to further increase its offensive power.
The battle had only just begun.
But after witnessing Clemont's precise commands and Heliolisk's astonishing speed, Wikstrom could no longer afford to treat this as a casual exhibition match.
For the first time today, the Steel-type Elite Four member was genuinely getting serious.
--------------
T/N:
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