Wallace placed his hand on his waist, gently brushing over those two distinctive Poké Balls.
Their surfaces seemed smoother than other balls, carrying the weight of years.
The moment his fingers gripped the switches, the entire atmosphere of the battlefield shifted.
It was no longer the flamboyant, performance-like air from before, but a heavy, almost suffocating pressure.
"Come out."
Two streaks of red light shot out. There was no exaggerated fanfare, but the moment they took shape on the ground, the spectating apprentices gasped in unison.
One was a Vaporeon, its form elegant, with a cellular structure seemingly composed of water molecules that shimmered under the light. It stood there quietly, yet felt like an unfathomable deep lake.
Its level: Level 56.
The other was a Crawdaunt clad in a hard, crimson shell.
Its massive claws snapped open and shut, producing a tooth-aching "clack-clack" sound. Its eyes were fierce, filled with a primitive desire for destruction.
A ferocious aura, far exceeding that of the previous Swampert, rushed toward them.
Its level was actually Level 57!
"It's... it's those two from Master Juan!"
A young apprentice cried out, his voice trembling slightly.
"That's right, it's them! I remember one time, more than a dozen of our Pokémon were all taken down by this single Crawdaunt..."
"That Vaporeon is even more terrifying. Its 'Acid Armor' is practically unbeatable; any physical attack hitting it is like a needle in a haystack."
Discussions broke out one after another, every face etched with solemnity and even some painful memories.
To the apprentices of the Sootopolis Gym, these two Pokémon were nightmares—insurmountable walls.
They represented the strength of the former Gym Leader, Juan.
Ariel's gaze, however, was dead-locked on that Crawdaunt.
No mistake.
It was that one.
Juan had used this very Crawdaunt to engage in a hearty battle with his Krookodile.
Although no winner was decided then, that unyielding fighting spirit had long been etched into their bones.
At this moment, the Crawdaunt's presence was even more formidable than their last meeting. Clearly, under Juan's meticulous nurturing, its strength had improved again, breaking through from Level 56 to Level 57.
As if called by fate, the Poké Ball on Ariel's waist belonging to Krookodile began to shake violently. Again and again, it struck his belt, conveying a desire that was almost a roar.
It was fighting spirit! It was the fire of revenge!
Ariel understood perfectly.
He raised his hand and recalled Greninja and Weavile, who had already fought hard and succeeded.
"Come back and rest; you did very well."
Then, he reached back and took off two other Poké Balls.
One was Krookodile's restless ball;
The other belonged to the equally unfathomable Malamar.
These two were the partners who had followed him the longest.
"Since your old rival is asking for you by name, then go forth."
Ariel's voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable trust.
"Malamar, you go too. Let the new Gym Leader of Sootopolis City see how we defeat our enemies."
Red light flashed, and two figures appeared before Ariel.
The moment Krookodile appeared, its eyes, encased in black frames, acted like the most precise radar, instantly locking onto the Crawdaunt opposite it.
It bared its mouth, revealing two rows of grim, sharp teeth, and let out a low growl from its throat. Its thick limbs clawed at the ground, sending sand and stones flying.
That wasn't Intimidate, but a blatant Taunt—I'm back!
Malamar was much quieter, floating in mid-air with its ten tentacles drifting slowly like ribbons.
Its yellow eyes flickered with an eerie light, and an invisible spiritual force quietly spread out, making the noisy surrounding air seem to thicken slightly.
Both Pokémon were Level 49, the peak of the Superior rank.
Facing opponents whose average level was seven or eight levels higher, they didn't retreat in the slightest.
"Oh? These two Pokémon?"
A flash of surprise crossed Wallace's eyes, which then turned into deep interest.
"Interesting. Then let's see whether my master's legacy is Superior, or if your Bond is firmer!"
Before his voice finished echoing, the horn of battle had already sounded!
"Vaporeon, Muddy Water!"
"Crawdaunt, Crabhammer!"
Wallace's commands were lightning-fast, and the coordination between the two Pokémon was seamless.
Vaporeon leaped forward gracefully, its body seemingly merging into the water surrounding the field. The next second, the water surface of the entire battlefield surged upward, forming a massive, turbid wave that crashed down toward Krookodile and Malamar!
Muddy Water wasn't just a simple Water-type attack; it would also lower the opponent's accuracy, making it an extremely troublesome field-control move.
And the moment the Muddy Water surged, Crawdaunt moved!
Its bulky body displayed an incredible speed that belied its appearance. Using the momentum of the water flow, it shot out like a crimson cannonball, its massive blue energy-claws heading straight for the top of Krookodile's head!
This was a finishing combo! First, use Muddy Water to restrict the opponent's vision and movement, then have Crawdaunt deliver the fatal blow!
The spectating apprentices could almost foresee the scene of Ariel's Pokémon being heavily damaged in one move.
"Malamar, flip it over!"
"Krookodile, Dig!"
Ariel's commands were equally concise.
Malamar's eyes glowed brilliantly. A majestic spiritual force transformed into an invisible giant hand; it didn't try to block the Muddy Water, but instead precisely acted upon the water flow beneath the charging Crawdaunt!
"Splash!"
The water beneath Crawdaunt's feet seemed to boil, suddenly curling upward and forcefully breaking its charging posture. It stumbled in mid-air, causing the menacing Crabhammer to veer off target.
Simultaneously, Krookodile's claws lit up with white light. It instantly dug through the hard stone floor and vanished without a trace just before the Muddy Water covered the battlefield.
Boom!
The Muddy Water crashed down, splashing everywhere.
Crawdaunt landed heavily in the water, stirring up even larger waves, while its Crabhammer hit nothing, leaving a shallow crater in the stone slab.
The first round of the exchange was resolved without danger by Ariel's imaginative command.
But the smile at the corner of Wallace's mouth grew even wider.
"A very good response. But in the face of absolute power, how long can your struggles last?"
"Vaporeon, Rain Dance!"
Upon the command, Vaporeon tilted its head back and let out a long cry. A ball of water spat from its mouth, flying high into the sky and bursting.
Instantly, dark clouds gathered, and a light drizzle began to fall, quickly turning into a torrential downpour.
The entire battlefield was completely transformed into a world of water.
***************************
Enjoying the story? Don't forget to drop a review, leave a comment, and smash that like button! Every Power Stone helps push the story further—thanks for reading and supporting! 🚀