Read up to 30 advanced chapters exclusively on my Patreon at - patreon.com/LoverrBoy
---------------------------------
"Hoothoot is unable to battle! Gym Leader Kim, please send out your next Pokémon!"
After the chaos settled, the referee quickly scrambled to his feet, raised his hand, and shouted toward Kim, who had just stood up as well.
"Ahem, haha... I got careless for a moment and look what happened. Seems that was my oversight! But I won't let something like that happen again! Return, Hoothoot! Time for my second Pokémon—go! Pidgeotto!"
With a dark cloud over her head, Kim withdrew Hoothoot into its PokeBall and swiftly tossed out another one. A burst of light followed, and a strong, well-built Pidgeotto emerged, flapping its powerful wings as it hovered midair.
"Pidgeooo~"
"Wartortle! Wartortle!!"
On the other side, Wartortle used all its strength to finally break free from Delia's crushing embrace. Panting heavily with its head lowered, it perked up immediately upon hearing Pidgeotto's cry behind it.
With renewed energy, it jumped up, spun around, and stared confidently at the airborne Pidgeotto, eyes blazing with battle spirit.
"Ahem. Delia, that reaction is totally normal! It means your Pokémon's become stronger! Don't overthink it—focus on the battle!"
From the spectator stands, Liam—who clearly couldn't bear to watch anymore—called out to the still-sitting Delia.
Delia looked up at Liam through tear-filled eyes. Knowing he wouldn't lie to her, she gave a firm nod, wiped her tears, stood up, and locked eyes with the soaring Pidgeotto, ready to resume the fight.
"Both sides ready! Battle, begin!"
"Pidgeotto, Quick Attack!"
The referee had barely finished speaking when Kim launched her next command.
"Pidgeoo!"
With a sharp cry, Pidgeotto flapped its wings with incredible speed, trailing white electric light as it rocketed toward the newly evolved Wartortle.
"So fast! Wartortle, use Bubble Beam!"
Pidgeotto's speed was far beyond Hoothoot's from earlier. As the bird closed in rapidly, Delia gasped and shouted to her Pokémon.
"Wartortle!"
At her command, Wartortle took a deep breath and opened its wide mouth, firing out a rapid stream of gleaming bubbles like bullets.
"Pidgeoo!"
But Pidgeotto was simply too fast. Before more than a few bubbles had even launched, it plowed straight through them and slammed hard into Wartortle's forehead.
"Wartortle! Wartortle—!"
The impact forced Wartortle to stop its Bubble Beam, staggering backward and collapsing. Its short arms flailed, trying and failing to rub its aching head as it rolled around in pain on the ground.
"Excellent, Pidgeotto! Just like that! Now use Air Slash!"
Seeing her Pokémon land a clean hit, Kim grinned. As Pidgeotto looped in the air, she gave the next command.
"Pidgeoo!!"
Crying out again, Pidgeotto raised both wings, then slashed downward with all its might. A translucent, crescent-shaped blade of wind blasted toward the writhing Wartortle below!
"Wartortle! Dodge it—quick!"
Delia winced in sympathy as she watched her partner rolling on the ground, still clutching its head. But when she saw the oncoming Air Slash, she yelled out with all her might.
"Wartortle!"
Suddenly snapping to attention, Wartortle's eyes flew open. It planted its long tail firmly against the ground and launched itself upward, flipping midair just in time to evade the Air Slash.
"What?! It dodged that too?! Pidgeotto, Quick Attack, again!!"
"Pidgeoo!!"
Pidgeotto let out a high-pitched cry and tucked in its wings, once again turning into a streak of white lightning as it tore through the sky, striking the freshly-landed Wartortle and sending it flying again.
"Wartortle! You have to hang in there! Counter with Water Gun!"
"Wartortle!!"
Toppled by Pidgeotto's strike, Wartortle tried to get up but winced, a flash of pain crossing its face. It stayed on one knee, squinting with one eye as it faced the sky and opened its mouth—firing off a powerful jet of water.
"There's no point dragging this out! Pidgeotto, Hurricane!"
"Pidgeo! Pidgeo! Pidgeo!"
Still circling above, Pidgeotto flapped its wings rapidly and with great force. A violent storm gathered in front of it, scattering Wartortle's Water Gun instantly. The kneeling Wartortle was then swept up by the fierce winds and thrown backward.
Crash!
It slammed into the iron mesh fence on the rooftop, leaving a dent before slowly sliding down to the floor—its eyes now spinning.
"Wartortle is unable to battle! Pidgeotto wins!"
"Wartortle!"
Delia gasped in disbelief at the sight of her fainted partner. She didn't even register the outcome until the referee shouted it. Startled, she rushed over to Wartortle's side.
"Pidgeooo~"
"Well done, Pidgeotto," Kim said as she raised her arm. Pidgeotto gracefully landed on it, chirping affectionately.
"Pidgeotto is faster than Wartortle and has the advantage of flight. That Wartortle already used up too much stamina before it evolved. After taking those hits, it's only natural it couldn't hold on."
Kim gently stroked Pidgeotto's smooth feathers and turned to Delia, who looked slightly dazed.
"Besides, that was just your first Pokémon—you still have two more. Don't get discouraged from a single defeat. Failure is a necessary step on the path to success. If you can't accept that, you might as well give up now—because you're not going to win."
Her tone was firm. Kim wasn't trying to scare her—she was just being honest.
Holding Wartortle in her arms, Delia listened to Kim's words, then turned to look at Liam.
He said nothing—only gave a small smile and a nod, his eyes radiating trust.
Perhaps it was that look that gave Delia courage. She nodded back firmly, pulled out Wartortle's PokeBall, and returned him inside. Then she strode back to the challenger's position.
"Let's go again! I'm not giving up that easily! I have a mountain of a goal waiting for me—I can't afford to stop here! Go, my dear Pokémon! Show them what we're made of!"
Gone was the uncertain trainer from earlier. With decisive confidence, Delia hurled her next PokeBall. A flash of light revealed a languid-looking Dratini, appearing lazily on the field.
"Ah!! A Dratini?! That's even rarer than Squirtle! How did you get it?!"
Kim's jaw dropped at the sight of Delia's second Pokémon. She shouted the question, stars sparkling in her eyes. Clearly, she was smitten—after all, Dratini's final evolution, Dragonite, is also a part Flying-type.
"Hmph! Like I'd tell you! Dratini was a gift from Liam too!"
Delia proudly placed her hands on her hips, beaming like a child showing off a prized treasure.
"Draaa..."
Dratini, lying on the field in front of Delia, quietly raised its tail to wipe a bead of sweat from its forehead.