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"The challenger's Pokémon is ready! The battle resumes!"
"Hehehehe… he even gave you a Dratini? Your fiancé is so generous! Ugh! It's infuriating! Mine hasn't even given me anything decent yet! I'm so jealous I could explode! Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack!"
Kim's expression turned dark as she looked at Dratini on the field. Her laughter was edged with bitterness, practically turning villainous. She raised her hand sharply, and the Pidgeotto perched on her arm let out a cry, launching into the air and transforming into a streak of white lightning aimed at Dratini on the ground.
"Dratini! It's all yours! Use Wrap!"
This time, Delia didn't hesitate. Her command came out sharp and confident—completely different from how she'd acted earlier.
"Dratini!"
At the sound of the command, Dratini's blue body tensed. In the instant Pidgeotto came close, it sprang like a snake, coiling tightly around its opponent and squeezing tighter and tighter.
"So fast! No good—Pidgeotto, shake it off! Crash into the ground with Tackle!"
Even Kim was startled by Dratini's speed. She knew she couldn't let this drag out—Wrap's damage builds over time, and at this rate, Pidgeotto was bound to lose. So she quickly shouted to her struggling Pokémon.
"Pidgeot—!"
Pidgeotto, writhing midair in Dratini's coils, suddenly stopped resisting. With a sharp cry, it dove straight down at the ground.
Boom!
"Pidgeotto!"
"Dratini!"
A loud crash rang out as both Pokémon cried out in pain. The impact rebounded through Pidgeotto's body, sending it rolling along the ground. Dratini, shaken loose during the tumble, was flung aside.
"Dratini! Are you okay?!"
Delia's brows furrowed as she looked at Dratini lying nearby. She called out in concern.
"Dratini!"
Dratini shook its dazed head and lifted it slightly, crying out in response to show it was okay.
"Whew… that's great. Dratini! Now's your chance! Use Dragon Rage!"
Relieved, Delia patted her chest and turned her focus back to the fight. Pidgeotto was only just now getting back up. Her expression turned sharp as she pointed at it and shouted her next command.
Looks like Liam's training had paid off—at the very least, Delia now understood her Pokémon's moves and how to use them.
"Dratini~~!"
Dratini opened its mouth wide. Swirls of blue-violet energy gathered in its throat and quickly formed into an orb, which it fired toward the still-rising Pidgeotto.
"Watch out, Pidgeotto! Blow it away with Hurricane!"
Kim's expression turned tense. Her fists clenched as she gave her Pokémon the command.
"Pidgeo... tto...!"
Pidgeotto spread its wings wide, trying to summon a fierce wind—but the moment it did, pain surged through its wing. It cried out, and its right wing drooped uselessly. In that moment of weakness, Dratini's Dragon Rage struck it directly.
Boom!
Another loud explosion. A cloud of smoke rose from the field. Within it, Pidgeotto was blown backward, wrapped in smoke, before crashing heavily to the ground. Its eyes swirled—completely unconscious.
"Pidgeotto is unable to battle! Dratini wins!"
"Yay! We won! You're amazing, Dratini!"
Delia jumped up excitedly the moment the referee made the call. She dashed over, scooped Dratini into her arms, and twirled around in celebration like she'd already won the entire tournament.
"Uh… Miss Challenger, Gym Leader Kim still has one Pokémon left. Please calm down..."
The referee awkwardly cleared his throat, staring at the overly jubilant Delia.
"Ah? There's one more? Hehehe I got too excited, sorry, sorry! Let's keep going, let's keep going...!"
Only then did Delia realize her mistake. Her cheeks turned pink as she gently put the dizzy Dratini down and jogged back to her place.
"...You're way too careless," Kim said dryly. "I have no idea what your fiancé sees in you. Maybe ditzy girls are more popular these days?"
She glanced toward Liam as she spoke.
"Ahem..."
Liam wisely chose to remain silent at this point, sitting like a serene, handsome statue. Delia, meanwhile, mistook Kim's sarcasm for praise and stood in place with her cheeks flushed, giggling to herself.
"Sigh... Come back, Pidgeotto. You did great—rest now."
Kim said nothing more. She retrieved her fainted Pidgeotto, then pulled out her final PokeBall and hurled it skyward.
"Go, Delibird!"
"Delibird!"
Her last Pokémon was a red-and-white Delibird. The moment it appeared, Liam's expression changed slightly, his brows knitting together.
"Gym leader Kim's Pokémon is ready! The battle resumes!"
"Hmph! Another bird-type? I'm not losing to a bird again! Dratini! Start with Thunder Wave!"
Seeing another bird Pokémon appear, Delia grinned confidently and gave the command.
"Dratini!"
Dratini released a faint electrical current from the white pearl on its forehead. The spark arced through the air toward Delibird.
"Snrk~ underestimating my Delibird will cost you! Delibird, take to the skies and use Present!"
Kim smirked confidently at Delia's assumption.
"Delibird!!"
Delibird leapt into the air, flapping its stubby wings rapidly. It zipped over Dratini's head, reached into its tail sack, and pulled out a colorful glowing orb—tossing it lightly in front of Dratini with a smile.
"Huh? A present? That's a move? What does it even do?"
Delia tilted her head, puzzled by the harmless-looking glowing ball that now lay on the field. A string of question marks practically hovered over her head.
"Dratini?"
Dratini was just as confused. It curiously reached out with its tail to poke the gift.
Boom!!
A violent explosion rocked the field. The "present" burst on contact, sending Dratini flying with a loud cry.
"Dratini!"
Delia stared in shock at the sudden turn of events, eyes wide with disbelief as her Pokémon was blasted away.
Liam, sitting quietly nearby, let out a small sigh. He knew what Present could do—but he had chosen not to warn her. This was Delia's first Gym battle, and it would be a valuable learning experience. He didn't want to interfere and possibly hinder her growth.
"Dra... tini...!"
Although the explosion looked intense, Present's damage was actually quite low. Dratini, while scratched and bruised, wasn't seriously hurt. It lifted its head with a furious glare, staring down Delibird's still-smiling face with seething resentment.
It looked like someone with a lifelong grudge.