The filming crew moved fast, and both Lina and the challengers following her showed remarkable stamina. From the Hulbury Gym to Route 5 on the west side of the town, they didn't stop even once.
Soon, they could already see Nessa waiting silently ahead.
She stood by the roadside, gripping a Poké Ball tightly in one hand. Her face was tense, her expression heavy, as if she was bracing herself for battle.
Lina couldn't help but smile. She didn't think Nessa was particularly strong. At best, she might have a few Gym-level Pokémon. When Nessa left Hulbury, she'd only had three Advanced-level Pokémon. Back then, Lina's whole team was already at that stage and pushing toward the Gym-level.
Although she had some guidance and help from her father, Lina had been training and raising Pokémon on her own since she was six. In her mind, her experience and skill were far beyond what a self-taught amateur like Nessa could ever reach.
Even with company backing, at most they could provide resources. Maybe she could force one or two Pokémon to reach Gym-level, but that was her limit.
Before long, Lina walked up to her, eyes scanning Nessa from head to toe with a look of clear disdain.
Nessa didn't react much. Her face slowly calmed as she tossed her Poké Ball lightly into the air, catching it again.
Lina raised an eyebrow, puzzled for a moment, but quickly dismissed it and turned to the host beside her, signaling him to begin.
Ryan checked his watch: exactly eleven o'clock. It was a bit earlier than scheduled, but the timing worked. After this battle, they could still make it to lunch.
The idle cameras behind them all powered on. Ryan lifted his microphone, his voice rising as he announced, "Dear viewers, the Gym Challenge has reached Route 5 on the west side of Hulbury! We're following challenger Lina, who just earned the Water Badge, as she faces the awaiting roadblocker, also from Hulbury, Nessa!"
He glanced at the two trainers, both clearly eager to start, and hurried through the rest of his script:
"These two trainers share the same hometown, but one is the daughter of a gym leader, and the other, the daughter of a fisherman. Who is the true prodigy of Hulbury? Who is worthy of becoming the next Water-type Gym Leader? This match... begins now! Both trainers, release your Pokémon!"
As soon as he finished, Lina raised her arm high and threw out her Poké Ball.
"Come out, Pelipper!"
Nessa followed immediately.
"Go, Drednaw!"
A white-winged Pelipper hovered in the air, facing the snarling Drednaw below.
Pelipper was level 46. Drednaw was level 45. Slightly lower.
Water-types usually couldn't fly, and Lina knew her opponent didn't have any that could. That was why she led with Pelipper. With its speed and precision, a well-commanded Pelipper could sweep through several of Nessa's Pokémon in a row.
Of course, Pelipper's Flying type was also weak to Drednaw's Rock-type moves. Which side held the real advantage would depend entirely on how the battle unfolded.
Nessa wasn't surprised and showed no hint of worry. She had already heard from Sonia about Lina's team composition and strength. As such, she no longer felt any fear.
Lina only had three Pokémon at the Gym-level. Her so-called trump card was a Barraskewda carried by a Cramorant, the former being a Pokémon that actually belonged to Nathan. Lina likely couldn't command it freely.
That Cramorant's "missile" attack could catch an opponent off guard, perhaps even knock out one Pokémon instantly. But once it fired and spat out the Barraskewda, that Pokémon would count as Lina's and would have to be recalled. Otherwise, it'd be an unfair two-on-one.
On the battlefield, both Pokémon were ready. The air grew heavy with tension.
Ryan raised his hand and called out, "Battle, start!"
Neither trainer hesitated. They attacked at the same time.
"Drednaw, use Rock Tomb!"
"Pelipper, Water Pulse!"
Drednaw stomped its heavy feet, the ground trembling beneath it as a deep yellow light shone around its body. In the air, several boulder-sized rocks materialized, glowing as they took shape.
Rock Tomb, a Rock-type move, was super effective against Flying-types and could also lower the opponent's speed. It was a perfect choice against an airborne Pokémon.
But Pelipper was quick. Even as water energy gathered in its beak, it was already weaving through the air to dodge the falling rocks.
Its Water Pulse shattered several rocks and shot straight toward its opponent.
Yet Drednaw didn't flinch. Nessa made no move to have it dodge either. Her voice was steady as she commanded again, "Rock Tomb!"
Pelipper's speed was impressive, and it could still move while charging an attack. But the moment it released a move, there was always a brief pause. If Drednaw could catch that single instant, even trading blows would be worth it. Pelipper's frail body couldn't endure the same punishment Drednaw could.
Lina's expression shifted. She opened her mouth to warn her Pokémon to dodge, but it was too late.
She had been overconfident, assuming Pelipper could evade and counterattack as easily as it had in all her past battles. That tactic had never failed before.
But this battle wasn't the same.
She watched as Pelipper cried out in pain, struck by the falling rocks. Its wings and body were pinned and scraped by the debris. It trembled violently, and she couldn't tell whether its bones were fractured or not.
Meanwhile, Drednaw simply shook the water off its shell and let out a sharp roar, baring its fangs.
Water resisted Water, and Water beat Rock, but Pelipper's attack hadn't done much. It was little more than a splash.
Ryan's voice came through the speakers at just the right moment.
"What a spectacular exchange! Both Pokémon clashed fiercely, but Pelipper seems unable to withstand Drednaw's Rock Tomb. It's injured, slowed down, and forced into a defensive position. What will challenger Lina do next?"
His commentary boomed through the loudspeakers while, a short distance away, Raihan and Leon observed quietly. Neither seemed particularly interested in the match.
Further down the dirt path, Marvin came jogging over. He hadn't planned on coming, but he'd heard that Shiro was there.
He slipped up beside Leon, glancing around, making Leon visibly uncomfortable enough to edge closer to Raihan.
"Huh... Where's Shiro?" Marvin muttered and scratched his head, wandering among the crew. As he approached a tree, a hand tapped his shoulder.
"Ah!" He jumped, startled, then realized who it was. Shiro stepped out from behind the tree, and after a brief exchange of glances, the two of them walked over casually to stand beside Leon and Raihan as if nothing had happened.
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