Misty recalled her Psyduck and stepped back, ceding the challenger's box to Natsui.
On the other side, Anthony watched the switch with feigned indifference. To him, the opponent didn't matter. He was convinced his "invincible" Pelipper was unbeatable.
"An interesting combat style," Natsui remarked, clapping his hands slowly. "But your methods are cheap and devoid of honor. The trick is bound to be exposed sooner or later. When that happens, how will you face all the trainers you've scammed? Won't you feel ashamed?"
That sentence struck Anthony like a physical blow. His face paled, and his heart began to hammer against his ribs.
Impossible!
Did he figure out Pelipper's secret?!
But how? Pelipper never opens its beak fully—just a crack to attack. It's impossible to see inside just by observing!
Yet, this man's words clearly indicated he knew something.
"What are you talking about?!" he snapped, forcing steadiness into his voice. "What 'cheap methods'? This is all the result of my Pelipper's hard training!"
"Is that so? Well, whatever you say. I'm not here to argue."
Natsui shook his head, paying no mind to Anthony's flimsy excuse. In truth, now that he knew this "World's Strongest Pokémon" was just a composite trick, he had lost interest.
But since he was here, he should at least battle it once to see it through. He wouldn't have wasted his time for nothing.
Besides, Anthony had humiliated two of Misty's Pokémon. He had to help her settle the score.
Misty, standing nearby, also caught the hidden meaning in Natsui's words. She asked, surprised, "Natsui, are you saying there's something wrong with his Pelipper?"
Natsui raised a hand, signaling her to be patient. He offered a mysterious smile. "Just watch. I'm about to expose his little trick."
Anthony saw Natsui's confident expression and felt a surge of unease. For a moment, he even considered backing down.
But seeing that faint, mocking smile, he gritted his teeth and stood his ground.
So what if he knows something?
Since implementing this brilliant strategy, he had defeated at least a hundred trainers. Who had ever beaten him? No one!
As long as he couldn't be beaten, his Pelipper was the World's Strongest!
And this time, just like countless battles before, Pelipper would use those tricks to crush this arrogant brat and teach him a lesson!
Natsui, of course, was oblivious to the internal conflict raging in Anthony's mind, nor did he care about the man's determination.
However, to ensure a decisive victory, Natsui didn't use one of his newly caught Pokémon like Torchic. Instead, he reached for a specific Poké Ball.
Pop!
Dragonite materialized on the field, its massive form imposing and dignified.
The appearance of the Dragon-type pseudo-legendary made Anthony's frown deepen.
Having run this private gym for so long and battled countless trainers, he had learned to recognize certain patterns.
Young kids, with their immature faces and restless movements, were clearly rookies just starting their journey. Their Pokémon were usually weak and unevolved. Battling them, he often didn't even need to use his hidden tricks to win.
Then there were the trainers who looked weathered by the sun and wind—veterans who had braved the elements. They were tougher, with diverse teams and hidden strategies. Against them, he had to use every trick in the book to secure a victory.
But the most troublesome type... were the rare few who looked just like the man standing in front of him.
What was their defining characteristic?
Calmness.
No matter the situation, they looked unfazed. Their eyes were steady, and their Pokémon were battle-hardened, fully evolved powerhouses. These people had fought too many battles to be rattled by cheap tricks or type disadvantages.
And this man—and his Dragonite—were clearly of that breed.
Adding the fact that he had likely seen through the secret, Anthony's eyelid twitched. A deep sense of dread settled in his stomach.
But at this point, he couldn't back down. If he made an excuse and retreated now, word would spread, and the reputation he had painstakingly built would be ruined. He'd be a laughingstock.
I have to fight... even if I have no confidence...
I just have to hope Pelipper can pull off a miracle...
While Anthony was lost in thought, the two Pokémon took their positions.
With no referee and no special rules, there was no need for a start signal. Seeing Pelipper was ready, Natsui whistled sharply.
Dragonite immediately launched itself forward, skimming low across the ground as it charged at Pelipper.
This snapped Anthony back to reality. He quickly focused on the battle.
"Pelipper, use Wing Attack!"
Although he had never battled a Dragonite before, he knew his type matchups. Dragonite was Dragon/Flying.
Pelipper's hidden arsenal—Thundershock (Electric), Ember (Fire), or Water Gun (Water)—would all be resisted by the Dragon-type.
Fortunately, Pelipper itself was Flying-type. A Flying-type move like Wing Attack would deal neutral damage. It wasn't completely helpless.
Natsui deduced Anthony's intent the moment Pelipper flared its wings.
However, he didn't change his command, letting Dragonite continue to close the distance head-on.
The two Pokémon collided in mid-air—a brief flurry of motion—before separating again.
But that single exchange set off alarm bells in Anthony's head.
The reason was simple: both Pokémon had used Wing Attack, but the results were drastically different.
In the instant they crossed paths, Dragonite had merely tilted its body slightly, effortlessly dodging Pelipper's strike. In contrast, Pelipper had been struck squarely by Dragonite's small but powerful wings. The impact caused the Water-bird to wobble violently, nearly crashing out of the sky.
As an experienced scammer, Anthony knew from that first clash: this Dragonite's skill and raw power were leagues above his Pelipper's.
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