"Wartortle, huh…"
Grey glanced over the Wartortle on the field. Its power brushed the edge of evolution; he figured Daisy wanted to use this battle to trigger it.
"If it's that one, looks like I'll have to field one of the Three Generals."
He took out a Poké Ball and weighed it in his hand.
That line lit up the chat.
[The Three Generals? Grey's three strongest Pokémon?]
[Nah, it's the Tyrogue family.]
[But tbh, when Sabrina was acting Gym Leader, these three were monsters.]
Some viewers had actually fought them. The "Three Generals" looked ordinary, but in Sabrina's hands they'd danced circles around people.
Grey noticed those comments and glanced at Sabrina.
"…"
Sabrina turned her head, using psychic power to tidy her long hair.
Greatness doesn't need words.
"The Three Generals?"
Daisy blinked. The name alone sounded scary strong.
"Yeah. Against Wartortle, this one's the best pick."
Grey tossed the ball. A very familiar Pokémon stepped out.
"Huh? That one?"
Daisy was shaken.
The Fighting Dojo's recent reputation was fierce.
And Hitmonchan hit the hardest of the three.
Especially against Psychics—type-disadvantaged or not, he made them look like they were the ones at a disadvantage.
Downright scary…
"That's the one."
Grey nodded. After comparing options, this was the best choice.
Red-Fist, Hitmonchan!
Similar in strength to Wartortle, and it knew Thunder Punch—plenty of pressure.
In other words, the easiest Pokémon to "hold back" with.
Of course, with a challenger, Grey would still give it his all.
"Wartortle, be careful. This Hitmonchan is dangerous…"
Daisy's tone was grave. Facing one of the Three Generals—Hitmonchan—she had to be extra careful.
If Thunder Punch landed, Wartortle might be headed straight to the Pokémon Center.
"War-tor…"
As one of Cerulean Gym's rare points of pride, Wartortle usually served as a "general" itself.
Up against Hitmonchan now, the pressure doubled.
"Same as last round—you go first."
Grey gestured.
"Okay. Wartortle, use Water Pulse!"
Daisy's clear command rang out.
Wartortle stepped forward on one foot, hands set before its chest. Azure light rose and fell, condensing into a perfect sphere of water.
The orb spun faster, swelling to the eye; sprays dotted the floor, darkening the ground.
"Sigh."
Grey exhaled, then barked, "Too slow! Fake Out!"
"Chan!"
Hitmonchan vanished from where it stood. Wartortle couldn't get a lock—the Water Pulse in its hands had nothing to aim at.
Smack!
A crisp slap cracked through the dojo. Wartortle jolted; the water orb burst apart at once!
"Mach Punch!"
While the flinch held, Grey pushed the advantage.
White light flared. Hitmonchan's big gloves blurred like a rainstorm, fists slamming Wartortle's face in a relentless cascade!
ORA ORA ORA ORA!
In moments, Wartortle's nose and cheeks were puffed and bruised.
Grey's brow ticked up. "Thunder Punch!"
"Chan!"
Before the final strike, Hitmonchan drew back its arm. Snarling arcs of electricity jumped to life, then pulled tight around the glove, sheathing the fist in crackling light!
Daisy froze for a half-beat at the lightning on that fist, then shouted, "Protect!"
"War-tor!"
The instant the thunder fell, danger spiked in Wartortle's chest.
It thrust out both arms. A bright green barrier snapped into place around its body!
Hitmonchan raised the thunder-wreathed fist high; savage, golden bolts flickered across the dojo. The punch crashed down onto Protect!
BOOM!!!
The shock rippled. Lightning crawled over the barrier's edge as Wartortle skidded back several steps, barely holding the line against the terrifying blow.
The barrier faded, and the lightning around Hitmonchan's fist guttered out as well.
Daisy seized the opening. "Now—Water Pulse!"
"War-tor!"
Wartortle flowed into an almost tai-chi motion, arms circling. Water beaded on the floor lifted into the air as if obeying its hands, sliding into the gap between its palms!
A high-speed sphere spun to life. Wartortle shoved forward—Water Pulse boomed through the air, hurtling like a bowling ball straight at Hitmonchan!
Fast enough that unless you used Detect, you weren't dodging it.
But using Detect here would be a bad trade.
After a brief beat, Grey chose to meet it head-on. "Hitmonchan—Mega Punch!"
"Chan!"
Hitmonchan's muscles swelled; power surged through its frame and poured into its arms, gathering at the fist until it burst with peerless force!
White light cloaked the red glove. One look told you—step up and you'd be crushed.
BOOM!!!
Water Pulse and Mega Punch met in midair. Hitmonchan's fist drove into the globe, and the internal ripples shuddered up its arm, shaving away its power!
In the very next instant, Water Pulse detonated, a small wave slapping full across Hitmonchan's face, rinsing it in a chaotic splash!
"Whew…"
Daisy let out a long breath. Seeing Wartortle affect Hitmonchan at all, she felt the fight might not be hopeless.
[Daisy's got game—this Hitmonchan two-shot my Pidgeotto, and Wartortle still turned it around in time!]
[Same two shots, but mine was Fire Punch.]
[+1, except Ice Punch.]
[…Am I the only one whose Hypno got one-shot?]
Chat poured in praise for Daisy and Wartortle. Lasting a few exchanges against one of the Three Generals was already solid.
At least her progress was real—not lip service.
[Let's go, Daisy!]
[Former hater turned fan—Daisy, I'm waiting for you to challenge Lance!]
[Yeah! Today's the start—one day you'll take his place!]
In a flash, the tag [Daisy vs. Lance] spiked toward the top…
"Everyone…"
Warmth spread in Daisy's chest as she glanced at the comments. She knew most of it was teasing, but the words still fed her confidence.
She—the eldest of Cerulean's four sisters—was no mere pretty face!
"Looks like the warm-up ends here."
Feeling Daisy's battle spirit rise, Grey's mouth curved, his voice dropping a shade. "Hitmonchan—we win this with speed! Mach Punch!"
Daisy refused to yield. If Grey wanted to seize tempo with speed, she'd accelerate too. "Wartortle—Aqua Jet!"
Shff, shff!
Hitmonchan blurred out of sight, white light flickering in its wake.
Wartortle wasn't far behind, clear water surging over its shell. It stamped hard and rocketed forward!
//Check out my P@tre0n for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810