Dragonair's first battle was finally about to begin!
"Oh? You're Gym Leader Grey? You really do look like you do on stream—doesn't seem like you're cranking the beauty filter."
A man wearing a red headscarf, with dark green long hair, swept his gaze up and down over Grey.
After looking him over, the Trainer named Mandi didn't forget to add his "review" either. "But you don't look like a Fighting-type Trainer."
"…"
Grey had lost count of how many times people had told him he didn't "look" like a Fighting-type Trainer.
Compared to the muscle-packed Trainers with thick veins and solid builds, Grey looked relatively "slim."
If he had to give an example, he was about like Brawly from Hoenn—also a Fighting-type specialist.
Except Grey's features were more refined, and with Kanto Elite Four Bruno being so iconic, people couldn't help but assume Fighting-type Trainers were all supposed to look like that.
Most Fighting-type Trainers in Kanto took pride in that image. Even Koichi and Nobuhiko—the two former heads of the dojo—were both powerfully built.
"I'm Mandi the Juggler, and I'm a magician. Today, I'm going to win both battles beautifully and take your badges."
Seeing Grey didn't respond, Mandi introduced himself and made his goal crystal clear.
Beat Grey, then beat Sabrina, and use them as stepping stones to make his name explode.
Compared to Reggie, this Mandi was seriously full of himself.
At least Reggie kept those thoughts to himself. Mandi, on the other hand, was the same online and offline—loudly announcing that Grey and Sabrina existed to be his launchpad.
If he'd kept it in his heart, Grey could've just let it slide.
But if you dragged it into the open like that… then don't blame Grey for not being polite.
Perfect timing, too—Dragonair had just evolved and was missing a "punching bag."
Since Mandi came knocking, then he could be Dragonair's first stepping stone.
"Since you're the challenger, come with me. I'd love it if a Trainer could beat me too. I'm just not sure you have that kind of strength."
Grey led Mandi into the battlefield.
Silver immediately took his position as well and aimed the camera at the center of the arena.
The big screen on the wall was ready, waiting for Grey to announce today's rules and display the corresponding battle visuals.
"Today's rules are two-on-two. No objections?"
Grey gave a quick glance at the Poké Balls on Mandi's body and laid out the format.
Compared to the previous three-on-three, today it would be two-on-two—one fewer Pokémon on each side.
"No problem. I still need to battle Gym Leader Sabrina after this. Might as well save some stamina for my other Pokémon."
Mandi produced a Poké Ball like a magic trick. He gently rubbed the red top half with his thumb, the curve of his grin completely unapologetic.
"Alright. Then my Pokémon will be this one."
Grey reached for his belt and fired off a Poké Ball in a sharp throw.
In midair, a Pokémon appeared—scales a deep, brilliant blue, shaped like a water serpent. Small wings sprouted near both sides of its head, and the blue orb at its neck shimmered faintly.
"Draa!" (Finally, I get to battle!)
The moment Dragonair hit the field, it let out a long, eager cry.
"Ohhh—so it really is Dragonair~"
Mandi dragged out the last syllable. With a flick of his wrist, different Poké Balls appeared and vanished between his fingers, until they suddenly became a rose—then he tucked it between his lips.
[So flashy…]
[Do people actually like this kind of thing?]
[In person it might be fine, but on stream it just feels… tryhard.]
Viewers had mixed reactions to Mandi, but more people off-screen were frowning.
On Grey's side, once Silver finished explaining the rules, Grey said, "Alright. Enough talk. Let's start."
"Of course. My Pokémon is this one!"
Mandi took the rose back into his hand and, with no one knowing how, produced a Poké Ball again—then tossed it onto the field.
"Exegg!"
An Exeggutor of fairly normal size appeared, swaying unsteadily. The coconut heads up top each wore a different expression.
[Pokémon: Exeggutor]
[Type: Grass / Psychic]
[Level: 32]
[Ability: Chlorophyll]
[Moves: Omitted]
Not especially strong—about the same as most Trainers who came to challenge the Fighting Dojo.
Even though Exeggutor was fully evolved, it evolved early, so its move pool was probably still pretty shallow.
It was honestly perfect as Dragonair's first opponent.
"The challenger moves first."
Grey signaled for Mandi to act.
"Exeggutor, use Confusion!"
Mandi gave the command without hesitation.
"Exegg—"
A pale blue glow rose in the eyes of all three heads. The air trembled slightly, and the space itself seemed to warp in rippling waves.
Rather than blasting out an energy shockwave, this Confusion was clearly a control-type pressure that tried to seize the target.
Against Psychic techniques like this, Grey had his own way of dodging.
"Extreme Speed!"
Win with speed—hit them before they can even react!
Just as Confusion was about to clamp down, Dragonair slipped away in a blur, making Exeggutor's attack land on empty air.
One of the coconut heads panicked instantly, trying to track that streak of white light tearing around the battlefield.
Whoosh—whoosh—
The sound of something slicing through the air echoed from every direction. Exeggutor's heads started to feel dizzy, so it shut its eyes and tried to locate Dragonair with psychic perception instead.
But Dragonair's speed in Extreme Speed was simply too fast.
It had barely begun to focus—
—and Exeggutor was suddenly slammed back, stumbling several steps, almost tipping over from the impact!
"Exegg!" (Damn it… Head Two, Head Three—got any ideas?)
The middle head asked the other two, hoping they could brainstorm a solution.
After all: three heads meant three brains, right?
In the short time they had, surely they could figure out a way to catch Dragonair.
"Exegg…" (No idea, Big Bro.)
"Exegg…" (Me neither… you're the smart one, so maybe think harder?)
The moment Head Two and Head Three answered, Head One's face practically grew three black lines.
Great. Two freeloaders.
"Slam!"
While the three heads were still "discussing," Grey's second wave of offense was already arriving.
Dragonair burst forward with terrifying speed. A blue streak flashed across Exeggutor's vision—
—and before it could do anything, a crushing sense of restraint snapped into place!
BOOM!!!
Exeggutor's world spun violently. In an instant, it was whipped upside down and smashed headfirst into the ground, taking a heavy hit!
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