"Hello, please follow me."
A gentle voice rang out near his ear.
Gu Yuan was quite satisfied with the service at the Viridian Gym. Any man would be happier to be served by a beautiful young woman than by a bulky man.
Following the staff member to the battlefield, Gu Yuan saw Giovanni already standing on the opposite platform.
Without hesitation, he ascended the other platform, focusing his gaze on Giovanni.
From his appearance, Giovanni was not particularly handsome, yet he exuded a sense of steadfastness. It was as if even if the world collapsed, nothing could shake this man.
In particular, his eyes held a unique charm, seemingly attracting everything around him like a black hole.
Giovanni was not in a hurry to begin; he simply allowed Gu Yuan to observe him.
Gu Yuan had to admit that just one glance allowed him to feel a unique charisma radiating from Giovanni. This must be one of the reasons why he was able to develop Team Rocket to its current status.
Adjusting his state, Gu Yuan prepared for the Gym Battle.
Gu Yuan also understood the platform beneath his feet. It was rumored that if a Pokémon was injured on the battlefield, the Trainer would feel the same sensation. He wondered if he would get to "enjoy" that kind of treatment today.
"Let's simplify the battle style. One Pokémon decides the winner, and no Ace Rank Pokémon are allowed."
Seeing that Gu Yuan was ready, Giovanni began to announce the rules, simultaneously releasing his Pokémon first.
A flash of white light appeared, and Rhyperior materialized on the battlefield.
"Don't worry, I haven't activated this platform today. You can confidently execute your tactics."
Giovanni kindly reminded him, perhaps considering that Gu Yuan owned an Annihilape.
After a moment of thought, Gu Yuan decided to use Alakazam for safety. With Teleport and Ally Switch, even if Giovanni had some brilliant tactics, Gu Yuan would have room to maneuver.
"A truly cautious young man. Then let the battle begin!"
"Alakazam, fly into the air, use Nasty Plot."
Telepathy activated, and Alakazam immediately used its Psychic power to lift itself into the air.
A cunning light flashed in Alakazam's eyes. Even though Rhyperior immediately used Stone Edge, it could not stop Alakazam from executing Nasty Plot with Expert Mastery.
The moment Stone Edge rushed toward it, Alakazam immediately used Psyshock to counterattack, easily crushing Rhyperior's offensive.
"Alakazam, use Disable to restrict Rhyperior's movement, then launch Psyshock!"
Teleport activated, and Alakazam appeared next to Rhyperior.
"Rhyperior, use Earth Power!"
The moment Alakazam appeared, Rhyperior immediately counterattacked.
Earthen yellow rock pillars rose, forcing Alakazam to stop using Disable and retreat.
"Rhyperior, use Rock Blast, then Megahorn!"
The moment Alakazam ascended, Giovanni had Rhyperior launch another attack.
Rocks burst out, blocking Alakazam's path upward. Rhyperior then charged forward, channeling power into the horn on its head, aiming for Alakazam's chest.
"Alakazam, use Teleport, then Nasty Plot!"
Discovering that Giovanni's Rhyperior was extremely difficult to deal with, Gu Yuan decided not to clash directly with it any longer.
Vanishing from the spot and creating distance, Alakazam used Nasty Plot again.
The cunning gaze flashed, and Alakazam's power increased again, but what awaited it were several rocks.
Rhyperior's Mastery of Rock Blast was very high; it scattered the rocks evenly, forcing Alakazam to only use Teleport to dodge.
However, Alakazam had already boosted its Special Attack with Nasty Plot, meaning that the fragmented power of Rock Blast could not threatenit anymore.
"Alakazam, use Psyshock!"
Gu Yuan's command rang out in Alakazam's mind. Psyshock surged out like a giant serpent, violently charging forward.
The moment it was about to collide with Rock Blast, the giant serpent opened its mouth, instantly devouring and destroying all the rocks, yet its momentum was undiminished as it rushed toward Rhyperior.
Stomping the ground, Rhyperior immediately used Earth Power to counterattack.
Columns of earthen yellow rock rose, blocking the impact of Psyshock.
Gu Yuan also realized that this Rhyperior had extremely strong autonomous battling ability, which meant Giovanni only needed to issue commands at key moments.
"Alakazam, use Future Sight, followed by Psyshock!"
A special Psychic energy diffused, and Alakazam once again channeled Psyshock to attack Rhyperior.
After being boosted by two uses of Nasty Plot, Rhyperior simply could not withstand Alakazam's offensive.
Furthermore, Rhyperior was a Pokémon with naturally poor Special Defense, and once Alakazam's attack landed, the battle would quickly come to an end.
Psyshock gathered again, using its powerful force to compel Rhyperior to resist head-on.
The moment Rock Blast was released, an energy sphere shimmering with five-colored light shot out from behind Rhyperior. This was the Future Sight Alakazam had used earlier.
"Rhyperior, use Earth Power!"
The earthen yellow rock pillars rose but could not withstand the power of Future Sight, which boasts a base power of 120.
As the rock pillars shattered, Alakazam's figure also appeared near Rhyperior, and it used Disable.
Disable at Expert Mastery could not only seal Rhyperior's Moves but also immobilize it, allowing the remaining power of Future Sight to directly strike Rhyperior.
Alakazam did not stand idle. After using Disable, it followed Gu Yuan's command, using a continuous barrage of Psyshock to force Rhyperior back.
"Alakazam, use Confusion to control Rhyperior's movement, then launch continuous Psyshock attacks."
A fierce pain surged, and the next second, Rhyperior found its body had become stiff.
Another Psyshock rushed forward, striking Rhyperior directly on the head, and a sense of dizziness instantly enveloped Rhyperior.
Psyshock gathered, but Alakazam did not attack again, instead waiting quietly for Gu Yuan's command, while Gu Yuan simply looked at Giovanni.
"You win. This Earth Badge belongs to you. I look forward to your performance at the Indigo League."
"Yes, I certainly won't disappoint you."
Taking the Badge Giovanni tossed over, Gu Yuan said with deep meaning.
Leaving the Viridian Gym, Gu Yuan felt that Giovanni had somehow perfunctorily handled the match. After all, before the battle began, Gu Yuan had thought this would be an extremely fierce pitched battle, but he didn't expect it to end so easily.
Although he didn't know why, it did not affect his plan to continue his final special training before the Indigo League began.
In the crowd, a pair of eyes was also fixed on Gu Yuan.