The suggestion Frank had raised the previous evening was a turning point for the Lindenbergs. Joe couldn't stop thinking about it, tossing and turning in bed, his mind racing with possibilities. The idea of evaluating trainers based on more than just battle outcomes had sparked something deep inside him. The dawn barely broke the horizon when Joe gave up on sleep entirely, slipping out of bed and mumbling various things to himself.
"Why don't you go out and find some trainers to test your ideas?" his wife Anna asked bothered by his nervous behavior.
"They are all working. I should wait until lunch," Joe replied nervously.
"Why? You are head of this freaking place. You can do whatever you want," she rolled her eyes.
"Whatever I want, once I've got your appoval, right?" he retorted with a laugh, but immediately went to fetch his Pokéballs and headed out of the villa with a newfound sense of urgency.
As he walked across the vast, sprawling lands belonging to the Battle Ranch, the crisp autumn air greeted him, carrying the scent of fallen leaves and freshly turned earth. The golden-red foliage painted the landscape in warm hues, though the bite of the morning chill signaled that winter wasn't far behind. This time of year, the ranch was bustling, not just with battles and training, but with hard, practical work. Autumn meant harvesting, preparing the ranch for the coming cold, and making use of the vast forests on the property.
Joe knew exactly where to find the trainers. Most of them were working in the nearby woodlands, where trees were ready to be cut down for lumber. As he approached the edge of the forest, the rhythmic sounds of chainsaws, of axes swinging and wood creaking echoed through the air. He could see trainers and their Pokémon at work, each performing their tasks with practiced efficiency.
Up ahead, a Machamp stood tall, flexing its four powerful arms as it effortlessly swung an axe into the trunk of a massive oak tree. With each strike, the tree groaned and shook, until with one final blow, it toppled to the ground with a thunderous crash. Nearby, a Scyther's sharp scythes gleamed in the morning light as it sliced through the fallen tree's branches, cleaning it up so that the trunk could be processed.
Not far away, a Timberland crew worked to chop the trees into shorter logs. A Gurdurr was using its immense strength to lift sections of the felled trees onto a conveyor belt where a group of trainers directed their Pokémon to cut the wood down to size. A pair of Sawk and Throh worked in unison, their precision strikes reducing the thick trunks into smaller, more manageable pieces of timber. Beside them, a Bisharp used its bladed arms to make clean, final cuts.
Once the logs were shortened, they were hauled toward the large storage shed near the ranch. A Conkeldurr, carrying two massive logs as if they weighed nothing, walked ahead of the group, leading the way as trainers and their Pokémon followed behind. Joe watched as a couple of Mudsdale were hitched to wagons loaded with wood, their heavy hooves thudding against the ground as they pulled their burdens toward the shed, where the wood would be safely stored and protected from the rain.
This process had been done for generations on the ranch, a vital part of maintaining the estate and ensuring there was enough lumber for repairs, heat, and construction projects over the winter. The trainers and their Pokémon worked in perfect harmony, their movements synchronized from years of experience.
Moreover, many young trainers who come to the Ranch, were "forced" to work together with their Pokémon, instead of only commanding them. This conjoined tasks and goal often helped their mutual bonds to grow deeper and more intense. Altough some trainers doubted this approach or were simply just too lazy to do some manual work in order to have better bond with their Pokémon.
But the Lindenbergs believed in this way of cooperating with Pokémon and it had its positive results as many successful trainers who had visited the Ranch would confirm.
Joe walked toward one group, nodding to a few familiar faces as he approached the clearing where the trainers were resting between shifts. His thoughts were racing as he prepared to test the new approach Frank had suggested. He hoped some trainers would be open to it, though he knew it was a radical departure from the traditional battle structure, where Pokémon on similar levels were fighting each other.
One of the trainers, a young man named Tomáš, noticed Joe approaching and waved. "Good morning, Mr. Lindenberg! You're up early."
Joe smiled, though his expression was still thoughtful. "Morning, Tomáš. I couldn't sleep… had something on my mind that I wanted to test out."
Tomáš raised an eyebrow, curious. "What's that?"
Joe looked out at the group of trainers, their Pokémon by their sides. The work they were doing was tough, requiring more than just brute strength—it required strategy, cooperation, and an understanding of how to use their Pokémon's abilities effectively. In many ways, it wasn't so different from what they would need in a battle.
"I've got a new idea for evaluating trainers," Joe said slowly, his voice steady and his eyes travelling across the curious faces. "It's something one of my predecesor used to do generations ago. I want to see if it might work here and now." He explained Frank's suggestion to evaluate trainers on more than just wins and losses, but evaluating their performance based on their behavior in much more difficult conditions. The core of the proposal was that the Frontier Brain would use Pokémon many levels above those of challenger's.
The trainers listened carefully, intrigued. Some of them exchanged glances, uncertain at first, but others nodded, clearly interested in the idea of challenging much stronger opponent.
"Sounds like it could change things up a bit," Tomáš said, glancing at his Machamp. "Could be a good challenge. I mean if our Pokémon are not knocked out in the first second."
Joe laughed. "Well, that's definitely not the idea. I'd like you to throw everything you have against me and then I'd like to see how much of my attack you are able to withstand. So who is interested in trying it with me?"
Around dozens youngsters stepped up.
"But our break is about to end." Tomáš pointed out that they have still work to do.
"Okay, so how about only four of you come with me? This is the first run. If it's successful, we could continue in the afternoon with the others."
The youngsters quickly debated between themselves and in the end, only four of them remained, while the rest returned to chopping woods.
Joe Lindenberg approached the gathered group, his eyes scanning the group until they settled on Václav Novák, a young man from Old Zubří, a small Czech village. Václav had come to Battle Ranch to improve his bond with his Pokémon, a Toedscruel, which he had raised from a little Toadscool he found wandering the woods near his home.
Next to Václav stood Mia Taira from Lilycove City in Hoenn. She had an intense aura, her experiences growing up near the ocean reflected in her partnership with her graceful Milotic. Mia had come to Battle Ranch to understand the deeper connection between trainers and Pokémon, hoping to one day compete in prestigious contests and display her Milotic's beauty and strength.
Diego Vargas, the third trainer, hailed from Phenac City in the Orre region. Having already participated in several regional championships, Diego had faced tough defeats. His partner, a swift and cunning Luxray, had been by his side through the highs and lows, but they both felt the need for more refinement in their strategies. Battle Ranch offered the experience and challenges he needed to sharpen his skills and come back stronger.
The last trainer, Anya Sokolov from Snowpoint City in Sinnoh, had traveled to Battle Ranch to train her Abomasnow. The harsh climate of her hometown had forged a powerful connection between her and her Ice-type Pokémon, but Anya wanted to diversify her battling strategies, preparing herself and her Abomasnow to handle more varied opponents.
Joe looked at the group and nodded thoughtfully. "So to sum it up. We're gonna test a new approach to evaluating you lot – the trainers here at the Ranch," he said. "We will run a little experiment—a friendly battle to see how well you work with your Pokémon and how are you able to stand against much stronger opponent, without worrying about the outcome."
The trainers exchanged curious glances, intrigued by the unusual battle formate.
Joe gestured toward a quieter part of the field, away from the bustling ranch activities. "Let's head over there, where we can have some space. This won't be about winning or losing, but about how well you communicate and adapt with your Pokémon."
After a few minutes of walking, Joe and the four trainers reached a clearing several hundred meters away from the dense forest. The ground was flat and open, a perfect spot for a battle. Joe gave a low whistle and tossed out his Pokéball. In a flash of light, a towering Arbok appeared before them, its hood flaring wide as it hissed, giving the trainers a sharp, intimidating gaze. All the trainers and their Pokémon shuddered a little as they could feel Arbok's powerful aura.
Arbok
Level: 94
Name: N/A
Gender: Female
Type: Poison
Affinity: Poison (Full), Dragon (Advanced)
Moves: Wrap (91), Poison Sting (90), Leer (82), Bite (84), Fire Fang (72), Ice Fang (56), Thunder Fang (60), Psychic Fangs (75), Glare (64), Acid (83), Stockpile (74), Sludge Bomb (88), Belch (90), Coil (70), Protect (67), Scary Face (55), Dig (81), Poison Tail (77), Dragon Tail (88), Iron Tail (93), Mud Shot (84), Purify (49), Venoshock (85), Dark Pulse (61), Breaking Swipe (75), Dragon Breath (65)
Abilities:
Intimidate – When Arbok enters a battle, it intimidates opposing Pokémon, makes it flinch and lowes its attack
Shed Skin – Arbok heals itsself and its status conditions by shedding its skin
Merciless – Arbok's attack become critical hits, if the target is poisoned
Weak to: Ground, Psychic
Resistant to: Fighting, Poison, Bug, Grass, Fairy
"She's on level 94," Joe informed them, patting the large serpent's side as it coiled itself calmly in front of him. "Your goal is to try to knock her out. One by one. Use different strategies, be creative. We give you some time before attacking, so don't worry."
The trainers exchanged nervous glances. Level 94 was well beyond what any of their Pokémon had faced before. Diego, a veteran from several championships was clearly eager to prove himself. He stepped forward confidently.
"I'll go first!" he declared, tossing his own Pokéball into the clearing. His Luxray, sleek and bristling with energy, emerged in a low growl, sparks dancing across its fur.
"Luxray, let's give it all we've got!" Diego ordered, determination flashing in his eyes. He started with Electric Terrain, creating electricity all around the area and then immediately called for a Thunder Fang. Luxray's fangs crackled with electricity as it lunged at Arbok, jaws wide.
But Arbok, with its years of experience and power, effortlessly slid to the side, dodging the attack with minimal movement, almost like it was mocking the attempt. Luxray snarled in frustration, quickly turning around.
"Use Crunch, Luxray!" Diego commanded, this time hoping the Dark-type move would deal some serious damage. Luxray's jaws clamped down on Arbok's thick coils, but the serpent barely flinched, its scales absorbing the hit with ease.
Diego gritted his teeth.
"Fine, let's try it another way. Use Charge!"
Luxray started shining with yellow energy. Meanwhile Arbok was watching it with lazy expression.
"Now, hit it with a Discharge!"
Luxray released a powerful blast of electricity, the surrounding area lighting up with crackling energy. But once again, Arbok seemed unaffected. The serpent's hood flared as it hissed calmly, its sharp eyes locked on Luxray and its tail shining with metallic sheen stuck into the ground to let the electricity flow away from its body.
"Okay, electricity won't work, that Arbok is too smart. Try a Swift attack!" Diego shouted, his frustration growing. He was running through his moves, hoping one of them would work. Luxray shot out star-shaped beams of energy from its glowing tail, but Arbok swayed side to side, effortlessly dodging each one like a dancer.
Diego could feel the tension mounting. His heart raced as Luxray panted, already showing signs of exhaustion from using its powerful moves.
"Alright, Luxray, let's go all out! First use Charge. Then another Electric Terrain and follow up with Wild Charge!"
Luxray's body surged with electricity for several long seconds, then the electric sparks appeared all over the place, before the Pokémon barreled towards Arbok at full speed. The attack hit directly, sparks flying as Luxray collided with the snake. But when the dust settled, Arbok simply coiled tighter around itself, seemingly unfazed by the high-speed impact. Luxray stumbled back, shaking from the recoil damage.
"Dammit!" Diego cursed under his breath. "Alright, let's try something...something different!"
Desperation setting in, Diego tried more unorthodox methods. "Luxray, use Double Team!"
Luxray split into several copies, each one surrounding Arbok. Diego hoped to confuse the serpent and land a blow from multiple angles. But Arbok, undeterred, watched them all with its piercing eyes, and in a single motion, it spat out Acid, sending all the copies flickering away as Luxray reappeared, now trembling with fatigue and poisoned.
By now, Diego was visibly frustrated. He called for every attack he could think of, even some combination moves—ordering Luxray to mix in Iron Tail and Thunderbolt—but nothing seemed to land a significant hit. Arbok either dodged gracefully or absorbed the impact with ease, not showing even a flicker of concern.
Luxray, however, was on its last legs due to the poisoning from Acid, panting heavily, its fur singed and its movements sluggish.
"Come on, Luxray, hang in there! We can do this!" Diego urged, but his own voice wavered. Luxray gathered what little strength it had left for one final Thunder Fang. But as it lunged forward, its legs gave out beneath it. Luxray collapsed before it could attack, no longer able to stand.
Joe raised a hand to stop Diego. "That's enough."
Diego sighed heavily, recalling his Luxray. He gave Joe a sheepish look, his frustration clear in the way he clenched his fists. "I gave it everything, but I just couldn't touch her."
Joe nodded, a small smile on his lips. "Don't beat yourself up, Diego. Arbok here has been through hundreds of battles. It's not about whether you win or lose—it's about how you adapt and learn from every challenge. You've got potential to be better and better."
Diego stepped back, still feeling the sting of defeat, but also realizing the depth of Joe's words. This was a different kind of challenge than he'd ever experienced before.
Joe took a step forward, folding his arms as he evaluated Diego's performance. "But Diego, you did quite well. Your Luxray's powerful STAB moves—especially the Electric-type attacks—could be a solid strategy against many Pokémon. You also used the opportunity and called status moves to enhance your power. And I can see Luxray has a wide arsenal, from Discharge to Crunch, to Iron Tail. That's really impressive." He paused, watching Diego's reaction.
Diego nodded, listening intently, though he still wore a frustrated expression.
"But..." Joe continued, "I'm disappointed you didn't take advantage of a key opportunity." He pointed at Arbok, who remained coiled and calm. "You didn't try any super-effective moves. Luxray didn't use or didn't know any Ground-type or Psychic-type moves. With Arbok being Poison-type, that could've help you and maybe provoke Arbok a little."
Arbok hissed hearing her trainer.
Diego bit his lip, nodding again. "Yeah, I see what you mean." He glanced at his Luxray's Pokéball, still clutched in his hand. "Thank you for the feedback, Mr. Lindenberg. I'll make sure to choose a more suitable Pokémon next time."
Joe smiled warmly, giving Diego a nod. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, Diego. Remember, this wasn't just about power. It's about adaptability, strategy, and understanding much stronger opponent."
With Diego stepping back, Joe turned his attention to the others. "Now, I recommend using Pokémon that can take advantage of Arbok's weaknesses, or at least ones with some other tactical advantage. Let's see what you can do."
As Joe spoke about advantages, Anya raised her hand. Her sharp, confident gaze fixed on Joe. "Can I go next?"
Joe gestured for her to step forward. "Sure, Anya. Let's see what you've got."
Anya had kept her Abomasnow out since earlier. The massive Ice/Grass-type Pokémon stood tall and stoic in front of her, a frosty wind swirling around its limbs. But instead of giving her Pokémon any commands, Anya reached into her jacket, pulling out a necklace that hung from her neck. In its center was a radiant, glowing stone—her Abomasite, a Mega Stone.
She held it up, the stone shining brightly in the sunlight. "Abomasnow, let's take it to the next level!" Anya called out, her voice echoing with determination. "Mega Evolve—now!"
As the Mega Stone gleamed, a wave of energy surged around Abomasnow, enveloping it in brilliant light. The Pokémon roared, its body expanding and changing shape. Large icicles formed along its back, and its already impressive bulk grew even larger. Spikes of ice jutted from its arms and shoulders, and its fur became denser, more wild. When the light faded, Abomasnow's new Mega Form stood before them—an even more imposing figure than before, with its ice powers heightened and a frosty aura swirling ominously around it.
Joe grinned at the sight, clearly intrigued. "Now, this is going to be interesting."
Abomasnow let out a deafening roar, shaking the ground beneath them as it glared at Arbok. "Alright, Abomasnow, let's start strong!" Anya ordered, her eyes sharp with focus.
"Power yourself up with Snowscape."
Abomasnow roared and the whole place got suddenly much colder and hailstorm appeared on the fake battlefield.
"Continue with Growth!"
A green energy appeared all over the large Pokémon and its Special attack was rising.
"One more time!" Anya commanded after the glow went off. And Abomasnow used the status move once again.
"Now, we're ready. Use Blizzard!"
Abomasnow raised its massive arms and unleashed a storm of freezing wind and snow, the temperature dropping even lower in the clearing. Ice formed on the ground and in the air, and the powerful Blizzard attack rushed toward Arbok.
But Arbok, agile as ever, twisted its body, slithering out of the way of the icy blast, though small shards of frost clung to its scales.
"Don't let up, Abomasnow! Hit it with Earthquake!"
The ground trembled violently as Abomasnow slammed its massive fists into the earth. A shockwave of seismic energy tore through the ground, aiming to topple Arbok. But once again, the snake-like creature's speed was its greatest asset. Arbok coiled itself and then jumped up like a spring, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the Earthquake.
Joe's grin widened. "You're keeping me on my toes, Anya. That was really something."
Anya wasn't done. "Alright, get in close, Abomasnow! Let's go with Wood Hammer!"
Abomasnow charged forward with surprising speed for its size, its massive arms glowing with energy. The grass-type move, Wood Hammer, sent Abomasnow lunging straight toward Arbok. Arbok swerved out of the way, dodging the initial strike, but Abomasnow kept advancing, swinging again with the glowing wooden hammer. The serpent dodged another time, but each miss was getting closer and closer.
The repeated strikes from the towering Mega Abomasnow visibly irritated Arbok. Its eyes narrowed, and it flicked its tongue, sensing the growing danger.
"One more time, Abomasnow! Don't give it room to breathe! Use Mud Slap instead," Anya yelled. Abomasnow raised its arm again for another strike, this time using a super-effective Ground-type move, its sheer determination to overpower Arbok evident. The close-range attacks were relentless, each one hammering the ground near Arbok, who darted from side to side.
Arbok hissed, now visibly angry. The serpent's hood flared, and before Abomasnow could bring its massive arm down again, Joe told its Pokémon a single word.
"Now!"
With blazing speed, Arbok lunged forward, its fangs igniting with searing flames. A powerful Fire Fang move sank deep into Abomasnow's arm before it could react. Abomasnow let out a cry of pain as the flames burned through its icy defenses.
Anya gasped as she watched her Mega Pokémon stagger backward, the flames leaving it scorched and weakened. One hit from Fire Fang by the powerful Arbok was enough to change the pace of the battle. Abomasnow collapsed onto the ground, reverting to its normal form in defeat.
Joe nodded, recalling Arbok back to his side. "That was a good match, Anya. You made me sweat for a moment there with those close-range attacks. Your Mega Abomasnow's Ice-type and Ground-type moves were solid choices, but sometimes, all it takes is one opening. Next time, don't forget to boost your defense as well. Abomasnow is really vulnerable to fire moves and for Arbok it was really easy to use that weakness."
Arbok hissed with a smug expression.
"There, there..." Joe gently patted her side with a chuckle.
Meanwhile Anya returned her Abomasnow to its Pokéball and gave Joe a determined smile. "Next time, we won't go down that easily."
Joe chuckled. "I look forward to it." Then he turned toward the remaining two trainers. "Who's next?"
Mia stepped forward, recalling her graceful Milotic back into its Pokéball. She then reached for another Pokéball and called out a new Pokémon, one that hovered a few feet off the ground—Metang, a Psychic/Steel-type from Hoenn. Its eyes glowed with a cold intensity, and its steel body gleamed under the autumn sun.
Joe raised an eyebrow in approval. "Interesting choice," he said, eyeing the floating Metang. "A Psychic-type that's also Steel—immune to Poison. That's a perfect choice against my Arbok."
The large serpent hissed and shivered, clearly delighted by another interesting challenge.
Mia gave a determined nod. "I don't have many strong Pokémon, but Metang and its psychic moves could work against Arbok," she said, her voice calm but focused.
"Then let's see what you've got," Joe replied, stepping back to observe.
The battle began as Mia immediately took a more tactical approach. "Metang, use Psychic!" she called out.
Metang's eyes flashed with a brilliant glow as it unleashed a wave of psychic energy, surrounding Arbok with an invisible force. Arbok hissed, writhing as it found itself frozen in place, unable to move. Metang's psychic energy intensified, and with a quick mental command, it lifted the snake-like Pokémon off the ground, suspending it mid-air.
Mia's expression was one of confidence as she watched her Pokémon execute her orders flawlessly. "Now, slam it down, Metang!"
With a forceful psychic pulse, Metang sent Arbok crashing into the ground. The impact was strong, sending dust flying into the air as Arbok was thrown down with a thud. And then, another command from Mia. "Again!"
Once more, Metang lifted Arbok and slammed it back down, the snake twisting in frustration as it hit the ground a second time.
Joe's eyes narrowed as he saw Arbok's rage building. "Stay calm. Find your opening and strike," he murmured, maybe more to his opponent than to his Pokémon.
Mia seemed confident, watching as her Metang seemed to control the battlefield. But as Metang prepared to lift Arbok again, the serpent's eyes gleamed with fury. It was done playing the victim.
"Alright Mia, show us how you defend yourself!" Joe grinned.
Arbok's body pulsed with dark energy, and in an instant, it sent a wave of powerful black energy radiating outward. The Dark Pulse surged toward Metang, hitting it directly. The shock from the super-effective attack disrupted Metang's concentration, causing it to lose its psychic grip on Arbok.
Metang staggered in midair, clearly shaken, and before Mia could react, Arbok seized the moment. With a lightning-fast strike, it lunged forward, its fangs igniting with fire-type energy. Mia's eyes widened at the speed of approaching Arbok.
"Reflect," she stuttered.
Several barriers made of light appeared between the two Pokémon. They could definitely stop some weaker Pokémon, but Arbok flew through them as if they were not there at all.
"Arbok, stay calm!" Joe called out, as his Pokémon bit down hard on Metang. Joe's command meant that Arbok shouldn't use full power move in order not to harm Metang seriously.
Nevertheless, the heat from the Fire Fang was overwhelming, and Metang didn't stand a chance. The Steel-type's weaknesses were too easily exploited, and with one final burst of fire, Metang collapsed, knocked out and burnt.
Mia's eyes widened in shock as she quickly recalled her fainted Pokémon. She stood there, silent for a moment, processing how quickly the battle had turned.
Joe approached her with a calm but critical expression. "You had a solid plan, Mia. Metang's Psychic and Steel typing was a smart counter to Arbok's Poison-type attacks. And your use of Psychic to immobilize and control the battlefield was clever."
Mia listened intently, though she still looked disheartened by the outcome.
"But..." Joe continued, "you were too slow to react when Arbok found its opening. Once it hit Metang with Dark Pulse, you hesitated. And that gave Arbok enough time to follow up with another super-effective move. In battles like this, when things don't go according to plan, you need to adapt fast. Reflect was obviously not enough to stop us, so you need to put distance between your Pokémon and stronger opponent. You should have used Psychic to stop Arbok from charging. Or use Teleport to dodge. "
Arbok hissed as it knew that it would be able to easily overcome both of those strategies.
But Mia nodded slowly, taking in his words. "I understand. I'll do better next time."
Joe smiled and gave her an encouraging nod. "I'm sure you will. Keep working on your reaction speed. And about how to handle surprises in battle, you should do some research on the recorded battles, they could give you ideas on what can be done in various situations."
With that, Mia stepped back to let the final trainer, Václav, prepare for his turn.
As he stepped forward with his Toedscruel by his side, Joe suddenly had a glimmer of inspiration. A wild idea sparked in his mind.
"Wait!" Joe called out, stopping Václav in his tracks. "How about we try something more interesting? Are you able to command two Pokémon at once?"
Václav hesitated, considering the suggestion. Commanding two Pokémon in tandem wasn't something he had mastered yet, but the prospect excited him. After a few seconds of contemplation, a smile spread across his face. "I can give it a shot."
He reached for his belt of Pokéballs, brushing his fingers across them as he considered his options. After a brief moment, he selected one and released Trumbeak, the bird-like Pokémon fluttering its wings and perching on a nearby branch.
Joe nodded approvingly. "All right, let's see how you handle this."
"Toedscruel, use Earth Power, Trumbeak use Tailwind!" Václav called.
The battle commenced with Toedscruel stomping the ground, sending tremors toward Arbok with supereffective Ground-type energy. At the same time, Trumbeak beat its wings rapidly, generating a tailwind to boost its speed.
"Raising your speed, good call," Joe muttered to himself, watching as Trumbeak zipped through the air with incredible speed.
"Follow up with Mud Shot and Quick Attack!" Václav commanded. Toedscruel launched a barrage of Mud Shots from the ground. Meanwhile Trumbeak darted around Arbok, using its newfoundly raised speed to execute hit-and-run tactics. The bird swooped in, struck Arbok, and darted away before the snake could retaliate.
Arbok hissed in irritation, its yellow eyes narrowing as it lashed out with Bite and Thunder Fang in an attempt to snap at the pesky bird. But Trumbeak's boosted speed was too much; it easily dodged the attacks, adding to Arbok's mounting frustration.
Toedscruel, meanwhile, focused on building power. Just like Abomasnow, it used Growth, its tentacles expanding slightly as its energy levels surged, boosting its offensive potential. With renewed strength, it fired another Mud Shot, this time with much more force.
Arbok, however, was growing visibly agitated. The speedy Trumbeak was becoming a nuisance, and the persistent ground attacks from Toedscruel were chipping away at its composure. Enraged, Arbok began spitting a stream of Acid in all directions.
"Trumbeak, up and use Sword Dance!" Václav shouted quickly, and the bird reacted in a flash, flying high above the cloud of Acid and then boosting its attack power.
But Toedscruel wasn't as lucky. The Acid hit its body, and it recoiled in pain as the poison took hold.
"Toedscruel! Nooo!!" Václav called, concern in his voice. But he knew he couldn't back down now. "Trumbeak, another Sword Dance and then use Aerial Ace!"
Trumbeak's body glowed with intense energy before it dove toward Arbok at breakneck speed. Joe grinned as he watched the move unfold.
"Glare," Joe ordered calmly.
Arbok's eyes flashed with an eerie glow as it met Trumbeak's gaze mid-dive. Trumbeak's body seized up in paralysis, but the momentum from Aerial Ace carried it forward in the direction of Arbok. Even with her high speed, Arbok was unable to dodge the powerful move boosted by two Sword Dances. So it started spitting Acid in front of itself.
The impact was fierce, and both Pokémon felt the effect. Trumbeak took heavy damage as it flew through the layer of poison, and combined with the paralysis from Glare, it collapsed to the ground, struggling to move.
Arbok, irritated but still standing strong, saw its opportunity. It hissed menacingly, preparing to finish the bird off with another stream of Acid.
"Toedscruel, intercept with Leaf Storm!" Václav shouted desperately.
Toedscruel gathered its strength and unleashed a whirlwind of leaves, the storm raging toward Arbok. But the released Acid dissolved much of the foliage before it reached the snake, leaving only a few scattered leaves to strike Arbok.
The ineffective attack only enraged Arbok further. She hissed louder, her body tensing as it prepared a far more dangerous move—Venoshock. The venomous energy began to swirl around her fangs, crackling with toxic intensity to finish both her foes.
Joe's eyes widened as he realized the situation was escalating quickly. "That's enough, Arbok!" he called out firmly.
Arbok hesitated for a moment, glaring at its trainer with defiance. But after a few tense seconds, she backed down, her body relaxing. Joe sighed in relief, walking over to his Pokémon.
"Getting a little carried away, aren't we?" he said, raising an eyebrow in teasing manner.
Arbok let out a low, grumbling hiss but then did something unexpected. It cracked a grin, nodding its head down ever so slightly.
Joe chuckled. "Enjoyed the match, did you?"
He turned to Václav, who looked concerned for his fallen Trumbeak and poisoned Toedscruel. "You did well, Václav. You got Arbok's blood boiling, which isn't easy to do."
Václav exhaled, relieved but still worried. "Thank you, but... my Pokémon…"
Joe glanced back at Arbok. "Purify," he commanded.
Arbok let out an unpleasant hiss, clearly not thrilled with the idea of healing her opponents.
"I'm waiting," Joe raised one eyebrow at his large cobra.
Arbok hissed again and then used Purify on both Toedscruel and Trumbeak, the poisonous effects fading as a soft glow enveloped them.
Václav breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mr. Lindenberg, thank you, Arbok, thank you very much."
Just then, the other three trainers approached, clearly agitated.
"Hey, we only got to use one Pokémon each," Diego grumbled.
Joe raised a hand, chuckling. "Relax. The idea to use two Pokémon just hit me at the last minute. Next time, we can explore some other battle formats. You can come up with other suggestions how to battle."
He looked at the four trainers, then asked a key question. "What do you think? Facing much stronger Pokémon—was it an interesting challenge for you?"
All four nodded in agreement. Mia was the first to speak up. "It's definitely a challenge, but almost no one could take down a Pokémon as strong as yours."
Diego chimed in, his competitive spirit reignited. "Maybe... if we could use all six of our Pokémon at once, we'd stand a chance!"
Joe smiled, intrigued by the suggestion. "Now that's an idea. I might have to try that format with some of the other trainers around the ranch."
"Or maybe we could pair up and you would have to fight two challengers at the same time!" Anya noted.
"Or three!" Václav added.
"Well, that's the homework for you. Come up with various modes on how to do this. I'm looking forward to your ideas!"
With that, Joe thanked the four young trainers for their effort. "I'll bring your fainted Pokémon to the Pokémon Center for healing if you want."
They all nodded gratefully, and together they returned to the main area, where the wood chopping was still in full swing.
As Joe walked back, he felt content. The session had been a success, and his mind was already racing with ideas for the next battle format. One of his strongest Pokémon against a full team of six? He was curious to see how that would play out.
"You think you could manage to hold on against six Pokémon?" he turned to Arbok slithering alongside him. The proud Pokémon only hissed with annoyance that her trainer was doubting her skills.