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Chris took out his Poké Ball and released it.
Only six Pokémon were sent out.
The six main Pokémon were: Greninja (Lv. 64), Blaziken (Lv. 63), Gardevoir (Lv. 63), Gyarados (Lv. 70), Garchomp (Lv. 64), and Tyranitar (Lv. 65).
Additionally, a Dusknoir (Lv. 70) served as a spare Pokémon, which Chris reserved for specific rivals or appropriate occasions. However, unless the opponent had an Attribute or playstyle advantage, Chris usually refrained from using Dusknoir.
Chris also had a backup team prepared for weaker rivals. This team included Aggron (Lv. 55), Steelix (Lv. 55), Wobbuffet (Lv. 50), Venusaur (Lv. 54), Haunter (Lv. 60), and Tyrantrum (Lv. 48). Among these, Aggron and Steelix hadn't seen much battle experience; their levels had primarily increased due to the "magic water" Chris obtained from the Tomb of Onix. At the start, Chris had collected 42 barrels of this substance, with 34 barrels remaining in his secret base. Chris estimated that once fully consumed, the Pokémon's levels could potentially reach Lv. 70.
Vladimir glanced at Chris's team of six Pokémon. "The configuration is not bad…" he remarked.
"Let's battle. Show me your true strength," Vladimir said, setting the stage for the fight.
"Are you challenging me, Teacher?" Chris asked, puzzled.
"Don't worry. I'll use only one Pokémon, and it's not even one of my main team," Vladimir replied, stepping to the Trainer's position and throwing a Poké Ball. A Machamp emerged, landing with a heavy thud.
"Machamp!" the four-armed Pokémon roared, pounding its chest with tremendous energy.
Chris knew that a single non-main Pokémon wouldn't likely match the might of his team. Recognizing Machamp's pure Fighting-type nature, Chris chose an appropriate counter.
"Gyarados, you're up!" he declared, recalling the other Pokémon.
The red Gyarados soared through the air, its massive body spiraling gracefully before landing with a splash.
"From the moment you release a move, the battle begins," Vladimir declared.
"Understood, Teacher," Chris replied. Knowing his Teacher wanted him to strike first, he didn't hesitate.
Looking up at the rain beginning to fall, Chris commanded, "Gyarados, Surf!"
"Gyarados!" The red Pokémon let out a deafening roar as a towering seven-meter wave surged forward, resembling a sea beast breaking free from the earth, aimed at Machamp.
Vladimir's expression remained calm as he observed. "Your Gyarados has excellent control over Surf," he commented before issuing his own command.
"Machamp, Slash!"
Machamp stepped forward, its right hand glowing brightly before swinging it in a powerful arc. The move didn't physically touch the wave but instead sent a sharp air current slicing through it, splitting the massive surge in two.
Chris's eyes widened. While Surf wasn't Gyarados's strongest suit, its power in rainy conditions, amplified by the environment, should have been overwhelming. Yet, Machamp had countered it with a simple Slash. Chris estimated that the Teacher's Machamp must be at least Level 85, if not higher.
"Hyper Beam!" Chris shouted.
As the wave subsided, Gyarados swiftly maneuvered forward, avoiding Machamp's Slash before opening its jaws wide and unleashing a blinding beam of energy across the battlefield. However, Machamp leaned to the side with uncanny precision, narrowly evading the attack. The movement wasn't just a dodge—it was a calculated setup for its own counterstrike.
Vladimir refrained from giving a command, yet Machamp's movement seemed almost instinctual. Its feet suddenly stomped down, leaving a washbasin-sized crater in its wake as sparks of energy erupted.
"Quick Attack?" Chris's mind raced with confusion. Could a Pokémon as naturally slow as Machamp even learn Quick Attack? The idea felt borderline illegal.
Machamp's seemingly cumbersome figure became a blur of motion, accelerating like a high-speed motorcycle. With a thunderous boom reverberating through the battlefield, it appeared directly beneath the red Gyarados. Lightning crackled around Machamp's two right fists as it prepared its next move.
"Thunder Punch."
Chris braced himself for the devastating sight of his Gyarados being blasted away. Yet, the expected impact never came. Machamp's electrified fist stopped just ten centimeters from Gyarados's massive frame. Without a word, it withdrew its punch and stepped back.
Chris turned toward Vladimir, puzzled, as the Teacher spoke calmly from the battle seat.
"Your red Gyarados has exceeded the expected standard for a Gym Trainer's Pokémon. Its Surf and Hyper Beam are commendable," Vladimir said, his tone carrying a mix of critique and approval. "However, its reaction speed is lacking. Even a Machamp could land a Quick Attack."
Chris felt a pang of disbelief.
"You know," Vladimir continued, "Machamp has four fists. If your Gyarados were hit at close range, it wouldn't just be one Thunder Punch but four. Combine that with the type advantage, and you'd be looking at sixteen times the damage. A single blow could incapacitate it completely."
Chris remained silent, processing the gravity of the situation. His Gyarados wasn't slow by any measure, yet Vladimir's Machamp had displayed unimaginable speed and power. And Quick Attack? That was a twist Chris hadn't expected.
"Which of my Pokémon could even face Machamp without being instantly overpowered?" Chris wondered silently.
Vladimir's voice broke through his thoughts. "Keep attacking!" he instructed, signaling his determination to push Chris to his limits.
Chris adjusted his strategy. "Gyarados, use Hurricane!" he commanded, deciding to leverage the type advantage for a decisive blow.
Gyarados roared, its massive body spiraling upward. In response, a towering Twister erupted, rapidly engulfing the entire battlefield in a chaotic vortex of wind and debris.
"Dynamic Punch!" Vladimir countered, raising his hand with precision.
Machamp's arms withdrew momentarily before it surged forward into the swirling Hurricane. Its four fists glowed with blinding white light as it unleashed its move. The punches merged into a single, powerful beam of energy that pierced through the raging winds, cutting through the Hurricane with surgical precision. The beam streaked past Gyarados, grazing its side and dissipating into the distance.
Chris's silence deepened.
"Dynamic Punch?" he thought, his mind reeling. "That looked more like Hyper Beam! Four fists delivering the force of a Hyper Beam…?"
Doubt crept into Chris's thoughts. The move didn't seem to miss by chance—he suspected Machamp had deliberately aimed slightly off target.