The lake water rippled gently, the breeze flowed without burden.
Its surface was like a mirror, reflecting the heart, revealing one's true intentions.
The red off-road vehicle sped along the road as Bertha brought Paul to the vicinity of Lake Valor. Gazing upon the vast expanse of azure waves stretching endlessly before him, Paul felt a rare sense of tranquility.
Unlike the in-game version of Lake Valor, the real-life counterpart—somewhat similar to its depiction in the anime—was a renowned Sinnoh vacation destination due to its picturesque scenery.
The entire resort area was vast, stretching from the lake all the way to the coastline, with various tourism-related industries thriving.
Lake Valor in the anime had a relatively better fate, with only Azelf and a few Pokémon and people suffering harm.
In contrast, the in-game version saw the entire lake bombed dry by Team Galactic, leaving only flopping Magikarp in its wake.
"I've been vacationing here recently. This spot is convenient for battling—it's close to medical facilities and resting areas, and we won't disturb anyone else."
After driving a fair distance from the resort, Bertha executed a smooth drift, bringing the car to a halt. She turned to Paul with a smile.
"As you wish."
Paul stepped out of the car and walked to his designated battle position, facing Bertha with a polite inquiry:
"Would a 4-on-4 battle be acceptable? Can we switch Pokémon mid-battle?"
It wasn't every day he got the chance to battle an Elite Four member. Naturally, he wanted to ensure all the Pokémon he carried got a chance to fight.
"A 4-on-4 battle, huh? You want all your Pokémon to have a turn? Very bold—I like it."
It was a courageous request. After all, in a 4-on-4 match, there was a high chance that Paul would suffer a complete sweep. To willingly face a battle where the outcome was almost certainly a loss, yet still give it his all—that took guts.
However, Bertha shook her head with a chuckle.
"But that's a bit too much trouble. For a proper battle, one Pokémon is enough to tell me all I need to know."
She then grabbed a Poké Ball and with an impressive flick of her wrist, sent it flying.
Clang!
"Hooah—!"
With a mighty thud, Hippowdon emerged from the Poké Ball. The moment its massive body hit the ground, the earth cracked beneath it. Opening its enormous jaws, it let out a fierce roar, exuding an overwhelming presence.
Hippowdon.
Excellent!
Paul's eyes gleamed.
As Bertha's very first Pokémon and a cornerstone of her team, facing this Hippowdon was bound to be a valuable learning experience.
Even if it ended in a one-hit knockout, this battle would still be worth it.
The real question was—which Pokémon should he send out?
Electabuzz, a Pokémon reliant on direct attacks, wouldn't gain much from this fight. Grotle, with its slow movement, would likely repeat the same ineffective strategy it used against Ash in the anime—not much of a learning opportunity there, either.
That left him with two choices: Ursaring, who could endure through sheer willpower, or Gabite, whose latent draconic instincts had recently begun to awaken.
"Gabite, get ready for battle!"
After careful consideration, Paul opted for Gabite.
After all, it was a Ground-type Pokémon as well. There was a chance he could gain unique insights from this matchup.
"Gaaaa—"
Gabite locked eyes with Hippowdon, its pupils tinged with a faint crimson hue—calm yet filled with the potential for eruption, much like a dormant volcano.
Although it had managed to suppress its primal instincts and the surging power within, it had not yet fully mastered that strength. The energy from its previous training session still lingered, unreleased.
At any moment, Gabite could enter its Berserk State.
"Gabite, use Dragon Dance!"
"Gaaa—"
Understanding its trainer's command, Gabite leaped into a simplified version of its battle dance. As its attack power and speed rose, the restrained energy in its blood surged outward, and its pupils gradually turned blood-red.
"What an unusual state."
Bertha observed Gabite closely, showing neither haste nor concern.
Hippowdon, naturally aggressive, could sense the violent energy emanating from Gabite.
But this particular form of aggression was different—it came from a much deeper place, the very depths of its draconic bloodline.
However…
It meant nothing to Hippowdon.
"Outrage, Dragon Claw!"
The moment Dragon Dance ended, Paul wasted no time issuing his next command.
Ever since initiating his Bloodline Awakening Plan, Outrage had evolved beyond a mere move—it had become a state of complete enhancement for Gabite.
Even the usual confusion side effect of Outrage was meaningless now. Under the force of its own rampaging instincts, no amount of disorientation could weaken it.
"Gaaaa—!"
Gabite's entire body became engulfed in a blazing crimson aura, its blood-red eyes glowing fiercely.
Outrage—activated!
With a flash of red light, Gabite lunged at Hippowdon. Its arms glowing with green and red energy, became razor-sharp blades as it aimed for Hippowdon's head.
"Iron Head!"
Bertha's response was immediate.
"Hooah—!"
Hippowdon's massive head took on a metallic sheen as it charged forward like an unstoppable battering ram.
"Boom!"
The moment they made contact, all of Gabite's rampaging energy was dispersed in an instant—it was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground.
"Draco Meteor!"
Still airborne, Gabite gathered energy in its mouth and launched a massive glowing sphere toward the sky.
Dozens of meteors erupted from the explosion, raining down upon the battlefield.
Hippowdon, utterly unfazed, carefully observed the falling projectiles. Upon realizing it couldn't dodge them all, it immediately burrowed underground using Dig.
"Boom—!"
The meteors struck the ground, shattering the terrain, but Hippowdon remained unharmed below.
Bertha remained silent, simply watching Paul's reaction.
What would he do now?
Would he counter with Earthquake? Try another boosting move? Or carefully observe and react to Hippowdon's next attack?
Gabite, seeing that Paul had yet to give another order, took the initiative to analyze the battlefield, attempting to predict Hippowdon's attack direction.
Paul, studying the terrain carefully, estimated the timing in his mind.
Then, at the perfect moment, he issued his command:
"Sand Tomb!"
"Gaaaa!"
Gabite stomped the ground, triggering a Sand Tomb while simultaneously leaping to the side.
As the ground caved in, forming a swirling vortex of quicksand, a massive shadow erupted from below—Hippowdon, lunging straight at Gabite.
Prepared for this, Gabite twisted its body mid-air, kicking off Hippowdon's back. It suffered minor damage but successfully escaped the danger zone.
"Hooah—!"
Hippowdon was left to sink into the Sand Tomb.
Yet neither Bertha nor her Pokémon showed any concern.
For Hippowdon, this trap wasn't even an inconvenience—escaping it wouldn't take more than a second.
Paul however, wasn't attacking.
Instead, he watched Bertha intently.
Because this battle wasn't about winning.
It was about understanding what made an Elite Four member truly strong.
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