Luther's words cast a heavy silence over the crowd. Many of those who had cheered for the previous battle believed it to be a decent match, but in Luther's eyes, it was nothing more than two inexperienced Trainers flailing about like Magikarp splashing around in a shallow pond.
Initially, Luther had no intention of voicing his opinions. However, faced with the twisted mindset of these Trainers, he felt compelled to play the role of the villain.
Borrowing someone else's Pokémon just for personal satisfaction? One after another, those who supported such a notion were nothing but irresponsible.
Alon's face flushed with embarrassment, a sign that he at least understood the sting of shame.
"If you're so confident, then prove it. Have you already beaten the Oreburgh Gym? Let's see your Badge case!"
Luther calmly pulled out his empty Badge case. Under Alon's sneering gaze, he responded with a deliberate tone, "I haven't challenged it yet, but I'm pretty sure I could pass it in one or two tries. You, on the other hand... Tsk, tsk."
"What do you know? The Gym Leader adjusts their Pokémon based on the challenger's strength. Since my level is so high, they keep using their strongest team against me. That's why I keep losing!"
Luther nearly laughed at the absurdity. He was sure that either Alon misunderstood the concept of a flexible lineup or he was grasping at straws.
He turned to the surrounding Trainers. "Has anyone here passed the Oreburgh Gym?"
Only one person responded, a young man in purple, standing off to the side with a book tucked under his arm. The rest of the Trainers fell into an awkward silence.
"So what you're saying is that you're all so strong that the Gym Leader has to use their toughest Pokémon against you?"
Alon nodded earnestly while the others began to realize the glaring flaw in his logic.
The purpose of a flexible lineup was for the Gym Leader to adapt to the challenger's level, providing an appropriate level of challenge. Strong challengers would naturally face more powerful Pokémon, ensuring a fair and meaningful battle.
However, if a Gym Leader used their most powerful Pokémon against every Trainer, they would be neglecting their role in supporting beginner Trainers. Gym Leaders weren't just obstacles; they were mentors responsible for guiding new Trainers on their journey.
Even if a challenger lost, a well-fought battle could earn them a Badge if they demonstrated strategy and growth. But for those who repeatedly failed despite this system... well, the fault clearly didn't lie with the Gym Leader.
The Trainers around Alon seemed to catch on. The concept of the Gym's flexibility wasn't an excuse for losing; it was a reflection of their own inadequacies.
"But Alon is definitely the strongest here. He's won twelve consecutive challenge battles!" Someone muttered in his defense.
Winning streaks against other inexperienced Trainers didn't mean much. To Luther, it was like boasting about being the best Magikarp in a pond full of them.
"Impressive," Luther said dryly. "So, how many times have you lost to the Oreburgh Gym?"
Luther's words clearly struck a nerve with Alon. His face flushed red and pale by turns, cycling through so many expressions that it was almost like a performance of rapid face-changing in a stage show. From stunned silence to simmering rage, it all happened within seconds.
"Mind your own business! If you don't want to trade, that's fine. But I challenge you to a battle, a 3-on-3, Limit Four. Do you dare?"
Alon's confidence, built from bullying weaker Trainers, gave him an inflated sense of bravado. The moment he issued the challenge, he carried himself with exaggerated pride, as though the wound to his ego had instantly healed.
Trapped in his delusion, unwilling to face reality, he was the textbook image of someone drowning in their own self-importance.
Luther wanted to accept. Jumpluff and Marill were practically raring to go. But Ralts was another matter. This was a crucial stage in building Ralts's confidence. A victory could help immensely, but a loss might shatter that fragile self-belief.
Just as Luther was about to decline, a voice rang out from outside the rehabilitation area.
"Mr. Luther! Mr. Luther from Sandgem Town, are you here?"
Nurse Joy, accompanied by Misdreavus, called out repeatedly. Luther waved to her, squeezing past the crowd.
"The recheck for Misdreavus is complete. She's made a full recovery. What you choose to do next is up to you," Nurse Joy said, handing him a report before wheeling a cart of Poké Balls away.
Luther's eyes lit up. He leaned down and whispered something to Misdreavus. After a moment of thought, Misdreavus glanced at Alon and nodded.
"Alon, how about a doubles match instead?"
Alon scoffed, pulling out his phone. "Pokémon League points battle. How many points do you have?"
"Just fifty."
The surrounding Trainers rolled their eyes. Fifty points was the League's starting allocation for rookie Trainers. Even small tasks for the League would earn more than that.
Luther and Alon exchanged information. Alon checked Luther's profile and suddenly burst into laughter.
"You just became a Trainer?"
"Is there a rule against starting your journey after twenty? Or is it only the young who are allowed to pursue their dreams?"
"The times belong to the young," Alon replied smugly, gesturing to himself.
Luther pictured Cynthia's face. Even if she were twice her current age, he doubted Alon would stand a chance against her. The boy clearly needed a reality check.
"I'll choose a referee, if that's alright?" Luther asked.
"Whatever," Alon said dismissively.
Luther turned toward the young man in purple who had previously admitted to passing the Oreburgh City Gym. The man adjusted his glasses, closed his book, and followed Luther to the battle area.
His voice was calm and composed. "This is an official double-points battle between Luther and Alon. Each side will use two Pokémon, with a limit of Four Rules, with no time limit. For determining the first move..."
"Let Alon go first. I don't mind," Luther interjected.
"Then Alon will take the first move. Please release your Pokémon."
Luther released Ralts. The small Psychic-type looked up at him, determined but visibly nervous. Beside her, Misdreavus floated into position, her eerie smile directed at Alon's Frillish, who hovered menacingly in response.
Seeing Misdreavus, Ralts couldn't help but shiver.
"Don't worry, just trust me. You only need to follow Misdreavus and use your move."
Luther's words calmed Ralts, who was feeling a bit anxious.
Alon's two Pokémon were a Delcatty and a Mightyena. The Dark-type Mightyena had a clear advantage over both Misdreavus and Ralts.
"Battle begins."
"Mightyena, Dark Pulse on Ralts! Delcatty, Shadow Ball on Ralts!" Alon had noticed Luther's earlier training and knew Ralts was the weak link.
He wanted to ridicule Luther for using a Pokémon with so little battle experience instead of the Jumpluff or even Marill.
"Ralts, jump onto Misdreavus and hold on tight, then use Psychic. Misdreavus, block their moves."
Ralts stretched out her little hands, clutching the wispy tips of Misdreavus's hair, focusing her power. Her eyes glowed faintly with Psychic energy.
Misdreavus, feeling Ralts latch on, immediately accelerated. She didn't attempt to dodge; Luther's order was clear: block the attacks.
Misdreavus charged headlong into the incoming Shadow Ball and Dark Pulse, a faint purple glow surrounding her. The collision of attacks caused a burst of energy, but as the smoke cleared, Misdreavus emerged unscathed.
Her psychic presence had distorted and unraveled the attacks. Before Mightyena and Delcatty could react, Ralts's Psychic hit Delcatty, though its power was too weak to cause significant damage.
Ralts's surprised expression was mirrored by the referee in purple and Alon, both stunned by the spectacle.
"Change the target! Delcatty, Ice Beam on Misdreavus! Mightyena, Dark Pulse!"
The frosty beam forced Misdreavus to shift positions, and Mightyena swiftly pursued, eager to land a decisive blow.
Alon assumed Misdreavus's speed was to compensate for her frailty. If he could corner her, victory would be his.
But Luther smirked. He was more than willing to let Alon try.
"Misdreavus, show them your Dark Pulse. Target Delcatty!"
Like a wisp of fog, Misdreavus vanished, her speed bewildering the onlookers. In the blink of an eye, she reappeared just behind Delcatty. Before the Normal-type could react, a burst of dark energy erupted from Misdreavus.
The black pulse struck with devastating force. Delcatty didn't even have the chance to cry out before it was slammed into the wall, fainting on impact.
Alon froze. While he was still processing Delcatty's defeat, Misdreavus had already darted toward Mightyena. The Dark-type growled, trying to prepare a counterattack, but Misdreavus was faster.
"Shadow Ball!"
The dark sphere struck Mightyena squarely, sending it tumbling out of bounds.
Ralts, who had done little more than cling to Misdreavus throughout the fight, beamed with admiration. Though she had used a single Psychic move, her heart swelled with excitement. She squealed in delight, hugging Misdreavus tightly.
Misdreavus, with an air of quiet satisfaction, gently landed and let Ralts hop down.
The arena remained silent.
After a long pause, the referee in purple raised his hand. "Luther is the winner!"
The battle had been almost anticlimactic compared to Alon's previous match. At least then, spectators had something to watch. This time, the outcome was decided in moments.
What just happened? Many were left questioning how Misdreavus managed to dominate so effortlessly. She had only used two moves, but with such overwhelming speed and power that neither opponent stood a chance.
And as for Ralts? She had simply enjoyed the ride, like a little explorer swept up in Misdreavus's whirlwind of speed and strength.
Luther understood perfectly what had transpired. This was an absolute display of strength, requiring no flashy battle scenes; ruthlessness against weaklings was just like this.
Just like Paul and Cynthia, Cynthia only needed to send out one Garchomp to defeat a Rookie like Paul.
He had made it clear to Misdreavus to let Ralts experience the thrill of battle nervousness while ensuring Ralts's safety. Ralts, tightly hugging Misdreavus, was exceptionally happy, reluctant to let go. The sensation of speed left a deep impression on her, making her completely forget how helpless she had felt three days ago when Misdreavus had toyed with her.
(End of Chapter)
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