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The Gym battle that was originally being prepared for had now, somewhat chaotically, begun. To give the two trainers space, Liam and Axu both stepped aside.
"Tsk… No matter how you look at it, this kid named Eusine is really too young. To think someone that young could already be a Gym Leader—has the Johto League run out of people?"
Liam muttered softly, watching the small figure of Eusine on the field release a Drowzee.
It wasn't that Liam doubted Eusine's strength—he actually remembered the name. In his memory, Eusine had always been known as a "chaser of the wind."
And that "wind" referred to none other than the embodiment of the North Wind—Suicune.
Liam remembered that Eusine had once been the Gym Leader of Ecruteak City and was an ardent pursuer of Suicune. Later, it was said that Eusine had handed over the Gym Leader position to Morty in order to continue his search for the Legendary Pokémon.
Liam had known all that, but he hadn't expected Eusine to look this young now—and yet already hold the title of Gym Leader again.
At most, Eusine looked seven or eight years old. Among Gym Leaders across the regions, young leaders weren't unheard of—Brock had become a Gym Leader before turning fourteen, Misty just after she'd passed ten—and there were other such examples.
But compared to Eusine… this was honestly hard to process.
"Your first Pokémon is Drowzee? Hmph, if I remember correctly, that's a Psychic-type. But I heard the Ecruteak Gym is a Ghost-type Gym. You're sending out a Psychic-type right from the start—are you sure that's okay?"
On the way here, Delia had already learned from Axu that Ecruteak Gym specialized in Ghost-type Pokémon. She'd been somewhat nervous about facing Ghost-types and had mentally prepared herself for that.
But now, seeing that Eusine's first Pokémon was actually a Psychic-type, Delia couldn't help but feel a strange sense of confusion.
"Hmph, that's none of your business. What, are you scared? Heh, if you're that afraid, you can still surrender right now."
Eusine smirked arrogantly at Delia, his lips curling upward in a childish but mocking expression.
"Who's scared?! Where do you see me being scared?! Hmph! You're the one who's not cute at all—just watch how I deal with you! Come out, Shuckle! I choose you!"
Clearly, Delia wasn't great at taking taunts. Just a few words from Eusine were enough to set her off. Quickly, she grabbed a PokeBall and tossed it onto the field.
With a flash of white light, a blue Shuckle appeared on the battlefield.
"A blue Shuckle? That's quite rare. Hmph—trying to use a Bug-type to counter my Psychic-type? What a naïve idea. With its pitiful Attack power?"
Seeing the blue Shuckle, Eusine sneered slightly, clearly unimpressed with its offensive potential.
"Laugh all you want—you'll see soon enough!"
Delia didn't bother to argue and simply gritted her teeth in determination.
"Both Pokémon are ready! Drowzee versus Shuckle! Battle—begin!"
Morty, who was acting as referee, raised his hand and announced the start of the match.
"Go right in, Shuckle! Use Rollout!"
The moment Morty's voice fell, Delia gave her first command.
"Shu~ckle!"
Obeying her command, Shuckle quickly pulled its limbs and head into its shell, tucking itself into a ball before spinning up momentum. After storing enough force, it began to roll—slowly—toward Drowzee.
Yes, slowly.
Shuckle's speed had always been its weakness. Even while using Rollout, its movement was far from fast—only a steady, gradual approach.
"Hmph, I'd like to see what trick you're planning. Drowzee! Use Confusion! Don't let it get close!"
Watching the Shuckle slowly roll toward his Pokémon, Eusine felt that something seemed off, but he didn't hesitate. He immediately ordered her Drowzee to strike.
"Drow~zee!"
Responding quickly, Drowzee waved its arms, its long nose raised high. A faint blue aura burst from its body, slamming directly into Shuckle's shell and pinning it firmly to the ground.
"Struggle free, Shuckle! Use Struggle Bug!"
Seeing her Shuckle being held down, Delia quickly shouted a counter-command.
"Shuckle!"
Hearing its Trainer's voice, the pinned-down Shuckle let out a low cry.
Then a sharp buzzing noise erupted from within its shell. Its body trembled violently as streaks of green energy flared around it. The Confusion holding it down was dispersed in an instant, and the leftover energy gathered together—launching forward toward Drowzee.
"Dodge it, Drowzee!"
"Drow!"
Drowzee agilely sidestepped the incoming Struggle Bug attack.
"Now's your chance, Shuckle! Use Wrap!"
Delia's lips curled into a smile. Just as Drowzee dodged, she gave her next command.
"Shuckle!"
From within its shell, Shuckle suddenly extended its limbs—unnaturally long—and whipped them toward Drowzee, trying to bind it tight.
"Hmph! Don't even think about it! Drowzee, use Pound to knock those tentacles away, then follow up with Poison Gas!"
"Drow!"
Drowzee swiftly swung its hands, batting away Shuckle's reaching limbs, then took a deep breath through its nose. When it exhaled, a dense cloud of purple Poison Gas burst forth, enveloping Shuckle completely.
"Shu~ckle!"
Caught in the cloud, Shuckle coughed violently from within its shell. A moment later, its yellow head poked out, its body glowing faintly purple—clearly poisoned.
"Shuckle! Hang in there! Quickly—use Rest!"
Seeing Shuckle poisoned, Delia panicked. She couldn't afford to drag this out any longer. She urgently ordered it to heal itself.
"Shu…"
At her command, the poisoned Shuckle withdrew fully into its shell again. A soft pink aura began to surround its blue shell, and the purple toxic glow slowly faded away.
However, watching from the sidelines, Liam's expression didn't ease. Instead, his brows furrowed. Something wasn't right.
"Rest, huh? Heh—thanks for saving me the trouble of using Hypnosis! Drowzee, use Nasty Plot, then Dream Eater!"
"Drow~zee!"
Seeing Shuckle fall asleep, Eusine grinned. He immediately gave the order, and Drowzee responded, shrouding itself in black energy as its Special Attack sharply rose.
Then—Drowzee stepped forward, that eerie smile spreading across its face. It raised both arms toward the sleeping Shuckle, whose shell began trembling uncontrollably.
A moment later, a translucent stream of energy drifted out from Shuckle's body and was absorbed into Drowzee's nose.
"Drow~zee~"
Drowzee's expression melted into bliss, as if savoring a delicious meal.
Meanwhile, Shuckle stopped moving entirely. Morty, acting as referee, walked forward, knelt to inspect, and quickly raised his hand.
"Shuckle is unable to battle! The winner of this round is Drowzee!"
Delia: "…"