"What are you gamblers saying? Gary is a Trainer, and he's already won the Silver Conference matches up to now.
Gary can naturally use this opportunity to train some of his weaker Pokémon."
"That's right. Gary hasn't even used his full strength yet—what's wrong with sending out weaker Pokémon?"
Gary's cheerleaders immediately fired back.
They weren't gamblers—they genuinely supported Gary.
Even if some of them placed bets, what mattered to them was whether Gary could win the Silver Conference championship.
"Alright! Rapidash, take care of that Scizor!"
Jon didn't hesitate. He sent out Rapidash, a Fire-type that had a clear advantage over Scizor.
Poof!
The Poké Ball opened, and flames erupted as Rapidash charged onto the battlefield.
[LV48 Rapidash / Gym Level]
Gary: "...!"
Gary had expected Jon's Rapidash to be a higher level, but it turned out to be only at Gym-level strength. Clearly, many Trainers' teams were wearing thin by the semi-finals, and their trump cards weren't in a condition to keep battling.
"Jon has sent out Rapidash, a Fire-type Pokémon that counters Scizor well," the host announced.
Seeing that both sides had chosen their Pokémon, the referee raised his flag.
"The match begins!"
"Scizor, close in on Rapidash!" Gary commanded.
Scizor darted forward. Even without Speed Boost or Agility, its natural speed was formidable.
"Rapidash, use Flamethrower!" Jon countered sharply. Rapidash immediately unleashed a stream of fire toward the charging Scizor.
"Block it with Swords Dance!" Gary shouted.
Scizor stopped and began spinning rapidly. The momentum of the Swords Dance helped deflect the flames, scattering them around the arena.
"What?!" Jon was stunned. He hadn't expected Scizor to block Flamethrower like that.
"That's the same tactic used by Bugsy, the Gym Leader from Azalea Town," Misty said in surprise.
"I didn't think Gary had studied that," Ash added.
When Ash battled Bugsy, he faced a similar strategy. It surprised him that Gary had learned and applied it.
"Surround it with Flame Wheel!" Jon yelled, realizing Swords Dance only deflects direct attacks, not area-of-effect moves.
But Gary didn't give Rapidash the chance.
"Lunge!"
"Zha!!"
Scizor charged and struck Rapidash before it could generate the wheel of fire.
Boom!
Rapidash was sent flying and hit the ground hard. Though not knocked out, it was badly injured.
"Rapidash, get up! Use Flame Wheel!" Jon cried out desperately.
Rapidash stood with sheer determination. The flames on its back flared and spread forward as it rushed at Scizor.
"Bullet Punch!"
"Zha!!"
Scizor shot forward again. As the two Pokémon closed in, Scizor's claws shimmered with metallic energy and struck like rapid-fire bullets.
Whack! Whack! Whack!
The steel punches tore through the flames and struck Rapidash directly. It collapsed, eyes shut.
"Rapidash is unable to battle. Scizor wins!" the referee declared.
Jon was stunned. His Fire-type had lost to a Bug/Steel-type.
Was his Rapidash even real?
Shaken, he recalled Rapidash and sent out his second Pokémon.
Poof!
A large, brown bear stood upright with a fierce growl—Ursaring.
[LV50 Ursaring / Quasi-Elite]
"Iron Head!" Gary commanded calmly.
Scizor dashed forward, head lowered. Ursaring tried to counter with Hammer Arm, slamming its paw toward the charging Scizor.
Clang!!
Their attacks collided. Ursaring's attack was deflected, and Scizor's Iron Head slammed into Ursaring's gut, lifting the bear off its feet and sending it flying backward.
Thud!
Ursaring hit the ground, sat up holding its abdomen, and gasped for breath, clearly in pain.
"Bullet Punch!"
Zwoosh!!
Scizor appeared before Ursaring again. Before the bear could react, another series of rapid steel punches struck.
Bam! Bam!
Ursaring collapsed, completely knocked out.
"Ursaring is unable to battle. Scizor wins!" the referee declared.
"Oh my god, is this Scizor cheating? It's way too strong!"
"Seriously, is Gary going for a three-on-one sweep?"
"Wait… was Ash's Pikachu really that powerful?!"
The crowd was stunned. Many had written off Scizor after its loss to Pikachu, but now it had defeated two of Jon's Pokémon single-handedly.
Jon, now under serious pressure, sent out his third Pokémon.
"Go, Weezing!"
Poof!
The twin-headed poison gas Pokémon floated onto the field.
[LV47 Weezing / Gym Level]
"Bullet Punch!"
Scizor darted in again, and before Weezing could react, it was pummeled by a flurry of Bullet Punches. Dozens of hits landed within seconds, knocking Weezing back.
"Uwaaaah!"
Weezing screamed in pain but managed to stay airborne.
"What?!" Gary was surprised. Even with low stamina, Weezing had endured the onslaught.
It must have had the Neutralizing Gas Ability, nullifying Scizor's own Ability, which would normally boost its power.
"Quick Attack!"
Swoosh!
Scizor flashed forward again.
"Quick! Use Self-Destruct!" Jon shouted in desperation.
Weezing glowed bright white as it swelled up. Just as Scizor landed its attack, Weezing exploded less than two meters away.
BOOM!!!
The explosion rocked the entire arena. Scizor was flung backward—but remarkably, it stood up immediately, only slightly battered.
"Weezing is unable to battle. Scizor wins!" the referee announced.
"All three of Jon's Pokémon have been defeated! The first half of the match ends here—we now go into halftime."
The audience roared.
"Scizor is unstoppable!"
"It tanked a Self-Destruct and kept fighting!"
"Brother Scizor! I'm sorry! I doubted you!"
"You're too strong, Scizor Bro! Forgive me for ever thinking you were weak!"
The crowd that had once mocked Scizor now praised it loudly. In one match, Scizor had redeemed itself with a dominant three-on-one victory.