A brown figure darted across the sand, kicking up clouds of dust that made the crowd back away.
The next moment, flaming fangs sank into the unsuspecting Toxtricity, flames roaring up. Soon after, Toxtricity lost the ability to fight and fell to the ground.
The winner was clear.
"Well done, Gumshoos!"
A boy of about thirteen or fourteen raised his right arm in excitement, drawing applause and praise from the crowd, which made his sense of achievement soar.
Gumshoos, mature beyond its years, clasped its hands behind its back and acknowledged the praise with an air of calm detachment.
After three consecutive wins, Jamie planned to keep going and looked around, raising his voice: "Anyone else want to battle me?"
A few more wins, and he'd have the confidence to challenge the second gym: Artazon Gym.
Some of the surrounding trainers hesitated. The boy was young, but his Gumshoos was tough—they weren't confident of victory.
Others simply didn't want to be seen as bullies for beating a kid.
Battling fair and square was more appealing.
No one answered for a while, so Jamie repeated: "Anyone want a Pokémon battle?"
Lucas, strolling by with four Pokémon, happened to hear this and stopped. Seeing Jamie and Gumshoos surrounded by the crowd, he pondered.
He'd already let his Pokémon warm up against some wild Water- and Flying-types; now it was about time to let them spar against another trainer.
With that thought, Lucas raised his hand and called out, "How about me?"
At once, all eyes turned to him.
Lucas led Growlithe and the others through a gap in the crowd, standing before Jamie.
The onlookers sized up Lucas and his Pokémon. Aside from the unfamiliar horned puppy, neither Mudbray, Dachsbun, nor Delibird looked powerful.
Lucas's relaxed farmer attire made him seem like a hobbyist trainer passing by.
Everyone figured he'd lose—Jamie had already claimed his first badge, meaning he'd beaten a Gym Leader.
Jamie, hearing the challenge, didn't hesitate. Clenching his fist, he declared, "Of course you can!"
This big brother had four Pokémon—he must be strong! Jamie felt fired up.
Standing opposite Jamie, Lucas asked, "How do we battle?"
"A one-on-one single battle. First to make the opponent's Pokémon lose the ability to fight wins. How about it?"
Jamie recited the rules.
Lucas nodded, checked his team, and said, "Mudbray, you're up."
"Mudbray~!"
Mudbray calmly trotted up to Gumshoos. After fighting wild Pokémon, it had adapted to the sandy beach, no longer stumbling like before.
The crowd looked at the mature Gumshoos, then at the goofy, harmless Mudbray, and guessed Jamie would win again.
No referee was needed; once their eyes met, the battle began.
"Ice Fang!"
Young trainers always fought aggressively, like Jamie—straight to the offense.
He understood type matchups and recognized Mudbray's type—a big advantage over most beginners.
Lucas, on the other hand, chose a basic move most trainers would forget.
"Mud-Slap."
If there's a master of playing with mud, it's the Mudbray family. Lucas's Mudbray was no exception. Even with squinty eyes, it flung mud fast and precisely—two globs blocked Gumshoos from dodging, and two more hit Gumshoos right in the eyes.
Gumshoos screamed, clutching its eyes and stumbling back, temporarily blinded and confused.
"Gumshoos!" Jamie cried in alarm.
Lucas followed up immediately.
"High Horsepower."
At his command, Mudbray's squinty eyes snapped open, its black, horizontal pupils exuding such force that Jamie was stunned.
Bathed in a red aura, Mudbray charged at Gumshoos with unexpected intensity.
The ground shook with each stride, forcing both Gumshoos and the crowd to steady themselves.
Then, Mudbray's High Horsepower landed with a resounding crash, ending the battle.
Gumshoos, who had been so proud moments before, now lay battered in a pit, clearly defeated.
"One hit... knockout?"
Someone blurted out, and the crowd erupted in shocked whispers.
As for Jamie, he stood frozen until Lucas's reminder jolted him. Eyes red, he carried Gumshoos to the medical tent.
With the crowd giving him complex looks, Lucas knew they now saw him as a bomber—a despicable bully.
But Mudbray was still new, just bought from the Ellie Ranch. It had only learned High Horsepower and its spirit from Tapu Bulu while tilling, and improved further under Swampert's influence.
Clearing his throat, Lucas shamelessly called out like Jamie, "Anyone else want to battle?"
Lucas thought he'd have to wait, maybe no one would battle him at all—but someone soon answered.
"I'll go."
From the crowd stepped a beautiful woman in a breezy outfit, her exposed midriff making Lucas worry she'd catch cold.
Lucas turned to look and his eyes widened.
It wasn't the woman's looks that caught his attention; instead, it was what stood by her feet.
There, unmistakably, was a Growlithe identical to his own.
A Hisuian Growlithe!