"I choose you!"
Both Poké Balls hit the ground at the same time.
Grey sent out Riolu.
And the Pokémon Lt. Surge used was a yellow Pokémon covered in sharp, spiky fur.
It looked a bit like a dog and a bit like a fox—clearly canine.
[Pokémon: Jolteon]
[Type: Electric]
[Level: 59]
[Ability: Volt Absorb]
[Moves: —]
Lt. Surge's Jolteon was level 59. It hadn't quite reached Elite Four level yet, but it was only a step away.
Maybe after some time, this Jolteon would be able to touch that "Elite Four gatekeeper" level.
"No wonder it's a Jolteon raised by Gym Leader Lt. Surge—its whole spirit looks different."
Grey carefully sized up the sleek, glossy-furred Jolteon in front of him and couldn't help marveling.
Really—no wonder he was a master at raising Electric-types. This Jolteon had been trained to the point where there was basically nothing to criticize.
He'd done everything he possibly could.
"Hahahaha, of course!"
Hearing Grey praise him, Lt. Surge hooked his sunglasses onto his collar, revealing a wild grin.
"Gym Leader Grey, you'd better be careful—my Electric-type moves are real easy to get you 'shocked,' you know~"
As he spoke, Lt. Surge snapped his fingers.
Crackling sparks immediately burst around Jolteon, shifting from golden-yellow to a deep, brilliant blue. The lightning reflected in the lenses like it had been split in two!
"Now, the battle officially begins!"
At Silver's command, the clash was on.
"Thunderbolt!"
The moment Lt. Surge's order left his mouth, Jolteon's fur stood on end!
Countless golden arcs raced across its body, gathering at its chest into a vicious lightning serpent that tore forward with a piercing crackle, lunging to bite!
"What a classic opener…"
It was like all Electric-type trainers shared one brain. As long as the opponent wasn't immune to Electric-type moves, they loved opening with Thunderbolt.
Watching Jolteon draw power and unleash that howling lightning serpent, Grey couldn't help throwing out a jab.
"Then let's answer with a classic counter."
Feeling the thunderous blast coming in, Grey's lips curled. He pointed forward—he didn't even need to say the command out loud before Riolu already knew what to do.
"Quick Attack!"
Whoosh!
Even though it hadn't evolved into Lucario yet, Riolu and Grey were already perfectly in sync.
The instant it saw the lightning strike coming, it was ready to explode into motion.
With a hard stomp, it launched forward. White light quickly wrapped around its entire body, leaving an afterimage behind!
Bzzzz!!!
A deafening boom of thunder erupted, and the battlefield flashed an ugly yellow-white.
Riolu accelerated sharply. The golden current grazed past its side, scorching a charred, snake-like trail into the ground!
That attack had real power.
But if it didn't hit, then no matter how strong it was, it was all wasted effort.
Lt. Surge knew that perfectly well.
He wanted to see just how outrageous this Riolu really was.
And he also wanted to see what direction Grey had trained it in.
Earlier, Lt. Surge had battled Grey's Breloom.
That Breloom had been infuriating beyond belief.
Now, facing this Riolu, he didn't feel that same helplessness—but that was only because he was too busy being shocked by the speed Riolu was showing.
It was… a little too fast, honestly.
Even if Riolu was right at the Elite Four threshold, the burst speed it displayed was far beyond normal.
He had no idea how Grey had trained such a terrifying Riolu…
Whatever. Thinking about that now was pointless.
Lt. Surge steadied himself. Seeing the white light still flickering around Jolteon, he immediately barked, "Discharge!"
If he couldn't catch Riolu, then he'd use an indiscriminate move to force it into a corner with nowhere to run!
"Jolt!"
Jolteon threw its head up, and countless interwoven bolts exploded outward from its whole body!
The violent currents spread across the entire field like a net cast from the heavens!
"Oh? A straight-up frontal assault? Perfect—that's exactly what I want!"
Grey didn't dodge. He met it head-on. "Riolu, use Force Palm on the ground."
"Rio!"
Before Discharge even reached it, Riolu pressed its palm to the floor, pouring Fighting-type energy down into it—then detonated with a burst of force!
Boom!!!
Blue energy and lightning erupted. The dojo floor instantly shattered, chunks of stone flying up.
A ring-shaped shockwave blasted outward, colliding head-on with the sweeping electric net!
The roar shook the air. The two forces formed a spectacular stalemate in midair, sparks and shattered rock bursting outward like fireworks!
"Equal power?"
Lt. Surge narrowed his eyes, staring at the deadlock, his tone turning heavier.
It wasn't even evolved, and it could match Jolteon in raw move power. If it evolved, what then?
The thought sent a cold sweat down the back of this battle-hardened Electric-type specialist.
Grey's Pokémon training was absurd—so absurd it felt like it broke common sense.
Of course, only Grey knew this couldn't last.
Unlike Jolteon's Discharge…
The shockwave created by Force Palm couldn't be maintained for long. Once even the residual wave died out, Riolu would have to find another way through.
Short bursts were a Fighting-type's advantage. Long, drawn-out pressure was an Electric-type's advantage.
So Riolu had to take the initiative right now!
With that in mind, Grey decided to press hard.
"Riolu, use Vacuum Wave to carve a path—close in on Jolteon."
"Rio!" (Got it!)
As Grey's command fell, blue light bloomed around Riolu's fists.
Fighting-type radiance gathered, and it fired punch after punch into the electric net—each strike blasting out an air cannon compressed to the extreme!
Shh! Shh! Shh!
Vacuum Wave tore open the interwoven currents with precision, creating an eerie "vacuum zone" around it—so clean that even electricity couldn't interfere there.
Riolu seized that fleeting opening and surged forward like a blue afterimage!
Its agile body wove through the gaps in the electric net, the distance to Jolteon shrinking at an astonishing speed!
It was so fast that even Jolteon looked startled.
No other reason—just one.
Too fast.
Grey's Riolu had clearly been trained with speed as the priority!
"Jolteon, Thunder Wave!"
Seeing Riolu closing in, Lt. Surge immediately ordered Thunder Wave, trying to paralyze Riolu!
As long as Riolu got paralyzed, not only would its speed be restricted—there was also a chance it wouldn't even be able to move or use moves at key moments!
As an Electric-type trainer, he knew better than anyone how disgusting paralysis could be!
They were too close now. Even if Grey dodged this, Lt. Surge had the next combo already waiting.
Lt. Surge—today, he was going to fight until he got to see Zapdos, no matter what!
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