Right now, Lt. Surge didn't think Grey had any way to crack Thunder Wave.
The currents around them were airtight. Even though Riolu had just carved out a wide path with Vacuum Wave, at this kind of point-blank range, how was it supposed to dodge Thunder Wave?
Bullet Punch?
Quick Attack?
No matter what it chose, Lt. Surge had an answer ready!
Over the past few days, he'd made preparations specifically to counter Grey's Pokémon!
"Jolt!" (Puppy, today I'll show you Electric-type moves that can dominate the whole battlefield!)
You could tell from Jolteon's tone alone it wasn't messing around. Its fur stood straight up, every spike tip crackling with electric light.
In the next instant, countless needle-like bolts sprayed out like a storm of hidden weapons!
Crack-crack-crack!!!
Riolu's vision was flooded with blinding gold as those electrified spikes carved deadly trajectories through the air!
When experts fight, even a single status condition can swing the entire battle!
If even one of them landed, paralysis would surge through Riolu's body in an instant!
And then the outcome would be decided on the spot!
Neither Grey nor Riolu dared gamble on the paralysis chance—especially not when paralysis also dragged your speed down.
So the best answer right now was…
Grey shouted, "Use Vacuum Wave and scatter them!"
Thunder Wave's current was relatively weak—Vacuum Wave's power alone was enough to blow it apart in one go.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Riolu swung its arms again and again. A surge of Fighting-type energy exploded outward, compressed into terrifying air cannons that blasted in every direction!
The moment Thunder Wave collided with them, it dissipated on the spot.
Lt. Surge saw that, and his smile slowly spread wider. "Jolteon—Thunder!!!"
"JOLT—ON!!!"
Before the leftover electricity had fully faded, the current around Jolteon spiked violently, Electric-type energy shooting straight up!
A pillar of lightning speared into the sky, instantly stirring the dojo's "weather" into upheaval!
Rolling storm clouds gathered at a visible speed—and the moment they locked onto Riolu, a thunderbolt as thick as a bucket slammed down!
This move wasn't quite as strong as Zapdos's lightning, but for Riolu, taking it cleanly would still be difficult.
"Quick Attack—create distance."
Grey's brows tightened slightly. He had a bad feeling there was a trap waiting.
"Hah."
The moment he heard "Quick Attack," Lt. Surge's grin was impossible to hold back.
Seeing that smile, Grey felt like he'd just stepped right into it.
Riolu turned into a streak of white light and retreated fast—but the thunderbolt in the air split, eerily, into multiple streams.
Those lightning serpents twisted midair, clamping onto Riolu's trail and refusing to let go!
"Hm? Something's off… why does it have a tracking effect?"
Watching Lt. Surge's Thunder, Grey sounded genuinely surprised.
As expected—Gym Leaders always had a few special tricks up their sleeve.
Still, this wasn't a big deal to Grey.
Once Thunder dispersed like that, it was definitely less scary. The power would be reduced.
For Riolu, one Brick Break would solve it.
"Riolu—Brick Break!"
With that order, Riolu—now at a safe distance from Jolteon—planted its feet. Fighting-type energy wrapped around its arm, and it chopped down hard at the pursuing lightning!
Bang!!!
Lightning splashed everywhere, but fortunately it didn't trigger paralysis.
[Okay, can someone explain what the hell that Thunder just was?]
[Any Electric-type experts here?]
[Probably the static left in the area clung to Riolu as it moved, then acted like a "beacon" for Thunder to lock onto its position.]
[Yeah, basically that. Though since there's only so much static, it can't attract all the current—so Thunder split up, like we just saw.]
[Damn, learned something new today.]
"Quick Attack!"
Lt. Surge seized the opening right after Riolu finished Brick Break—catching it in the recovery window—and ordered Jolteon to close in.
"Jolt!"
Speed was also Jolteon's strong suit. It burst forward, white light trailing behind it like nitrous exhaust.
Boom!
In almost an instant, Jolteon surged in, electric sparks spraying beneath its feet.
Before Riolu could steady itself, Jolteon's body slammed into it!
But at the moment of contact, Jolteon subtly reined the force in.
What looked like a brutal撞击 was actually just pinning Riolu in place—
And then came—
Bzzzzt!
A violent current erupted from Jolteon at zero distance. Riolu's fur stood straight up, its usual blue tones darkening, scorching toward black!
Discharge!
Compared to Thunderbolt, Discharge—something you could unleash freely without aiming—was the best option right now.
And that was exactly what Jolteon used.
As it increased the flow of electricity, its power continued climbing.
Riolu dropped to one knee, Fighting-type energy flickering through the current as it fought to hold on…
"Force Palm!"
As Grey spoke, his eyes flashed a sharp blue through the flying sparks.
The instant Riolu heard him, the arm pressed against Jolteon exploded with strength!
Blue arcs detonated wildly from its palm, and the impact burst out in a single violent release!
Bang!!!
The shockwave punched straight through Jolteon's body. It didn't even have time to scream—its whole form was blasted away like a ragdoll, carving a charred line more than ten meters long across the dojo floor!
"Rio…"
Taking a Discharge at that distance, Riolu panted hard, clearly hurting.
It had the speed and power—but the tradeoff was obvious: its defenses and stamina weren't nearly as good.
Move for move, trading blows like this, neither side had really gained an advantage.
But for Lt. Surge, landing a heavy hit on Grey's Pokémon was already a win.
Because his goal this time was to see Zapdos!
"Hahahaha! Gym Leader Grey—looks like it's really going to go my way today!"
Lt. Surge flashed a "Speed up, Sp. Atk down" kind of grin, like he was absolutely certain Zapdos was finally within reach.
"Jolteon—Thunderbolt!"
While Riolu was still kneeling, Lt. Surge chose to finish with an even stronger Thunderbolt!
"Jolt!"
Thunder roared. Several beams of electricity fused into a single lightning serpent that screamed forward, slamming straight into Riolu!
RUMBLE!!!
The ground cracked, spiderweb fractures spreading like the floor was about to collapse!
Inside the blazing gold light, Riolu's silhouette wavered, on the verge of falling.
"Gym Leader Grey, you can recall your Riolu now," Lt. Surge said—only for the upward curve of his mouth to freeze halfway.
Because…
A streak of blue light pierced the lightning!
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