The Poké Ball popped open.
Accompanied by a roar full of wild nature, a sturdy, muscular Incineroar landed heavily on the field!
It possessed a massive flame belt and a ferocious countenance. As soon as it appeared, it emitted an extremely violent aura.
Even more shocking was that it suddenly turned around and kicked Charmander's Poké Ball—which had just been recalled and was rolling nearby—kicking it away as if disdaining it for being in the way and incompetent.
The Poké Ball containing Charmander rolled to the corner of the field, shaking slightly; it was unknown if the Charmander inside could feel this humiliation and rough treatment.
"Roar—!"
Incineroar smashed its fists together, erupting with scorching sparks, and stared threateningly at the opposing Victreebel. Its fighting spirit, or rather its desire for destruction, seemed very high.
This scene caused Ash and his two companions in the spectator seats to frown.
"This guy..." Misty looked displeased. "How can he treat Pokémon like that?"
Brock's brows were also tightly knitted. "That Incineroar has been trained until only its ferocity remains."
"Such power is not healthy."
The correct approach was like how Ash treated his Gyarados. For Pokémon with such violent personalities, one must ensure they can calm down during normal times. If a Trainer cannot enable their Pokémon to control their own emotions... then the raising of such Pokémon is unqualified.
A Pokémon raised this way could only be described as a wild beast.
Ash did not speak, but his gaze had already become sharp.
He thought of Giovanni's Beedrill. Despite having such terrifying pressure, it carried a steadiness honed by experience and a control that could be unleashed or retracted at will.
But the Incineroar before him possessed only pure brutality.
This way of treating Pokémon... was not the right path.
Perhaps in the early stages, this fierce, death-defying fighting style could significantly boost a Pokémon's combat power, but in the later stages, it would be very difficult to compensate for this flaw.
...The less reason one has, the weaker they are.
...The more reckless one is, the closer they are to ruin.
Not everyone is Superman. A super brain allows you to use super power. Normally speaking, power governed by wisdom is what achieves victory.
On the field.
Erika's gentle expression had also completely settled into silence. Those eyes that always held a hint of a smile now revealed a serious intent.
She looked at Cross, who had a look of disapproval on his face across the field. Her voice rang through the venue, carrying a coldness rarely heard in ordinary times:
"Trainer Cross."
"Pokémon are our important partners, absolutely not tools to show off martial force or to randomly vent dissatisfaction upon."
"The way you treated Charmander, and the state displayed by this Incineroar, both violate the respect and friendship that should exist between a Trainer and a Pokémon."
Erika had seen Ash's Gyarados. Although that Golden Gyarados was a bit mischievous and would intimidate the Grass-type Pokémon in the gym, the Golden Gyarados itself did not harm the weak Grass-type Pokémon; at most, it would use tricks to scam food and drink.
For a Gyarados with a naturally violent nature, this was already quite well-behaved behavior. It could be said it was raised very well. Considering this Golden Gyarados hadn't been raised for very long, its personality would be further corrected in the future.
Yet, for a Pokémon that was also naturally violent... the Incineroar before her and Ash's Gyarados were two complete extremes.
Golden Gyarados: I suffered a lot to overcome my nature!
Golden Gyarados: Proud! (.□□□.)
Erika slightly lifted her chin, her dignity as the Celadon Gym Leader fully revealed at this moment. She was, after all, a powerhouse ranked highly in the Kanto region!
"I have decided. In the following battle, I will no longer hold back anything."
"The Rainbow Badge symbolizes harmonious coexistence with nature and life; it is absolutely not something that can be easily seized relying solely on violence."
"Your behavior makes it impossible for me to recognize that you possess the qualifications to obtain it."
"I find you and your Pokémon quite detestable." Erika directly exposed her own ill will.
Generally speaking, the Gym side cannot treat a challenger this way; it does not conform to League regulations. But so what? A Gym Leader's great power belongs to themselves. Even with the League's rules and regulations, as long as they don't violate them too excessively, a little bit of offense is completely harmless.
"Come. Let me see just how long the 'power' you take such pride in can support you in front of me!"
An imposing aura emerged from Erika's body.
This was a feeling naturally emitted when a high-level Trainer got serious. High-level Trainers themselves possess a certain specificity... It is hard to say whether this is human potential or traits gained from Pokémon while living with them. But only by bringing out the potential of this trait can one go a step further together with their Pokémon.
Hearing this, a trace of annoyance flashed across Cross's face.
"I don't need outsiders interfering with my training methods!"
"Incineroar!"
"Go all out!"
Cross naturally didn't dare to go against Erika directly; he didn't even dare to speak harsh words. But he was still very unconvinced. This made Erika even more disappointed... he was not good enough to be the best, but too proud to be the worst.
If it were a Trainer with a naturally wicked nature, then training Pokémon in this way wouldn't be incomprehensible. There were such high-ranking Executives in Team Rocket... and their strength was indeed very high. But you... you don't even dare to retort against me?
Erika thought of Ash, who dared to face Giovanni directly... one could only say the gap between people is quite large.
"Roar!" Incineroar roared, dark red Dark-type energy erupting around its body. It charged toward Victreebel like a tank, its momentum astonishing!
Erika's gaze narrowed, showing no retreat:
"Victreebel, Tactic A!"
"!!!" Sensing the change in Erika's mood, Victreebel got serious.
After hearing Erika's command, Victreebel unleashed a chain of moves.
[Ingrain + Growth + Synthesis]
Using multiple different moves simultaneously to form a compound technique... this was a practice that seriously exceeded the syllabus, something only Elite Trainers would begin to research. This was a dimensional strike.
Furthermore, this Victreebel's Ability was Chlorophyll. The Chlorophyll Ability in the game—Speed increases during sunny weather. After becoming the realistic version, it actually meant an all-around increase in the activity of the Victreebel's internal energy and physical state.
Ingrain: Grow roots into the ground to absorb the earth's nutrition and recover oneself. The side effect is the inability to move.
Growth: Consume physical strength to make the body grow larger.
Synthesis: Absorb sunlight according to weather conditions to recover life.
Erika wanted to display the truly terrifying side of a Gym Leader. This was power that shouldn't have been used in a Gym battle. But recently, Giovanni had been in Celadon City, and the pressure on Erika was just too great. Cross just happened to crash into the muzzle.
Erika snapped.
Well, normally speaking, even if she found a certain Trainer unpleasant, Erika wouldn't vent her resentment on that Trainer's Pokémon. But if this Pokémon was as annoying as its Trainer... it was simply a target delivered to her door for venting.
Victreebel swiftly plunged its roots deep into the field, drawing nutrients from the earth, and immediately waved its thick vines to meet the charging Incineroar head-on!
Combat.
Only at this moment did it truly enter a white-hot stage.
On the Grass-type field.
The fierce Fire and Dark energy collided violently with the tenacious and unyielding Grass power. The roaring sounds and the shockwaves of energy impact spread out continuously.
Ash stared tightly at the intense battle below, understanding clearly in his heart.
Erika was truly angry.
She intended to thoroughly shatter Cross's twisted Trainer philosophy, along with his arrogance, right here on this Grass-type field.
And facing plants full of moisture... Incineroar simply couldn't burn them.
Theoretically speaking, the strongest Incineroar can release flames of over 2000 degrees. But this Incineroar had obviously been raised in the direction of the [Dark-type].
____
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