"Come back, Machop. You did great."
Brawly recalled Machop into its Poké Ball, then retrieved a second Poké Ball from his belt.
"Your Skarmory is very well-trained. Here's your next opponent!"
Brawly threw out the Poké Ball, and the second Pokémon made its appearance!
This Pokémon's body was primarily sky blue, with off-white ring-shaped patterns on its arms and an off-white abdomen. Its feet were also white.
Its head was shaped like a bun, with round, curly protrusions on both sides, also white in color. Its eyes were relatively large with black pupils. There were leaf-like pink patterns on its face.
It was Meditite, a dual Fighting and Psychic-type!
Compared to Machop, Meditite had the added advantage of ranged attacks.
But fortunately, Steel-types resisted Psychic-type moves.
"Take a rest, Skarmory." Steven recalled Skarmory.
The Poké Ball in his hand switched to Aron's Poké Ball.
Aron, with its dual Steel and Rock typing, faced a considerable challenge against a Fighting-type Gym.
Being four times weak to Fighting-types, Aron would have to avoid multiple direct hits to win.
The main reason for switching Skarmory for Aron was that Skarmory currently lacked ranged moves to counter Meditite effectively.
Aron had high proficiency with Rock-type abilities and had already learned some ranged attack moves.
"Go, Aron!" Steven released Aron, holding a Poké Ball in each hand.
"Aaaron!"
Aron looked at the opponent before it, somewhat losing interest.
Why isn't the opponent a rock? I can't even eat it!
"Go, Aron! I'll find some high-quality iron ore for you after the battle!"
"Aaaron!!!"
Aron was immediately filled with vigor again!
"Aron?" Brawly saw Aron and didn't underestimate it. Instead, he kindly reminded Steven, "Aron is four times weak to Fighting-types, you know!"
"I know. Let the battle begin!"
"Aron, Rock Tomb!"
Aron lifted its front leg and slammed it hard onto the battlefield.
Currently, Aron couldn't generate rocks with its own power alone and had to rely on the environment.
The Gym's battle arena was actually just exposed ground without wooden flooring!
Rocks floated up from the ground and flew toward Meditite.
"Focus Punch!"
Focus Punch required first gathering energy, then unleashing a devastating attack!
It was a powerful finishing move for Fighting-types!
Steven hadn't expected Brawly's Meditite to know this move and quickly considered a countermeasure.
Semi-transparent energy began appearing around Meditite, and its aura continuously intensified!
The rocks controlled by Aron smashed into Meditite, completely trapping it!
But Steven knew that as long as Meditite's charge continued, it could easily break through the trap with Focus Punch!
At the same time, the unleashed energy might also strike Aron!
"Harden!"
Steven could only seize this opportunity to have Aron strengthen its defense as a precaution.
Aron's steel armor continuously flashed with dark gray metallic colors, using energy to enhance its defensive capabilities.
Brawly wasn't in a hurry. Once Focus Punch finished charging, its destructive power would be immense.
"Rock Tomb! Block in front!" Steven estimated the timing and quickly had Aron set up a defensive line.
Boom!
The next moment, the rocks on the field were instantly shattered!
A semi-transparent energy wave shot directly toward Aron.
At this moment, Aron controlled the rocks to fall one by one in front of itself, forming four defensive walls.
At the same time, its body continued entering the Harden state!
Bang bang bang bang—
Focus Punch passed through the four rocks and slammed into Aron's body!
It sent Aron flying back several meters.
But fortunately, Aron survived without much trouble!
However, the power of this Focus Punch made Steven suspicious. No matter how powerful the move, if the user's strength was insufficient, it shouldn't have such impact.
He then thought of Meditite's Ability and felt relieved.
Meditite's Ability was Pure Power, which doubled the power of its physical attacks!
Focus Punch appeared to be a special energy attack, but it was actually a physical attack!
"Aron, launch a counterattack!"
Steven waved his hand, signaling the offensive.
"Rock Slide!"
"Detect!"
Aron controlled the gravel on the field, which began flying continuously toward Meditite.
Meditite, however, clearly saw each rock's attack trajectory and dodged them all!
"It's our turn to counterattack—Psybeam!"
After dodging Rock Slide, Meditite's eyes emitted blue waves, and an invisible force advanced toward Aron.
Steven quickly raised his arm, and the red light from the Poké Ball was much faster than Psybeam, hitting Aron first and recalling it into the Poké Ball.
Psybeam naturally missed its target.
Steven immediately threw out Skarmory's Poké Ball!
"Skarmory, Wing Attack!"
The newly re-entered Skarmory landed not far from Meditite and immediately flapped its wings, rushing toward Meditite.
"Perfect timing!" Brawly muttered to himself, then immediately gave the command. "Endure!"
Meditite took a defensive stance and was struck by Skarmory's wing, sending it flying several meters away.
Despite sustaining a powerful impact, Meditite did not fall but endured!
"Reversal!"
Reversal was a move whose power increased the worse the user's condition.
Powerful energy burst forth from within Meditite, spreading out from its center.
At this distance, the red light from the Poké Ball would definitely be too slow.
"Agility to create distance!"
Skarmory sensed danger and quickly reacted, starting to retreat.
Only when Steven's voice came did Skarmory use Agility, its speed instantly increasing!
Reversal ended, and Meditite collapsed to the ground, losing its ability to battle.
Skarmory remained in the air, safe from harm. That last move had startled it so much that the energy within its body was in disarray.
"What a shame, Meditite." Brawly was somewhat disappointed. With Meditite's Ability, the range just now was indeed not wide enough.
Otherwise, this move could have taken out Skarmory as well.
Brawly recalled Meditite and sent out his last Pokémon!
"Go, Makuhita!"
Makuhita was essentially a chubby little yellow Pokémon, with gray boxing glove-like hands, a "napkin" tied around its neck, and squinted eyes.
Steven looked at this Makuhita, considering how to handle it.
Free switching was the challenger's advantage—he could predict the opponent's moves and dodge them during the switch.
Currently, both Skarmory and Aron were not in ideal condition, but the advantage was still there, though they had to respond carefully.
With two Pokémon, one of which was four times weak to Fighting-types, it was already impressive to have fought to this extent.
Brawly clenched his fist and called out toward Steven:
"Come on, Challenger!"