Its massive size brought an unparalleled sense of oppression; in front of it, Inkay was as tiny as a toy.
Jiang Han glanced at his Inkay. It had remained almost unscathed in the previous battle, but facing an Onix that completely overwhelmed it in both level and size, its chances of winning were slim.
"Come back, Inkay." He didn't try to be a hero and decisively recalled his meritorious pokémon.
"Good work."
He took out a second Poké Ball, his gaze becoming sharp.
"It's your turn, Sneasel!"
With a flash of red light, a swift black shadow appeared on the field.
Sneasel lowered its body. Its deep blue form and bright red ear feathers were particularly striking under the lights, and its sharp claws scraped lightly against the ground, making a piercing sound.
Double effectiveness!
Roxanne's expression turned grim in an instant; she naturally knew how lethal the threat of an Ice-type was to Onix.
Of course, while Sneasel's Ice-type moves countered Onix, it was simultaneously countered by Onix's Ground-type moves.
Combined with Onix's excellent physical defense, it still seemed that Onix held the advantage for now.
"Onix, Dig!" She chose the safest tactic without hesitation.
Onix let out a roar, its massive head plunging into the ground, instantly vanishing beneath the rocky field.
The entire field began to vibrate slightly, indicating that the behemoth was moving at high speed underground.
Jiang Han, however, remained exceptionally calm.
"Sneasel, stay where you are. Close your eyes and use your ears and feet to feel."
Sneasel obediently closed its eyes, its ears twitching slightly and its claws pressed firmly against the ground, sensing every vibration coming from beneath the earth.
Roxanne's brow furrowed, not understanding Jiang Han's intention.
In the next second, the ground beneath Sneasel's feet suddenly exploded! Onix's massive head burst out of the earth, its maw wide open as it snapped at the black figure!
"Now!" Jiang Han's voice rang out like a cold command. "Three steps to the left, Agility, and then, Ice Punch!"
Almost the moment Jiang Han finished speaking, Sneasel's figure turned into an afterimage, dodging Onix's lethal sudden attack by a hair's breadth. Immediately after, its body pulled a string of blurry shadows, its speed instantly reaching its peak!
It circled to Onix's side, terrifying cold air condensing on its right claw as it smashed a punch hard into Onix's rock-composed body!
Crack!
A crisp sound of shattering rang out, and visible frost rapidly spread from the point of impact.
"Roar—!"
Unprecedented pain caused Onix to let out a pained roar, its massive body writhing frantically.
"Nicely done!" Jiang Han praised.
Roxanne's face was written with shock.
This reaction speed, this control over the battle... He could actually predict the location and timing of Onix's emergence!
"Onix, steady yourself! Use Iron Tail!"
Onix endured the sharp pain, its massive tail taking on a metallic sheen as it swept across like a steel whip, the resulting gale sending sand and stones flying across the field.
"Keep using Agility to toy with it!" Jiang Han's voice carried a hint of playfulness.
The ensuing scene was entirely a personal showcase of speed.
The massive rock snake swung its tail frantically on the field, every attack heavy and powerful, yet it couldn't even touch Sneasel's shadow.
Meanwhile, that phantom circled it like a lethal assassin, occasionally rushing forward to add a cold claw strike to its wounds.
Onix, despite being five levels higher, was powerless in the face of absolute speed and type advantage.
Watching this, Roxanne felt a sense of helplessness welling up in her heart.
The Rock pokémon she took pride in was currently like a clumsy giant, being toyed with by a nimble child.
This man named Jiang Han... was too strong.
Finally, after another precise Ice Punch hit the same spot, Onix's massive body could no longer hold up and crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Onix is unable to battle!"
Jiang Han withdrew his gaze.
Roxanne took a deep breath and recalled Onix.
She walked to the edge of the field, picked up her last Poké Ball, and her eyes became firm once again.
"Your strength makes it worth using this."
She threw the Poké Ball high into the air.
"Go, my most reliable partner, Nosepass!"
The light faded, and a uniquely shaped pokémon appeared on the field.
Its entire body was made of blue rock, and its most eye-catching feature was its massive, bright red nose, which always pointed steadfastly to the north.
Nosepass, Level 25!
A powerful aura radiated from it, even more steady and heavy than the previous Onix.
Jiang Han looked at the slightly fatigued Sneasel, which had consumed quite a bit of stamina in the battle with Onix.
"You did great, come back and rest."
He recalled Sneasel and took the last Poké Ball from his waist.
The final trump card of the Rock-type Gym.
A true curve finally appeared at the corners of Jiang Han's mouth.
He threw the Poké Ball out forcefully, his voice echoing through the Gym.
"Then, I'll leave the final opponent to you! Come out, Sandile!"
With a flash of red light, Sandile's figure appeared on the rock-strewn field.
The light inside the Gym was dim, with only a few spotlights hitting the field. The air was filled with the cold scent of rock and a faint smell of dust.
Sandile wasn't large, but it exuded an untamed wildness. Its sand-colored skin had a rough texture under the lights, and its half-closed eyes looked somewhat fierce.
"Oh? A Sandile," Roxanne said, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes. "You've raised it so well; it's rare to see such a spirited Sandile."
Raised well?
Jiang Han scoffed inwardly.
Constant growth and refinement through battle, plus a heap of resources!
It would be a miracle if it wasn't raised well.
"Gym Leader Roxanne flatters me; it's just good luck."
Jiang Han wore a humble smile, but his mind was quickly calculating.
He was determined to get this Rock Badge.
He had long since planned for Roxanne's trump card, Nosepass.
This pokémon appeared to be a pure Rock-type, but because of its Magnet Pull ability...
Roxanne had developed a large number of Electric-type moves for it. Countless challengers thought they could win easily with Water-types, only to be caught off guard by its Electric moves and leave in regret.
But Jiang Han was not one of those ordinary challengers.
Not only was Sandile immune to Thunder Shock because of its Ground-type, but he had also prepared plenty of surprises for it.
Stomping Tantrum, Brick Break, Counter... each one seemed specifically prepared for this big-nosed opponent.
"Then, let the final showdown begin!" The referee's flag dropped sharply.
"Nosepass, Harden!"
Roxanne immediately gave the order.
She was well aware of the Ground-type's immunity to Electric moves, so she had no intention of following that old path.
Nosepass floated in mid-air, its body emitting a metallic sheen as its entire texture seemed to become denser and harder.
"Oh? Raising defense?" Jiang Han's lips curled. "Sandile, let's do the same. Hone Claws!"
Sandile grinned, letting out a clicking sound as it rubbed its two front claws forcefully against the ground, creating a piercing noise and a few sparks.
Its gaze instantly became sharp, and its attack and accuracy were both boosted.
One attacking and one defending, the opening for both sides was very steady.
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