Chapter 372: Gym battle: The End
Chapter 372: Gym battle: The End
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The effect of the rain dance was over. The impact of 'Chilling water,' 'Icy wind,' and 'Avalanche' had already passed. Gyarados was breathing heavily, with multiple wounds covering its body. Using so many moves had taken a toll on it. However, ROARRRRR, its energy level was still at the top, showing that it hadn't even been hurt.
'Is this the power of 'Endure'?' thought Axel.
Gyarados's passive move intrigued him. He also noticed that Gyarados was slowly healing; though slow, it was making progress.
Axel realized that he needed to end the battle quickly if he wanted to win.
"Beedrill, use 'String shot'," shouted Axel.
'String shot' was now level 44 and had greatly powered up, becoming wider and stickier.
"Gyarados, use 'Flamethrower'," instructed Kent.
The 'String shot' was burned by Gyarados's flames, but some of it managed to stick to the ground.
Beedrill began to spam 'String shot' towards Gyarados while dodging its attacks. After 2 minutes, the field had been covered in numerous after-effects of 'String shot,' effectively cornering Gyarados.
"Beedrill, now use 'Electro web,'" Axel commanded.
After practicing for a long time, 'Electro web' had leveled up to 39. It wasn't very powerful, but it would have some effect on Gyarados.
A net of electric current flew and struck Gyarados, causing it to ROARRR in pain. The attack immobilized Gyarados, and it struggled to break free.
"Now, use 'Agility' and 'Calm mind' as much as you can," said Axel.
Beedrill started using those two moves. By the time Gyarados broke free from the net, Beedrill had already used 'Agility' three times and 'Calm mind' twice. The purpose of 'Calm mind' was not to boost its Sp. Attack stat, but to enhance its Sp. Defense stat. Beedrill hardly had any special attack moves, but Gyarados did, so Axel wanted it to have good special defense to withstand those attacks.
"Gyarados, use 'Rain dance'," said Kent calmly. He acted as if he had already won the battle, which annoyed Axel.
As Beedrill approached, ready to attack, Kent commanded Gyarados to use 'Hyper beam.' Axel noticed it charging the attack but knew he couldn't get close enough to hit it with 'X-Scissor.'
Beedrill used 'String shot' at Gyarados's big mouth. The strings were sticky and bouncy, allowing Beedrill to bounce off and dodge the attack at the critical moment.
"Now come near it and use 'X-Scissor'," said Axel.
Beedrill's body was connected to Gyarados's through the web of strings. It used the same strategy and bounced off toward Gyarados. However, Axel noticed that Gyarados was still charging 'Hyper beam.'
Both Beedrill's drills slashed at the air, forming an 'X'-shaped bug-type arc that hit Gyarados in the face again.
ROARRRRRR.....
The attack was huge, but Gyarados managed to stop its 'Hyper beam' just in time, preventing further damage.
In its rage, Gyarados swung its tail, filled with water-type energy, hitting Beedrill squarely in the face.
BANNGGGGGGG!
Beedrill flew back from the impact and landed on the wall of the battle stadium. The attack's impact was so high that Axel could literally see the air pressure of the attack. Beedrill was struck on the wall, leaving a Beedrill-sized hole.
Beedrill was not moving. The referee took some time to decide the match. Axel couldn't comprehend what had just happened. 'Aqua Tail' was powerful, but Beedrill had high defense, so he couldn't understand why the attack was so devastating.
He questioned why Gyarados had not used it before.
Axel's mind was filled with these questions. Was he really going to lose the gym battle for the first time?
Kent had not even taken out his final Pokemon.
"Beedrill has fainted. Chall...."
"Wait!!", shouted Kent and the referee kept quiet.
She looked towards Kent. Her eyes were asking 'Why are you stopping me?' and then she followed Kent's eyes and saw it.
Beedrill was still not down. It had multiple wounds on its body and it was bleeding heavily. Axel was still surprised that only 1 attack could do this.
Gyarados didn't have a good attack stat. So what the hell was happening?
Slowly and painfully, Beedrill started to stand up. It took 30 seconds to stand up straight and then it started to fly at a low altitude. Gyarados didn't disturb it. It was amazed.
This was the first time any pseudo-king rank Pokemon had dared to stand up after that attack. It was in shock.
"I must say, Axel, you have trained your Pokemon really well.", said Kent with a smile. This smile was the smile of admiration.
Even though the odds were against it, it was still not willing to give up.
"Thanks for the praise but I am forfeiting the match.", said Axel.
"Can you tell me the reason?", asked Kent.
"My Beedrill is just standing due to its willpower. Even if I were to defeat your Gyarados, you will have 1 Pokemon left.", said Axel.
That was the reason Axel was forfeiting the match. He could still not believe that he lost the gym battle. His had never happened to him. But this was the reality.
"Alright, Lyra, announce the result.", said Kent.
"Challenger Axel has forfeited the match. Gym leader Kent has won this gym battle.", announced Lyra.
"Before you go, Axel, meet me in the same waiting room. I have some things to ask you.", said Kent and returned.
Axel was also guided by the receptionist to the same waiting room as before. Even though everyone was cheering him for a good battle, he was not listening to any of them.
He was still in shock. He still could not believe that he had lost this gym battle. If he could not win against a gym leader, how could he win against elite 4 in 10 months? It was simply impossible.
Others may say that he was overreacting to the loss but he was not. Imagine that you are a grade A student, acing every time in your exam. You are at the top of your class and then suddenly, one day you fail. You didn't get the second rank or the third rank but you failed. How would you feel after that?
That was what Axel was feeling right now.
Kent entered the waiting room but Axel didn't even notice him.
"So, how was your first defeat?", asked Kent with a smile. He was starting to hate that smile.
"Hey, you don't have to be angry. I just called you here to console you. That is all.", said Kent patting Axel's back.
Axel's gaze lowered and then it became normal.
"Axel, you must know that every trainer fails at some point in their time. That is nothing to be ashamed you. It just tells you that you have to work harder. That is all.", said Kent.
"I know."
"Then.."
"I know but I still cannot believe that I lost.", said Axel expressing his true feelings.
"Then you would have to get out of that shock as fast as you can.", said Kent.
"Let's get into your mistakes. I specially called you here for that.", said Kent.
"Please proceed."
"First of all, you had not done any elementary mistake. Your Pokemons have been raised well. I have no complaints about that. The thing that you lacked was vision and cleverness.", said Kent.
"Can you please elaborate on that?"
"Alright. I realized that you have taught your Pokemons many new moves which is commendable and also frightening. However, I only taught 1 to each Pokemon and I called that 'Water manipulation'.
'Water manipulation' didn't bring out huge attack power like 'Field Control' but it affected the powers of all of my water-type attacks.
Specifically, it helps me manipulate, and change the shape and power of the water-type moves. It is a versatile move. You should teach your Pokemon some of those."
Kent was right. It was like 'Flame Control' of Charizard. 'Flame control' itself did nothing but it powered up all the fire-type moves.
"However, this is just my suggestion. You can choose not to do it. Just as every trainer and every Pokemon are different, every battle style is different.
Your another mistake was to underestimate my Gyarados. You knew that my Gyarados is the most powerful Pokemon in my team. My Gyarados new 2 new moves. It is very talented.
The first was 'Water manipulation' and the second was a passive move called 'Endure'.
'Endure' would not only increase its defense but it would decrease the attack power of the enemy. It could not be seen by naked eye but if you have completely mastered your Aura, you would have seen the difference.
However, that is not where it ends. It also....