Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

Arcanine shook off the damp fur clinging to its body, matted down from the lingering humidity in the air. The sensation was undeniably uncomfortable.

"Arcanine, use Fire Blast!"

"Roar!"

Arcanine let out a fierce growl, opening its mouth wide as a blazing flame gathered within.

Although Slowbro had managed to block previous moves like Flamethrower and Fire Spin, this gave Gary a chance to gauge its true strength.

All things considered, Slowbro wasn't weak, but it was clear Arcanine held the advantage.

That's why Gary decided to use Fire Blast to bring down Slowbro!

With Arcanine's power, charging up the Fire Blast didn't take long.

Whoosh!

A fiery burst shot out of Arcanine's mouth, taking the shape of a large, blazing character in mid-air before hurtling toward Slowbro.

Without a change in his calm expression, Luo Yuan called out, "Slowbro, use Water Pulse!"

It was another Water Pulse! Surf wasn't an option here, so Water Pulse was Slowbro's strongest available Water-type move for now.

Sploosh!

Slowbro launched another torrent of water.

The intense heat from the fire evaporated a cloud of steam, but this time, Slowbro's Water Pulse wasn't quite enough; even as it pressed against the wave, Fire Blast pushed forward fiercely, still surging toward Slowbro.

Realizing Water Pulse wouldn't hold, Luo Yuan quickly commanded, "Slowbro, Light Screen!"

A shimmering barrier appeared before Slowbro.

Fire Blast collided with the Light Screen, causing it to flicker violently. The shield only managed to last a second before shattering with a resounding crash.

But a second was all Slowbro needed to make its move.

First, it dodged the path of the Fire Blast.

Slowbro leapt aside, narrowly evading the attack as it slammed into the ground, leaving a large crater and sending fragments of stone flying.

Neither Luo Yuan nor Slowbro was particularly concerned with the destruction left by the Fire Blast.

After all, no matter how strong the move was, it meant nothing if it didn't hit.

Then, following Luo Yuan's command, Slowbro began its counter.

Standing in the arena, Slowbro's body glowed with a mysterious blue light as it moved with a strange, trance-like rhythm. Water vapor in the air above swirled and thickened, gathering ominously.

"Is that... Rain Dance?"

Professor Oak, with his experienced eye, instantly recognized the move.

Looking around, Oak noted the environment; the air was thick with moisture, water vapor hanging in the air, providing a perfect setup for Slowbro's Rain Dance.

In the games, Rain Dance may only need a quick command to activate, but in real battles, it required the right conditions.

Moisture from the air gathered into clouds over the field, darkening before releasing a steady drizzle.

Drip, drip

Raindrops began to fall, landing on Arcanine as it readied for another attack, visibly disturbing it.

For Fire-type Pokémon, rain was always an unpleasant adversary.

With its fluffy coat now damp and clinging to its body, Arcanine not only felt uncomfortable but was also hindered in its movements.

Gary noticed this too, but there was little he could do.

His Arcanine hadn't learned Sunny Day.

"Arcanine, use Fire Fang!"

Flamethrower, Fire Spin, and Fire Blast had all been blocked or dodged by Slowbro. This made Gary realize that Slowbro seemed to have a reliable strategy for evading Arcanine's ranged attacks.

So he decided to switch to close-range physical moves instead.

Arcanine, however, was unfazed by its trainer's indecision over attack choices.

"Rrrooar!"

As soon as Gary's command was issued, Arcanine's teeth ignited in flames as it charged toward Slowbro, kicking up its paws as it sprinted across the muddy ground.

The rain-soaked earth clung to its paws, dirtying its once-pristine fur, but Arcanine ignored this, quickly closing the gap between it and the dancing Slowbro.

Then, blazing with intense heat, it lunged at Slowbro.

One could imagine that, if this bite hit, Slowbro might be ready for the platter after a bit of slicing.

Luo Yuan, of course, wasn't about to let that happen.

He gestured to Slowbro. "Slowbro, use Mega Punch!"

As he gave the command, Luo Yuan mentally projected an image of Arcanine's stance and trajectory directly into Slowbro's mind.

Not only did Luo Yuan predict Arcanine's next move, but he also pinpointed exactly where Slowbro should strike for maximum impact.

With such guidance, it would be hard for Slowbro to miss.

If it failed even with this much assistance, Luo Yuan was seriously considering putting Slowbro through a grueling two-month boot camp.

Slowbro, unaware of the impending consequences should it fail, focused entirely on Luo Yuan's instructions, firmly planting its stance before drawing back its fist, aiming for Arcanine's vulnerable abdomen.

"Slow!"

Pow!

Following Luo Yuan's marked trajectory, Slowbro bypassed Arcanine's weakened guard, striking it squarely in the stomach.

Arcanine's midsection caved slightly from the impact, a ripple spreading outward from the point of contact, hitting deep through muscle and fur.

"Arrrooo!"

Arcanine let out a pained cry as it lost its balance, its body flung backward before it crashed to the muddy ground.

"Arcanine!" Gary called out, his voice full of concern as he watched his once-proud Arcanine now muddy and soaked.

But Luo Yuan and Slowbro weren't about to slow down!

A blast of Water Gun struck Arcanine, completing its transformation into a sopping, battered mess.

Then…

"Slowbro, use Zen Headbutt!"

This was one of Slowbro's strongest moves.

If it landed, the battle's outcome would be clear.

Whoosh!

Upon hearing Luo Yuan's command, Slowbro surged forward, explosive energy propelling it as it leaped, aiming its sturdy head straight for Arcanine.

Although Slowbro's head wasn't as hard as Deoxys's steel exterior, it was solid enough to deal with Arcanine without issue.

Sensing the danger, Arcanine suddenly grew calm, focusing amidst the chaos.

Ignoring its pain, it swiftly dodged to the side, exploiting its speed advantage to avoid the headbutt.

Crash!

Slowbro's head smashed into the ground, forming a web of cracks upon impact!

The strength of Slowbro's Zen Headbutt was evident.

"Hah…"

Seeing Arcanine dodge the attack, Gary exhaled in relief.

Then, glancing at Slowbro, still head-down with its tail raised, Gary felt that his chance had finally arrived.

---

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