Chapter 7: Defeating the Peony, Battling the Great Pincer Crab

Chapter 7: Defeating Misty, Battling Krabby

"You really have a lot of nerve saying that..."

With just one sentence, Xia You had left a deep impression on the three beautiful sisters of Cerulean City!

Daisy smiled slightly. "Whether it's being a trainer or performing water ballet, both are our main professions. Alright, please follow us."

Led by the three, Xia You followed them through a corridor until they reached the edge of the pool.

At this moment, the audience who had just been watching the performance had all cleared out, which was perfect, as no one would disturb them.

Just then, as the other two sisters tossed floating boards into the pool one by one, the battlefield was completed with that simple operation.

One could only say it was quite perfunctory...

But then again...

Scanning his eyes back and forth over those few floating boards, Xia You didn't dare to be careless.

After all, this was a Water-type gym; it was surrounded by water, and he didn't have any Water-type Pokémon. His Pokémon's range of movement was limited, so every step had to be taken with caution.

"Alright." Clapping her hands, Lily smiled. "We can start the battle now!"

Without saying anything more, Xia You walked to the trainer's command area on the other side, facing the three sisters across the water.

As they watched him from afar, Daisy's voice drifted over.

"The battle rules here are simple. Each of us three will use one Pokémon. As long as you defeat all of us, you win the challenge!"

Violet crossed her arms, a playful look on her face. "So, who do you want to challenge first?"

It could be said that it was that very remark from earlier that had ignited a bit of their fighting spirit!

Xia You's gaze swept across their faces one by one, but he couldn't discern anything from them.

"Anyone is fine. You decide."

"You've got a big mouth, don't you?" As the third of the sisters, Violet volunteered, stepping forward and taking a Poké Ball from her pocket. "In that case, let me be the one to test you! Come out, Goldeen!"

She opened the Poké Ball, and as a blue light flashed, a white fish with a horn on its head was released into the pool.

Information about it flashed through Xia You's mind.

He remembered it was a pure Water-type Pokémon. Its dorsal and tail fins were highly developed, allowing it to swim at a speed of 5 knots. Because its tail fin fluttered as elegantly as a dress, it was also known as the Queen of the Water!

Glancing down at his feet, Xia You sent out his first Pokémon.

"Eevee, I choose you!"

Hearing Xia You's command, Eevee let out an excited cry, then leaped directly from the shore onto a floating board!

In terms of typing, there was no advantage or disadvantage between the two Pokémon.

Therefore, to win, it would depend on who had the greater strength. However, because of the terrain advantage, it wouldn't be easy for Eevee to defeat Goldeen.

It would all depend on its performance and his own commands!

Daisy, the eldest, acted as the referee. Seeing that both Pokémon were ready, she announced loudly, "The Cerulean Gym challenge match begins now!"

The moment her words fell, Violet spoke up.

"Goldeen, use Peck!"

At Violet's command, the battle officially began!

Goldeen dove into the water and disappeared from sight. A few breaths later, as ripples spread, Goldeen suddenly shot out from the water, its body flying as if it had wings, heading straight for Eevee!

It was indeed very fast!

Xia You's eyes narrowed, and he said calmly, "Eevee, dodge it!"

Relying on its excellent agility, Eevee sidestepped just before Goldeen could collide with it, dodging the attack with ease.

Seeing this, Xia You continued to command, "Use Tackle!"

Just as the two Pokémon crossed paths, Eevee leaped into the air and slammed into Goldeen's body.

Unfortunately, just as Eevee was about to make contact, Goldeen twisted its body, dodged the attack, and then plunged into the water with a 'splash,' disappearing once again.

Neither side had gained an advantage in the first exchange.

But this made Violet realize that the man in front of her wasn't so easy to deal with!

Eevee landed steadily on another floating board, but because of Goldeen's splash, some water had sprayed onto it, leaving its fur damp.

It shook its fur, but it couldn't quite get rid of all the moisture.

Taking it all in, Violet smiled from across the way. "Good! Goldeen, keep it up, force it into the water!"

Goldeen repeated its previous tactic, using Horn Attack on Eevee once more.

This time, because of the added weight of the water on its fur, Eevee's speed was significantly affected. Facing Goldeen's second attack, Eevee only managed to dodge by a hair's breadth, just as it was about to be grazed.

Seeing this, Xia You breathed a sigh of relief, but he couldn't help but feel nervous for Eevee.

After all, given Eevee's current strength, if it were actually hit and accidentally fell into the water, the situation would become extremely unfavorable.

It seemed he needed to find a way...

Thinking of this, Xia You's eyes darted around, scanning the floating boards. When he saw that two of them had drifted together, a plan slowly formed in his mind.

"Eevee, jump to that floating board over there!"

Eevee looked back at Xia You, and although confused, it followed the command and jumped over.

Seeing this, Violet naturally didn't understand what he was trying to do, but she smiled anyway. "Whatever you're doing now, it won't help! Goldeen, use Horn Attack!"

Goldeen leaped out of the water again, aiming its horn at Eevee.

"Eevee, step back!"

Xia You's voice rang out at that exact moment.

Hearing his command, Eevee stepped back a few paces, standing on the other end of the floating board. It was this very shift in weight that caused the board to tilt upward!

Just then, Goldeen crashed into the tilted board!

Even worse, its sharp horn got stuck in the board, leaving its entire body suspended in mid-air!

"What!?" Violet was shocked, and the other two sisters widened their eyes as well.

They never expected such a move!

Xia You smiled faintly.

A fish out of water, no matter how fierce it was before, would only meet its end in the end.

Without water and trapped on the floating board, what else could Goldeen do?

"Eevee, finish it!"

Hearing Xia You's voice, Violet grew anxious and shouted to Goldeen, "Goldeen, get back into the water!"

However, no matter how much Goldeen twisted its body, it couldn't pull its horn free!

"Damn it." Seeing Eevee approaching, Violet shouted, "Goldeen, use Supersonic!"

A visible sound wave emitted from Goldeen's mouth. Because it was facing away from Eevee, the Supersonic did hit, causing Eevee to become briefly confused. But once Eevee regained its senses, the situation remained unchanged.

"It's over."

As if to verify Xia You's words, Eevee used Tackle, delivering a heavy blow that left Goldeen completely unable to battle.

"I guess you're good..."

Violet sighed helplessly, recalled Goldeen to its Poké Ball, and silently stepped aside.

As she stepped down, Lily took her place in the trainer's command area.

"You've got some skills." She looked at Xia You, took out her own Poké Ball, and released her Pokémon. "But this next one won't be so easy to deal with. Come out, Krabby!"

As her words fell, a crab-like Pokémon appeared in the water.

At first glance, the Pokémon's pair of large pincers held high were particularly eye-catching!

But looking closer, one could see that its dull eyes on its red-and-white body made it look a bit silly and dim-witted, as if it weren't very bright.

Because he knew it so well, information about it flashed through Xia You's mind.

As a freshwater crab Pokémon, Krabby's pair of large pincers were undoubtedly its formidable weapons!

However, those pincers would occasionally fall off during attacks, though they would soon grow back. If danger approached, it would also spit bubbles from its mouth to cover its body, making it look larger.

It reduced its mobility, but it strengthened its close-quarters combat...

After a moment of thought, Xia You called Eevee back.

"Eevee, come back. You've worked hard."

Once Eevee returned to his side, Xia You patted its head in approval, then took out Bulbasaur's Poké Ball.

"It's up to you now, Bulbasaur."

As he opened it, amidst a flash of blue light, his Bulbasaur appeared on the floating board.

"Bulba, saur!"

As soon as it appeared, Bulbasaur stared intently at the Krabby in the water, its fighting spirit high!

In terms of typing, the Grass-type Bulbasaur undoubtedly held an advantage over the Water-type Krabby.

But the problem remained.

On this field filled with water, where movement space was severely compressed, how to avoid falling into the water had become the key factor in winning the battle!