"Swampert, use Scald, then leap up and pull the Gyarados down!"
Since Gyarados was airborne, Ground-type moves wouldn't affect it, making the strategy of dragging it down a risky but necessary maneuver.
"Gyarados, Dragon Pulse!" Clair commanded.
Gyarados bellowed furiously, unleashing a surge of blue-purple energy from its maw, aimed directly at the charging Swampert.
However, the moment before the Dragon Pulse could connect, Swampert kicked off the ground with tremendous force, launching itself into the air.
Standing at only 1.8 meters tall, Swampert was dwarfed by the 6-meter-long Gyarados. But as it ascended, Swampert unleashed a torrent of Scald, the boiling water capable of potentially inflicting a burn.
Yet Gyarados, being a Water-type Pokémon, wasn't as vulnerable to the attack.
The scalding water splashed across Gyarados' face, only fueling its rage.
"Gyarados, Dragon Pulse again!"
This time, with Swampert midair, there was no way to dodge—the attack was unavoidable.
"Endure it!" Aoki shouted.
Swampert's Endure was its only means of surviving the strike. Aoki knew that if Swampert didn't bring Gyarados down, the battle would be lost. With type disadvantage and Gyarados' superior level, the odds were already stacked against them.
The green energy shield of Endure flickered as it absorbed the brunt of the Dragon Pulse, allowing Swampert to close the distance.
With a powerful grip, Swampert seized Gyarados' blue horns, using its own weight and momentum to yank the serpentine Pokémon down.
The massive Water-type clamped onto Gyarados' horns with both hands, forcing it to the ground with sheer brute strength.
If you want to fight, fight on the ground—no need to show off in the air.
Both Pokémon crashed onto the battlefield.
"Gyarados, Iron Tail!" Clair ordered.
Aoki smirked—this was exactly what he wanted.
"Swampert, Hammer Arm!"
Gyarados' tail gleamed with a metallic sheen as it coiled its body, preparing to strike. Official source is novel fire.net
But Swampert didn't flinch. One hand remained locked onto Gyarados' horn, muscles straining to keep the beast pinned. The other fist clenched tight, veins bulging as it channeled every ounce of strength into its next attack.
Both moves landed simultaneously.
Swampert's fist smashed into Gyarados' skull, cratering the ground beneath it.
Gyarados' Iron Tail whipped across Swampert's torso with devastating force, the sheer size of the tail nearly matching Swampert's entire body.
Yet Swampert refused to let go. If it released Gyarados now, the battle would be lost.
"Swampert, again!" Aoki commanded, expression unwavering.
Clair's face darkened. Gyarados was stronger, had the type advantage, and yet it had been dragged into a brawl it couldn't escape.
Thrash—a 120-power Normal-type attack that unleashed frenzied strikes, but left the user confused and uncontrollable.
Similar to Outrage, but without the Dragon-type boost.
"Then we go all out! Swampert, keep hammering!"
If Gyarados was resorting to reckless fury, Swampert would match it blow for blow.
The first Hammer Arm had been mitigated by Endure, but now Gyarados was lost in its own rage, eyes bloodshot, mind consumed by violence.
Yet no matter how wildly Gyarados thrashed, Swampert held firm.
Fist met scale. Tail met muscle.
A brutal, unrelenting exchange.
With one final Hammer Arm, Swampert drove Gyarados' head deeper into the fractured earth.
Gyarados' tail struck back with equal force.
Both Pokémon collapsed.
"Gyarados and Swampert are both unable to battle! Trainers, send out your next Pokémon!" the referee announced.
Aoki was satisfied. Against a stronger opponent, Swampert had fought to a draw.
Both trainers recalled their Pokémon, then sent out their next fighters.
Clair sent out Charizard.
Egg Moves: Bite, Metal Claw, Dragon Pulse, Air Cutter
Basic Moves: Wing Attack, Flame Charge, Heat Wave, Dragon Claw, Shadow Claw, Air Slash, Scratch, Growl, Ember, Smokescreen, Dragon Rage, Flame Burst, Slash, Flamethrower
Learnt Moves: Fire Blast, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Iron Tail
TM Moves: Endure, Roost, Earthquake, Brick Break, Aerial Ace, Steel Wing, Shadow Claw, Dragon Tail
Level 52—a Charizard at the cusp of Champion strength.
Likely Clair's starter.
This time, Drapion had no level disadvantage.
At Level 53, it was a proper Champion-tier Pokémon.
With its Poison/Dark typing, it no longer suffered a 4x weakness to Flying—giving it a fighting chance.
The only real disadvantage? It couldn't fly.
But for Drapion, that wasn't a dealbreaker.
Clair, however, had planned differently.
She had chosen Charizard specifically to counter Aoki's Florges, expecting him to send it out next.
After Aoki revealed Florges' Fairy typing, Clair had studied his battles closely.
She theorized that Florges was either a Fairy/Grass hybrid or could shift its typing—and Charizard was her counter.
With Fire and Flying moves, it could overwhelm Florges.
But Aoki had thrown her off by sending Drapion instead.
Now, she had two choices:
Fight Drapion with Charizard.
Recall Charizard and switch.