"Snreee~~"
Sneasel let out a shy cry, and its entire body immediately relaxed.
In this state, both its aggressiveness and Attack power dropped sharply.
A broad smile appeared on Silas's face.
"Keep up the pressure! Use Attract!"
Vulpix adjusted its posture once more, its cloud-like tails swaying gently.
As pink hearts flickered through the air, Sneasel scrambled down from the top of the ice pillar using both its hands and feet.
The fierce look in its eyes had already transformed into heart shapes.
It circled around Vulpix nonstop, completely ignoring the latter's cold and dismissive attitude.
Pryce called out to it several times, but Sneasel showed no sign of recovering.
Aunt Sima explained the reason.
"This child seems to have reached the age where it wants a mate. It's been unusually active lately."
Although Pryce was the trainer, Aunt Sima was the one who usually cared for and raised the Gym's Pokémon.
As such, she understood their changes very well.
As members of the same Field Egg Group, Vulpix's charm was unlike anything Sneasel had ever encountered. On top of that, their Ice-type attributes were highly compatible.
Moves such as Baby-Doll Eyes and Attract were particularly special.
Their effectiveness depended not only on strength but also on the Pokémon's own charm.
Differences in species, Egg Groups, and even typings could all influence the final result.
For example, if a Zangoose used Attract on a Seviper, it probably wouldn't create much infatuation. instead, it might only make them fight even harder.
Generally speaking, stronger Pokémon tended to possess greater charm.
Not only because of instinctive attraction, but because a Pokémon's fur, physique, and overall condition improved as it grew stronger.
Every Champion-level Pokémon possessed an exceptionally perfect physical condition.
Of course, that wasn't absolute.
The simplest example was Pokémon raised by beginner trainers.
Even if their Pokémon were stronger, their charm might still not compare to Pokémon carefully groomed by professional breeders.
The stronger Pokémon might even be capable of defeating two or three of the latter in battle.
This was one reason why so many Pokémon Contests and beauty competitions existed in the Pokémon world, where a Pokémon's charm was the primary judging criterion.
Silas still couldn't understand how judges evaluated Pokémon beauty using human standards.
Yet judging from the results, they clearly did a good job.
Returning to the Gym battle.
The combination of Baby-Doll Eyes followed by Attract completely brought the youthful Sneasel to its knees.
It paid no attention whatsoever to Pryce's commands.
Vulpix looked thoroughly disgusted and smacked a chunk of ice directly onto Sneasel's face.
It had never expected this ugly guy to cling to it so desperately.
That's right.
Although Sneasel considered Alolan Vulpix beautiful and most Pokémon would likely agree, the opposite wasn't true.
In Vulpix's eyes, Sneasel really wasn't attractive at all.
Perhaps it was because of the sinister aura that came with its Dark typing.
From Silas's perspective as a trainer, however, this Sneasel from Mahogany Gym looked quite handsome.
Its fur was sleek, its claws razor-sharp, the yellow gem-like markings on its forehead and chest shone brightly, and the three red feathers on its tail were elegant without losing their wild charm.
In every aspect, it showed that Aunt Sima was an exceptionally skilled breeder.
"Snreee..."
Rather than becoming angry When Vulpix used ice to keep its distance, the infatuated Sneasel acted even more like a lovestruck fool.
It sniffed the ice repeatedly and occasionally licked it.
The corner of Pryce's mouth twitched involuntarily.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd been this embarrassed.
"Ahem."
Even Silas coughed awkwardly.
This Sneasel certainly had some unusual tastes.
While many Ice-type Pokémon fed on ice and snow, most preferred naturally formed ice.
Licking ice created directly from another Pokémon's energy felt a little strange.
"You're carrying the scent of that old fellow from the north."
After observing Vulpix carefully, Pryce suddenly made a startling statement.
Surprised, Silas nodded.
"Yes. During a League mission, we met it once. Vulpix absorbed some of the Transparent Snow Veil energy it left behind."
Silas wasn't surprised that Pryce knew Articuno.
The two were located relatively close to each other.
What was truly shocking was that Pryce could detect Articuno's aura purely through observation and perception.
Aunt Sima chimed in.
"Articuno, huh? That fellow hasn't visited in a long time. Always flying around in the sky and never stopping by for a meal."
There was clear dissatisfaction in her tone.
As expected, Aunt Sima was far from ordinary.
When speaking about a Legendary Pokémon, she sounded as if she were talking about an everyday Pokémon.
"But that fellow's energy is incredibly attractive to Ice-types. No wonder Sneasel is so obsessed."
She smiled.
That also explained Sneasel's current state.
Even if Vulpix was beautiful and Sneasel was at that age, a carefully trained Pokémon wouldn't normally fall into infatuation so completely.
The real catalyst was the lingering energy Vulpix was still absorbing from Articuno's blessing.
That overflowing energy became the final trigger.
Unfortunately, nobody present had a good solution.
Three minutes passed.
Aunt Sima decisively raised her flag.
"Sneasel has lost its will to battle! Vulpix wins!"
"Vul~"
After enduring three minutes of torment, Vulpix finally sighed in relief.
It shot a pleading look toward its trainer.
"Come back, Vulpix. You did great."
Silas recalled it into its Poké Ball and comforted the emotionally exhausted Pokémon.
He hadn't expected events to unfold this way either.
In all his travels, battles decided by unusual status conditions like this were extremely rare.
Judging by the situation, he would probably receive a few claw marks from Alolan Vulpix later.
The moment Vulpix disappeared, Sneasel instantly returned to normal.
"SNREEE!"
It bared its fangs at Silas.
With a dark expression, Pryce recalled Sneasel.
There wasn't much he could say.
"Go, Dewgong."
He released his third Pokémon.
Dewgong floated happily atop one of the ice floes in the center pool, slapping the water with its tail.
Silas immediately threw out another Poké Ball.
"Let's battle, Escavalier!"
"Kiaaa!"
Escavalier appeared on the icy battlefield, raising its lance and roaring toward the sky.
Far from being hindered by the cold, it felt even more comfortable.
After all, back when it was still a Karrablast, it had spent a long time living in snowy environments.
There was no reason it would become less adaptable after growing stronger.
"Dewgong, use Water Pulse!"
Pryce showed no hesitation and immediately launched an attack.
In the previous match, Sneasel had lost, which normally meant Vulpix would have received the first move.
However, because Silas switched Pokémon, the initiative passed to Pryce.
Most Gym Leaders, wanting to guide challengers, would voluntarily give up that advantage.
After all, Gym Leaders were generally far stronger than challengers.
Pryce clearly didn't think that way.
He preferred battling seriously.
Even if neither side was using their strongest Pokémon.
Silas didn't find anything wrong with it.
The rules were the rules.
"Escavalier, use Bug Buzz!"
he shouted as the incoming waves surged forward. Water Pulse was fundamentally an attack created through vibrating water.
Bug Buzz, a move based on sound-wave vibrations, was practically the perfect counter.
"Bzzzzzz——"
Ripples spread through the air.
Under Escavalier's control, the sound waves generated by Bug Buzz shot straight toward the incoming Water Pulse.
Splash!
The two attacks collided, sending water spraying in every direction.
With the pool's support, Dewgong's Water Pulse formed faster than usual and was slightly more powerful.
Even so, against Escavalier's Bug Buzz, Water Pulse ultimately lost out.
The primary reason was the difference in the moves' base power.
Water splashed across the icy battlefield, making the already slippery surface even harder to stand on.
The remaining Bug Buzz continued toward Dewgong.
In response, Dewgong simply flapped its flipper-like limbs lightly. Its seemingly bulky body slipped gracefully into the water.
In the blink of an eye, it vanished beneath the surface.
Its streamlined body greatly reduced water resistance.
While it wasn't particularly mobile on land, it was exceptionally agile in water.
BOOM!
Bug Buzz plunged into the water, sending waves and spray high into the air.
However, it did not inflict much damage on Dewgong.
Soon, Dewgong resurfaced on a floating ice platform on the opposite side of the pool.
"Escavalier, use Acid Spray!"
Dewgong's movement gave Escavalier the initiative once again.
A corrosive mist of acid erupted from Escavalier, covering the entire battlefield overhead.
Against a defensive Pokémon like Dewgong, lowering its defenses was the key to victory.
Brycen remained calm.
"Aqua Ring, Repel!"
Streams of blue water rose from the pool and began circling Dewgong.
With a soft cry, the Aqua Ring expanded outward in all directions.
Sizzle—
The instant the water collided with the acid, an ear-piercing sound echoed through the arena.
The healing waters of Aqua Ring displayed a unique interaction against the Poison-type Acid Spray.
Most of the acid was neutralized before it could reach Dewgong.
The few remaining droplets were blocked by a curtain of water created with a sweep of Dewgong's large tail.
Not only that, but Dewgong seemed visibly refreshed.
Escavalier wasn't idle either.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, it rapidly moved toward the central pool.
And this was true speed.
On the icy surface, Escavalier's smooth armor actually worked to its advantage. It slid forward swiftly without needing to expend much stamina.
Even Silas hadn't expected that.
"So an Alolan Ninetales and Escavalier might actually have excellent synergy?"
His mind raced with possibilities, but his commands never stopped.
"Use Swords Dance to brake!"
"Kia!"
Escavalier dragged its twin lances across the ice.
The maneuver halted its momentum while simultaneously boosting its Attack.
"Dewgong, use Ice Beam!"
The moment Escavalier stopped moving, Pryce launched his counterattack.
"Not good!"
Silas's expression changed.
Just as he had suspected, Ice Beam's true target wasn't Escavalier.
It was the battlefield itself.
More specifically, the water scattered across the ice from the earlier Water Pulse.
The leftovers of the previous attack.
Crack—Crack—Crack!
The sound of freezing water echoed out.
Spreading ice rapidly reached Escavalier's feet.
Hard ice wrapped around its armor, locking it firmly in place.
"Break free and use Substitute!"
"Sheer Cold!"
The two commands rang out almost simultaneously.
Pryce's strategy was simple:
Immobilize Escavalier, then finish it with a single devastating blow.
Although Sheer Cold came with numerous limitations, its power was undeniable.
Against an opponent of similar strength, even a defensive Pokémon like Escavalier would lose over half its stamina if struck directly. It might not be knocked out instantly, but it would suffer severe damage and likely face additional freezing effects.
Fortunately, Silas reacted quickly.
The moment Dewgong began using Ice Beam, he had already predicted Pryce's next move and issued his response.
Without hesitation, Escavalier slammed its lance into the ice beneath it.
Crack!
The next instant, a dazzling white beam of freezing energy swept through Escavalier's position.
Empowered by the icy environment, Dewgong's Sheer Cold was unleashed at astonishing speed.
Residual Ice-type energy still lingered around its horn.
Silas, however, let out a sigh of relief.
The Escavalier caught in the beam gradually faded away.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, another Escavalier reappeared, panting heavily.
At the critical moment, it had sacrificed one-quarter of its stamina to create a Substitute and reposition itself.
Even for Escavalier, losing that much stamina at once was a considerable burden.
But Dewgong wasn't in good condition either.
After using the ultimate Ice-type move Sheer Cold, it looked noticeably exhausted.
Its Ice-type attacks would undoubtedly be weaker for a while.
"Excellent prediction."
Pryce tapped his cane and praised Silas's reaction.
Silas wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The hallmark battlefield control of Ice-types became explosive offense in Prycr's hands.
It was incredibly difficult to guard against.
"Escavalier, another Bug Buzz!"
Silas wasn't about to waste the opportunity.
Escavalier inhaled deeply.
Ripples once again appeared in the air.
This time, despite attempting to dodge, the weakened Dewgong was still struck by much of the attack.
"Wooo—!"
It cried out in pain.
Using the opening, Escavalier charged onto the floating ice platform.
The layer of fat beneath Dewgong's white fur was now exposed before Escavalier's lances.
"X-Scissor!"
A cross-shaped blade of energy slashed forward.
Before Dewgong could react, it was launched into the air.
Immediately afterward, a metallic sheen covered Escavalier's head.
"Finish it with Iron Head!"
Silas shouted.
The ice floe beneath Escavalier shattered.
Exploding forward with tremendous speed, it shot toward the falling Dewgong with its arms tucked at its sides.
THUD!
A heavy impact echoed through the arena.
Dewgong spun through the air before crashing onto the icy field.
It carved deep marks into the ground, its eyes spinning in circles.
Escavalier splashed heavily into the water and only resurfaced some time later.
"Dewgong is unable to battle! Escavalier wins!
All three of Gym Leader Pryce's Pokémon are unable to battle. The winner of this Gym Battle is Silas of Veridian Town, Kanto!"
Aunt Sima quickly announced the result.
A hexagonal Badge adorned with a snowflake design flew toward Silas's face.
Instinctively, he reached out and caught it.
"The youngster has quick reflexes!"
The culprit, Aunt Sima, gave him a thumbs-up.
Silas could only smile helplessly.
...
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