Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

Dragonite's Thunder Punch connected with Pelipper's jaw in one fluid motion.

As an Electric-type move, Thunder Punch was as devastating to the Water-Flying Pelipper as Ice Beam was to Dragonite—a quadruple weakness.

Even with Pelipper's respectable 100 base physical defense, it stood no chance.

The punch drained what little remained of Pelipper's stamina after weathering Dragonite's earlier assault.

The Water Bird Pokémon rocketed away like a cannonball, crashing into the icy battlefield and creating a large crater upon impact.

"Dragonite suddenly pivots and lands a devastating Thunder Punch on Pelipper!"

The announcer's voice mirrored Keita's shock and disbelief.

Keita, unaware of Luo Yuan's psychic abilities, couldn't comprehend how Dragonite had pinpointed Pelipper's position with its back turned, delivering such a precise counterattack.

It made no sense.

He knew Dragonite was powerful, but this level of precision felt... unfair.

Keita couldn't help but feel a twinge of injustice.

"Pelipper is unable to battle!"

The referee raised a flag to signal Pelipper's defeat.

Keita was now down to his final Pokémon.

"Roar!"

Dragonite raised its arms triumphantly, its crescent-shaped eyes narrowing in a victorious grin.

The crowd, momentarily stunned, erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.

There was nothing more satisfying to Kanto fans than seeing their beloved Dragonite dominate on the battlefield.

While the general audience reveled in the spectacle, the mood among the observing trainers was far from jubilant.

"Defeating two of Keita's Pokémon with just one Dragonite…"

"And it's still virtually unscathed, ready to fight."

"This guy…"

The trainers exchanged uneasy glances, each seeing the same heavy realization in the other's eyes.

They had underestimated Luo Yuan.

This wasn't just a trainer worthy of being their rival—Luo Yuan might very well be a significant threat.

Having witnessed Dragonite's performance, they placed themselves in Keita's shoes and doubted their ability to handle a Dragonite with such overwhelming strength, stamina, agility, and uncanny awareness.

But the battle wasn't over yet.

---

Despite losing two Pokémon, Keita took a deep breath to steady himself, refusing to give in to despair.

Still, an air of defeat lingered around him.

He had come to Kanto with dreams of becoming an Elite Four member, yet here he was, on the verge of elimination in the first round of preliminaries.

Two of his Pokémon were down, and he still didn't even know what Luo Yuan's second Pokémon was.

For a moment, Keita couldn't help but feel like he was playing the wrong role in this story.

"But I won't give up!" Keita declared to Luo Yuan.

His strategy was designed to shine in moments like this.

Still, his thoughts strayed to his earlier choices, particularly the ill-fated decision to lead with Aggron.

"If I hadn't started with Aggron, I'd have had much more room for error."

Choosing Aggron to hide his true strategy had been a critical mistake, one that snowballed into his current predicament.

But regrets were meaningless now. Resolving to fight to the end, Keita threw his third Poké Ball.

"Let's go, my partner!"

Boom!

A flash of light revealed a Pokémon with a yellow-green body and a dopey expression: Ludicolo.

"Not Swampert, but Ludicolo?" Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Keita caught the expression on Luo Yuan's face—one of genuine surprise.

For the first time, Keita felt oddly content, even if he lost.

His strategy now fully exposed, Keita didn't bother hiding the truth.

"Swampert is just a decoy to mislead others. Ludicolo is my true ace."

Hearing this, Luo Yuan nodded, a realization dawning on him.

He had subconsciously approached the situation as if it were a game, forgetting that Mega Evolution Stones weren't yet widely available in Hoenn.

Without Mega Evolution, Swampert was simply a strong Water-type, not the centerpiece of a rain team.

On the battlefield, Ludicolo began clapping its hands and swaying side to side in a peculiar dance.

Its rhythmic movements had an almost hypnotic effect, even causing Dragonite to sway slightly in sync.

Sensing Dragonite's guard slipping, Ludicolo's eyes gleamed.

With a sudden burst of speed, it launched itself forward like a cannonball, its ability Swift Swim enhancing its agility.

A blur streaked across the battlefield as Ludicolo aimed a powerful punch at Dragonite.

"Focus Punch!"

If the punch connected, it would undoubtedly deal significant damage, even to a Pokémon as powerful as Dragonite.

But just as Ludicolo's fist closed in, a spark of determination lit in Dragonite's eyes.

With a flaming fist, Dragonite swung back, ready to counter.

"Fire Punch!"

Ludicolo, realizing the danger, decided against a head-on collision.

Its physical stats were respectable, but it wasn't built to trade blows with Dragonite.

Mid-attack, Ludicolo adjusted its trajectory, redirecting its punch to avoid a direct clash.

Boom!

The two punches collided in mid-air, sending shockwaves through the arena.

Sparks and embers scattered as the clash of energy dissipated.

While Focus Punch had slightly more power than Fire Punch, Dragonite's superior size and weight gave it the advantage.

The resulting force sent Ludicolo tumbling backward.

Twisting mid-air, Ludicolo flipped gracefully before landing and skidding several meters to neutralize the impact.

Its movements were unnaturally agile for its stocky frame, showcasing its exceptional control and precision.

Once steady, Ludicolo resumed its earlier stance, swaying rhythmically as it danced.

Its cells seemed to come alive with energy as it moved, strength radiating through its body.

Yet there was a newfound wariness in Ludicolo's eyes.

It had spent years using its unassuming appearance to lull opponents into a false sense of security, but this time, it had been outplayed.

Dragonite, unfazed, maintained its confident demeanor.

Luo Yuan, meanwhile, assessed the situation after their brief exchange.

"This Ludicolo is Elite Four level," Luo Yuan murmured, "and on the stronger side at that."

---

T/N: Makes sense this guys has been a pokemon trainer for a couple years.