"Heh, challenging me? Beating you is easy! I'll just use this!"
Giselle arrogantly tossed out a reverse-matchup Graveler.
"Hah! So you're not as impressive as you claimed! You don't even know that Rock-types are weak to Water-types?" Misty regained her confidence the moment Graveler appeared.
"Heh~ Even if the type matchup is bad, I can still win if my level is high enough," Giselle replied with equal confidence.
And indeed, she wasn't wrong. Misty's Starmie had evolved through the use of a Water Stone and was currently only Level 17.
Giselle's Graveler, on the other hand, had evolved naturally through leveling and was already Level 27.
A ten-level gap. A crushing advantage.
On top of that, her Graveler seemed to have been raised with special care by the academy's instructors—well-trained and highly disciplined.
With a single hit, it sent Starmie flying right out the window and into the swimming pool below.
Even though Misty had witnessed Kazuki's reverse-matchup battles before, having it happen to her personally was still a tough pill to swallow.
She stood frozen for a moment, but quickly bolted out to check on her Starmie.
Kazuki followed close behind. As he passed Giselle, he cast her a disdainful glance before heading outside to check on Misty.
That look of scorn from Kazuki made Giselle extremely uncomfortable.
This guy... What was with that look?!
Why does he look like he sees me as completely beneath him?!
I just won using a reverse matchup with overwhelming force! Shouldn't they both be shocked out of their minds?
Damn it! That expression of his really pisses me off!
Not getting the reaction she expected, Giselle stormed out of the battle hall and continued pressing at the poolside.
"This is your favorite watery environment, isn't it? If you're not satisfied, feel free to bring out another Water-type for a rematch."
Still hugging her injured Starmie, Misty looked up and glared at Giselle.
"So you deliberately chose a Rock-type to fight me, didn't you?"
"Hehehe!" Giselle laughed with undisguised mockery. "Of course! Only with elite-level training like ours can Pokémon become truly powerful!"
"If their level is high enough, even type disadvantages can be overcome!"
"That's what we call data modeling! Hehehe!"
"Hey, loser Joe, are you paying attention?
The key to winning isn't just type advantage—it's also level!"
"Master that concept, and maybe you'll have a shot at becoming a top-tier Trainer someday."
With a self-important posture, Giselle began lecturing everyone around her.
"So you're good at calculations, huh?" Kazuki, having calmed Misty down, stepped forward.
Seeing Kazuki finally speak, Giselle perked up, ready to redirect her remarks toward him.
"And who are you supposed to be?"
"I'm a Pokémon Trainer from Pallet Town. Name's Kazuki."
"Hah, never heard of you! You must not be anyone special!" Giselle's words were thick with sarcasm.
"And seriously? You let your Pikachu roam around like that?"
"Basic common sense—Pokémon are supposed to be kept inside Poké Balls!"
"And no beginner's guide to Pokémon would ever recommend starting with a Pikachu!"
"Wait... don't tell me you've never even read a single book and just blindly jumped into becoming a Trainer?"
"Oh hohoho!"
Such a smug, snide little gremlin. There's no way someone like this is actually decent.
Kazuki grumbled to himself and fired back,
"So you're well-read, sharp with numbers, and your Pokémon must be trained to perfection, right?"
"Hmph! What, you don't believe me? Then how about a battle to find out?"
Giselle spun a Poké Ball in her hand, itching to teach Kazuki a lesson.
"Fine! Then I'll be the one teaching you."
Giselle narrowed her eyes in irritation.
What a cocky tone! Once he loses, I'll make him kneel beside me and listen to me ramble about Pokémon for an entire day!
"Graveler! Let's go!"
"Pikachu! Show her what you've got!"
And of course, if you're going to teach someone a lesson, you might as well do it with a reverse-type matchup.
"Hahaha! You're trying to act tough with a type disadvantage too?"
"But your Pikachu looks like it's, what, Level 25 at best?"
"You clearly didn't absorb a thing from what I said about level suppression! You're even dumber than Joe!"
"Honestly, you're adorably clueless! Tell you what—write me a thousand-word essay praising me after this, and maybe I'll give you a full day of private tutoring!"
"You talk too much. Pikachu—Thunderbolt!"
Kazuki didn't waste time arguing. He just gave the order.
"Hahaha, that won't do a thi—"
Giselle's laughter abruptly cut off.
"This is…?!"
Pikachu was equipped with a Light Ball. This Thunderbolt came with double the power.
In a flash of lightning, Graveler turned into a smoldering, pitch-black lump.
One hit KO. No need for further commentary.
And along with Graveler's collapse, Giselle's overinflated pride shattered too.
As she stared at her fallen Graveler, her pupils dilated, her knees buckled—
—and she collapsed onto the ground in a perfect duck-sit, utterly stunned…
----
Next goal: 500 Power Stones!
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