Heavy Slam is a Steel-type move where the user hurls its full weight into the target. The greater the difference in weight between the user and the target, the more damage it deals.
Aggron, encased from head to tail in thick metal armor, was one of the heaviest Pokémon around. If it landed a Heavy Slam on Fraxure, the damage would be devastating.
"Fraxure, use Brick Break!" Jacob called out sharply. Aggron had a four-times weakness to Fighting-type moves, so the choice was clear.
The only downside was that Fraxure couldn't yet learn a move like Close Combat — that would have to wait until it evolved into Haxorus. For now, Brick Break was the best Fighting-type option Jacob had.
What made Fraxure's Brick Break unique was how it performed the move. While most Pokémon swing their arms or claws, Fraxure used its two large tusks, snapping its neck forward in a sharp, cutting motion.
"Roar!" After a single Dragon Dance, Fraxure's Attack and Speed had both risen. Its tusks glowed with Fighting-type energy as it launched itself off the ground and drove straight into Aggron.
Boom! The collision was fierce. Energy burst outward as the two Pokémon crashed into each other.
Aggron didn't budge. Its sheer size and weight gave it a commanding advantage, and it held its ground without even shifting its footing.
Fraxure, on the other hand, stumbled back several steps, barely keeping its balance.
An unevolved Fraxure was still at a disadvantage against a fully evolved Aggron.
"Don't let it recover — Aggron, Double-Edge!" Kyle smiled and pressed the attack.
Double-Edge was one of the strongest Normal-type moves in existence, rivaling even Hyper Beam in raw power. Its only drawback was the recoil damage the user took after hitting. It was the kind of move trainers called "pyrrhic move" — powerful, but painful.
However, Aggron had the Ability Rock Head, which completely negated recoil damage from its own moves. That turned Double-Edge into an unstoppable strike with no downside — and with the boost from STAB, a single hit was enough to badly wound Fraxure.
Rock-type energy gathered around Aggron's head, coating it in a jagged layer of stone. It charged forward and drove its reinforced skull straight into Fraxure.
Jacob's expression tightened. In terms of raw power, Fraxure simply wasn't there yet.
But then, an idea came to him — a classic strategy he had thought through before.
"Fraxure, Brick Break again!"
Without hesitating, Fraxure surged forward and drove its razor-sharp tusks into Aggron's plated body.
The tusks cut clean through the metal armor, leaving a deep gash across Aggron's chest. Dark blood began to seep steadily from the wound.
This wasn't something an ordinary Fraxure could do. Jacob had spent considerable time and resources treating and sharpening Fraxure's tusks, reinforcing them with rare alloy compounds. The result was a cutting edge that could slice through material most Pokémon couldn't scratch. Aggron's famous defense meant little against them.
Jacob let out a quiet sigh. You really did get what you paid for. Raising a competitive Pokémon was an expensive commitment — and for families serious about producing strong Trainers, it often meant putting every available resource on the line.
Aggron barely flinched. The wound bled, but the damage wasn't critical. And in the same moment Fraxure attacked, Aggron's Double-Edge connected.
Boom! Rock-coated and unstoppable, Aggron's armored frame slammed into Fraxure like a battering ram. The impact sent a shockwave of energy outward, and the stone coating shattered on contact. Fraxure was sent flying through the air, rolling several times across the ground before finally skidding to a stop.
Aggron gave a short shake of its head. Its Rock Head Ability had absorbed the recoil without issue. It looked every bit the armored beast it was — blue eyes fixed coldly on Fraxure.
"Aggron!" Kyle's voice rang out. He wanted to finish this now.
At that moment, the door to the training room swung open, and Amira stepped in, catching a glimpse of Aggron's last attack just in time.
Her presence seemed to catch Kyle off guard. There was a slight tremor in his voice as he called out: "Use Double-Edge!"
Aggron's head was once again layered in thick, uneven rock as it barreled toward the downed Fraxure.
"Julia!" Amira walked over to Julia, eyes drifting toward the battlefield.
"You're finally here. Come on, sit down and watch," Julia said with a smile.
Amira tilted her head, watching. "Wait — Kyle is actually winning? Jacob's ranked first and he's the one being pushed around? And Kyle's what, two hundred something?" She let out a short laugh. "Am I seeing this right?"
"You're not wrong. Kyle's been improving a lot lately." Julia genuinely wanted Jacob to win, but she couldn't deny that a fully evolved Aggron was a tough opponent. "Jacob won't have an easy time."
"Well, if he ends up losing, I'm sure you'll find a way to cheer him up," Amira said, shooting Julia a sly look.
"Stop it. Just watch the battle."
While they talked, Aggron launched off the ground, its massive body picking up speed with each thundering step. The floor shook under its weight, each footfall sending a low, heavy vibration through the room.
"Finish it, Aggron!"
Aggron was slow to start, but once it was moving at full speed, it was nearly impossible to stop — a product of its enormous mass building momentum. By the time it was at full charge, it was less like a Pokémon and more like a runaway boulder.
Fraxure had managed to push itself upright, but barely. It had taken a direct Double-Edge and was badly hurt. Facing another one head-on was out of the question.
There was no way Fraxure could survive a second Double-Edge.
"Fraxure, use Endure!"
The word "Endure" coming from Jacob wasn't a rallying cry — it was a deliberate move call. Endure was a Normal-type move that, regardless of what attack the user was about to take, would allow it to survive with at least 1 HP remaining.