"It seems I underestimated you," Li Zebing said seriously. "From here on, I won't be holding back."
He had originally assumed Oliver, being so deeply devoted to research, would be mediocre at battling. But after witnessing Gardevoir's performance, his entire perspective changed.
This young man wasn't just a top-tier researcher—
His Pokémon training and battle command were equally terrifying.
Li Zebing abandoned any thought of "going easy." His expression hardened. He now saw Oliver as a true Trainer—not someone hiding behind League-issued Pokémon.
"Perfect," Oliver replied with a relaxed smile.
To him, Gardevoir defeating Scizor wasn't even surprising. In fact, even without his commands, she could have won effortlessly.
After all—
Her true trump card, Mega Evolution, hadn't even been used.
Li Zebing recalled Scizor and threw out another Poké Ball. Oliver responded by releasing Gabite.
Thanks to Oliver's Viridian-like healing power, Gabite had fully recovered from its previous injuries.
Pokémon: Ampharos
Level: Senior – Early Stage
Potential: Senior
The moment Ampharos appeared, Oliver and Mu Xue both paused—then exchanged slightly amused glances.
They understood very well what Gabite represented to Electric-types.
The Senior-level certification differed from lower Trainer exams. Earlier tests required candidates to defeat Pokémon that had type advantage over them.
But Senior-level evaluation had no such requirement.
The three Pokémon were random.
If you were lucky, you'd face favorable matchups.
If unlucky, you'd struggle.
A few Trainers even possessed Senior-level strength but repeatedly failed due to bad matchups.
That was because—
As Pokémon grew stronger, type advantage mattered less and less.
In the end, raw strength decided everything.
"Gabite, huh?" Li Zebing smiled calmly. "Looks like I'm the one at a disadvantage this time. But don't get cocky."
From his expression, it was clear—
He had no idea what kind of monster he was facing.
"Battle begin!" Mu Xue announced.
Li Zebing struck first.
"Ampharos—Power Gem!"
Crystalline stones materialized in midair and shot toward Gabite.
Gabite calculated their trajectory.
…They weren't even accurate enough to hit him if he stood still.
Just as he was wondering why—
Oliver's voice rang out.
"Dodge!"
At that exact moment, while Gabite's attention was on Power Gem, Ampharos had secretly launched Signal Beam.
Gabite tried to evade—
But the Power Gem barrage had already blocked his escape routes.
Only one option remained.
He leapt.
Li Zebing's eyes flashed.
"Now! Zap Cannon!"
Ground-types resist Electric moves because their feet connect to the earth, dispersing electricity. But once airborne, that near-immunity weakens considerably.
This—
Was the standard high-level tactic Electric Trainers used against Ground-types.
"Talented," Li Zebing thought smugly. "But still too young. Let me show you what real battle tactics look like."
He even chose Zap Cannon—Ampharos's ultimate Electric move—to ensure decisive impact.
He glanced at Oliver, expecting to see surprise.
Instead—
Oliver's face remained calm.
No reaction?
Doesn't he know Ground-types lose resistance in the air?
Zap Cannon struck Gabite directly.
Boom—
Electric energy exploded around him.
And yet—
Gabite's expression did not change in the slightest.
"What…?"
Gabite landed heavily, brushed off the spot where Zap Cannon had hit, and looked mildly bored.
To him, it felt like nothing more than static electricity.
Since surviving the relentless electric bombardment from Lanturn in the past—and absorbing Landorus's origin power—his resistance to Electric-type attacks had increased yet again.
A Senior–Early Ampharos using Zap Cannon?
It wasn't even enough to wake the Landorus power slumbering inside him.
This—
Was what it meant to be an Electric-type's natural predator.
"Use Dragon Claw."
Azure draconic energy formed around Gabite's arms as he charged forward.
"Take Down!" Li Zebing shouted, abandoning Electric attacks entirely.
If elemental advantage failed, then brute force would decide it.
But—
The moment Ampharos collided with Gabite—
Gabite's Dragon Claw slammed down.
Ampharos was smashed into the ground instantly.
No contest.
Pure physical dominance.
Li Zebing fell silent.
Even in terms of raw strength—
He was being crushed.
After a long pause, he exhaled.
"…You win this round."
Gabite looked disappointed.
He hadn't even finished warming up.
But Li Zebing felt even worse.
He could accept defeat—
But not being overpowered so completely.
He was a Gym Leader. A frontline one at that.
Even if these were League assessment Pokémon—
Losing this decisively was humiliating.
He steadied himself.
"The final Pokémon is Water-type."
He narrowed his eyes.
"You'd better prepare yourself."
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