Pokemon: Spiritual Master

"Come back, Tyranitar."

After one Precipice Blades and taking Marowak's final Stomping Tantrum, Tyranitar's condition was already poor.

On the other side.

After recalling Marowak, Giovanni didn't hesitate and threw out his third Poké Ball.

"Mr. Giovanni's third Pokémon is—Rhydon!"

A Pokémon clad in light gray heavy armor, walking upright on two legs, with a sharp horn drill on its head appeared on the field!

Rhydon, a Ground and Rock-type Drill Pokémon, the evolution of Rhyhorn. If it carried "Protector" and evolved once more, it would become the "Heavy Tank" Rhyperior!

"Eh? Another Pokémon that hasn't evolved to its final form?"

"Gym Leader Giovanni really likes incompletely evolved Pokémon..."

"But didn't he have a fully evolved Rhyperior? It appeared when battling Champion Lance..."

"Could it be carrying 'Eviolite' again?"

Without a doubt.

For some Pokémon that hadn't evolved to their final forms, besides certain exclusive items, "Eviolite" was one of the most suitable items for them.

Whether the previous Porygon2 or the current Rhydon, they all carried "Eviolite"—an item that could greatly boost a Pokémon's physical and special defense.

However, when Johan saw Giovanni summon Rhydon instead of Rhyperior, his expression became more serious.

Just like Pryce's Swinub or Red/Ash's Pikachu, not all Pokémon needed to evolve to their final form to display stronger power.

This was related to the trainer's cultivation methods and the Pokémon's own characteristics.

Even in the numbers-focused Pokémon Battle games, not all Pokémon needed to evolve to their final forms—many unevolved Pokémon were actually stronger.

"Light Ball" Pikachu was one example, as was Giovanni's previously sent Porygon2, plus Dusclops, Chansey, and others.

Giovanni's Rhydon...

Had even more significance.

As everyone knew, for Rhydon to evolve into Rhyperior, it not only needed the "Protector" item but also required trading. Of course, under certain special circumstances these conditions could be waived, but trading was indeed more "simple."

"Trading" was a subject Professor Bill had only researched and published in recent years. Given Giovanni's age... when he captured Rhydon, "trading" technology certainly hadn't been perfected.

So Giovanni's Rhydon was probably... the first Rhydon he had captured and trained, a main Pokémon from his first team!

Even without evolving, Giovanni's regard for it probably exceeded that Rhyperior he used against Lance.

It was precisely because Johan understood this that his expression became so serious.

After some thought.

After recalling Tyranitar, Johan also threw out his second Poké Ball.

"Go, Urshifu!"

"Garruu zzZ!!"

The flowing-maned Urshifu flew out from the red light, heavily treading the ground while immediately breaking into a run, rushing toward Rhyperior with water flowing around its body.

Aqua Jet!

Without any words, the aura between Urshifu and Johan was enough to convey everything.

Seeing this, Giovanni's expression also immediately became serious as he commanded: "Iron Defense!"

Clang!!

In the blink of an eye, Urshifu reached Rhydon and slammed a fist into Rhydon's heavy armor, immediately producing sounds like hammers striking metal walls.

Trick Room still existed. The extremely slow Rhydon used this advantage to condense Iron Defense before Urshifu's fist landed.

Rhydon was already a Pokémon that excelled at physical defense. Combined with "Eviolite" and Iron Defense enhancement, even with quadruple weakness to Water... it wouldn't take much damage from mere Aqua Jet.

However, Johan and Urshifu had no intention of doing anything to Rhydon with just Aqua Jet. This move was more about negating Trick Room's effects and getting as close to Rhydon as possible.

"Water flow, continuous strikes!" Johan clenched his fist.

"Garruu zzZ—"

The sound of flowing water gradually rose.

"Rhydon, Iron Defense, hold on!" Giovanni's choice surprised many.

How strong Teacher Johan's Urshifu's explosive power was had been "verified" by quite a few Pokémon in previous matches. Not only did Mr. Giovanni not choose to dodge, he didn't even counterattack?

Storm-like continuous punches rained down.

Fists, water flow, and metal collisions actually produced clanging sounds.

Rhydon's body continuously slid backward, its feet carving deep furrows in the devastated ground. But the more it retreated, the slower it became, as if its feet were gradually taking root in the earth.

Afterward.

With each of Urshifu's punches, besides the "clang" from Rhydon's body and slight swaying, the ground connected to its feet also trembled accordingly.

Seeing this, Johan raised an eyebrow.

The entire ground was connected to Rhydon?

This was... Giovanni of the Earth?

As long as one stood upon the earth, unless the earth itself collapsed, one would not be defeated...

Johan recalled a line from Giovanni's "Earth Mastery"—the so-called "earth" didn't simply refer to "Ground-type."

Seeing this gave him deeper understanding.

Meanwhile.

As Rhydon continuously endured Urshifu's water flow continuous strikes, an increasingly strong dark red glow emerged from its body.

When this glow seemed to reach a critical point, Johan's heart jumped.

"Urshifu..."

Before he could finish, Giovanni's voice rang out:

"Rhydon, return everything you've endured in full! Counter!"

"Roar—!!"

Rhydon's feet gripped the ground hard, exerting force from bottom to top. All the strikes it had endured transformed into rich dark red light that erupted and gathered at the horn drill on its head, charging toward Urshifu.

Counter!

Originally, Giovanni's tactic should have been Iron Defense Body Slam.

With Rhydon's excellent physical defense, plus Iron Defense enhancement, "Eviolite" increasing survival rate, and Trick Room compensating for speed weakness, facing somewhat ordinary opponents, sweeping teams would be quite easy.

But when facing Urshifu's continuous water flow strikes, Giovanni made a judgment—if Iron Defense Body Slam couldn't one-shot Urshifu, then Rhydon might not withstand a second round of attacks.

So he made a decisive decision to mainly rely on Iron Defense, "Eviolite," and its own defensive power to withstand Urshifu's impact and return a fatal blow.

However, this point...

Was also noticed by the sharp-sensed Johan and Urshifu.

Therefore, when Johan spoke up, Urshifu reacted.

Its eyes suddenly opened, and dark red Fighting-type energy also surged from its body. Under aura power, Rhydon's counterattack was slowed down—speed, angle, force...

Detect!

Johan took a deep breath. Detect alone couldn't block Rhydon's move.

But...

Did it necessarily need to block?

Johan's eyes sharpened as he waved: "Counter!"

Urshifu actually reached out and grabbed Rhydon's head. Previously it was Rhydon continuously retreating; this time... it was Urshifu carving furrows in the ground, with the ground continuously crumbling and collapsing.

Rhydon felt like it wasn't striking something incredibly hard, but rather striking water flow—its power couldn't be fully unleashed.

"Garruu!!"

With Urshifu's explosive shout.

Rhydon's eyes showed even more surprise and amazement.

Because Rhydon discovered its feet had left the ground!

It had been lifted high by Urshifu!

Since you're undefeated while standing on earth.

Then leave the earth!

Heavy slam!

Rumble rumble—

The entire stadium field instantly collapsed, the stadium barriers shook violently as if they might crumble at any moment.

When the dust settled.

The audience only saw the completely ruined field, Urshifu breathing heavily in the ruins, and Rhydon lying motionless in the wreckage with half its body covered by rubble and debris.

"Counter your Counter?!"

"Eh? Is this how that move works? I didn't study much—don't lie to me!"

"Russian nesting dolls?"

"The field is completely destroyed..."

The audience felt they finally had a battle that was somewhat "understandable," though they didn't understand much.

Giovanni looked deeply at the heavily breathing Urshifu.

What ordinary spectators didn't understand, as Johan's opponent in this match, he naturally saw clearly how Urshifu had blocked Rhydon's Counter.

"Can Rapid Strike mastery be used for defense too..." Giovanni murmured.

Using Rapid Strike mastery's water flow essence to deflect most of Rhydon's Counter impact, then using Single Strike mastery to slam Rhydon down...

It was called "Counter your Counter," but actually Urshifu had only "borrowed" part of Rhydon's power.

Given Rhydon's condition after enduring Urshifu's water flow continuous strikes, even without Urshifu using Counter, Rhydon couldn't have held on.

Although he didn't understand why Johan seemed somewhat obsessed with "Counter your Counter," the result... was the same.

Moreover.

Though Rhydon lost, Urshifu's condition might not be much better.

Of course.

Even if not good, it hadn't lost battle ability, so the current score was...

2:0!

Giovanni recalled the defeated Rhydon.

Due to severe field damage, the referee had to temporarily stop the match and replace the field.

Trick Room had already ended.

Giovanni summoned his fourth Pokémon.

"Mr. Giovanni's fourth Pokémon is—Dugtrio!"

The "ordinary" Ground-type Pokémon, Dugtrio!

As soon as Dugtrio was summoned, it disappeared from the field.

Johan frowned, his Poké Ball shooting out red light: "Come back, Urshifu."

Due to the field change, he hadn't been able to recall Urshifu immediately. Giovanni's Dugtrio wasn't as "harmless" as it appeared.

In the special manga, it was this guy who destroyed the switches on Red's Venusaur and Gyarados Poké Balls, preventing Red from summoning them.

Hum—

In the red light, Urshifu disappeared.

But just as it disappeared, where Urshifu had been standing, the new field became a patch of continuously swirling quicksand—

Sand Tomb!

If Johan's reaction speed had been even slightly slower, Urshifu would have been trapped by Dugtrio's Sand Tomb without even a chance to recall and switch.

Sensing the failed "capture," the Dugtrio brothers emerged again, showing fierce expressions.

Fortunately, Giovanni's Dugtrio didn't have the "Arena Trap" ability, or Johan couldn't even switch.

Seeing Johan recall Urshifu, Giovanni showed little change in expression, just seizing this opportunity to command:

"Dugtrio, Sandstorm!"

Tyranitar's earlier sandstorm had long dissipated, along with Porygon2's Trick Room.

However, Dugtrio was inherently a speed-focused Pokémon, so it didn't need Trick Room's power to maintain initiative advantage.

Whoosh—whoosh—

Rolling sand dust rose again on the field.

Even under Dugtrio's influence, the originally ordinary rock battlefield seemed to gradually "sandify"!

And in the sandstorm, the already fast Dugtrio became faint and indistinct.

Ability: Sand Veil!

In just a few breaths, Dugtrio had already created an excellent field for itself, and Johan's Poké Ball was thrown at this moment.

"Oowoo~"

Ninetales!

In the wind and sand, the snow-white spirit moved elegantly and nimbly. As its tails spread out, the temperature throughout the stadium plummeted.

More importantly.

The sandstorm field Dugtrio had created for itself began losing control with Ninetales' appearance.

Large amounts of sand particles scattered as snow began falling.

Giovanni was quite experienced with sandstorms, but he had to admit that when facing Johan's Ninetales...

He couldn't compete for weather control.

Couldn't compete at all.

However, Giovanni's choice was also decisive.

"Come back, Dugtrio."

The Poké Ball directly recalled the recently summoned Dugtrio.

And without any pause, he switched Pokémon.

"Mr. Giovanni sends out Porygon2 again!" the commentator shouted excitedly.

"Ninetales, Ice Beam!" Johan frowned and immediately called out.

"Oowoo!"

In the wind and snow, an azure beam crossed the considerable distance and immediately reached Porygon2.

He couldn't give Porygon2 a chance to use Recover, or with Porygon2's characteristics, it would be very troublesome.

Crack crack crack—

The red and blue Porygon2 was covered in thick ice crystals, its expression vacant as it was frozen inside.

"Porygon2 is unable to battle!" After confirming Porygon2's condition, the referee immediately announced.

Hum—

Only after the referee's announcement did a black transparent barrier centered on Porygon2 spread outward.

Trick Room!

Giovanni hadn't chosen to have Porygon2 use Recover to continue "surviving"—summoning it was just to reopen Trick Room.

Crack crack crack—

"Oowoo~"

After the referee's announcement, another Ice Beam fell on the frozen Porygon2.

Referee: "..."

He looked at Johan and Ninetales.

He saw Ninetales also looking at him seriously.

Can defeated Pokémon still use moves?

You referee—professional much?

Referee: "..."

Don't you think it's because your freezing ability is too strong, causing even Trick Room deployment to slow down?

Giovanni recalled the frozen Porygon2 and summoned his fifth Pokémon.

What would he summon?

The audience waited with bated breath.

Johan was also somewhat curious.

He could probably guess what type of Pokémon Giovanni would summon. If nothing unexpected happened, it should be Steel-type.

After all, Ninetales' quadruple weakness to Steel couldn't be avoided, and anyone wanting to battle him couldn't avoid these two points—whether Gengar or Ninetales.

Among Giovanni's Pokémon, Steel-types... Aggron? Alolan Dugtrio? Excadrill? Scizor? Ferroseed?

There were many options.

However, Trick Room's deployment could also rule out options like Excadrill.

It couldn't be... Heatran, could it? Johan thought with a strange expression.

In that case, he wouldn't play anymore and would immediately call for Giratina...

But regardless... sandstorm versus snow, the advantage was definitely on sandstorm's side.

"Go, Perrserker!"

From the red light, a Pokémon that looked like Meowth but wore armor with claws like short swords and a strong "Viking" vibe appeared on the field.

"Mr. Giovanni's fifth Pokémon is Perrserker! Evolved from Galarian Meowth!"

Perrserker?

Johan was startled when he saw the entering Perrserker.

Then he understood.

With Rainbow Rocket Corporation developing in the Galar region, it was normal for Giovanni, who loved cats, to capture several Galarian Meowth or Perrserker.

It's just...

Feels like Meowth's "rivals" increased again.

Look.

Meowth in the stands, who had been cheering for Giovanni earlier, had red eyes upon seeing the entering Perrserker.

Why?!

If losing to Persian was because it lost to an evolution, lost to a more cat-like appearance, then what was this bearded Perrserker's deal?

Damn it!

Johan's voice suddenly came.

"Earth Control!"

"Freeze the World!"

"Oowoo~!!"

The already misty snow immediately became more violent. Ninetales spread its tails and crouched on the ground, sensing the earth's life pulse as its own aura climbed at an extremely exaggerated rate.

Then.

With Ninetales' soft cry, cold air raged.

Even Wyndon Stadium's sturdy Dynamax barriers were covered with ice crystals and snow, continuously accumulating and building up. The entire stadium seemed to enter deep winter, with spectators' breath visible as white vapor.

Giovanni's expression became extremely serious at this moment.

Before, he just felt Johan wanted to defeat him, which he appreciated.

Now...

How did he feel like this brat Johan wanted to shut him out?!