Chapter 173: Drayden’s Ace (Membership Extra - )
The video continued playing.
"Luxray, use Quick Attack!"
Miori made the first move.
Luxray transformed into a blue blur and charged toward Druddigon at tremendous speed.
"Druddigon, use Dragon Tail."
Drayden remained perfectly composed.
Druddigon abruptly spun around. Green Dragon-type energy enveloped its tail as it swept through the air like an enormous whip.
"Jump!"
At Miori’s command, Luxray sprang into the air.
Dragon Tail swept just beneath its body, generating a powerful gust of wind.
"Now, use Thunderbolt!"
Luxray twisted in midair as the electrical arcs across its mane intensified. A thick pillar of golden electricity descended from above and struck Druddigon directly in the back.
Electricity exploded across its body.
Druddigon released a muffled grunt as its four limbs carved shallow furrows through the ground, but it merely shook its head, its gaze remaining steady and calm.
Miori frowned.
As expected, overcoming the type disadvantage and dealing meaningful damage would be difficult.
"Druddigon, use Rock Slide."
Drayden raised one hand.
Druddigon slammed both claws against the ground.
The battlefield split open, and dozens of massive rocks erupted from the cracks, raining down upon Luxray from every direction.
"Use Quick Attack to get through them!"
Luxray darted and weaved through the shower of rocks.
One boulder after another narrowly missed its body, while Luxray’s speed continued to increase.
"Now, use Wild Charge!" Miori shouted.
Golden electricity erupted around Luxray as it accelerated. Wrapped entirely in electrical energy, it shot through a gap between the rocks and slammed head-on into Druddigon’s chest.
"Dragon Pulse."
Drayden’s voice remained calm.
The impact forced Druddigon half a step backward, but it didn’t panic. It opened its mouth and immediately began gathering energy.
"Get away from it!"
Miori hurriedly gave the warning.
Luxray kicked off with its hind legs and sprang backward.
A purple wave of energy swept past its body in the next instant, striking the protective wall and leaving behind a large scorch mark.
"The younger generation is certainly formidable."
Drayden raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
"However, I’m not yet so old that I would allow a child to pass my test so easily."
Druddigon slammed its tail heavily against the ground before firing another Dragon Pulse—this one nearly twice as thick as the first.
"Protect!"
Miori reacted immediately.
A pale-green barrier unfolded in front of Luxray.
Dragon Pulse crashed into it and erupted into a mass of purple flames.
The barrier shook violently, ripples constantly spreading across its surface, but it held.
Miori’s mind raced as she considered her options.
Druddigon surpassed Luxray in both strength and defensive power.
If they wanted to win, they would have to rely on speed.
"Use Quick Attack again and get behind it!"
"Counter with Dragon Tail!"
Drayden once again used the wide range of Dragon Tail to block Luxray’s approach.
Seeing this, the corners of Miori’s lips unconsciously rose.
"Jump onto its tail!"
Luxray planted its paws against Druddigon’s sweeping tail and used it as a springboard, launching itself into the air with a flip.
Druddigon’s tail struck empty ground, blasting fragments of stone in every direction.
"Thunder Fang! Bite the back of its neck!"
Luxray descended from above.
Golden electricity erupted around its fangs as it bit through the scales on the back of Druddigon’s neck.
Druddigon released a deafening roar.
Its body suddenly lowered before its hind legs forcefully pushed against the ground, throwing its entire weight backward toward the wall.
Luxray was crushed between Druddigon and the wall.
Spiderweb-like cracks spread across the Gym’s stonework.
"Luxray!"
Miori clenched her hand.
She had believed that she had found Druddigon’s weak point, but the other Pokémon had willingly accepted further damage rather than allowing Luxray to gain the slightest advantage.
Luxray slid down the wall.
Its limbs trembled, but it stubbornly refused to fall.
Druddigon wasn’t in good condition either. Electricity had seeped into the muscles of its neck, temporarily preventing it from lifting its right arm.
Less than five meters separated the two Pokémon.
Both were breathing heavily.
The next attack would decide the battle.
Miori took a deep breath.
"Wild Charge!"
"Dragon Claw!" Drayden commanded at the same moment.
Golden electricity and emerald Dragon-type energy collided head-on at the center of the battlefield.
The resulting explosion swallowed everything in brilliant light.
The referee instinctively raised one arm to shield his eyes.
When he lowered it, the smoke slowly dispersed—
Druddigon and Luxray were both lying on the ground, spirals filling their eyes.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Lance]: Gym Leader Drayden remains formidable despite his age. Miori encountered few real obstacles during her journey, but she has finally met a truly difficult opponent.
[Drayden]: Receiving such praise from an Elite Four member like Lance means these past few decades of training were not wasted.
[Clair]: You’re far too modest, Mr. Drayden. You’re the foremost representative of Dragon-type Trainers in Unova.
[Drayden]: I wouldn’t go that far. I’ve simply been battling for a few decades longer than the younger generation.
[Lt. Surge]: Now this is what a proper Gym Battle looks like! Overconfident challengers should be made to struggle for their victories. If Badges are obtained too easily, they won’t appreciate them!
[Flint]: Still, Miori’s Luxray managed to force a draw against Druddigon despite being at a type disadvantage. That’s already an impressive achievement.
[Volkner]: Exactly. Most Electric-type Pokémon would probably have gone down after taking a single Rock Slide.
The video continued playing.
"You fought well in the first battle."
Drayden stood with both hands behind his back.
"However, I have yet to send out my ace. The next battle will be the true challenge you must overcome."
He took out his second Poké Ball and threw it.
Red light erupted.
Haxorus landed firmly on the battlefield, its dark-yellow scales gleaming coldly beneath the spotlights as it raised its head and released a roar.
Its mere presence seemed to make the atmosphere across the entire battlefield grow heavier.
Miori reached toward the Poké Balls at her waist.
"Then I’ll have to send out a Pokémon capable of matching it."
"I’m counting on you, Zeraora."
Red light flashed.
Zeraora landed silently on all fours. Only the fine electrical arcs erupting across its mane revealed that it had already entered a battle-ready state.
Drayden’s eyebrows shifted slightly.
"Zeraora? A Mythical Pokémon?"
"Mm. I only caught it recently."
Miori adjusted her stance.
"Grandpa Drayden, I look forward to battling you."
Drayden slowly nodded.
"In that case, I won’t hold back."
"Haxorus, use Dragon Dance!"
Haxorus raised its head and roared.
Its body began moving in a strange, ancient rhythm.
With every movement, the muscles beneath its scales became more visibly pronounced as Dragon Dance simultaneously increased its speed and strength.
"We’re not letting you build up your power! Zeraora, use Plasma Fists!"
Miori thrust one hand forward.
Dragon Dance had increased Haxorus’s speed and strength—
But Zeraora was still faster.
Its path left behind an arc-shaped electrical afterimage in the air, even though its true body had already appeared directly in front of Haxorus’s chest.
Plasma Fists struck head-on.
Electricity scorched the scales across Haxorus’s chest, and the force of the blow sent its massive body sliding nearly two meters backward.
Drayden’s voice remained steady.
"Dragon Claw."
Emerald Dragon-type energy enveloped the axe-like blade on Haxorus’s right arm.
Its figure blurred as it slashed directly toward Zeraora.
Zeraora twisted aside.
Dragon Claw narrowly missed its mane before striking the ground and carving out a deep fissure.
Drayden frowned slightly.
This Zeraora’s speed and reactions far exceeded his expectations.
Miori’s strategy was also exceptionally clear.
Rather than competing in strength with a Haxorus enhanced by Dragon Dance, she intended to use Zeraora’s speed advantage to repeatedly attack the same weak point.
"Haxorus, use Rock Slide to block its path," Drayden commanded.
Haxorus raised its head and roared.
Dozens of boulders rose from every part of the battlefield, sealing off all of Zeraora’s escape routes and leaving only one narrow passage directly ahead.
"Now, use Giga Impact."
White energy enveloped Haxorus’s entire body.
It then charged rapidly toward Zeraora.
This was where Drayden’s experience became evident.
If his opponent possessed superior speed, he would restrict its movement and force it into a direct confrontation.
"Zeraora, jump!"
Zeraora launched its entire body into the air and flipped over Haxorus’s head.
Haxorus’s Giga Impact missed, and its enormous body crashed into the rock wall, sending fragments of stone flying everywhere.
"Now, use Thunderbolt!"
Miori raised her hand.
Zeraora twisted around in midair as blinding golden electricity erupted from its mane.
A thick pillar of lightning descended from above and struck Haxorus directly in the back.
Electricity spread across its scales.
Haxorus released a deep roar as the muscles in all four limbs convulsed violently, but it didn’t collapse.
Drayden raised an eyebrow.
"A Mythical Pokémon certainly lives up to its reputation. But how will you handle this?"
He lifted one hand.
"Outrage."
Haxorus’s pupils turned dark red in that instant.
It threw back its head and released a deafening roar.
Immediately afterward, its body transformed into a dark-yellow whirlwind of fury and charged straight toward Zeraora.
While under the effects of Outrage, Haxorus completely abandoned its defenses. Its speed, strength, and attack frequency all rose to their absolute limits.
"Haxorus’s offense is devastating while it’s using Outrage, but its stamina is also being consumed much more quickly."
Miori suppressed her nervousness and rapidly assessed the situation.
"Zeraora, use Agility!"
Zeraora transformed into a streak of lightning and raced across the battlefield, continuously avoiding Haxorus’s attacks.
Haxorus’s Outrage was as violent as a raging storm, yet Zeraora remained half a step ahead of it at every moment.
Drayden frowned.
"Haxorus, use Rock Slide!"
Dozens of boulders rose from across the battlefield once again, attempting to restrict Zeraora’s movement.
This time, however, Miori didn’t choose to retreat.
"Plasma Fists!"
Zeraora charged directly toward Haxorus.
Blinding golden electricity gathered around its right paw before it drove the attack upward into Haxorus’s jaw.
Haxorus’s head snapped back.
The violent rhythm of its Outrage faltered for a single instant.
That instant was all Miori needed.
"Close Combat!"
Zeraora’s fists transformed into a blur as it launched a continuous barrage of strikes into Haxorus’s chest and abdomen.
With the final uppercut, the red light of Outrage completely faded from Haxorus’s eyes.
Its enormous body swayed twice—
Then crashed heavily to the ground.
The referee froze for a moment before raising his flag.
"Haxorus is unable to battle! Zeraora wins!"
"The winner is Miori of Nimbasa City!"
...
TL: Thanks, Rogue Demon, for the Tier 3 membership!