Pokemon: Psychic Master

"Gym Challenge!"

Hearing Haunter's taunting cry, Clair let out a cold laugh.

"Been waiting for this."

She hadn't forgotten her previous loss to Johan.

This time, she wouldn't be relying on her second-string Pokémon.

The Blackthorn Gym staff were also ready, including a referee and an elderly man in a long white robe with a full head of white hair.

From how Lance was chatting with him, this must be one of the legendary Dragon Elders.

However, instead of exuding an air of stern authority, the elder seemed warm and approachable, his face full of gentle smiles.

That was, until he fell asleep mid-conversation with Lance!

Lance noticed and sheepishly flashed an "okay" hand gesture toward Johan and Clair.

Johan's expression grew odd.

It was clear: this match was rigged.

"This gym challenge will be a one-on-one battle! The first Pokémon to lose will determine the outcome!"

The referee, dressed in Blackthorn Gym attire, raised two flags in hand.

"Now, trainers, send out your Pokémon!"

Clair threw off her cape and removed a Poké Ball from her belt, tossing it forward with practiced precision.

Johan, on the other hand, simply raised his hand and pointed.

"Go, Haunter!"

"Ka-kah!!"

Haunter let out a wicked laugh, sticking out its long red tongue to snatch its sunglasses and pop them into its mouth before floating onto the battlefield.

Clair's Poké Ball opened in a flash of light, revealing a spiked, winged dragon Pokémon—Druddigon!

"Roar!"

The dragon's navy-blue scales glinted, its crimson head and jagged spikes bristling as it stood tall. Its menacing roar and powerful, clawed arms made it clear just how dangerous it was.

Druddigon was a Dragon-type Pokémon, but also a Cave Pokémon.

Wild Druddigon were notorious for their violent temperaments. They often occupied tunnels dug out by other Pokémon, lying in wait for prey to pass by.

Seeing the fearsome Druddigon, Johan's expression turned a bit strange.

It wasn't the "green" Druddigon he had expected, but it was undoubtedly one of Clair's main Pokémon.

Still...

Druddigon had long been the laughingstock of the Dragon-type family.

Ground-types like Garchomp could fly, but Druddigon? Despite having wings, it couldn't even get off the ground.

Add to that its habit of hiding in caves, and it really didn't fit the imposing image of Dragon Pokémon.

That said, its Sheer Force ability made it an incredibly dangerous opponent, with immense offensive potential.

Johan leaned toward Haunter and whispered, "We're just here to go through the motions. If it gets too tough, we retreat. That badge isn't even good-looking, so let's focus on staying uninjured."

Druddigon likely had Sheer Force and could be holding a Life Orb, which would significantly boost its moves' power. Haunter wouldn't survive more than two hits.

"Ka-kah~~"

Haunter grinned and nodded, its eyes narrowing as it focused.

"Begin!"

The referee's flag dropped.

Johan took a deep breath, his focus sharpening.

Seeing his determined expression, Clair smirked.

"Now we're talking."

With a snap of her whip, she commanded, "Druddigon, Dragon Claw!"

"Roar!!"

Druddigon let out a fearsome roar, its navy-blue claws glowing faintly with purple Dragon-type energy as it charged toward Haunter with terrifying strength.

Johan's Pokédex confirmed his suspicion: Druddigon had Sheer Force.

"Haunter, dive into the shadows!"

Though Druddigon's attack looked menacing, its speed was a glaring weakness.

Wild Druddigon often ambushed prey from caves rather than chasing them down, precisely because they lacked agility.

Haunter needed to capitalize on its superior speed to stand a chance.

"Ka-kah~~"

Taunting Druddigon with a tongue-out gesture, Haunter sank into the shadows on the floor.

Clair chuckled.

"Attack the shadows!"

Swish! Swish!

Druddigon's claws tore through the ground, sending rocks and debris flying everywhere.

Boom!

A loud crack rang out, accompanied by wisps of black smoke rising from the rubble.

A Substitute.

When did it use that? Clair frowned.

"Druddigon, Dig!"

Druddigon immediately burrowed into the ground, using the destruction it had already caused as cover.

Meanwhile, three eerie blue-purple flames streaked through the air, landing on the empty battlefield and fizzing out harmlessly.

Haunter reappeared in the shadows behind where Druddigon had been standing, looking perplexed.

For once, its sneak attack hadn't worked.

"Haunter, set up another Substitute!" Johan called.

Haunter, though caught off-guard, didn't hesitate. It quickly created another shadowy doppelgänger.

"Roar!!"

Druddigon erupted from the ground, its jagged fangs cloaked in dark energy.

Crunch!

The Substitute shattered into pieces.

Lance, watching from the sidelines, was enthralled.

Both trainers were demonstrating top-tier strategy and prediction, enough to make him itch for a battle with Johan himself.

But the tide of the match was clear—Clair had the upper hand.

Haunter had already burned through two Substitutes, leaving its stamina noticeably drained.

"Wait...?" Lance's eyes widened.

Druddigon was poisoned.

When did that happen?!

A faint purple sheen spread across Druddigon's scales—Toxic.

"Ka-kah~~"

Haunter let out a wicked cackle.

Clair replayed the battle in her mind, quickly piecing it together.

The Substitute... was poisoned?

Lance's observation was accurate.

Even with Toxic, Druddigon's raw power made it a formidable opponent. Haunter didn't have much time to outlast it.

Toxic-stall strategies might be effective, but they were hard to execute in real battles, especially against strong opponents.

"Druddigon, Crunch again!"

"Roar!!"

The poison's pain only fueled Druddigon's ferocity. Its attacks grew more aggressive.

But Clair and Lance both noticed something alarming—Toxic was eating away at Druddigon's scales.

This wasn't just ordinary poison; it was exceptionally potent.

Unbeknownst to them, Haunter had been training with Toxic Orbs and consuming poisonous materials as snacks. Its Toxic was in a league of its own.

As Druddigon lunged forward, Johan and Haunter shared a focused glance.

This was it—the decisive moment.

"Hypnosis!"

"Ka-kah!"

Hey, big red face!

Haunter clapped its hands together and shouted, drawing Druddigon's gaze.

Concentric rings of hypnotic light emanated from Haunter's eyes, spiraling toward Druddigon.

The dragon staggered mid-charge, then collapsed onto the ground, snoring loudly.

Is it over?

"Druddigon, Sleep Talk!" Clair's voice cut through the tension.

Still asleep, Druddigon's jaws opened, dark energy coalescing into a sphere—Dark Pulse!

"Haunter, Protect!"

A green barrier enveloped Haunter just in time to block the incoming attack.

"Dream Eater!"

Haunter spread its claws wide, a misty white fog enveloping Druddigon as it drained its energy. Haunter's own stamina surged back.

"Druddigon, Sleep Talk again!"

"Haunter, finish it—Sludge Bomb!"

This time, Sleep Talk triggered Shadow Claw, but Haunter's poisonous attack landed first.

The noxious sludge splattered across Druddigon's body, overwhelming it.

Boom!

Druddigon's attack faltered, and it collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"Druddigon is unable to battle! The winner is the challenger, Johan!"

Clair stood silently, replaying the match in her head.

If she'd opened with Taunt, would things have gone differently?

After a moment, she concluded:

I didn't lose. Johan just fights dirtier than me.

Still, she collected herself and approached Johan, handing him the Rising Badge and a Dragon Pulse TM.

As Johan pocketed the TM, Haunter grabbed the badge, inspecting it closely.

"Ka-kah."

Not bad at all.

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Powerstones?

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