Absol and Weavile each retreated to one side, panting as they stared down their opponent, waiting for their Trainer's next command.
"Weavile, Double Team."
"Absol, sweep with Flamethrower!"
Double Team was one of Weavile's commonly used moves in the wild, allowing it to instantly produce dozens of clones that scattered across the battlefield.
By the time Absol had swept away most of the clones, hail had begun to fall over the field; and it was growing heavier by the second.
"Weavile, Blizzard."
Just as Sato finished speaking, a howling Blizzard surged across the field from behind Absol. Enhanced by the hail, it sent shivers through even the spectators in the front rows.
On the battlefield, aside from a vague white silhouette standing firm, Weavile had completely vanished into the hail.
"Absol, turn around and use Fire Blast!"
A hint of disbelief flashed in Karen's eyes. Even after evolution, Sneasel's Special Attack wasn't very high, but the Blizzard before her could easily be mistaken for one used by a Lapras of the same level.
"Again, Blizzard."
Sato's voice was calm. While Weavile's Special Attack wasn't impressive, it had an extraordinary affinity for Blizzard. It was its unique talent and the primary focus of Sato's training.
Whenever Weavile's high-speed assault failed, Blizzard became its trump card, and Sato had even reinforced its Hail move to complement it.
Fire Blast blasted toward the origin of the Blizzard, but Weavile was no longer there. At the exact moment when Absol had yet to recover its full strength, a second Blizzard struck.
"Sol…" Absol was blasted backward by the Blizzard, its body covered in thick snow, all four limbs shivering nonstop.
"Switch, Blizzard again." Sato commanded without hesitation, pressing the assault.
Karen frowned. After hearing Sato's command, she finally stopped hesitating and recalled Absol immediately.
Sato didn't stop her. The hail and lingering Blizzard still hadn't dissipated, so no matter who she sent out next, they'd first have to endure the icy onslaught.
"The last match was a sea of fire; this one, a snowstorm. And with every hit from a Dark-type carrying that biting pain… Maybe this is how Gym Leader Sato tests a challenger's willpower."
Elite Four Agatha's commentary once again echoed through the arena, and the audience responded in kind with nods of "sudden realization".
Sato couldn't help glancing at Agatha… he hadn't even thought that far ahead himself. Yet somehow, she had summarized it all perfectly.
"Your Weavile is excellent~ By the standards of a Gym Leader assessment, you've already passed. The third Pokémon I prepared for this evaluation wouldn't last long in this Blizzard either."
Karen didn't send out another Pokémon. Instead, she smiled as she spoke.
"So… does that mean I pass?" Sato blinked, asking seriously.
Karen smiled even brighter. "For the Gym Leader assessment, yes, you pass. But I…"
"Then that's settled. Ref, announce the result," Sato nodded, cutting her off as he turned toward Sia.
"Hey!" Karen called out, her face caught between laughter and exasperation.
"…Does the examiner have something else to add?" Sato realized he couldn't dodge this one and asked with a resigned shrug.
"After watching your match with Lance, I really want to have a serious battle with you too. So I'll ask you… can you handle it~?" Karen smiled "sweetly", but her words carried a challenge no man could ignore.
Can you handle it? What man could ever say no?
"Name your terms."
"Same as with Lance, 1v1, one-on-one!"
"Alright, Weavile, return for now." Sato nodded in agreement.
Sia watched with wide eyes as the match gradually took a strange turn. Being quick-witted, she immediately announced loudly to the crowd, "After discussion between Examiner Karen and our Leader Sato, the Gym assessment match is officially concluded early.
Up next is a surprise bonus match for the opening ceremony; an exhibition match between Gym Leader Sato and Trainer Karen! In other words, this time both sides will go all out and fight with their main battle Pokemon!"
BOOM
The spectators, the people watching from the screens across Shadownight Town, and even those watching online… everyone exploded with excitement.
An opening ceremony with this many thrilling battles in a row? Everyone who saw it first had just one thought:
'What a steal!'
And no matter the outcome between Sato and Karen, Shadownight Gym -and even Shadownight Town itself- was now completely famous.
"I was the one who suddenly suggested this match. Do you need a moment to prepare? I'll say it now. I don't think Lance is that much stronger than me," Karen said with a smile, already holding a Poké Ball in her hand.
"No need. My partner is already on the field," Sato replied, lightly stomping his right foot. His Gengar quietly emerged.
"Gen~"
"GENGAR!" Suddenly, an excited shout came from the audience. Everyone turned to look and saw that the voice had come from a cute little sage.
Realizing he had drawn so much attention, the little sage's face turned beet red, and he lowered his head, wishing he could vanish into the ground.
After the brief interlude, everyone turned their attention back to the match, and at that moment, Karen sent out her partner.
Umbreon!
Compared to Sato's Umbreon, Karen's Umbreon had already reached Mid Pseudo-Elite Four.
So the method to evolve Umbreon clearly wasn't unknown. It was just something only a few had knowledge about.
Without hesitation, Sato grasped the Key Stone necklace on his chest.
"Gengar, Mega Evolve!"
The dazzling, multicolored light of Mega Evolution flared, and a new form of Gengar appeared before everyone. Its strength also reached Mid Pseudo-Elite Four.
"Then… battle start!"
"Umbreon, Dark Pulse!"
"Gengar, Toxic."
Smack~
Boom!
Both moves landed. Gengar was knocked back by Dark Pulse, but Umbreon was also poisoned by Toxic.
"Gengar, Focus Blast."
"Umbreon, Feint Attack!"
Boom!
Boom!
Once again, both attacks hit. Gengar had high offensive power, but Umbreon's defense wasn't weak either. As one rose and the other fell, the difference remained minimal.
Though Umbreon was suffering from poison, Karen showed no sign of panic.
"Again, Focus Blast."
"Payback!"
After clashing head-on again, before the poison's third wave could take full effect, Karen issued one more command. "Umbreon, Rest!"
"Gengar, Hypnosis!"
In terms of speed, Umbreon was no match for Gengar, so its sleep was induced by it, forced by Hypnosis.
This detail mattered. The next moment, Gengar also collapsed into sleep, but Karen frowned deeply, looking at Sato with surprise in her eyes.
Sato wasn't about to tell her that he already knew Umbreon's Ability was Synchronize.
And that his Gengar, equipped with a Hypnosis Pendulum, had a terrifying Hypnosis capability. Even though Umbreon had been poisoned, it was still forced into sleep.