Chapter 57: If You Can't Win, Just Cheat, Right?

The gym competitions in this world are quite different from those in the games. Apart from the seasoned trainers who travel the world, a significant portion of challengers are newcomers who have only recently set out on their journeys. Expecting these novices, with barely a few days of training behind them, to defeat a gym leader and win a badge is no easy feat.

Therefore, to allow trainers to experience the process of growth, the major leagues have established a specific rule: Gym leaders must adjust the Pokémon they use according to the challenger's abilities, and will not go all out against rookie trainers. In fact, defeating the gym leader isn't the only way to earn a badge; what's more important is earning their recognition.

At Petalburg Gym, the rules require challengers to defeat three gym apprentices before earning the right to face Norman.

As soon as Hu Yang entered, the red-banded young man who had battled him previously recognized him. "It's you! Are you here to challenge the gym this time?" Hu Yang nodded.

With a challenger present, the apprentices immediately gathered around. The battlefield still resembled a martial arts dojo, and even his opponent had not changed. The red-banded youth clenched his fists, his fighting spirit ablaze. "This time, I won't let you win so easily! Go, my partner, Ursaring!"

Hu Yang called out, "Axew, it's your turn!"

The referee at the side raised his flag. "In this battle, each person may use only one Pokémon. The match ends when either Pokémon is unable to battle!"

At the sound of the whistle, the red-haired youth gave his command. "Ursaring, use Headbutt!"

Headbutt was a straightforward attack, impossible to change direction once launched. Seeing this, Hu Yang quickly called, "Axew, dodge to the left!"

He had already noticed last time that these apprentices were somewhere between rookie and junior trainers, far from the level of an elite. Axew was more than enough to deal with them.

After over two months of intensive training, Axew had mastered a fair number of combat techniques. Its speed and strength had both improved significantly, and the moves it knew were now honed to proficiency.

Seeing Axew successfully dodge Ursaring's Headbutt, Hu Yang immediately followed up, "Dragon Rage!"

A violet shockwave took form in an instant, engulfing Ursaring before it could even turn around. Driven by the impact, Ursaring tumbled across the ground, rolling twice.

Such swift commands!

The red-banded youth, taken aback, yelled, "Ursaring, hang in there!"

Hu Yang remained calm. "Axew, finish it—Double Chop!"

"Axew!" Axew replied, eyes blazing with determination.

Its speed and strength had both surged during this fight. Since the opposing Ursaring was male, Axew's ability, Rivalry, was triggered to its fullest.

The increase in speed and power directly influenced the strength of its attacks. Axew suddenly accelerated, then leapt high into the air, its well-honed fangs shining with fierce light.

At the very moment Ursaring was getting back up, Axew struck down.

A pained cry escaped from Ursaring, which collapsed and lost the ability to battle.

"So... so strong!" The other apprentices stared in awe.

Very few trainers come to challenge the gym in winter, so they still remembered Hu Yang.

A young boy frowned thoughtfully. "Their coordination is flawless. That level of strength has probably already reached that of a junior trainer..."

"Thank you for your effort, Ursaring," the red-banded youth said, returning Ursaring to its Poké Ball.

"Well done!" Hu Yang crouched down and gave Axew a high five.

It seemed Rivalry was far from as useless as it was in the games...

However, Ursaring's ability was Pickup, which didn't help much in battle.

As Hu Yang pondered this, a second apprentice stepped onto the field. He had no intention of switching Pokémon; Axew would continue.

This time, his opponent was a girl in a white karate uniform, and her Pokémon was a small, adorable Eevee.

Hu Yang glanced at it and noticed Eevee's ability was Run Away.

"Eevee, use Quick Attack!" the girl ordered.

Hu Yang thought, Shouldn't you use Baby-Doll Eyes first to lower Axew's attack? Do these kids even know how to battle?

But these apprentices were different from their in-game counterparts. Most were rookie trainers, paying to train at the gym, where the leader provided guidance. Once stronger, some would enter the gym leader selection tournament to take over the position, while others would set out to compete in the league championships.

Facing the inexperienced girl, Hu Yang showed no mercy, dispatching her with a combination of Bite, Double Chop, and Dragon Rage.

The third apprentice was a bespectacled boy, and his Pokémon was a well-built Lopunny.

As soon as the match began, the boy called, "Lopunny, use Baby-Doll Eyes!"

Well done—much better than the girl.

Lopunny's eyes glimmered softly, and Axew instantly felt weak and feeble; its attack had been lowered.

Hu Yang glanced at Lopunny's ability: Cute Charm.

"Axew, avoid physical contact—use Dragon Rage!"

Dragon Rage dealt fixed damage and wouldn't be affected by the attack drop.

"Axew!" Axew braced itself.

The boy, having watched the previous two matches, had already seen Dragon Rage in action. He immediately commanded, "Lopunny, don't get hit—use Bounce!"

With a motion reminiscent of a human woman's waist, Lopunny launched itself high into the air. Dragon Rage missed, passing harmlessly beneath its feet.

Then, from above, Lopunny extended a leg, executing a flying kick straight toward Axew. This was the second phase of Bounce, attacking from above.

"Axew, dodge!"

Although Hu Yang had anticipated this, the opponent was simply too fast!

Axew had no time to evade—the rabbit's flying kick hit dead-on, sending Axew tumbling backward.

Though the blow wasn't enough to knock Axew out of the fight, the physical contact triggered Cute Charm, infatuating Axew and leaving it unable to act.

Worse yet, Lopunny was female, so Axew's Rivalry ability could not be activated in this matchup.

"Axew, snap out of it!" Seeing little hearts appear in Axew's eyes, Hu Yang could only try to rouse it with the bond between trainer and Pokémon, just as Ash would.

Rivalry's effect was really disappointing. He'd thought it would be more useful in real battles...

At this moment, Hu Yang wished more than ever that Axew's ability was Mold Breaker.

As this thought crossed his mind, a "click" sounded and the Poké Ball in his pocket opened by itself.

Oricorio emerged from the white light.

"Squawk?" It stared at Axew on the field.

It looked as dopey as ever, but at that moment, its eyes flashed with an inscrutable glimmer.

"Lopunny, let's finish this!" The bespectacled boy adjusted his glasses, preparing to deliver the final blow.

But just then, a white light shone from Axew in the arena.

Was it... evolving?

The boy quickly called out, "Lopunny, stop!"

Hu Yang was momentarily stunned, still wondering why Oricorio had suddenly come out on its own, when he saw Axew enveloped in a white glow.

Evolving?

Moments later, the light faded. Axew had regained its focus; aside from its eyes, there was no visible change.

No, it wasn't evolution.

In his mind, Hu Yang saw Axew's updated information:

[Species: Axew ♂]
Type: Dragon
Ability: Mold Breaker
Details omitted.

Its ability had changed—from Rivalry to Mold Breaker.

Hu Yang was bewildered.

What just happened?

He hadn't done anything. If he hadn't changed it, then...

A sudden realization struck him, and he glanced in disbelief at the Oricorio beside him, who was calmly preening its feathers as if nothing had happened.

Could it be that the three modification templates he'd lost had ended up with Oricorio?

But this was hardly the time to investigate.

Hu Yang anxiously looked at Axew on the field. "Axew, can you understand me?"

"Axew?" Axew snapped out of its confusion and turned toward him.

Hu Yang let out a sigh of relief.

Just then, the bespectacled boy glanced at Axew, then at Hu Yang, and asked, "Did it, uh, fail to evolve?"

Hu Yang was speechless.

He noticed the other apprentices looking in his direction, leaving him with an indescribable feeling.

Was it really okay to cheat so blatantly in front of this many people?