Chapter 233: Castelia Gym Battle, Knight, God, Queen

"Oh! Didn't wait too long, eh! I rushed over as soon as I got the news that they came out of the gallery!"

"My... haven't worn these clothes in a long time... really uncomfortable."

In front of the Castelia Gym, the old man Shinnosuke was wearing a formal elderly suit, but he himself didn't seem to like this kind of attire. The business personnel and Miss Keiko beside him could only persuade:

"President, please bear with it a little. This is an important client! The other party is not an ordinary trainer. Meeting them in your usual attire will be considered impolite."

The older people get, the more eccentric they become. President Shinnosuke's hobby is to dress up as a cleaner, claiming to have mastered the company mop for more than thirty years, which can be called the Mop Immortal.

"My, President Shinnosuke! You..."

Burgh is the Gym Leader of the Castelia Gym. The Battle Company is a big company in Castelia City. Of course, he knows them. This is mainly because President Shinnosuke doesn't stay in the company much. Because the company's main business is battles, you can basically see people from the Battle Company running business or fighting on the side of the road everywhere.

Even the president himself is the same. Occasionally, he will respawn on Skyarrow Bridge as a cleaning volunteer, and Burgh would cross Skyarrow Bridge to Nacrene City to find creative inspiration whenever he had nothing to do, often bumping into each other on the bridge. They are incredibly familiar.

"You are dressed so formally today. I have never seen you wear this kind of clothes."

"Hmm... because today's challenger is very important! I am here... Ah, that's you, nice to meet you, young man!"

President Shinnosuke took the initiative to reach out to Xiang Guangtai. However, due to the height difference, Xiang Guangtai could only bend down slightly to shake hands with the president. Shinnosuke is relatively short.

"Huhuhuhu! Truly a talent! Don't worry, others in the company don't know that the person on the news is you. Old man, I'm not a person who talks nonsense."

Xiang Guangtai also smiled politely: "Hello, President Shinnosuke. Then, as agreed, I will use some items to fight in this gym challenge. Do you need to specify some items?"

"Hmm... specify? No, please feel free to play."

President Shinnosuke stroked his beard and thought for a moment: "You are a professional trainer, and also a manufacturer of battle items. Your judgment on item selection and battle conditions must be much stronger than an incompetent trainer like me."

"What I hope to see is turning the tide at a critical moment, or reversing the battle situation, or suppressing the opponent with the power of items... In short, it is to emphasize the role of items in battles as much as possible. Even an incompetent trainer like me can understand it. That way, it will definitely be of great help to the promotion!"

Xiang Guangtai: "Is that so? However, the choice of items actually tests the trainer's level. Choosing suitable items under different battle conditions... However, most trainers should only use items they like. This is actually not bad."

"Sometimes it might play an unexpected role."

"Hmm... indeed, this situation also exists. Very reasonable. Speaking of which, young man, are you also going to challenge the Unova League?"

President Shinnosuke thought that if Xiang Guangtai went to challenge the Unova League and used items in the League, it would definitely be a great promotion in Unova.

"No, no, no, I invited him to challenge. He doesn't seem to have the intention to challenge the Unova League. As for me, it's for art! Mr. Xiang Guangtai is not only a news celebrity and item craftsman, but actually, he is also an unknown artist."

"Before, when I went to Nacrene City, Aloe got an ancient statue from a well-known antique dealer. Although it was called an ancient sculpture, it was actually just an imitation, and that kind of technology was simply indistinguishable from the real thing, which made my inspiration surge!"

"If that statue were exhibited in the gallery, it would definitely trigger a storm in the art world!"

"Speaking of which, President Shinnosuke, do you have cooperation with Mr. Xiang Guangtai? It feels good! If you want to promote battle items, I can help too!"

Burgh took the initiative to explain and highly praised Xiang Guangtai's art skills, which made President Shinnosuke's squinted eyes, like Brock's, suddenly open!

"Oh! I have never seen Burgh Gym Leader take the initiative to invite someone to challenge! Is it a discussion between artists! It seems this battle will be a feast for the eyes!"

"Young man, I didn't expect you to have the identity of an artist... Burgh actually praises you so much! Young people today are truly amazing! Hmm, please, let me see a wonderful battle."

President Shinnosuke muttered something about only having mop skills, and went to the auditorium somewhat dejectedly under the comfort of his secretary and Miss Keiko.

"Miss Keiko!"

"Is that Nari... You came too? Right, Mr. Xiang Guangtai has a Steel-type Pokémon. Are you here to see that Pokémon?"

Nari walked to Miss Keiko's side, listened to the inquiry, and shook her head.

She was very curious to see Aegislash fight. What new moves and tactics could be pulled out in a duel with a Gym Leader?

Of course, Aegislash might not appear. If it appears, Nari thought of the terrifying golden posture of Aegislash.

The battle would end in an instant, she inexplicably thought so, and was very certain.

Subsequently, she released her Scizor and watched this gym match with her partner.

"I will also use battle items... Well, Castelia City advocates battles. Since I said I would fight with all my strength this time, let you see my most proud art companions! This is the battle art you want to see!"

"Moreover, because of some magical reasons, my Pokémon have all become stronger than before. That is to say, it is a comprehensive upgrade of old art!"

Burgh took out three Poké Balls.

Gym Leaders will determine the Pokémon to send out according to the strength level of the challenger, but for some special battles, they will also use their full strength, just like now!

"The battle is 3V3, no restrictions!"

Then, the first one!

"Escavalier!"

That majestic Bug-type Pokémon with knight-like armor, arms turned into two knight lances, and an exaggerated red helmet on its head appeared.

The silver-white armor emitted a halo. One can glimpse from it how excellent Burgh's cultivation method is. Gym Leaders are all cultivation experts in their respective attribute fields. The corresponding attribute Pokémon in their hands can exert stronger power than ordinary trainers!

"Truly handsome."

Escavalier is indeed a very handsome Pokémon. And since it is this Pokémon... Xiang Guangtai recalled in his heart.

Is it the Pokémon from Burgh's World Championship team later? I remember there was also a Heracross.

Hearing Xiang Guangtai's praise, Burgh was even more proud!

"A steel knight who firmly upholds virtue, a majestic symbol of Bug-type Pokémon!"

"Then, the question is, what item did I give it to carry! You must be careful! Items can be put inside Escavalier's armor!"

"... Escavalier, what's wrong with you?"

Burgh was originally very excited, but he keenly discovered that the Escavalier in front of him turned his head slowly and gave him a very nervous look.

As if to say... You want me to fight this person?

"Eh? Do you know him?"

This look gave a lot of information. Burgh often stays with Bug-type Pokémon, so he can also feel the inner changes of Bug-type Pokémon. This is not an innate ability, but a post-natal ability exercised by getting along with Pokémon for a long time.

Water droplets oozed from Escavalier's steel armor. That was cold sweat.

It really knew the "challenger" in front of it!

Not long ago, there was a special live broadcast in the strange workshop in the Dream World where three humans challenged the God of Creation and were recognized. At that time, Escavalier was also mixed in the Pokémon watching the battle and witnessed that astonishing battle.

It remembered the appearance of those three humans very clearly.

It is said that people who like to fight often start to fantasize when they see someone stronger than themselves—I really hope I can be as strong as him.

Escavalier is no exception.

So after that day, it responded to Calyrex's call, frantically eating, exercising, and even entering the labyrinth of cultivation. It exercised when awake and exercised when sleeping, becoming stronger day by day!

But now, one of the three humans who challenged the God of Creation at that time was standing in front of it!

Snail...

Escavalier wanted to say something.

It had indeed become stronger.

But there was no need to put this kind of pressure test on it now. If this guy took out that Pokémon that became the "King," how could it fight!

"My, actually making you so afraid?" Burgh was even more strange. Facing Escavalier's look and low chirping, he really didn't understand where his Pokémon had met Xiang Guangtai and left such a deep... "fear impression"?

Could the trait of Mr. Xiang Guangtai opposite be Intimidate?

"You seem to know me? Are you a Pokémon from the dream?"

Xiang Guangtai took the initiative to talk to Escavalier. Facing the uneasy and nervous Escavalier, he took the initiative to soothe it:

"Fight with all your strength. You seem to have undergone sufficient training. Challenging the strong is the time to let this effort bloom and bear fruit."

"Interpret the way of the knight."

Xiang Guangtai's psychic power soothed the restless Escavalier, causing the latter to quickly summon courage and eliminate negative emotions such as fear. And following closely, Xiang Guangtai threw out a Poké Ball.

A Lilligant with a graceful posture appeared, and the flower crown on its head released a fragrance that encouraged courage.

"Ah! It's that Pokémon! So beautiful! So elegant!"

Burgh, as an artist, although he prefers Bug-type Pokémon, other beautiful and charming Pokémon will also attract his attention! He invited Xiang Guangtai to challenge the gym initially just to see this Pokémon again!

"... Gie!" Hearing Burgh's praise, Lilligant also bowed very elegantly.

"It's Lilligant, but it's the Hisuian form. This is a regional form from a long time ago, which can no longer be seen now."

Xiang Guangtai explained with a smile, and Burgh once again sighed at the magic and beauty of Pokémon!

"Ancient regional form...! Ah, it's a beautiful Pokémon from distant history! My inspiration burst out. What is Hisui, and what era is it? This is the first time I've heard this beautiful name!"

"Then, beautiful lady, please allow me and my Pokémon to offer you gorgeous art!"

"Swords Dance!"

Sword light lit up around Escavalier, and its attack increased significantly!

Although Escavalier is usually very slow, for Burgh, a Gym Leader specializing in Bug-types, this Escavalier is one of the members of his ace team!

"Iron Head!"

Silver light shone on Escavalier's exaggerated Roman helmet, and Steel-type energy surged from the helmet, rushing toward Lilligant like a roaring cannonball!

Xiang Guangtai's psychic power connected to Lilligant's heart.

Protect.

No need for more words, Lilligant's arms hugged its chest, and a light green light shield appeared, easily blocking Escavalier's steel charge. But immediately after, Escavalier's two long lances lit up with a light green glow of Bug-type energy!

A powerful force was accumulating, waiting to be released!

"Megahorn!"

"After the steel charge, the knight's lance pierces the sky!"

Escavalier's double lances thrust forward fiercely!

Megahorn! Stabbing the opponent fiercely with hard and gorgeous horns to attack, it is a Bug-type ultimate move with a power as high as 120!

Bug-type has an innate advantage against Grass-type!

Boom! The heavy stabbing formed a shockwave, which was transmitted from the battle field to the outside. However, Escavalier was surprised to find that its stabbing was blocked. Lilligant's double leaves emitted a brilliant green light, defending against the Megahorn with offense as defense!

"Not very effective?!" Burgh was taken aback.

How can a Grass-type Pokémon block a Bug-type ultimate move?

"Hisuian Lilligant is not a pure Grass-type, but Grass + Fighting!"

Lilligant's double leaves slashed forward fiercely!

The huge force left a slight dent in Escavalier's armor, which startled Escavalier!

Grass-type moves hitting it should be painless!

The Pokémon in front of it jumped up and performed a graceful dance of slashes!

Green leaf blades formed a light curtain in front of it. The gorgeous leaves were both light as feathers and sharp as steel!

Two emerald light blades trembled at the tips, making a fine buzzing sound. The dancer drew countless arcs in the limited field. The moment the air was torn, Grass-type energy spread like ripples!

"... Beautiful!"

"What a beautiful and powerful slash!"

Even Burgh was amazed by this "Blade Dance." He was even dazed for a moment, let alone the people in the auditorium who had been completely attracted by this sudden "Blade Dance." And Escavalier's strong resistance to Grass-type had instead become the perfect "iron stake" for Lilligant to show off its "dance skills" at this time!

"Hmm! Although Grass-type attacks are not very effective, we can't just take a beating like this..." Burgh came back to his senses. Although he said so, looking at the dent on Escavalier...

Was it really not very effective!

"Of course! My Escavalier's trait is 'Shell Armor'! It will never be hit by a critical hit!"

Perhaps it was just that the beautiful Pokémon lady opposite had too much strength!

"Escavalier, look for an opportunity, use Poison Jab! Let's dance with the lady!" Burgh decisively changed the way of attacking!

A Grass Pokémon that isn't afraid of Bug-type, then are you afraid of poison?

"Speaking of bugs, they live in the forest and use poisonous needles to protect themselves. That is the most powerful weapon of Bug-type Pokémon. The knight's lance stained with deadly poison symbolizes the desire for survival, and behind it hides the shadow of history!"

Just like those poisonous weapons that assassinated famous figures in history, each of them has an unknown dark past. For Burgh, Escavalier's Poison Jab happens to have a considerable overlap with these historical stories!

This is the source of inspiration and artistic creation!

Burgh fell into a state of enthusiasm. Escavalier's poisonous knight lance caught the gap of the leaf blade slash and danced with Lilligant in a clumsy posture. The two Pokémon were like a knight and a princess, but rarely enemies of each other.

Poison Jab caught the gap, and Escavalier accurately hit Lilligant with its heavy lance!

Poison Jab has a 30% chance to make the opponent fall into a poisoned state!

However...

The effect of Poison Jab was quite good, but Escavalier suddenly saw the effect of ability significantly increased on Lilligant!

"What is that... Wait, weather!"

Escavalier also felt a bit hot. Hearing the trainer's exclamation... It looked up suddenly!

Sunny Day!

The weather state that gives Grass-type and Fire-type Pokémon the most powerful strength appeared silently, and Sunny Day is undoubtedly the weather that Steel-type Pokémon fear the most!

Synthesis.

Lilligant absorbed the light!

"Is it Solar Beam?"

No! Responding to Burgh's doubt, three clouds of vapor appeared on Lilligant's head. These three cloud bubbles rotated, and then, they burned fiercely!

In an instant, Lilligant took off the burning fireball with its leaf blades, turning its double leaves into blades of fire!

Weather Ball!

"Lilligant's item is Weakness Policy. When targeted at a weakness, attack and special attack will increase significantly!"

"Dance the dance that calls for victory!"

Grass/Fighting type has too many weaknesses: Poison, Flying, Fire, Psychic, Ice, Fairy... It can be said that Lilligant has plenty of ways to trigger Weakness Policy!

It can even hit itself!

The dancer rushed against the fire flow. When the leaf blades slashed, they raised a hurricane, splitting the flames into broken flowing fire. The scorched leaves swirled with the blade tips, bursting with green light in the scorching heat, and the flying ashes filled the battle field!

Hitting the Weather Ball out in the way of a slash!

And Burgh keenly saw that although Lilligant's leaves were burning, and even constantly raising the black and white ashes of burning out, the brilliant sunlight was also constantly being absorbed by her!

"Synthesis! She actually tied the flames to the leaf blades and maintained the sufficiency of her physical strength through constant synthesis!"

The moment the leaf blades cut open the flame waves, scorch marks and new life spread on the leaf blades simultaneously. The ancient law of grass and wood declaring destruction and new life in the wild fire.

"A Grass-type Pokémon that can use fire!"

Obviously mutually exclusive attributes, but at this moment, they were perfectly integrated! Burgh looked at this scene, including his Escavalier being burned in the flames...

Steel, grass, fire, fighting! Flying sparks and green leaves, fluorescent new buds blooming in the ashes, steel melting, the knight welcoming the end of the flames, dancing and fighting in the world of embers...

Inspiration kept emerging in Burgh's mind, but he didn't forget to take care of his Pokémon!

"Quick, use Protect!"

A light green shield was propped up around Escavalier, but in the case of insufficient physical strength, facing a powerful attribute strike, Protect would also appear to be "unable to protect"!

Xiang Guangtai was surprised: "Did the Fire-type Weather Ball not defeat Escavalier?"

Burgh laughed: "This can't be called a Weather Ball anymore! But no matter what, this kind of dance of flames really opened my eyes!"

"Of course, my Escavalier only has one weakness, which is fire! Therefore, the item my Escavalier carries is—Chople Berry!"

"The magical fruit under the heavy steel armor can make all power from fire be weakened! So, it can still resist for a while!"

"Eh? Obviously its own Pokémon fears fire, since it relied on the Chople Berry to halve the damage of fire, stopping in time at this moment is the correct choice."

In the auditorium, President Shinnosuke showed a puzzled expression, and Nari, who has battle talent, thought for a moment and quickly understood what Gym Leader Burgh was going to do!

Normally speaking, Escavalier has no power to fight back against fire, but relying on the Chople Berry, it can hold on for a while in the fire, which also means Escavalier can master its "progress of physical strength loss" in the fire!

"No, all of Gym Leader Burgh's Pokémon are Bug-type, all fear fire, so he must defeat Lilligant here!"

"Otherwise, the subsequent battles won't go very smoothly! Although he should have considered the difficulty of facing Fire-type long ago, that's why he let Escavalier go first, just to make the opponent's Fire-type Pokémon advantageous!"

"So, he is going to..."

"Resound the knight's oath in the desperate situation!" Burgh was extremely excited!

"Reversal!"

Attack with all your strength. The less HP you have, the greater the power of the move!

Escavalier constantly endured the damage of the flames. The moment the effect of the Chople Berry disappeared, it fiercely dealt a huge blow!

In this close-range distance, the "princess dancer" in front of it absolutely cannot use Protect!

Continuous attacks will also be caught in the gap. Now is the moment to reverse everything and win!

Moreover, Escavalier's lance also surged with flames!

Relying on the flames used by Lilligant, enduring the power of those flames, and counterattacking!

The powerful Fighting-type power triggered the tremor storm of space. The results of training in the Dream World were fully displayed at this moment. This powerful blow made people in the auditorium marvel!

Got it!

"That's not necessarily true."

Nari still discovered the problem. Lilligant was hit head-on by Escavalier's Reversal at this time. Although it did suffer huge damage, but...

The growth rates of both sides are too different...?

No, no! Ability increased!

Nari grabbed the edge of the auditorium, wanting to see clearly what was going on. She recalled the dance Lilligant used while attacking during the battle just now.

"Perhaps, that's not just elegance! That's a move!"

"That's right, it's Victory Dance!" Xiang Guangtai responded to Nari's guess, looking at the surprised Gym Leader Burgh, and explained simply: "Intensely dance to call for victory, increasing your attack, defense, and speed."

"Not only that, the user will also enter a doubled state. In this state, the power of the move will also increase by 1.5 times!"

From the beginning of the attack, Lilligant had been dancing. How many times had she stacked Victory Dance!

Burgh was shocked!

"This kind of move is simply like cheating! However, it's too beautiful, too powerful!"

"Sorry, Escavalier, it seems it was my command that was the problem. You did a great job."

Along with Burgh's somewhat ashamed voice, Escavalier sighed.

Still a move behind.

Still thought it could counter-kill.

However, it was an eye-opener! Forget it, forget it. I forgive you. After all, you are an artist. Art only bursts with inspiration when encountering unexpectedness!

You are the prince of art, and I am just a knight who silently protects you. Failure is not your reason, but my strength is not strong enough.

Lilligant also used the final blow. In the fluctuation of the heart, Xiang Guangtai heard Lilligant's request.

Learned a new move?

By the way, if you don't help with craft manufacturing, just the moves you learn yourself, you won't get information prompts. Xiang Guangtai remembered the scene where Aegislash learned Aura Sphere, released it right in front of him, but didn't get the "mastered move" prompt.

Unless, the Pokémon take the initiative to show this newly learned move, for example, now.

【Congratulations! Lilligant has mastered the move "Acrobatics" on her own!】

That light slash like a swift wind contained huge power. Escavalier was hit by the final blow and fell to the ground.

"What move is that, Aerial Ace?" Burgh was completely fascinated by Lilligant's posture.

"It's Acrobatics." Xiang Guangtai explained:

"Attack the opponent lightly. When you are not carrying an item, it will give greater damage."

"Weakness Policy can only be used once in a battle, and then it will enter a charging state. At this time, using Acrobatics will be regarded as not carrying an item, and the power of the Acrobatics move will double."

Xiang Guangtai explained to the auditorium and Burgh, but didn't expect that they hadn't seen this move!

This was an extra skill Lilligant learned by studying Aegislash's Aerial Ace and Air Cutter.

The auditorium suddenly started to discuss!

Yes, Acrobatics was only discovered as a move starting from the fifth generation. Although many Pokémon can learn it on their own, before humans understood the usage of this move, it didn't have a name, so it couldn't be discovered in battles.

Just like the move "Fury Cutter," although many Pokémon are born knowing it, before Bugsy systematically summarized the characteristics and usage methods of this move, everyone probably just regarded Fury Cutter as a Cut with lower power.

Anyway, they are all cutting grass, and the effects look about the same. This is because Fury Cutter itself is a Bug-type move.

"Too amazing, my shock is beyond words..." Burgh was truly quite moved. Just now, many inspirations had already appeared in his mind, and he couldn't wait to draw them on the spot!

However, the battle wasn't over yet! Can't be sorry for his partners. His battle art had only shown one-third!

After the knight is...!

Hercules!

"I'm counting on you, Heracross! The God of Power of Bug-type praised since ancient times!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 234 =====

That's right, Acrobatics is a move that was only discovered starting from the fifth generation. Although many Pokémon can learn it on their own, before humans understood how to use this move, it had no name, and thus could not be identified in battle.

It's just like the move "Fury Cutter." Although many Pokémon are born knowing it, before Burgh systematically summarized the characteristics and usage methods of this move, everyone probably just treated Fury Cutter as a weaker version of Cut.

In any case, both are for cutting grass, and the effects look about the same; this is because Fury Cutter itself is a Bug-type move.

"Too amazing, the shock in my heart is beyond words." Burgh was truly quite moved. Just now, so many inspirations had already appeared in his mind, and he couldn't wait to paint them on the spot!

However, the battle wasn't over yet! He couldn't let down his partner; his battle art had only displayed one-third of its potential!

After the knight, it is...!

The Hercules!

"I'm counting on you, Heracross! The God of Bug-type power praised since ancient times!"

(End of chapter)