Chapter 172: Turns out I underestimated your tactical layout

"Beedrill, retreat immediately and keep your distance!" Huo La ordered decisively.

Bug types are countered by Flying types; Beedrill had just succeeded with a speed‑based ambush, but against a Gyarados that combines Flying‑type advantage with a massive size, close‑range combat is certainly a disadvantage.

Beedrill immediately flapped its wings and fell back, keeping a safe distance from Gyarados, its Double Needle poised, eyes watchful.

Qi Shi watched Huo La's response, a slight curve at the corner of his mouth: "Quick reaction, but useless. Gyarados, Hurricane!"

Gyarados's massive body jolted violently, and the ground instantly whipped up a fierce gust, forming a small hurricane that swept the arena.

Beedrill's form was tossed about by the gale, its wings losing balance, wobbling as if about to fall, unable to maintain stable flight.

"Hold on, Beedrill! Use high‑speed movement to steady yourself!" Huo La shouted loudly, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Useless!" Qi Shi's mouth curved confidently, issuing another command, "Gyarados, Salt Water!"

Gyarados heard the call, opened its huge maw, and a lump of cold‑glowing white water instantly coalesced, then was forcefully expelled—Salt Water surged with sharp force, striking the airborne, unbalanced Beedrill with pinpoint accuracy.

The air instantly filled with a strong salty, damp scent.

The struck Beedrill let out a mournful wail, its wings completely drained, falling straight like a kite with its line cut, crashing to the ground and losing its ability to fight.

"Beedrill!" Huo La's heart tightened, and he immediately pulled out a Pokéball to recall it.

Qi Shi's Gyarados was indeed formidable; not only were its Flying‑type moves powerful, its Water‑type attacks were extremely precise, perfectly exploiting Beedrill's disadvantage under the hurricane, delivering a lethal blow.

Qi Shi crossed his arms, looking at Huo La: "It seems you've realized that my Gyarados is no ordinary dual‑type Pokémon. The mobility of Flying combined with the ranged suppression of Water gives your Bug‑type Pokémon no chance. Now, it's your turn to send out the next one."

"Since the opponent is Gyarados, it's your turn now! Venusaur!" Huo La tossed the Pokéball from behind him.

Red Light descended, and Venusaur's massive body thudded onto the ground; its heavy feet pressed the earth, causing a slight tremor, while its leaves unfurled with evident vigor.

"Venusaur!" Qi Shi's eyes flashed, "Your leaves are full and glossy, the trunk stout and solid, the energy particles on your body round and plump—looks like you've bred it quite well!"

"Hm? Gym Leader Qi Shi also studies Pokémon breeding?" Huo La asked, a bit surprised.

"Hehe, speaking of it, before I took over as Gym Leader, my dream was to become a dedicated breeder of Flying‑type Pokémon." Qi Shi smiled, a hint of regret in his tone, "Unfortunately, I ended up becoming this Gym's leader."

"I see." Huo La nodded, "Later I can introduce you to the breeder I usually ask to look after my Pokémon; he's quite experienced in this area."

"Then we'll talk after you beat me!" Qi Shi set aside his sentiment, his gaze sharpening again, commanding Gyarados, "Gyarados, Dragon Dance!"

"Rooooar—!" Gyarados threw its head back, emitting a deafening dragon roar, a faint Red Light shimmering around its body.

"Dragon Dance, trying to compensate for the type disadvantage by boosting critical hits?" Huo La saw through the tactic instantly, decisively ordering, "Venusaur, use Toxic plus Leech Seed!"

"Flower~" Venusaur swayed its massive body, exhaling a cloud of purple‑black Toxic mist while flinging its back petals; a few green‑glowing seeds followed closely, flying toward Gyarados.

Toxic instantly adhered to Gyarados's scales, its body immediately flashing purple, clearly poisoned; then Leech Seed landed on it, quickly rooting and sprouting, beginning to siphon energy.

"Toxic plus Leech Seed, trying to wage a war of attrition? Not so easy!" Qi Shi's face darkened, shouting sternly, "Gyarados, hold nothing back, Hyper Beam!"

Gyarados gritted its teeth against the ongoing poison and Leech Seed damage, roared skyward again, rapidly gathering a dazzling golden energy sphere in its mouth, and hurled it at Venusaur with destructive force.

"Venusaur, block it with Leaf Storm!" Huo La remained calm, not flinching.

Venusaur immediately responded, a raging green Leaf Storm forming around it in an instant, colliding head‑on with the Hyper Beam.

"Boom—!" At the moment the two moves collided, a violent explosion roared deafeningly, a powerful shockwave radiating outward.

Qi Shi's flowing long hair was blown into a wild flutter, and Huo La instinctively raised a hand to shield his cheek.

As the smoke and shockwave gradually faded, both Gyarados and Venusaur in the arena's center were panting heavily, clearly exhausted.

However, unlike Gyarados, the Leech Seeds on Venusaur kept sending back energy feedback; its leaves gradually regained some sheen, its condition markedly better than the poisoned, continuously bleeding Gyarados.

"Damn, you actually got the advantage!" Qi Shi glared at the purple glow on Gyarados, gritting his teeth as he ordered, "Gyarados, while you still have strength, use Dragon Pulse!"

"Dragon Pulse!" Qi Shi, seeing the situation, gave the decisive command.

Gyarados gathered a blue Dragon‑type energy wave in its mouth, charging toward Venusaur with fierce force.

"Dragon Pulse?" Huo La narrowed his eyes, unfazed, shouting at Venusaur, "Venusaur, we'll answer! Petal Dance!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Venusaur's back petals blossomed in unison, countless pink, energy‑laden petals rose from nowhere, forming a dazzling rain of blossoms that surged toward Gyarados's Dragon Pulse.

"Boom—!" Another deafening explosion rang out as the two attacks clashed violently, a raging shockwave sweeping the arena again, tossing ground stones and petals into the air.

Qi Shi instinctively stepped back half a pace, eyes fixed on the battlefield.

The smoke cleared, the scene was unmistakable—Venusaur, though panting heavily and its leaves slightly wilted, still stood firmly; opposite, Gyarados had completely lost its fighting ability, its massive body crashing to the ground, still bearing traces of Toxic and Leech Seed.

Qi Shi retrieved Gyarados's Pokéball, his gaze landing on Huo La, a hint of puzzlement in his eyes: "You started with Toxic and Leech Seed, a war of attrition, yet the subsequent moves were all straight Hard Clash. Your tactical style is truly incomprehensible."

Huo La smiled, scratching his head, "It's actually simple: Toxic and Leech Seed are the foundation, first stabilizing the situation and securing the advantage."

"After all, Venusaur has an absolute type advantage over Gyarados; poisoning it first and then using Leech Seed for sustain at least grabs the initiative."

He paused, then continued, "But Gyarados's burst power is huge; dragging the fight out risks mishaps. So after the foundation, you must press with hard moves, because the best defense is a proactive offense."

Qi Shi couldn't help but nod, "I see now; first using attrition to stabilize, then a strong attack to finish—both safe and decisive. I indeed underestimated your tactical layout."