Chapter 48: Can I Have This Battle?

"Go, Big Tongue Shell!" Changpu's voice fell, the Pokeball traced an arc in the air and landed precisely on the Floating Board.

The Red Light faded, and a Big Tongue Shell with a purple‑blue shell appeared on the water's surface; its scarlet tongue occasionally slipped out to lick the shell, and its two shells gently flapped, stabilizing its posture in the water.

"Big Tongue Shell?" Huo La glanced, and the system panel immediately appeared—Level 17, not much different from the earlier Goldfish, its strength truly average.

He remained calm and ordered the Supersonic Bat: "Supersonic Bat, use Supersonic!"

"Not that easy! Big Tongue Shell, retract into your shell and block the Supersonic!" Changpu was prepared and countered immediately.

The Big Tongue Shell slammed its shell shut, its whole body sinking like a stone, leaving only the hard outer shell exposed.

The sound waves emitted by the Supersonic Bat struck the shell and were instantly reflected, unable to cause any interference.

Huo La, seeing this, pondered for two seconds—Big Tongue Shell's shell defense is extremely strong, continuing with Supersonic is clearly ineffective, and repeatedly using the same tactic is easy to predict.

He decisively raised his hand: "Return, Supersonic Bat." The green figure flew back into the Pokeball, the Red Light flashed, and the battlefield was instantly empty for a moment.

Immediately after, Huo La tossed another Pokeball, his voice firm: "Your turn, Flying Mantis!"

"Swish!" The Red Light burst, and the Flying Mantis's figure instantly appeared in midair.

It was clad in a teal exoskeleton, its scythe‑like forelimbs glinting with a cold sheen, and its two pairs of wings fluttered slightly, the airflow causing ripples on the water's surface.

Just hovering there, a fierce battle aura surged forward, and even the Big Tongue Shell in the pool seemed to sense the threat, its shell trembling slightly.

"It's actually Flying Mantis!" Changpu's pupils narrowed, her tone gaining gravity—Flying Mantis's speed and attack are top‑tier among Bug-type Pokemon, making it a perfect spear‑and‑shield against the defense‑oriented Big Tongue Shell.

Huo La gave her no time to react and immediately ordered: "Flying Mantis, use Electric Flash to close in!"

The Flying Mantis shifted, becoming an afterimage, leaping off the Floating Board, and instantly closed in on the water area where the Big Tongue Shell was. Its movement was astonishingly swift, leaving only fleeting ripples on the surface.

"Big Tongue Shell, use Water Gun now!" Changpu shouted urgently.

The tightly closed shell suddenly opened a slit, and a thin jet of water spurted out.

But the Flying Mantis had already circled to the side with its high speed; the water jet brushed its wing and missed, splashing a spray of water.

"Now! Use Air Blade!" Huo La seized the moment and barked the order.

The Flying Mantis's wings flapped violently, and two sharp streams of air howled toward the Big Tongue Shell in the water.

With a "thwack", the air streams slammed into the shell; although they didn't shatter the outer shell, they knocked the Big Tongue Shell off balance, causing it to roll twice in the water.

Changpu gritted her teeth—if they kept being hit passively, the Big Tongue Shell would eventually collapse.

She inhaled deeply, then raised her voice sharply: "Big Tongue Shell, use Whirlpool!" The Big Tongue Shell immediately opened its shells, slapping the water surface forcefully, turning the flow into a vortex.

A rapidly rotating water vortex rose from the surface, accompanied by a "whoosh" sound, charging straight at the still‑hovering Flying Mantis—Whirlpool not only traps opponents but also inflicts continuous damage through the water's impact, a rare area‑control move among Water-type Pokemon.

"Whirlpool?... That's a decent tactical idea, but unfortunately Flying Mantis is a Flying-type Pokemon."

"Now! Flying Mantis, slash the Whirlpool with Air Blade, then immediately use Cross Cut!"

Receiving the command, the Flying Mantis flapped its wings powerfully to rise, evading the frontal impact of the Whirlpool. Hovering mid‑air, its scythe‑shaped forelimbs gathered pale‑green energy, and two sharp Air Blades whistled out, precisely cutting toward the vortex's core!

"Bang!" The Air Blade collided with the water vortex, instantly carving a gap in the spinning Whirlpool. The water flow lost balance, the vortex's force suddenly weakened, and spray splattered everywhere.

Seizing the moment the Whirlpool shattered, the Flying Mantis became a teal afterimage, diving down at extreme speed, striking the Big Tongue Shell before it could adjust its stance.

Its twin scythes crossed into a cross, the chilled blades aimed at the slightly opened shell mouth of the Big Tongue Shell—precisely the moment after it had just used Whirlpool, when its defense was most lax.

"No! Big Tongue Shell, retract quickly!" Changpu's complexion changed, and she shouted urgently.

But it was already too late.

The Flying Mantis's speed far outpaced her reaction, and the tip of the Cross Cut instantly pierced the Big Tongue Shell's opening.

The Big Tongue Shell let out a painful whimper, its shell slammed shut but could no longer block the intrusion. Its body shuddered violently twice, then flipped onto its belly, floating on the surface; the shell slowly opened, having completely lost its combat ability.

"Big Tongue Shell... has lost its combat ability! Flying Mantis wins!" Mudan, who had been observing, announced the result loudly, her tone containing some praise; Huo La not only seized the opponent's opening but also precisely directed the Flying Mantis to chain skills, a battle awareness far beyond that of peers among Trainers.

Changpu recalled the Big Tongue Shell, and watching the Flying Mantis hovering on the water's surface, she clenched her fist with a hint of frustration: "Even the Whirlpool was broken..."

Mudan stepped forward and patted her shoulder, her gaze at Huo La now a bit more serious: "Well done, Huo La. Looks like we can't be careless any longer. Yinghua, it's your turn now."

Yinghua, who had been waiting, nodded, hurried to the edge of the arena, and gripped tightly the ball in her hand that was larger than a Pokeball.

But just as she was about to toss the Pokeball, a crisp female voice suddenly came from the Gym entrance: "Sister Yinghua, may I have this battle?"

Everyone turned at the sound and saw a girl with waist‑long hair walking slowly toward them.

Her jet‑black hair fell to her waist, the tips adorned with a silver water‑pattern hair accessory, and the long coat of black base with blue trim swayed lightly with each step, exuding a cool elegance and a striking vigor.

Huo La furrowed his brow, his gaze lingering on the girl for two seconds, and a thought sparked as he recognized her.

Mudan also saw the newcomer, a smile of surprise and familiarity appearing on her face: "So it's Bilan sister. Are you preparing to return to Pallet Town?"

She gave a helpless laugh, turned to Huo La and spread her hands: "Come to think of it, it's a coincidence; Trainers from Pallet Town are everywhere, really."

Bilan walked up to Yinghua, gave her a slight nod, and said earnestly: "I heard a Trainer from Pallet Town was coming to challenge the Gym, and I wondered if I could use this chance to spar. Sister Yinghua, please."