Chapter 49: Bulbasaur vs. Wartortle

Yinghua watches Bilan's unabashed expectation, then glances at the indifferent Huo La beside her, and after a moment's hesitation finally nods: "Fine, since you've spoken up, I'll leave this to you. But the ugly talk is said first—don't tarnish the reputation of our Hualan Gym."

She says that, slips the Pokeball in her hand back into her pocket, turns and walks off the arena, and as she passes Bilan she lightly pats his shoulder and gives him an encouraging look.

Bilan passes her, steps lightly onto the rock in the center of the pool, raises his hand and tosses his Pokeball high: "Go, Wartortle!"

A burst of red light erupts, and a Pokemon with a gray hard shell lands steadily on the Floating Board—its deep‑blue limbs are thick and powerful, its pale‑blue tail fluffy like a cloud, its ear tips the same pale blue; it is the evolved form of Squirtle, Wartortle.

It shakes its head at Bilan, then turns to look at Huo La across the arena, eyes full of battle excitement.

"Wartortle…" Huo La's gaze lingers on it for two seconds; combined with the name "Bilan," he instantly confirms the girl's background—he never expected to meet her at Hualan Gym in this way.

The system panel promptly pops up Wartortle's stats:

Pokemon: Wartortle

Gender: Female

Level: Lv25

Su Xing: B

Status: Healthy

Nature: Conservative

Type: Water

Ability: Rain Dish (recovers 1? 16 HP at the end of each turn in rainy weather.)

Height: 1.5 m

Weight: 24.4 kg

Carried Item: None

Moves: Tackle (81% mastery), Water Gun (61% mastery), Bite (60% mastery), Water Pulse (21% mastery), Aqua Tail (43% mastery), Rain Dance (21% mastery)

Improvement Count: 1 (???)

He scans quickly, a flash of brilliance in his eyes, "B Su Xing, plus the hidden Rain Dish ability, and the moveset even includes Rain Dance… this Wartortle is indeed quite good."

Since the opponent has brought out a capable partner, he has no reason to hold back: "Bulbasaur, it's your turn!"

Bulbasaur, which had been drifting near Xiao Gang, hears Huo La's call and steps toward him, steps onto the Floating Board, its bud on its back swaying slightly as its emerald leaves unfurl.

It locks eyes with Wartortle across the distance; the Grass+Poison type advantage gives it no fear, and Vine Whip silently emerges from the ground, ready for battle.

Bilan watches the opposing Bulbasaur, a knowing smile curling his lips: "Choosing Grass to counter Water? A clever choice. But my Wartortle isn't that easy to handle—Wartortle, use Rain Dance first!"

Wartortle immediately lifts its head and lets out a low call toward the sky; under the Gym's dome, fine rain threads actually begin to fall.

Raindrops hit the water's surface, creating ripples, and Wartortle's shell glows with a faint blue light—its Rain Dish ability has activated, automatically restoring HP each turn.

Huo La had anticipated this, his expression unchanged, calmly orders: "Bulbasaur, while the rain isn't heavy yet, use Razor Leaf first!"

Bulbasaur's bud on its back instantly opens, dozens of sharp leaves whizzing out with the rain, charging straight at Wartortle.

"Wartortle, retract into your shell for defense!" Bilan reacts extremely quickly.

Wartortle immediately pulls its body into its hard shell; Razor Leaf strikes the shell with a "crack‑pop" sound but inflicts no damage.

When the leaves disperse, it thrusts its head out sharply, gathering water energy in its mouth: "Use Water Pulse!"

A water jet infused with pulse energy shoots toward Bulbasaur; under the rain, the Water-type move's power is amplified.

"Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip to entangle the nearby Floating Board and dodge the attack!"

Two thick vines snap out instantly, tightly wrapping the Floating Board a short distance away; the pull lifts its body into the air, narrowly evading the Water Pulse's impact.

The water jet hits the rock, splashing a large spray that drenches most of the stone.

Huo La watches the increasingly active Wartortle in the rain, knowing in his heart that he can't let it continue.

The rain grows denser, pea‑sized drops striking the water and raising layers of spray—Rain Dish lets Wartortle quietly regain HP each turn, and the Water-type moves become ever stronger under the rain.

His gaze sharpens suddenly, and in a deep voice he orders: "Bulbasaur, aim at the Floating Board beneath Wartortle and use Seed Bomb!"

Bilan hears the command, a hint of disdain curling his lips—Wartortle is a Water-type Pokemon, what use is attacking the board? He immediately raises his hand and directs: "Wartortle, jump into the pool to avoid it, and charge straight ahead with Aqua Tail!"

Wartortle leaps, a "splash" sound as it plunges into the water, swimming toward the Floating Board where Bulbasaur stands like an arrow off a string; its tail is already wrapped in a torrent, ready to launch a surprise attack as it closes in.

"That's exactly what I was waiting for—you entering the water!" Huo La's eyes flash with a spark, and he immediately adjusts the command: "Bulbasaur, scatter Poison Powder over the water's surface!"

"No!" Bilan's face changes instantly, instantly grasping Huo La's scheme—Poison Powder meets water and spreads into a toxic Water Curtain, leaving Wartortle with no escape! She hurriedly shouts: "Wartortle, get out of the water immediately and find a Floating Board to stand on!"

Wartortle jerks its head up, just about to leap out of the water, but hears Huo La issue another order: "Bulbasaur, Razor Leaf, smash all the Floating Boards!"

Bulbasaur's bud on its back instantly opens, dozens of sharp leaves whizzing out, precisely slashing each Floating Board on the water's surface.

"Crack—" "Splash—" sounds follow in succession as the Floating Boards shatter into wooden planks, drifting on the toxic water surface, unable to be stood upon.

"Wartortle, swim quickly toward the rock!" Bilan's voice trembles with urgency.

Wartortle changes direction, desperately swimming toward the nearest rock.

But Huo La gives it no chance: "Bulbasaur, bind it with Vine Whip! Press it into the poisonous water!"

Two thick vines slither out like agile snakes, precisely coiling around Wartortle's limbs. Wartortle thrashes desperately, its tail slapping the water, yet cannot break free of the vines' grip. Bulbasaur suddenly exerts force, forcefully pressing Wartortle's body into the water saturated with Poison Powder.

"Wartortle!" Wartortle lets out a painful cry, its mouth and nose gulping the toxic water, its body beginning to tremble slightly—poison status triggers instantly, draining HP each turn, perfectly offsetting Rain Dish's recovery.

"Break free quickly, Wartortle! Use Water Gun on Bulbasaur's Vine Whip!" Bilan shouts, his voice full of urgency.

Wartortle endures the discomfort, opens its mouth and sprays Water Gun at the vines. But Bulbasaur is prepared; the Vine Whip deftly loops, evading the Water Gun and tightening its grip: "Bulbasaur, keep the pressure, don't let it surface!"

The corrosive poison water becomes increasingly evident, Wartortle's movements slow, its tail's swing growing feeble.

Bilan watches its dwindling struggles, realizing that persisting will only cause Wartortle greater harm, finally grits his teeth and calls out: "I concede! Wartortle, stop struggling!"

Huo La immediately signals Bulbasaur to release the vines. Wartortle weakly rises to the surface, gasping, its body twitching slightly.

Bulbasaur retracts the Vine Whip, watching it warily, its bud on its back gradually relaxing.

The rain stops at an unknown time, and the Gym's dome lights once again illuminate the water's surface.

Mudan steps forward and loudly announces: "Wartortle has lost its fighting ability, Bulbasaur wins! Huo La's challenge is successful!"

Bilan hurriedly jumps off the rock at the pool's edge, cradles Wartortle in his arms, and gently pats its shell: "I'm sorry, I underestimated you."

After that, she lifted her head and looked at Huo La, her eyes showing no resentment, only calm admiration, "Your tactics are impressive; I lose with sincere respect."

Huo La withdrew the Oddish and gave a slight nod to Bilan: "Your Kame Turtle is also strong; without the restraint of Poison Powder, the outcome would still be uncertain."

At this moment, Mudan, holding a Blue Badge and a Move Tutor, walked over and handed them to Huo La: "This is the Blue Badge and the 'Hot Water' move tutor; it belongs to you now."