"Great teamwork!"
Fujishu recalled the fainted Machamp and couldn't help but praise, "Looks like you've done a lot of homework. With such dedication, no matter how big the waves, they won't be a challenge for you."
The Gym Leader, experienced as he is, naturally saw that Baimu and Mawile had devised tactics specifically to counter his habits and Pokémon, which allowed them to smoothly defeat Machamp without needing much on-the-spot command.
Whether it was preventing contact with the ground to hinder momentum or using Taunt to stop Machamp from powering up, they hit the key points.
Fujishu doesn't mind such a problem-solving approach to Gym challenges; in fact, he highly encourages it.
In his view, doing this homework is like preparing different boards for different waves; each has its strategy. The key is not how the tactics are formulated,
but whether they can be successfully executed.
"You're too kind."
Baimu nodded, looked at the slightly panting Mawile that had returned in front of him, and softly praised, "Well done."
"Tsk tsk~"
Mawile gave a thumbs-up without looking back.
Then.
Fujishu took out the second Pokeball, "Go! Medicham!"
Bang!
"Gah!"
With a flash of white light and a resonant battle cry, a pink humanoid Pokémon, flexible like noodles and standing on one leg, appeared on the battlefield.
Medicham, the Meditation Pokémon, typically has the trait [Yoga Power], which has the frightening effect of doubling its attack power.
In other words, its hits hurt a lot, and Pokémon with weak Fighting Attributes can't endure it.
But Baimu had already found a way to counter this.
"Passing the Baton!"
Before Medicham even landed, he had started exchanging Pokémon.
A white light shone atop Mawile's head, transforming it into a white glow that flew back into the Pokeball on his waist. Simultaneously, another Pokeball automatically opened, releasing the Galarian Corsola inside.
Perceiving the threatening aura from the opponent, its smoke-like tentacles fully extended.
Like a blossoming flower.
And electric light shimmered beneath it, giving its body a slight silver glint—symbols of inheriting Electromagnetic Levitation and Iron Wall.
"Oh? Corsola?"
Fujishu was stunned for a few seconds before realizing this wasn't an ordinary Corsola.
Baimu observed his expression, once again realizing that Pokémon from the Galar Region might not be very common here. Is their Gym challenge system so intense? Do Trainers not travel?
Back to the topic.
Based on intel available online, the Medicham that Fujishu often uses in battles doesn't know Recognize.
Indeed.
Though many of his Fighting Attribute Pokémon do know it, Medicham specifically does not have this critical skill. It's either a doorway left open by him for challengers or something it really couldn't learn.
Of course, there's the possibility that this Medicham isn't the usual one he sends out, but regardless, choosing Galarian Corsola to counter is definitely not wrong.
"Stick to the plan!"
Baimu started with a curse, as it was the most effective move when the opponent couldn't freely switch Pokémon—it's hard to block Curse and Song of Destruction type moves.
Galarian Corsola swelled with dark light internally, quickly transforming into a grim shadow that shrieked and suddenly flew towards Medicham!
"Break it with Mind Head Hammer!"
Fujishu shouted.
Medicham jumped up abruptly, flipping its body skillfully upside down, its forehead glowing a pale blue brilliance, pouring in tremendous spiritual power—a headlong crash into the shadow.
With a boom, the shadow shattered into countless black fragments.
But before he could feel relieved, those fragments seemed to come back to life, all surging into Medicham's shadow.
"Did it fail?"
Fujishu felt a bit regretful; he realized the form of the shadow was a curse rather than a Night Shadow Demon. Unfortunately, Galarian Corsola's curse was too powerful, even Medicham's spiritual power couldn't resist it.
From what he knows, the stronger the resentment in its heart, the more terrifying the curse's effect. Does Galarian Corsola harbor some deep resentment?
Thinking this way, he didn't dare to gamble on Medicham enduring Galarian Corsola's curse: "Shadow Ball!"
"Gah!"
Medicham gathered its hands at its chest, rapidly forming a deep purple energy ball crackling with black currents, which accelerated towards Galarian Corsola.
"Block it with Primordial Power!"
Behind Galarian Corsola, a halo of earthy brown energy coalesced, strong Rock Attribute energy surged forward, instantly shattering the approaching Shadow Ball.
Boom!
Amid swirling smoke, another light shone.
No doubt this was the mark of triggering Primordial Power's side effect; Galarian Corsola's abilities increased across the board.
"A tough opponent indeed, it reminds me of a massive wave last month, it constantly changed, giving me and Hariyama quite a hard time—but ultimately, we conquered it! Mind Head Hammer!"
Fujishu, who never strays far from talking about surfing, shouted. Medicham, as if feeling the Trainer's will, dashed forward at extreme speed, leaping in front of Galarian Corsola.
Its posture suddenly inverted.
Falling!
Thud!
A muffled sound, spiritual power seeped into Galarian Corsola with each attack, violently shaking the ground below, forming a spiderweb of extensive cracks.
It must be said Medicham's attack was fierce, and had it been another Pokémon, it might not have withstood it.
Fortunately, Galarian Corsola's dual defenses were extremely high, and with the Evolutionary Wondrous Stone enhancing its defense coupled with the boosts from Iron Wall and Primordial Power, it withstood easily.
Letting Medicham get close was indeed one of Baimu's main goals.
"Absorption Power!"
He shouted.
However, without the Trainer needing to say much, Galarian Corsola had already pierced its smoke tentacles into Medicham's body, drawing in green light points to restore its own lost stamina.
Medicham's face expressed pain, surrounded by dark energy its attack power was declining, its body suffering under the curse's torment constantly increasing energy consumption, which was exceedingly dangerous.
"Retreat quickly!" Fujishu's expression changed.
No way could Baimu or Galarian Corsola let their hard-earned close-range advantage slip: "Tide Spin!"
The crystal-clear waters quickly gathered from the air, transforming swiftly into a turbulent whirlpool enveloping Medicham, tearing at its body to prevent it from leaving.
"Use Yoga Pose!"
Fujishu's shout snapped Medicham out of its watery torment, it forcefully adopted a peculiar meditative posture, its body enveloped in blue light, appearing as if in another dimension, as it lightly tapped the air with its toes, freeing itself from being at the mercy of the currents.
"What the—?"
Baimu was stunned; could the Yoga Pose be used like this?
This wasn't covered in the strategy guides; it seemed Fujishu had kept this in reserve.