I, Gary, Want to Become a Pokemon Master

Chapter 682 - 682: Rhyperior vs. Landorus

"Landorus, use Sandstorm!" Tobias ordered.Landorus struck its frozen right arm, breaking the layer of ice covering it, then waved both hands outward. In an instant, sand and wind swept across the battlefield, turning the arena into a stormy haze.

Landorus was a Legendary Pokémon with strong control over the climate, similar to the three legendary birds. Even ordinary Legendary Pokémon could not necessarily manipulate the battlefield environment so easily.

"Darkrai, come back."

Gary immediately took out Darkrai's Poké Ball and recalled it.

After seeing Tobias order Sandstorm, Gary could basically confirm one thing: this Landorus most likely had the Sand Force ability. The reason it had not used Sandstorm earlier was simple. Gary had been attacking too aggressively and never gave Landorus enough room to set it up.

The commentator was confused.

"Gary suddenly recalled Darkrai! What is going on?"

The audience was just as puzzled.

"What? Didn't Darkrai just hurt Landorus badly?"

"Yeah, Darkrai clearly still had the strength to keep fighting."

"Not bad! This is called playing safe. As expected of Daddy Gary!"

"Exactly. If he can play steadily, then just keep playing steadily."

Most people did not understand why Gary had switched, but the gamblers in the stands loved it. Their money was riding on Gary, so they were afraid of any risky move. As far as they were concerned, the safer Gary played, the better.

But when Gary sent out his next Pokémon, those same gamblers froze.

"Magnezone, I'll leave it to you again."

Gary threw out a Poké Ball.

A flash of light appeared, and Magnezone returned to the field.

"Kuyi!"

Magnezone floated unsteadily in the air.

The audience immediately blew up.

"What the hell? What's the point of sending Magnezone back out?"

"Can Magnezone even still fight?"

"Isn't this just giving it away for free?"

"What are you all getting excited about? Maybe he's just using it to consume the opponent. That's the safest way!"

"Consume your mother! Look at Magnezone's condition!"

The complaints were understandable. Although Magnezone had defeated Heatran earlier, it had also paid a huge price. Sending it back out against Landorus looked like asking it to faint.

Gary ignored the noise from the stands.

"Magnezone, use Gravity."

Tobias had no intention of letting Magnezone act freely.

"Landorus, Earth Power!"

"Bzzzt!"

Magnezone manipulated the magnetic force around the field, changing the gravity of the arena. The pressure in the air suddenly increased, dragging the floating Landorus down and forcing it to land.

But at nearly the same time, the ground beneath Magnezone split open. Golden-brown earth energy erupted upward and swallowed Magnezone instantly.

Crack!

A strange sound rang through the battlefield.

"What was that sound?"

Many spectators heard it clearly but did not understand what it meant.

One gambler clutched his chest.

"That was the sound of my heart breaking!"

"It's over. I thought I could make a profit this time, but now I've lost everything again. Back to square one."

"Wait! Magnezone wasn't defeated!"

"What? Really?"

The gamblers who had already fallen into despair immediately looked back at the field.

Magnezone was still floating in the air.

Barely.

Its condition was terrible. It looked like even a slightly stronger gust of wind could knock it to the ground.

"Magnezone, come back."

Gary did not hesitate. He recalled Magnezone again.

The moment Magnezone disappeared into its Poké Ball, the gamblers finally breathed again.

"Thank goodness, he took it back."

"You scared your son to death, Daddy Gary. Don't do that next time."

"Weren't you heartbroken just now?"

"It's healed now."

After Gary recalled Magnezone, those broken hearts seemed to stick themselves back together.

The commentator was still trying to understand Gary's plan.

"Gary sent out Magnezone, used Gravity, and then immediately recalled it. Was his only purpose to limit Landorus's ability to fly?"

From the outside, it really did look wasteful. Magnezone had nearly fainted just to use Gravity. If Gary only wanted to deal damage, using Self-Destruct might have been more profitable.

But Gary clearly had another plan.

He took out another Poké Ball.

"The remaining three Pokémon will be left to you."

He threw the red-and-white Poké Ball forward.

A burst of light appeared, and a massive Pokémon covered in orange-red rock armor landed heavily on the battlefield. It stood upright, with thick limbs and a powerful body that looked built for brute force.

It was Rhyperior.

The audience was confused again.

"Oh! Why Rhyperior?"

"Why send that out?"

"Can Rhyperior really fight Landorus?"

No one quite understood Gary's decision.

Rhyperior was a Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon. Landorus, on the other hand, had Ground-type moves that could restrain Rhyperior. From a type matchup perspective, sending Rhyperior against Landorus seemed like a disadvantage.

Tobias frowned.

"Although I don't know what you're planning, you're underestimating me too much."

Tobias did not look down on Gary. In fact, Gary's performance in the first half of the battle had been more than enough to earn his attention. But now, this sequence of actions—recalling Darkrai, sending out Magnezone just to use Gravity, then bringing out Rhyperior—made Tobias feel as though Gary was treating him too casually.

There was only so much a person could tolerate.

Gary answered simply, "I didn't underestimate you. Type restraint doesn't mean your Landorus can win."

"Then let me see how your Rhyperior wins."

Tobias immediately gave the order.

"Landorus, use Earthquake!"

"Ah!"

Landorus slapped the ground with its palm, sending a powerful tremor rolling across the battlefield.

"Charge through it with Drill Run," Gary ordered.

"Roar!"

Rhyperior lowered its body and rushed forward. Ground-type energy gathered around it as its drill-like horn spun violently.

The Earthquake wave struck Rhyperior as it charged. Its body paused for a moment, but only for a moment. It continued moving forward, pushing straight through the shaking ground.

Because of Gravity, Landorus could no longer fly. It had lost its biggest advantage and had no choice but to face Rhyperior head-on.

"Ah!"

Landorus braced itself and pressed both palms against Rhyperior's body, trying to stop the charge.

But Rhyperior's power was too great.

Landorus was forced backward several meters before it finally managed to stop the advance.

"Ice Punch!"

"Arm Hammer!"

Gary and Tobias gave their commands at the same time.

"Ah!"

"Roar!"

Landorus and Rhyperior attacked at close range.

But Rhyperior did not choose to clash fist against fist. Instead, it used its heavy body to endure Landorus's Arm Hammer directly.

The blow landed hard, but Rhyperior took it.

Then its fist, covered in freezing energy, slammed into Landorus's head.

"Ah!"

Landorus cried out in pain, its face twisting. That Ice Punch nearly knocked it out on the spot.

Because Landorus was both Ground- and Flying-type, Ice-type attacks were extremely effective against it. After already being injured earlier by Darkrai's Ice Beam, this hit was even harder to endure.

Still, Landorus managed to hold on.

But that did not help much.

Rhyperior was still right in front of it. If one punch did not finish the job, then a second one would.

"Ice Punch," Gary ordered again.

Tobias wanted to recall Landorus, but Rhyperior's body was blocking the angle. He could not safely take it back in time. Since there was no way to retreat, he could only try to deal as much damage as possible.

"Use Arm Hammer!"

"Ah!"

Landorus was angry now. It endured the biting pain and swung both arms toward Rhyperior again.

"Roar!"

Rhyperior did not back down. Its fist glowed with icy energy as it threw another Ice Punch.

Bang!

Bang!

Both attacks landed.

Landorus's Arm Hammer struck Rhyperior's head.

Rhyperior's Ice Punch struck Landorus's head at almost the same time.

Rhyperior staggered back several steps from the impact.

Landorus was sent flying backward. It crashed into the protective barrier around the field, bounced off, and fell heavily to the ground.

Its eyes had already turned into spirals.

The referee raised his flag.

"Landorus is unable to battle! Rhyperior wins!"