"Blaziken, remember what I told you—if you approach this differently, the solution won't seem so difficult." Aoki called out to his Pokémon.
Hearing its Trainer's voice, Blaziken, which had been knocked to the ground, paused. It recalled Aoki's earlier advice. Perhaps changing the perspective was the key. If brute force couldn't prevail, fire would have to suffice.
Cook it.
Suddenly, an inferno erupted from Blaziken's body, engulfing the battlefield. The flames lashed upward, trapping the hovering Jumpluff. Though Jumpluff's speed allowed it to evade direct hits, counterattacking became impossible—its strikes landed only one in three times, relying on luck.
Blaziken's training regimen of 500 daily laps had honed its stamina to perfection. Now, it darted across the field unpredictably, leaving Jumpluff unable to track its movements. Meanwhile, the fire-type attacks continued. This was no longer close combat; Blaziken's special attack prowess wasn't negligible.
The arena's temperature soared as Blaziken raced beneath Jumpluff, flames licking its feathers. Occasional bursts of Heat Wave seared the cotton-ball Pokémon, turning the battlefield into a steamer. The shift in strategy proved effective—Jumpluff, though unharmed by direct blows, reddened under the relentless heat. The Burn status sapped its strength, and soon, it crumpled to the ground, unable to fight.
Aoki observed critically. While Blaziken's flame control needed refinement—unsurprising for a recent evolution—its adaptability impressed him. Future training would balance close-quarters combat with ranged fire techniques like Flamethrower and Fire Blast, expanding its versatility.
Master Fu recalled Jumpluff, hesitating before selecting his next Pokémon. His initial goal—gauging Blaziken's limits—had been met, but Qingmu's request for a stronger opponent piqued his interest.
"Master Fu, feel free to send out a more powerful Pokémon. I want to test Blaziken's capabilities," Aoki urged.
Fu chuckled. This wasn't a formal battle; Aoki sought training, and he was happy to oblige. "Very well. Let Blaziken recover first."
Aoki agreed. Despite leveling up to Lv. 37 after defeating Jumpluff, Blaziken's stamina was depleted. The gym's temperature had risen noticeably, a testament to its efforts. Fu's next choice would likely be an Elite-tier Pokémon—stronger but still within reason. Given Fu's age, his ace might sit at the Quasi-Champion tier, but he'd adjust for fairness.
Once Blaziken rested, Master Fu released his next fighter: a quadrupedal creature with curved horns and a mane of vibrant leaves.
Gogoat.
Aoki's eyes gleamed. Native to Kalos, this Grass-type fascinated him—not just for battle, but for its utility.
Pokémon: Gogoat (cyan)
Gender: Male
Level: 42
Type: Grass
Ability: Sap Sipper
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Rollout, Milk Drink, Grassy Terrain
Basic Skills: Earthquake, Tackle, Growth, Vine Whip, Tail Whip, Leech Seed, Leaf Blade, Worry Seed, Synthesis, Take Down, Stomp, Seed Bomb, Bulk Up, Double-Edge
Learnt Moves: Iron Tail, Giga Drain, Bounce, Snore, Stomp
TM Moves: Protect, Solar Beam, Earthquake, Attract, Energy Ball, Rock Slide, Grass Knot, Wild Charge
Gogoat was perfect for Aoki's long-term vision. As a grass-type with Milk Drink, it could sustainably produce nutrient-rich goat milk—it may be superior even to Miltank's milk. Combined with Grassy Terrain, it could cultivate its own food as Gogoats thrive more on good grass than on Pokeblocks, minimizing costs.
In Goldenrod City, Whitney's family thrived thanks to the Miltank farm. Aoki imagined Gogoat herds on his island, their milk generating revenue rivaling his Clamperl pearl farms. The Laverre Gym in Kalos famously raised Grass-types, and Gogoat was their signature. Perhaps a trade could be arranged…
Master Fu's Gogoat, at Lv. 42, was likely among the gym's strongest defenders. Gym Leaders typically reserved their aces for serious challengers, rotating teams based on the opponent's skill. Aoki's own Verdanturf gym had the same type of management, however his absenteeism as Leader was a recurring joke.