Pokemon: Gym Leader

This Gym is actually a Poison-type Gym, which caught Jeanette by surprise.

However, she remembered that her fan club members had mentioned something to her earlier—this Rota Gym has a poor reputation online and is considered a very weak Gym.

Now, Jeanette seemed to understand why. Perhaps it's because this Gym specializes in Poison-type Pokémon?

Poison-type Pokémon are considered non-mainstream not only because they tend to look strange and aren't popular, but also because their strength is generally average.

Although getting poisoned can be troublesome, it's actually not difficult to prevent, as both Poison-type and Steel-type Pokémon are immune to being poisoned! Steel-types are completely immune to Poison-type attacks, and Poison-type Pokémon can't be poisoned.

Steel-type Pokémon aren't exactly rare either, with many trainers favoring them.

As a result, Poison-type Pokémon have a tough time.

"You can go first, challenger."

Dylan smiled at Jeanette, not bothering to argue. The results would speak for themselves.

Seeing Dylan's composed demeanor, Jeanette tilted her head in slight confusion.

But she quickly refocused—getting that badge was her priority.

"Winning is the flower! Losing means withering away!"

Jeanette softly whispered to herself. This was her creed. Despite her cute and elegant appearance, she was a fiercely competitive girl.

"Nidorina, get in close!"

Jeanette's clear and melodious voice was decisive. In truth, if it weren't to counter Poison-types, she wouldn't be using Nidorina.

Nidorina's evolution, Nidoqueen, is a Poison/Ground-type Pokémon, but Nidorina itself isn't.

Furthermore, Nidorina only knows Normal-type and Poison-type moves, while Glimmet has a Rock-typing.

Normal-type moves are not very effective against Rock-types.

But that's okay. Jeanette trusted her Nidorina to handle the battle.

Nidorina charged swiftly at Glimmet, looking fierce, but to Dylan, it seemed futile.

Nidorina couldn't fly, while Glimmet could float. Even though Glimmet wasn't very fast, it could easily dodge Nidorina.

"Full of openings."

Dylan calmly remarked.

"?" Jeanette heard the comment and was momentarily stunned.

"But since this is a Gym battle…"

Dylan didn't instruct Glimmet to dodge.

"Use Ancient Power."

Glimmet's eyes glowed, and several rocks materialized around it.

A Rock-type Ancient Power attack!

The rocks hurtled towards Nidorina, and Nidorina didn't have any resistance to Ancient Power.

"Nidorina, use Scratch to break them!" Jeanette quickly commanded.

Nidorina stood on its hind legs, its claws glowing white as it slashed at the incoming rocks.

Smash! Smash! Smash! The power of Scratch was strong, and Nidorina shattered all the rocks sent by Ancient Power.

"Great! Nidorina, jump up and keep using Scratch!"

Jeanette was thrilled. Nidorina had learned Scratch from a senior trainer's Nidoking during her travels.

It was a powerful Normal-type move, and ever since Nidorina learned it, its combat ability had greatly increased.

Nidorina growled softly, took a few steps forward, and then leaped at Glimmet. Glimmet was floating at a low enough height that Nidorina could reach it with a jump.

Nidorina's claws glowed white as it slashed down heavily at Glimmet!

"Toxic." Dylan's smile remained unchanged.

But Dylan's command left Jeanette stunned, as well as her cheering fans in the audience.

"Huh?" "Using Toxic on Nidorina? Doesn't this Gym Leader know the type matchups?"

"Poison-type Pokémon can't be poisoned… right?"

"He really is handsome, but his skills…"

"Something feels off."

The cheerleaders whispered among themselves. Although they cheered loudly for Jeanette, they were quiet during the battle, as Jeanette had instructed them to be.

Unless something extraordinary happened, they were to stay as calm as possible and not disrupt Jeanette's concentration.

In the arena.

Nidorina's Scratch hit Glimmet, but at the same time, a pool of dark purple toxic liquid shot from Glimmet, striking Nidorina and seeping into its body.

Boom! Even though Scratch wasn't very effective against Glimmet, the move still had considerable power, pushing Glimmet back before it stabilized itself.

Nidorina landed safely on the ground.

"Dylan, Poison-type Pokémon can't be poisoned, you…" Jeanette looked at Dylan, confused. She didn't believe that Dylan didn't know this.

A Poison-type specialist not knowing that Poison-type Pokémon are immune to being poisoned? That's absurd.

But before she could finish, she noticed Dylan gesturing toward Nidorina, indicating that she should see for herself.

Jeanette furrowed her brows and looked at Nidorina.

And at that moment, Nidorina, who had been staring down Glimmet, suddenly started glowing with an eerie purple light, and toxic blotches appeared on its body.

Nidorina's expression immediately turned pained as the first wave of severe poisoning took effect!

"How… how is this possible?"

Jeanette's eyes widened in shock, her expression extremely cute in her surprise.

How could this be? Her Poison-type Nidorina was really poisoned?

The cheerleaders in the audience were equally stunned into silence.

"Jeanette, Pokémon are mysterious creatures. Even as a Gym Leader, I can't claim to know everything about them."

"Type matchups, moves, abilities, habits, species traits… there are just too many variables. Pokémon are just that mysterious. So yes, it's entirely possible for a Poison-type Pokémon to be poisoned."

Dylan's gentle voice reached the bewildered Jeanette's ears.

"Please, Dylan, help me understand." Jeanette bit her lip, seriously asking for clarification.

She knew there had to be a reason. It was a widely accepted belief that Poison-types couldn't be poisoned, but Nidorina clearly was.

"You're unfamiliar with it, right? Glimmet belongs to a species that has a special ability called Corrosion."

"This ability is only found in the Glimmet line in Paldea and the Salandit line in Alola. And as you've just seen, Corrosion allows its user to poison even Poison- and Steel-type Pokémon."

Dylan's tone was calm, like a patient teacher explaining a lesson to a student.

Jeanette was silent, her face slightly flushed. She had been so confident in using Nidorina against Dylan, but now it seemed her actions might have appeared foolish in Dylan's eyes from the start.

"The Corrosion ability lets its user poison even Poison- and Steel-type Pokémon," Dylan said with a smile.

To Dylan, Glimmora and Salazzle were essential for any competent Poison-type specialist!

While Poison-type Pokémon don't rely entirely on poison in battle, a Poison-type team without poison isn't truly a Poison-type team.

But the natural counters to Poison-types are quite clear, primarily Steel-type and Poison-type Pokémon.

That's why the Corrosion ability is so necessary!

"I see." Jeanette's bright eyes sparkled with realization. Not only Poison-types, but even Steel-types could be poisoned?