Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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Although caught off guard, Liam recovered quickly. Without giving Morikage a chance to recover, Liam swiftly issued a command. 

"Arbok, use Poison Sting!"

"Charrr!"

Following Liam's somewhat strained command, a rain of purple poisonous needles enveloped the Pidgeot. 

After a pained cry, the accumulated injuries overwhelmed Pidgeot, causing it to collapse, unconscious and unable to battle further.

"Pidgeot is unable to battle! Arbok is the winner! Gym Leader, please send out your last Pokémon!" The referee promptly announced the result.

"Damn it! Return, Pidgeot!" The gym leader, Morikage, glared at Liam with a mixture of frustration and resentment as he recalled his defeated Pokémon.

Liam, noticing Morikage's expression, shrugged helplessly. "You can't blame me for this. Even with Pidgeot injured, its speed could've allowed it to put up a decent fight against Gible. It would've drained a fair bit of Gible's stamina before losing. But using Whirlwind to switch opponents? That was your decision. You brought out my ace—there's nothing I could do about it."

In the stands, Giovanni crossed his arms, watching the exchange with a cold expression. Seeing the anger brewing in Morikage's eyes, he spoke up.

"Gym Leader, are you not sending out your next Pokémon? Or are you considering surrendering?"

Morikage cast a sharp glance toward Giovanni, then sneered. 

Pulling another PokéBall from his pocket, he smirked grimly. "I hadn't planned to use this one, but your strength has surprised me. Since you brought out your ace, it's only fair I respond in kind. So..."

"This is one of my true main Pokemon! Go, Scyther!"

With a toss of the PokéBall, a green blur emerged. Hovering momentarily in the air with its powerful wings, it landed gracefully on the ground.

"Scyytherr!"

The newly revealed Scyther brandished its sharp scythe-like forearms, its predatory eyes locked onto Arbok as if analyzing the best place to strike.

Arbok, feeling the challenge in Scyther's gaze, reared up, its thick body standing tall. Purple venom dripped from its fangs, hissing as it corroded the ground beneath.

Liam's playful demeanor shifted as he regarded Scyther with newfound seriousness.

"Both Pokémon ready? Battle, begin!"

The referee's declaration prompted both trainers to act simultaneously.

"Scyther, use Fury Cutter!"

"Arbok, Poison Sting!"

"Scyyy!"

"Charrr!"

Scyther leaped into action, its wings buzzing as it became a green blur. Arbok responded with a barrage of poisonous needles, creating a wall of projectiles to block Scyther's advance.

"Don't hold back, Scyther! Slash through them with Fury Cutter!" Morikage commanded confidently.

"Scyyy!"

Scyther's scythes gleamed with green light as it dove into the needle storm, slashing furiously. It cut a clear path through the attack, closing the distance to Arbok. With a swift motion, it raised a glowing scythe and struck. 

A deep gash appeared on Arbok, sending it sprawling to the ground. It lay there, unmoving, looking like it had taken a lot of damage.

"Arbok!" Liam's eyes flickered with concern. The sudden turn of events caught him off guard. He didn't think Syther would rush through the Poison Sting.

"Hahaha! How's that? You brought such a weak Pokémon to a gym challenge and dared call it your ace? Laughable! Hurry up and send out that little white runt so my Scyther can finish the job!"

Morikage's taunts were relentless, his earlier cordial demeanor replaced by smug cruelty.

"You old geezer! Arbok, return—"

"Charrr!"

"?!"

Just as Liam moved to recall Arbok, it suddenly surged back to life. With lightning fast movement, it tightly coiled around the unsuspecting Scyther with its tail, rendering it immobile.

Its fierce eyes bore into Scyther as if daring it to struggle. Remarkably, it coiled around Scyther in a manner that made sure it couldn't move its blades freely, or use it's wings to fly.

"What?! Was it playing injured? That's cheating! Despicable!" Morikage's outrage was palpable as he watched his Scyther immobilized.

"Cheating? Compared to your antics, this is nothing! Arbok, Fire Fang—give it everything you've got! Make sure to bite extra hard." 

"Charrr!"

Arbok's jaws opened wide, flames bursting to life around its fangs. With terrifying force, it bit down on Scyther's head. 

The sickening crunch of breaking bones and Scyther's agonized screams from the super effective attack echoed throughout the arena.

"Stop! I said stop!" Morikage shouted in panic, his face a mask of rage and desperation.

"We're in the middle of a battle, Gym Leader. Calling for a ceasefire now—is that your way of admitting defeat?" Liam sneered, signaling Arbok to tighten its grip.

"Charrr!"

The sound of Scyther's body being crushed filled the air, forcing Morikage to relent.

"Fine! You win! Release my Scyther now!"

"Good decision. Arbok, let go—it's over."

"Charrr..."

Reluctantly, Arbok released its grip, letting Scyther's battered body slump to the ground. Its head was scorched, and its injuries were severe.

"Scyther! Stay with me!" Morikage rushed to his Pokémon's side, returning it to its PokéBall with trembling hands.

"The Gym Leader's final Pokémon is unable to battle. The challenger is victorious!" declared the referee, raising his flags.

"Enough! I don't need you to announce it!" Morikage snapped, his fury barely contained.

"So... I won. Doesn't that mean I get my badge now, Gym Leader?" Liam asked, recalling Arbok and releasing Gible to let it stretch. Gible looked around, seemingly searching for Pidgeot. 

When it found nothing, it sulked back into Liam's bag to sleep.

"Hmph! Take it and get out of here. Don't let me see you again!" Morikage hurled a green badge at Liam before storming off.

Liam caught the badge, grinning. Honestly? The asshole kind of deserved it.

Besides, this was his first Gym Badge—an important milestone.

But as he admired his prize, Giovanni rose from his seat, his cold gaze fixed on Morikage.

"Gym Leader Morikage. Were you planning to leave just like that?"