The vast pins stretched out endlessly before them—stealth and ambush tactics were nearly impossible.

  Unlike Beedrill, the Nido wasn't made up of weak individual Pokémon.

  The evolved Nidorino and Nidorina were already formidable, and their troublesome Poison-type moves made this mission a tough challenge in Sato's eyes.

  "If anyone has any ideas, feel free to share," Lance said, gathering the group in a circle.

  "Nido are aggressive and easily angered. A direct attack could provoke the entire , so we o be cautious," Rose Joy suggested from a safety standpoint.

  Cir eagerly added, "Close bat is risky—we might get badly poisoned. How about we use a hit-and-run strategy?"

  "No, Nidoking and any one of the Nidoqueen could easily ter a kiting tactic," White immediately dismissed the idea without a sed thought.

  Cir, however, didn't seem upset—her attitude was more posed than Sato had expected.

  "What if we try mass sleep or paralysis tactics?" Rose, with her medical expertise, naturally sidered using status effects.

  Everyohusiastically debated different strategies, each presenting their own perspective.

  Throughout the discussion, Lance remained silent, listening ily and slowly f his own pn.

  Sato had an idea himself, though it was a bit unventional.

  "Sato, do you have any suggestions?"

  "Hmm?" Sato snapped out of his thoughts, realizing that at some point, everyone had stopped talking and turo him.

  "I think Nidoking has the pride of a strong leader. If we challe directly, it might not refuse and may everain its to ensure a fair battle against us."

  The group fell silent for a moment, reevaluating their own overplicated strategies.

  However, they quickly identified the biggest fw in Sato's pn—who could defeat a Pseudo-Elite Four Nidoking in a one-otle? Lance?

  "We have our stro fighter—Laake on Nidoking, while the rest of us focus on keeping the eight Nidoqueen and other Pokémon from interfering," Sato tinued, sino one else spoke.

  "If Lance defeat the Nidoking, all we o do is hold back its supporters for a short time."

  Everyone unsciously his was a dired open strategy, exploiting Nidoking's pride—but the question remained.

  Could Lance really defeat a Pseudo-Elite Four Nidoking?

  "Leave it to me!" Lance said fidently, his voiwavering.

  "We could discuss it a bit more—" Sato hesitated. Wasn't this supposed to be a brainst session? How was this deade so fast?

  "Sato, you uionally brought up something the captain has always wao do. Since even you, his teammate, believe he do it, there's no way he'd hesitate," White said with an all-knowing smirk.

  Do I really think he beat a Pseudo-Elite Four noursed his lips. He knew Lance would one day succeed—he would even bee Champion—but exactly when…?

  Hopefully... maybe… probably… this won't be the moment I dig a hole and bury us all in it. Sato wiped away ent sweat and decided to let this beautiful misuanding py out.

  With their pn ihe group quickly moved into a. Sihey were going for a direct challehere was no need for secrecy!

  -----

  "Charizard! Let's go!"

  Lance's powerful Charizard let out a resounding roar. With no attempt to ceal themselves, they were quickly noticed by the Nido .

  "Thud! Thud! Thud…!"

  Nidoking swung its massive tail as it stomped toward Charizard, its eyes filled with disdain.

  "Nidoking, accept my challenge!" Lance decred loudly, radiating ahe-top heroic aura.

  "Nido~"

  Nidoking shook its head and zily waved a hand—sending one of its Peak Elite Nidoqueen forward in its pce!

  "That's no match for Charizard!"

  "Nido!"

  The Nidoqueen wasn't having it. They were both Peak Elite Pokémon—why should she back down? Without hesitation, she charged forward, her entire body glowing red as she used Superpower!

  "Charizard, Over-the-Shoulder Throw!"

  Instead of flying, Charizard extes front cws, croug slightly as it faced the ining Superpower attack head-on!

  As the two cshed, Charizard leaned back, using Nidoqueen's momentum against her.

  Off-banidoqueen stumbled forward, about to crash down onto Charizard—Charizard fpped its massive wings forcefully, twisted its body, and hurled Nidoqueen away!

  "Boom!"

  With a single move—not even a proper teique—Charizard pletely ralized Nidoqueen's powerful attack, leaving her sprawled on the ground, dazed and uo get up anytime soon.

  Aside from the groaning Nidoqueen, the entire Nido fell silent, their eyes dazzled by Charizard's overwhelming dispy.

  Nidoking stepped forward two more paces, its triangur eyes locked onto Charizard, finally taking its oppo seriously!

  "Nido!"

  With a furious roar, Nidoking's body fshed red as it charged directly at Charizard—using Superpain!

  "Charizard, take to the sky!" Lananded immediately.

  This wasn't Nidoqueen—Nidoking's Superpower was on airely different level!

  However, Charizard was fast—but Nidoking was faster. With a sudden burst of acceleration, Nidoking reached Charizard before it could fully take off!

  "Bang!"

  "Charizard!"

  Though it narrowly avoided a direct hit, Nidoking's sharp hrazed Charizard's thigh, leaving a deep gash.

  A clear-cut wound appeared, rendering Charizard's right leg unusable—even nding properly became impossible!

  Such a vicious and ruthless attack!

  "Charizard, use Heat Wave!"

  Lance's fighting spirit only grew stronger, and Charizard shared the same unyieldierminatioe the pain radiating from its injured leg, its will to fight remained unshaken!

  From the back, the others watched ily.

  Among them, Sato felt it the most—the others might n, but he kly what was happening.

  He had experiehis firsthand—Land Charizard were in perfect synd their bined momentum was steadily rising.

  This was the sign of a breakthrough! As long as this tinued, Charizard would soohrough to the Pseudo-Elite Four level!

  Nidoking also sensed something off about its oppo. It reized this sensation—it had felt it before when battling its former leader.

  Back then, it had been the oo triumph, taking over as the new ruler of the Nido !

  It couldn't allow this to tinue. With a powerful leap, Nidoking's body burst into a bright blue light.

  On both sides of its head, sharp energy spikes formed, before it charged forward with full force!

  Rock-type ultimate move—Head Smash!

  Not bag down, Charizard's energy surged as if it was about to break past its limits.

  It gathered an enormous fireball, so massive that it lit up half the sky in a crimson glow!

  Fire-type starter Pokémon's ultimate move—Bst Burn!