The standard Tie Xuan set for Kebi was indeed different from the first badge for ordinary challengers.
An ordinary person would not be treated to an Electrode of this Level.
Electrode
lv70 lv38
Ability: Aftermath (Development: 0.6)
Aptitude: Blue (86/100)
Unlike Electrode's common abilities of Soundproof and Static, this Electrode not only had the rare Aftermath ability, but its development was also not low.
The Aftermath ability causes the Pokémon to explode after being defeated, consuming extra stamina from the enemy, and if one is not careful, they can be taken down together, so Kebi immediately raised his guard.
In a Gym challenge, not only does the Gym Leader send out their Pokémon first, but the first move also belongs to the challenger.
"Piplup, Mist."
A white Mist spewed from Piplup's mouth, quickly covering the entire field.
Ever since Piplup learned the Mist skill, Kebi had made Mist an important tactical component for Piplup.
Piplup needed to learn to move silently in the Mist, precisely locate enemies within the Mist, use the cover of the Mist to continuously wear down enemies, and strengthen himself.
That's right, Kebi was imitating the Silent Killing technique of the Hidden Mist.
That day, Kebi rummaged through his backpack and found the random skill disc he had signed in for when he first set off.
At the time, he was so focused on thinking about Piplup and Chimchar's training that he forgot to check what skill this skill disc taught.
Playing it on his portable computer, Kebi realized that this disc was actually the Swords Dance skill.
Enhancement skills like Swords Dance, Calm Mind, and Dragon Dance can comprehensively boost a Pokémon's ability values, just with different focuses.
For example, Swords Dance increases physical attack ability values the most.
For special attackers like Piplup, it would actually be more suitable to learn enhancement skills like Calm Mind or Nasty Plot, but Kebi only had Swords Dance.
Moreover, the Swords Dance produced by the system might even provide a higher special attack boost than a Nasty Plot taught by an ordinary skill instructor.
The Swords Dance disc adopted a dual-language teaching method for both humans and Pokémon, and Kebi understood it.
It could guide Pokémon to learn Swords Dance.
Now, Piplup was hiding in the Mist, using Swords Dance to strengthen himself.
"Electrode, Discharge!"
Tie Xuan laughed heartily, completely unconcerned that his vision was obscured.
"Kebi, you should know that Electrode is a ball; mere Mist can't stop him."
With the help of his mental power, Kebi "saw" Electrode rapidly rolling across the battlefield, constantly throwing out dazzling Electric Light from his body.
It's a pity Ash didn't come to watch the match; perhaps his Counter Shield could have been developed earlier.
But what Piplup learned was not just a simple Swords Dance.
Based on the Swords Dance of A Bi's Scyther, the Gym Leader of the Johto region's Azalea Gym, Kebi had Piplup try this kind of Swords Dance that involved strengthening, defending, or attacking simultaneously.
However, after Piplup learned it, Swords Dance completely changed.
Piplup could flap his wings and briefly stay in the air.
Combined with Swords Dance, Piplup transformed into a helicopter.
Through rotation speed and adjusting the angle of his wings, Piplup gained the ability to fly.
Even with lightning flying wildly, Piplup seemed to be performing a sharp-bladed waltz, easily weaving through the lightning that resembled silver snakes dancing chaotically.
Not achieving the expected effect, Tie Xuan raised an eyebrow.
His move covered the entire battlefield; not hitting could only mean one thing: Piplup wasn't on the field…
In the air!
"Electrode, Thunder Wave!"
"Water Gun!"
What the enemy wants to accomplish, we must destroy.
A water bullet pierced through the Mist, hitting Electrode.
The release of Thunder Wave was interrupted.
Electrode also didn't follow the Thunder Wave to lock onto Piplup's position.
Tie Xuan understood that Kebi had changed the way he used Water Gun to avoid the Electric Pokémon quickly conducting electricity through the water column.
It seemed Kebi had undergone very comprehensive anti-electric training in Steel Valley.
No wonder he dared to challenge an Electric Gym with Piplup.
"Gyro Ball!"
Electrode spun in place, getting faster and faster, and the airflow he created began to scatter the Mist spreading across the field.
"Metal Claw, help him!"
Once Gyro Ball is used, it's not so easy to stop.
With a crisp bang, the Mist was stirred even more violently.
Gyro Ball spun too fast, and there was no way to stop it.
Tie Xuan had to admit that Kebi's tactics were excellent.
But after so many years as a Gym Leader, he wasn't one for nothing.
Tie Xuan made a decisive move, "Self-Destruct!"
Kebi's expression changed, "Metal Claw Swords Dance Breeze Riding!"
He hadn't expected Tie Xuan to be so decisive; now he could only trust Piplup.
Taking a close-range Self-Destruct would not be pleasant.
Blinding white light pierced through the Mist, and the booming explosion shook their eardrums.
The violent airflow blew away all the smoke, revealing only Electrode, who still had stamina, and Piplup, who was blown away by the Self-Destruct, rotating at high speed with metal-colored wings.
To resist Self-Destruct, don't take it head-on; use the shockwave to fly up and vent most of the Self-Destruct's power.
Metal Claw was enough to protect Piplup, minimizing the damage.
Piplup's heart was surging; he used to not understand why Kebi wanted him to learn Breeze Riding from Fearow with his tiny wings.
He simply didn't need that technique.
Only today did he realize that there are no useless techniques, only unsuitable scenarios.
"Charge Beam!"
Kebi waved his hand, "Dodge it! I didn't expect Electrode to still be so active after using Self-Destruct once."
Although he couldn't see anything just now, Xiao Sheng could vaguely feel a storm from Kebi and Tie Xuan's commands.
This feeling was completely different from Ash's battles; was this what a battle with brains felt like?
"Ah hahaha, this is an Electrode with the Aftermath ability; his specialty is explosions, so he won't fall so easily."
Seeing Piplup's posture, Tie Xuan realized that Piplup had secretly strengthened himself in the Mist, and he was also flying in the sky.
So Tie Xuan chose to use Charge Beam to boost Electrode's attack power.
Tie Xuan stroked his beard, flying up with Swords Dance was a very creative technique, he had it.
"Double Team."
"Bubble Beam!"
Making so many clones, is he trying to use the explosion move again?
The Bubble Beam swept through and quickly found the real body that hadn't been dispersed.
Seeing that he was exposed, Electrode sprang up and swelled, then flew into the air.
Accompanied by Electric Light, the explosion disappeared.
Piplup wanted to repeat his trick, using Breeze Riding to avoid the shockwave.
A bolt of Electric Light flew out from the remaining shadows, hitting Piplup and making him fall.
"It's Substitute!"
He hadn't expected it to be a combination of Double Team and Substitute.
The older the ginger, the spicier it is!
This move is good, Kebi planned to write it down and let a Pokémon with excellent stamina try it later.
"How about it, your Piplup can't move now, can he? Ah hahaha, laugh often, Million Volt is coming."
Kebi smiled calmly, "Hydro Pump!"
A jet of water erupted from Piplup's mouth, hitting Electrode and sending him crashing into the Gym wall.
But in fact, at the moment he was hit, Electrode, who didn't have much stamina left, had already fainted.
"Nani!" Tie Xuan's expression changed drastically, disbelieving that Piplup could still move after being hit by Thunder Wave.
"Why isn't he paralyzed?"
"Piplup!"
Piplup proudly raised his head; a Thunder Wave of this power was far inferior to a Nosepass fully charged with Magnet Pull.
A tiny Electric Light, not worth mentioning; he could break free from paralysis with just one breath.