"It's okay." Gary didn't battle with Rhydon but persuaded it with his words. They still had to continue training later.
"Which Pokémon are you going to send over?" Professor Oak asked.
"Crobat," Gary replied.
"Crobat...! Your Golbat has evolved."
"Yes."
"Okay, I just want to study how loud the sound of Crobat's wings can be when it is flying. Please send it over quickly."
So, Gary sent Crobat to Professor Oak's Laboratory and received Rhydon from Professor Oak.
Gary picked up the Safari Ball and examined Rhydon's attributes first.
```
[Pokémon: Rhydon♂]
[Attributes: Ground, Rock]
[Level: 45]
[Potential: Quasi-Elite]
[Ability: Lightning Rod (Attracts Electric-type moves to itself, does not take damage, but increases Special Attack.)]
[Skills: Tackle, Bulldoze, Smack Down, Horn Attack, Stomp, Rock Blast, Drill Run, Take Down, Hammer Arm.]
[Intimacy: 115 (max value 255)]
```
"Why does it have the Lightning Rod Ability…"
This Rhydon has good stats overall, but the Ability is a bit weak. Ground-type Pokémon are already immune to Electric-type moves. After the Lightning Rod absorbs electricity, it enhances Special Attack, but Rhydon is a physical attacker with low Special Attack.
Fortunately, the Pokémon company developed Ability Capsules later, so there's no need to worry too much about this Ability.
"Sabrina, do you want to watch my battle with Rhydon?" Gary asked.
"No, you guys fight. I need to take care of Eevee," Sabrina said.
Sabrina's Eevee has now reached level 26. Because she wants Eevee to evolve into an Espeon, Sabrina keeps an eye on Eevee during the day.
"Okay, I'll head out then."
Gary waved his hand, went outside the Safari Zone, found an open space, and released Rhydon.
"Roar!" Rhydon looked around, then at Gary, signaling him to release the Pokémon quickly.
"Don't worry, my strength won't let you down." Gary took a Poké Ball from his belt and threw it gently.
"Blastoise!"
Blastoise appeared from the Poké Ball.
"Roar!!"
Rhydon immediately became alert. Although it had never fought Blastoise before, it sensed the water-type presence. It must be a water Pokémon.
A Pokémon that can grow to level 45 in the wild has naturally encountered Pokémon that counter it and knows its weaknesses.
"Rhydon, do you still want to fight?" Gary asked.
"Roar!!"
Rhydon roared, unwilling to back down just because its opponent had a type advantage.
A rock formed in front of Rhydon, and it hurled it at Blastoise.
"Flash Cannon!"
Blastoise's cannons shot out two silver beams, shattering the rock and hitting Rhydon, with excellent results. However, Rhydon relied on its high physical defense to withstand the damage.
"Roar!!"
Rhydon roared, and the drill on its forehead began to spin rapidly, charging forward.
"You are brave, but this won't work," Gary praised, then ordered, "Hydro Pump!"
"Blastoise!"
Bang! Bang!
Blastoise's cannons fired Hydro Pumps, and two water jets burst out, forcing Rhydon back over ten meters before stopping.
After being hit by the water attack, Rhydon instantly lost consciousness.
Not counting the four-times weakness to water-type moves, its special defense is also very low, making water-type Pokémon Rhydon's biggest nemesis.
In the battle, the scales of victory were tilted towards Blastoise from the beginning.
Blastoise LV41-42!
Blastoise's level increased by 1.
"Come in."
Gary recalled Blastoise and Rhydon and returned to the Safari Zone lobby. Using the treatment equipment there, he healed Rhydon.
Afterward, he went outside and released Rhydon.
"Roar...!" After the battle, Rhydon kept its promise and agreed to become Gary's Pokémon.
"I'll take good care of you in the future. You can carry this first." Gary took out the Soothe Bell.
Rhydon didn't know what it was but followed Gary's instructions and placed the Soothe Bell in its carrying space.
Then, Gary placed his hand on Rhydon and taught it Thunderbolt, Stone Edge, and Mega Kick.
"Roar!!!"
Rhydon was shocked to suddenly master three new skills, its eyes full of disbelief.
"I said I would help you become stronger. Now you believe it," Gary smiled.
"Roar!!"
Rhydon nodded enthusiastically.
If you had said you had this ability earlier, would we still have needed to battle?
Although Rhydon learned three skills, Thunderbolt wasn't very useful because it's a special attack skill. Even if Rhydon used it, the damage wouldn't be significant.
However, Rhydon's skill pool is very diverse. It can learn skills of various types, including Hydro Pump, Ice Punch, Blizzard, and more.
"Work hard, and I'll let you evolve after a while," Gary said.
Originally, Gary wanted to quickly evolve Rhydon into Rhyperior, but he remembered that the task required him to capture and train Rhydon, not Rhyperior.
If it evolved early, the task would be considered incomplete, and he would need to get a new Rhydon.
So before completing the task, Gary wasn't in a hurry to evolve Rhydon.
"Roar!"
Rhydon nodded, indicating it would train hard.
"Hehe, come in and rest." Gary smiled and recalled Rhydon into the Poké Ball.
"Next, it's Pidgeotto's turn."
The Green Team only had Arcanine and Pidgeot left.
Growlithe can evolve into Arcanine at any time. Pidgeotto is currently level 32, 4 levels away from evolving.
Before challenging the Cinnabar Gym, Gary planned to train his Pokémon, especially Pidgeotto, Growlithe, and Eevee.
Growlithe and Eevee were lagging behind the team in level, so they needed strict training.
A week later.
Gary and Sabrina arrived in Forton City.
Forton City is a small city in the Kanto Region, surrounded by dense forests, which are very suitable for Bug-type Pokémon.
Gary and Sabrina came here because there is a gym in Forton City.
In a week, Gary's Pokémon have grown significantly.
Blastoise LV42-43!
Exeggutor LV36-38!
Pidgeotto LV32-33!
Growlithe LV25-30!
Eevee LV25-30!