SWSH016: Rising!! Opal of Ballonlea

is the 3rd chapter of Pokémon Adventures: Volume 3 (SWSH).
==Synopsis==
Henry has some time training with Marvin, whose Sniffler evolves into a Drizzile. Noting that Opal's Alcremie could be a dangerous opponent, Henry prepares a special strategy, but upon facing Opal, his Sirfetch'd's stats automatically decrease. Henry manages to defeat Opal's Pokémon, but is told this is a test of his heart: what will he do when the opponent has an unfair advantage over him?
==Chapter plot==
Opal asks Henry how old she is: either 88 or 16. Henry takes a moment, and answers "88". Opal grins, then walks away, asking of Henry to wait as she will face another challenger, and promises to unveil the answer to her question. With that in mind, Henry asks Marvin to be his sparring partner until Opal finishes her match. Suddenly, Hop greets Henry, who sees Hop is Opal's next challenger. Hop wonders if Henry had to answer Opal's question, to which Henry confirms. Hop admits he answered "16", while Marvin wonders what kind of a question is that. Hop admits he wanted to say "88" but felt there was a trick behind it. Henry admits he felt the same, but still stuck with his answer, and the boys part ways.
Hop, at the stadium, faces Opal, who sends Pincurchin out. Opal confronts Hop with his answer: raising her parasol, Opal shouts out that was a good answer. Marvin hears the commotion from the stadium, as 16 was the right answer for Hop, whose Pincurchin's Attack and Special Attack stats have been raised. Marvin points out to Henry about this quiz, but Henry is more interested in Sniffler, who is shaking: it evolves into a Drizzile. He reminds that his Grookey evolved into Thwackey, as did Casey's Scorbunny into a Raboot. Henry felt like Sobble would've evolved eventually. He reminds that Drizzile can now form water bubbles from mist, and launch them.
Henry asks Marvin to use that in the training, to which Marvin has Sniffler launch these bubbles. Sniffler does so, but Henry is not impressed. He reminds Marvin about Opal's Alcremie, and remembers the past Gym Leaders' Pokémon, like Eldegoss, Gengar, Centiskorch and Drednaw, had a similar energy emitting from them. Marvin notes that Opal will likely Dynamax her Alcremie, and Henry is expecting that to happen. He is aware that Gigantamax Alcremie can shoot out blasts of cream: in order to counter that, he wanted to test his Sirfetch'd ability to combat Sniffler's water bubbles. Marvin goes to touch one of the bubbles, thinking they won't help much for Henry.
Upon piercing the bubble, a watery splash engulfs Marvin, who is shocked at this turn of events. Marvin suspects they are like mines, to which Henry starts believing it could still help him. On Henry's behalf, Sniffler emits more watery bubbles. Moments later, a Gym official runs to Henry, asking him to go to the stadium, as Hop's match has been finished. Inside the stadium, Henry goes to face against Opal, leaving Marvin mortified to have to deal with a man wearing the Ball Guy mask. Still, he hopes that his training has helped Henry. Henry walks to the stadium, where he faces Opal. Opal remembers he answered "88": Opal replies that her age is 88, but it was a bad response. Thus, his Lancelot suffers in Attack and Special Attack stats.
Opal sends a Weezing, which Marvin notices it is different: it is a Galarian variant. Knowing it is a Fairy-type as well as a Poison-type Pokémon, Marvin suspects she is a Fairy-type expert. Henry has Lancelot use Steel Wing to attack Weezing, but due to its decreased stats, Weezing is not knocked out yet. The latter fires Sludge Bomb at Lancelot, who is hurt from the attack, but uses Steel Wing to defeat Weezing. Opal remarks that even with its stats decreased, Lancelot defeated her Weezing, and did not get poisoned by its Sludge Bomb. However, she notes it is still in pain, and sends Togekiss next. Henry swaps Lancelot with Tteeler, as Marvin suspects that Henry is keeping it for battling against Alcremie.
Togekiss goes to use Double-Edge, but Steeler fires Rock Slide, burying Togekiss under rocks and defeating it. Opal smiles, seeing Steeler is quite lucky to have gone so ahead, even if there was a threat that his Pokémon would've gotten poisoned. However, she reminds they have a duty to uphold. She remarks that even if Henry was punished for giving out a wrong answer, he could still overturn the tables and use that to his advantage, and wonders if he can figure what she means with that. She exclaims she is also testing Henry as a person, not just as a Trainer.
Henry wonders why does she have to go so far: Opal reminds even winners can get unfair criticism, jealousy, envy and other negative emotions. She states if Henry can't confront against such emotions, he won't be able to stand on the top, and goes to test this bit out. Opal sends Alcremie and uses her power to Dynamax it into a Gigantamax Alcremie. Opal has it launch 100k calorie missiles at Steeler, who evades this attack, due to Marvin's training: it ran through the mines to avoid contact with the watery bubbles. Opal remarks how naive Henry is to think that Lancelot won't get struck due to its small size: Alcremie's attacks enlargen and target Lancelot.
One of the missiles strikes Lancelot, to which Henry prepares his Dynamax Band. Opal closes her eyes, as Henry wants to take things up a notch: he Dynamaxes his Lancelot. She remarks this will be a worthy fight before her departure, surprising Henry. Opal has the Rotom Drone fix its attention at her, broadcasting her announcement of her retirement after this battle is over. This makes the announcer scream in shock as who would be Ballonlea's next Gym Leader. At Hammerlocke, Bede gives out his equipment, as the Gym Challenge is over for him. As Bede is no longer needed, the receptionist gives him Opal's letter. Bede reads the letter and crushes it, but as the ground shakes, he places it in his pocket. Bede hears something, and starts wondering if it came from the power plant.
==Debuts==
===Pokémon===
*Alcremie (Opal's)
*Gigantamax Alcremie (Opal's)
*Galarian Weezing (Opal's)
*Opal's Togekiss
*Drizzile (Marvin's)
==Gallery==
Category:Pokémon Adventures: Sword & Shield Chapter chapters