With the blessing of flying energy, even with Kuro's comparable attack speed, he can still only watch Decidueye wrapped in light flying towards him at high speed.
"Not good!"
Kuro's eyes sharpened as he realized the danger. He knew well that when speed reaches a certain level, it transforms into a formidable power! Acting on his thoughts, Liepard quickly turned around to defend.
Covered in Armament Haki, ten sharp claws formed a shield in front of his chest. Liepard had even used Hone Claws earlier, enhancing his claws to razor-like sharpness and counteracting the effects of Feather Dance, ready to swipe at Decidueye before him!
Boom!!!
A colossal roar, like the collapse of a mountain, echoed across the arena.
Decidueye clashed head-on with Kuro and Liepard, unleashing a massive shockwave.
"Argh!"
Kuro, whose physical endurance was average at best, was immediately blown back by Decidueye's assault, with several ribs fracturing on impact. Despite having undergone Haki training and mastering the Navy's Six Styles, Kuro was still leagues behind true monsters in this world.
In Pokémon terms, Kuro was around level 45, comparable to a pirate with a bounty of roughly 200 million on the Grand Line. While he had grown stronger over the past year, for this kind of stage, level 45 was far too weak, leaving him vulnerable to severe injury from any Pokémon attack.
However, Decidueye's powerful blow was not without consequence. At the moment of impact, Kuro managed to suppress his fear and activate the dark energy within his body. When bond-evolved, a trainer harboring dark energy can muddle the opponent's mind, almost like casting a wicked spell!
This dark energy, particularly effective against ghost-types like Decidueye, sent it into a state of confusion, interrupting its assault.
At this critical moment, Liepard's eyes flashed as it seized the opportunity, raising its sharpened claws!
Strike while the iron is hot!
Move—Shadow Claw!
The confused Decidueye could barely react before Liepard's claws, brimming with dark energy, slashed its chest, leaving a deep wound.
"Decidueye!!!"
Usopp yelled as his Pokémon was struck. In that instant, the unique effects of their bond evolution took hold. Usopp's mind linked with Decidueye, clearing the confusion from its mind.
"Chirp! (I'm alright!)" Decidueye called, feeling the searing pain in its chest. Its eyes blazed with fury as it glared at Liepard.
Move—Frighten!
Ghostly energy surged toward Liepard, causing the predator to see horrifying visions that stopped its offensive cold.
"Kuh..." Liepard recoiled instinctively, paralyzed by the illusion of a terrifying monster.
But Kuro's voice broke through. "Liepard, snap out of it! Use Dark Pulse!"
Though severely injured, Kuro stood at a distance, rallying his Pokémon. Liepard's fear faded, replaced by a burning sense of indignation. Dark energy erupted from its body, forming a shadowy sphere that hurtled toward Decidueye in pursuit.
Decidueye desperately tried to outfly the attack. However, despite its flight, it was not adept at aerial maneuvers. The Dark Pulse, a homing attack, was relentless.
Moments later, it connected.
Boom!!!
The impact unleashed a cloud of purple smoke, followed by Decidueye's agonized screech.
"Nice one!" Kuro shouted, jubilant. Having landed two critical hits, Decidueye was undoubtedly reeling.
Kuro was already strategizing Liepard's next attack, when suddenly, an unnoticed figure emerged from the bamboo forest. It was Usopp, who had stealthily repositioned himself like a coward, using the cover of the forest.
Although Kuro had seen Usopp's retreat earlier, he assumed the sniper was merely fleeing. Preoccupied with the battle and nursing his wounds, Kuro ignored Usopp, never expecting him to resurface with his giant slingshot aimed at him.
"Special Attack: Green Star Demon!"
Whoosh!
A peculiar seed shot out at lightning speed, landing at Kuro's feet. Engrossed in the smoke-filled sky, Kuro failed to sense the impending danger.
Pop!
The seed exploded into a giant Venus flytrap, snapping open its maw filled with sticky mucus.
"What the...!?"
Kuro, caught off guard, stood atop the monstrous plant, bewildered. In a split second, the flytrap swung its head, snapped shut, and swallowed Kuro whole.
"Dammit!"
He struggled, but his injuries left him unable to evade the plant's jaws. His last thoughts before being swallowed were of frustration and disbelief.
"Roar!"
Sensing its trainer in danger, Liepard turned to see Usopp fleeing back into the bamboo forest.
"Roar!" Liepard roared and transformed into a bolt of purple lightning, leaping to the top of the flytrap. It slashed furiously, tearing the plant apart and rescuing Kuro.
Pop!
Kuro, now covered in slime, collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Damn... Usopp really was hiding his skills this whole time!" Kuro muttered, stunned. Usopp had never used this kind of plant attack before, even in the most dire situations. Clearly, he had been concealing his trump card from the start.
Regaining his senses, Kuro turned his gaze back to the bamboo forest, desperately searching for the hidden sniper. But Usopp, perfectly camouflaged, was nowhere to be found.
In the bamboo forest, Usopp was indeed doing exactly what Kuro suspected. He wrapped himself entirely in grass-type energy, blending into his surroundings like a stone, motionless in the corner. Silently, he chanted his invincible mantra:
"You can't see me… you can't see me…"
A qualified sniper never lets the enemy find his hiding spot! But just as Kuro had feared, something unexpected was unfolding outside the bamboo forest.
High in the sky, Decidueye, still reeling from two consecutive hits, wore a pained expression. The two dark-type moves had clearly taken a toll, though it wasn't in any immediate danger thanks to its sturdy, grass-type resilience.
While Kuro and Liepard frantically searched for Usopp, Decidueye took advantage of the distraction to fly farther away. Just as there are different types of trainers, there are many kinds of Pokémon, and Decidueye's style mirrored Usopp's to perfection—stealthy and patient to the extreme.
Soaring under the bright sun, Decidueye activated its grass-type move—Photosynthesis! The harsh sunlight transformed into pure energy, healing Decidueye's body rapidly. Enhanced by the accelerated healing effect of their bond evolution, its injuries vanished within seconds, and it returned to full strength, looking even more energized.
In the audience, spectators frowned as they watched.
Many began to murmur:
"Usopp and his Decidueye fight in such an annoying way!"
"Exactly! Usopp hides and snipes, his Pokémon distracts, and when they get hit, they just heal back up. It's effective, sure, but not pleasant to watch."
"Who cares how it looks? Winning is what matters."
"…"
Usopp's strategy sparked a heated debate among the onlookers. But regardless of the audience's opinion, it was clear that the tide of battle was shifting in Usopp's favor.
——
Back in the arena, Decidueye's eyes, hidden beneath its hood, flashed with a dangerous glint as its body surged with fierce energy once more.
Decidueye attack again!
The intense energy fluctuations immediately drew Kuro and Liepard's attention. Kuro's face tightened as he abandoned the search for Usopp to focus on the oncoming threat from above.
With his current physical state, Kuro knew he couldn't withstand another direct hit from Decidueye.
"No other choice!" Kuro growled through gritted teeth. "Liepard, use Dark Pulse! We can't go down like this!"
Kuro knew that, given Liepard's level, Dark Pulse wouldn't be enough to completely repel Decidueye's attack. But it might at least weaken the blow.
"Roar!"
The dark energy began to condense around Liepard, but before it could unleash the attack, Usopp's voice echoed from the bamboo forest:
"Special Attack: Green Star Nepenthes!"
Whoosh!
With his vision shared through his bond with Decidueye, Usopp precisely sniped Liepard from the cover of the bamboo forest. A green seed shot toward Liepard, causing a slight sting as it made contact. In the next instant, the seed expanded into a gigantic pitcher plant, swallowing Liepard and the forming Dark Pulse whole.
"What!?" Kuro gasped, stunned by the sudden turn of events.
He hadn't expected Usopp to land a perfect hit without revealing himself! The Dark Pulse, still in its early stages, was engulfed along with Liepard, vanishing within the pitcher plant's trap.
Boom!!!
A deafening explosion rocked the plant, its leaves bursting outward as if an explosive had been set off inside it.
"growl…"
Liepard groaned in discomfort as it was freed from the plant's grasp. Though the attack hadn't severely harmed it, the disruption allowed Decidueye to swoop down like a lightning-fast arrow.
Boom!!!
Despite its ranger-like appearance, Decidueye's relentless physical assaults were proving devastating. Liepard was smashed into the ground, carving a large crater and skidding across the marble floor.
"Chirp!!!"
Decidueye flapped its wings triumphantly, thrilled to have avenged itself for earlier hits.
"Liepard! Are you alright!?" Kuro called out, fighting through his own pain as he ran toward his fallen Pokémon.
But Usopp and Decidueye weren't about to let such an opportunity slip away!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
"Secret Technique: Rapid Leaf Star Barrage!"
Several projectiles fired from the bamboo forest, transforming into enormous spinning blades mid-air, slicing toward Kuro with the precision of a swordsman's slash.
"Damn it!" Kuro cursed, realizing his movements had been anticipated. With no time to evade, he raised his ten blades to block the incoming leaf attacks.
Suddenly, sparks flew!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
One by one, the leaf blades clashed against Kuro's swords, producing a symphony of ringing metal. But to Kuro's horror, each strike felt heavier and sharper than the last!
Crash!
A sharp, grating noise filled the air as all ten of Kuro's blades shattered.
"Impossible!" Kuro's eyes widened in disbelief as fragments of his broken blades flew past him, grazing his skin.
Watching from the stands, Dragon sighed deeply. Though he wished for both Revolutionary Army members to advance to the top eight, it was clear Kuro was struggling against Usopp.
Usopp's tactics were sneaky and unorthodox, relying heavily on ambushes and indirect combat. But his brilliant strategy—from setting up in the bamboo forest to flawlessly hitting Kuro without direct line of sight—showcased his remarkable intelligence and sniper skills.
With such precise and meticulous planning, Kuro's loss was inevitable.