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"Use Water Gun to change direction!"
Seeing Togekiss's Air Slash about to hit, Sato's expression shifted as he yelled instructions to his Marshtomp.
A Togekiss with the Serene Grace ability was a threat not to be underestimated. If Marshtomp were hit, there was a daunting 60% chance it would flinch due to Air Slash's added effect.
If Marshtomp succumbed to flinching, it could lead to a disastrous chain reaction. Perhaps the creator of Pokémon had favored Togekiss, as its luck was unmatched among Pokémon.
With sufficient fortune, a relentless barrage of Air Slashes could turn into a nightmare for most opponents.
(Note: Air Slash is a Flying-type special move with 75 power. Effect: 30% chance to cause the target to flinch.)
Without hesitation, Marshtomp fired a quick Water Gun forward. Using the backward thrust, it managed to shift slightly, narrowly evading Togekiss's lethal Air Slash.
"Aura Sphere—don't let it escape!"
Watching Marshtomp dodge under Sato's command, Alice gritted her teeth and ordered Togekiss to launch a homing Aura Sphere at the airborne Marshtomp.
"Use Ice Punch to counter it!" Sato's command came immediately after Alice spoke.
In an instant, a glowing blue energy ball formed in front of Togekiss's open beak. With a sharp "whoosh," the Aura Sphere shot forward, tracing a curved, blue path toward Marshtomp.
Marshtomp, following Sato's command, enveloped its right arm in icy energy. A frosty gauntlet of solid ice formed over its fist.
As the Aura Sphere neared, Marshtomp swung its now-muscular right arm with lightning speed, colliding with the attack. A shockwave rippled through the air upon impact.
The Aura Sphere proved no match for Marshtomp's Ice Punch, bolstered by its raw power. Within a second, the sphere shattered, dispersing into a burst of blue sparks.
"Extreme Speed! Don't give it a chance!"
Alice was relentless, instructing Togekiss to seize the moment when Marshtomp was still recovering.
Togekiss, the result of Alice's meticulous training, demonstrated exceptional physical fitness and combat instincts. It glowed with brilliant white light before accelerating, weaving through the air in rapid Z-shaped turns, and suddenly appearing in front of Marshtomp.
With a powerful wing slash, Togekiss struck Marshtomp midair. A loud "boom" echoed as Marshtomp crashed into the ground, creating a large crater on the grassy field.
The next moment, however, Marshtomp leapt out of the crater, glaring at Togekiss with renewed determination. Despite taking hits from Aura Sphere and Extreme Speed, it appeared largely unscathed. Its slightly weakened aura quickly regained strength.
Marshtomp's durability, enhanced by its mutated, Supreme Blue Water Stone, allowed it to grow stronger over time. Fully incited by Togekiss, its battle spirit now burned fiercely.
When Togekiss launched a barrage of Magical Leaves under Alice's orders, Marshtomp narrowed its eyes and exhaled sharply. It countered with a 360-degree blast of Icy Wind, nullifying most of the attack.
Ignoring a few stray Magical Leaves that grazed its body, Marshtomp's fists began to glow with a brownish light. With a thunderous punch to the ground, it summoned numerous glowing, earth-toned boulders.
These volleyball-sized rocks, created by Marshtomp's Rock Tomb, possessed a unique property: they slowed the speed of any target they struck.
"Great! Marshtomp is thinking exactly what I had in mind. To defeat Togekiss, we need to bring it down from the sky. Since Icy Wind couldn't manage that, we'll have to use another approach."
Sato's eyes lit up with pride as he saw Marshtomp taking the initiative to create rocks with Rock Tomb. Marshtomp's growing battle awareness made him genuinely happy.
"Hmph. Togekiss, stop using Magical Leaf! Kite it with Aura Sphere instead!"
Acknowledging the ineffectiveness of Magical Leaf, Alice switched strategies, instructing Togekiss to rely on its highly practiced Aura Sphere for a sustained offensive.
Togekiss, hearing this, ceased generating Magical Leaves. Although it had excellent stamina, maintaining such a large number of Magical Leaves was draining.
Just as Togekiss prepared to launch another Aura Sphere, a sharp "whoosh" pierced the air. A boulder shot past its left wing like an anti-air cannon, close enough to disturb its balance.
Startled, Togekiss glanced down and saw Marshtomp, poised in an unorthodox stance. A second boulder shot up, this time aimed directly at Togekiss's face.
Alarmed by the imminent danger, Togekiss hastily fired its partially formed Aura Sphere to intercept the rock, gaining just enough time to maneuver away with a sudden flap of its wings.
The deflected rock continued its trajectory, smashing into the spot where Togekiss had been moments earlier.
"Watch out!" Alice cried.
But Togekiss couldn't dodge the next projectile in time. Another boulder, slightly off-course but well-aimed, clipped its left wing.
A loud "crack" resounded as the impact fractured Togekiss's wing bones, sending a wave of searing pain through its body.
"No!" Alice screamed, her face pale.
Togekiss let out a heart-wrenching cry as it plummeted from the sky.
Below, Marshtomp grabbed another boulder, his muscles flexing with raw power. His movements resembled a textbook pitching stance as he hurled the rock with precision and force.
"Thwack!" The rock struck Togekiss mid-fall, driving it into the arena's protective wall with a heavy impact before both it and the rock crashed to the ground.
With just two well-aimed Rock Tomb projectiles, Marshtomp had brought down the seemingly invincible Togekiss. The crowd erupted into cheers as Marshtomp stood tall, its stance exuding both strength and willpower.
"Marshtomp!"
"Marshtomp!"
"Marshtomp!"
"Marshtomp!"
The once-dominant Togekiss had fallen, and the crowd's enthusiasm surged to its peak.
Spectators gazed in awe at the light-blue Pokémon still holding its pose, embodying the perfect image of a triumphant warrior.