Lian held off on unleashing Dragon Rage, and Gligar didn't wait either, swiftly diving towards the ground.
As Gligar approached closely, Lian finally released Dragon Rage. The powerful shockwave surged directly at the Scorpion Pokémon. With such proximity, he was confident that Gligar couldn't evade it.
His strategy proved correct; Gligar, already in a rapid dive, could not immediately change course. Given the wide range of Dragon Rage, Gligar inevitably collided with the shockwave.
The continuous force of the impact sent Gligar tumbling, leaving numerous visible wounds on its body.
Kas was taken aback, surprised that Charmeleon did not instantly use Dragon Rage but waited until after Gligar's attack to unleash it - something he hadn't anticipated.
Typically, Pokemon follow their Trainer's commands strictly, using moves based on habit. However, for a Pokemon like Charmeleon to adapt the timing of its moves based on its opponent is quite rare.
Such independent behavior signifies exceptional autonomy in a Pokemon, which generally indicates tremendous potential.
During battles, Trainers cannot issue overly complex commands, as it would leave Pokemon confused and unsure of what to do. Therefore, Trainer instructions tend to be straightforward with occasional specific cues.
However, exceptionally trained Pokemon with strong autonomy can surprise their opponents by adapting creatively based on the Trainer's command.
Such Pokemon are rare encounters and highly sought after. Typically, only through specialized training can ordinary Pokemon develop this trait. Otherwise, legendary Pokemon possess such high levels of autonomy naturally.
Lian's Dragon Rage completely dismantled Gligar's attack, forcing it to reposition its offensive strategy. Not only did it lose an opportunity to strike, but it also sustained significant damage.
"Charmeleon, well done!" Kalia exclaimed, thrilled by Charmeleon's outstanding performance. By slightly adjusting the timing of its move, Dragon Rage accurately hit Gligar and significantly hindered its advance.
Lian felt he had grasped some new battle tactics. He nearly forgot that while disobeying Kalia's orders was not advisable, altering the timing of his moves could yield unexpected results.
Kalia's command did not necessarily mean immediate execution of the move; this was not a video game where speed determines turn order. Timing attacks based on opponents' actions is the optimal strategy.
"Charmeleon, keep up the good work! Use Dragon Rage again!" Capitalizing on Gligar's injury, Kalia aimed to swiftly defeat it while maintaining her advantage.
On the other side of the battlefield, Kas heard Kalia's instruction but instead changed tactics, saying, "Gligar, dodge Dragon Rage first, then land and use Roost to recover your stamina."
This command wasn't complex, understandable by Gligar, and represented Kas's best response at that moment.
If Gligar failed to evade Charmeleon's Dragon Rage, it would suffer further damage, likely leading quickly to its defeat.
However, if it managed to dodge and utilized Roost, Gligar could regain sufficient stamina for another offensive opportunity.
A sudden realization struck Lian as he seemed to hear Kas instructing Gligar to use Roost.
Roost is a divine move exclusive to flying-type Pokémon, allowing them to rest on the ground and recover half their lost stamina.
What a fantastic move!
Lian's excitement surged; he realized there was still a chance to win this battle, albeit slim. Fortune favors the bold, and encountering a Pokemon capable of using a recovery move was rare. Lian couldn't afford to miss this opportunity.
Following Kalia's command, Lian unleashed Dragon Rage but intentionally aimed slightly off-target. If Gligar failed to dodge, it would be quite awkward.
At their current level, few Pokemon could withstand two consecutive Dragon Rage attacks. Considering Gligar's Stamina base stat, achieving over 800 HP would require at least level 30, while this particular Gligar appeared to be around level 25, highly unlikely to have reached level 30 yet.
The shockwave headed towards Gligar, which, following Kas's instructions, refrained from immediate counterattack and focused solely on evading Dragon Rage.
Due to Lian's deliberate misaim and Gligar's concentrated evasion, Dragon Rage predictably missed. Had it not, Gligar might as well have committed seppuku right then.
After dodging, Gligar descended from the sky, supporting itself with its tail, and began resting to swiftly recover its stamina and heal injuries.
In no time, Gligar regained about 70-80% of its health, rejuvenating to near full strength.
Kalia felt a sense of disappointment seeing Gligar evade Dragon Rage; if it had been hit, she might have defeated Gligar outright.
With Gligar now recovered, the situation reverted to its initial state. It was once again up to Charmeleon's performance.
At this moment, Kalia recalled the final match of the Extreme Speed Conference where Charmeleon's Dragon Breath move had directly paralyzed Swellow.
"Charmeleon, use Dragon Breath."
Gligar possesses the Roost move, and if unable to limit its usage, allowing continuous healing could turn this battle into a prolonged standoff. Trying out Dragon Breath seemed like a viable option.
However, upon hearing the command, Lian hesitated, fearing that if Gligar accidentally became paralyzed, it would jeopardize his advantageous position.
He decided to assess the situation further.
Gligar is formidable, so he couldn't afford to be reckless; one misstep could lead to defeat, rendering all efforts futile. The system does not record combat ratings for lost battles.
"Gligar, use Feint Attack."
Kas also changed tactics, opting for Feint Attack this time. Although not particularly powerful, similar to Swift, it guarantees a hit due to its unique effect.
The Feint Attack move involves continuously shifting positions, making it difficult for opponents to pinpoint the attacker's location. This stealthily allows the user to approach from behind, ensuring the opponent cannot evade.
Lian focused on Gligar's position, but soon found it challenging to keep track. The scorpion Pokémon circled around him, constantly shifting its location - appearing here one moment and there the next, utterly frustrating.
While continuously changing positions, Gligar stealthily approached Lian.
Lian had no choice but to scan left and right, searching for Gligar's whereabouts without a moment's rest; otherwise, the scorpion would vanish from his sight instantly.
Gligar's movement pattern was unpredictable, making it impossible for Lian to anticipate its location. He could only passively wait for an opportunity.
At this point, he needed to let Gligar initiate an attack, as that would momentarily halt its positional shifts. However, by then, Lian wouldn't be able to evade Gligar's Feint Attack.
As Gligar steadily closed the distance, Lian couldn't risk using Dragon Breath either. Without certainty of hitting, attempting it would merely waste time.
Suddenly, Gligar launched its assault, swiftly charging from behind Lian.
Aware that Gligar was attacking from the rear, Lian realized it was too close, compounded by the fact that he had already expended much of his speed earlier and couldn't immediately muster another burst. All he could do was watch Gligar rapidly approaching.
Just as Gligar neared, Lian decisively turned and unleashed Dragon Breath. With no time to dodge, Gligar bore the brunt, yet Lian's Dragon Breath alone couldn't fully block the scorpion's assault.
The intense Dragon Breath surged towards Gligar, which braced against it and swung its massive pincers directly at Lian's body.
Lian felt the force of the pincer strike, sending him flying before crashing onto the ground.
The impact from the pincer caused significant damage; despite the pain, Lian swiftly got back on his feet.
At this point, Lian's injuries were manageable. He estimated that he had consumed less than half of his Stamina, allowing him to endure at least one more Feint Attack.
However, Lian couldn't afford any further harm now. The recent Dragon Breath accurately hit Gligar, although it didn't cause substantial damage, it likely triggered the secondary effect as anticipated.
Having taken a direct hit from Dragon Breath, there was a high chance Gligar would enter a Paralysis state, just as Lian predicted.
Gligar suddenly felt immense resistance, hindering its movements significantly. Even flight became jerky, with limbs intermittently freezing up.
Kas was stunned, recalling a similar scene from the Extreme Speed Conference. Why did this Charmeleon resemble the one from the conference so closely?
"Trouble."
With Gligar paralyzed, such abnormal conditions typically take a long time for Pokemon to recover from without intervention.
Throughout this battle, Gligar would likely remain paralyzed continuously. The only remedies were through support moves from other Pokémon or visiting a Pokémon Center.
However, as time passed, the abnormal condition gradually improved on its own. Although it couldn't be completely eliminated, at least the Pokémon could eventually release moves without hindrance. Nonetheless, the paralysis slowed down their speed significantly, which was unavoidable.
Seeing Dragon Breath hit and cause paralysis, Kalia seized the opportunity and commanded, "Charmeleon, use Dragon Rage!"
The paralysis severely reduced a Pokémon's speed, making it nearly impossible for Gligar to dodge attacks with its usual agility as before.
"Gligar, use Roost," Kas responded, aiming to buy some time. At this point, even executing a move might fail for Gligar; unable to attack effectively, it had no choice but to recover stamina through Roost, gradually adapting to the negative effects of paralysis.
Many Trainers intentionally use Thunder Wave to induce paralysis in their Pokémon, training them to build resistance against this status effect. However, Gligar inherently possesses immunity to Electric-type moves, so it hadn't undergone such specialized training - a circumstance that Kas couldn't have anticipated.