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"Hm! It's actually a Ninjask. In that case, Delia won't have any advantage in speed anymore. I thought this Fang's Pokémon weren't especially fast and planned to let Ambipom gain the upper hand. Looks like that strategy is meaningless now."
Seated in the audience stands, Liam crossed his arms as he watched the Ninjask appear on the battlefield. His brow furrowed slightly as concern surfaced in his thoughts.
On the field, the referee's command rang out, and the battle resumed once more.
"Ninjask! Use Slash!"
"Yiiiin!"
At Fang's command, the Ninjask flying in the air instantly darted toward Ambipom—its speed was indeed astonishing!
On Delia's side—
"Ambipom! Dodge first!"
"Oooh!"
Delia once again chose an evasive strategy. She wasn't familiar with Ninjask's typing yet, so she decided to probe cautiously.
But—
"Yiiiin!!"
Just as Ambipom heard Delia's order and prepared to leap into the rocky terrain to evade, the Ninjask flying toward it suddenly vanished from midair!
In the very next second, the Ninjask—its transparent cicada wings buzzing—reappeared directly behind Ambipom!
Before Ambipom could fully react, a razor-sharp claw glowing with white light slashed straight toward its back!
"Woah—Ambi!!"
Ambipom reacted quickly. Though its body hadn't fully turned around, its two tails crossed behind it in a defensive block.
The slashing claw struck squarely against its tails, sending Ambipom flying and smashing heavily into a nearby boulder.
"Hahaha! Now you've seen what real speed looks like! And this is just the beginning! My Ninjask's Ability is Speed Boost—its speed increases as the battle goes on! By the end, you won't even be able to see its shadow!"
Ninjask's successful strike restored Fang's confidence. A faint smile appeared on his handsome face as he spoke with absolute assurance.
"Hmph. Come back, Ambipom. Rest for now."
Delia didn't respond verbally. She simply raised her PokeBall and swiftly recalled Ambipom, then calmly took out a second PokeBall.
"Go, Shuckle! It's your turn now!!"
"Shu~"
Delia's second Pokémon was Shuckle.
After being released, the lazy-looking Pokémon slowly extended its limbs and head from its shell, leisurely surveying its surroundings.
Fang: "...Shu—Shuckle? Th-this…"
Watching Delia withdraw Ambipom and send out a strangely colored Shuckle instead, Fang felt his head ache.
Staring at the rock-like shell before him, he felt like crying inside.
"Delia has completed her Pokémon switch! The battle continues!"
The referee promptly announced.
"Shuckle! Use Sticky Web!"
Right after the referee's words, Delia immediately issued her command.
"Shu!"
Shuckle reacted far faster than expected, spraying a large amount of white liquid from the holes in its shell.
The substance expanded instantly in midair, transforming into several massive webs that rapidly spread across Fang's half of the battlefield.
"Yiiin—! Yiiin!"
Ninjask deftly avoided the spreading web, then looked down at the rocks and waterways now completely covered. It let out a series of unclear cries.
"Hmm? Just Sticky Web? Trying to limit our speed?"
"Heh, too bad—you didn't catch my Ninjask. With its current speed, what can your Shuckle possibly do to it?"
"I admit Shuckle's defense is high—but something that slow is no threat at all!
And high defense doesn't mean invincible. If we keep attacking, your Shuckle will fall eventually!"
"Let's see just how many hits it can take!"
"Ninjask! Use Swords Dance! Then Slash!"
"Yiiiin!!"
Fang wasn't reckless. After analyzing the situation, he confidently issued his command.
Ninjask immediately began spinning midair. A red glow flashed, and four crimson energy swords formed above its head.
Its claws gleamed with sharp white light as its ultra-thin wings roared—
And in the next instant, Ninjask vanished again!
"It's coming! Shuckle—use Withdraw!"
The moment Ninjask disappeared, Delia reacted. She remembered clearly how Ambipom had been ambushed earlier.
"Shu!!"
Without hesitation, Shuckle retreated entirely into its shell.
The battlefield was left with nothing but a round, solid shell lying quietly on the ground.
"Yiiin!"
In the very next instant, Ninjask appeared beside Shuckle without warning!
Its claws swung mercilessly, slashing straight into the shell and launching Shuckle high into the air!
Immediately after—
Ninjask followed up at lightning speed!
Its body streaked through the air repeatedly, slashing Shuckle again and again mid-flight!
Each pass sent Shuckle spinning wildly, battered from all directions.
As Ninjask's speed continued to increase, from a distance it looked as if only a stone ball was being flung around the sky.
"Yiiiin!!"
The relentless assault finally began to tax Ninjask's stamina.
Summoning its remaining strength, it delivered a final downward Slash, smashing Shuckle straight into the ground!
"BOOM!!"
A heavy impact echoed as Shuckle embedded itself deeply into the earth.
"Shu? Shu! Shu!"
Unfortunately, Shuckle landed upside down.
After emerging groggily from its shell, it flailed its limbs and head in discomfort, clearly disoriented.
"Now's the chance! Ninjask—strike its head! Use X-Scissor!"
"Yiiiin!!"
Seeing the opening, Fang instantly issued the command.
Ninjask crossed its claws as green light engulfed its body, roaring forward with unstoppable momentum toward Shuckle's head—
However!
At that very moment, Delia—who had been waiting calmly—finally spoke again.
"Shuckle! Use Protect!"
"Shu!"
In an instant, a pale blue barrier enveloped Shuckle completely!
Ninjask crashed straight into it—
THUD!
The barrier held firm.
Ninjask rebounded backward, momentarily dizzy.
And right then—
"Shuckle! Use Wrap!"
"Shu!!"
Four yellow tendrils erupted around Ninjask, instantly binding it tightly!
"Yiiin! Yiiin!"
Ninjask struggled wildly, beating its wings in an attempt to break free.
Shuckle's strength was indeed low—the bindings began to loosen—but Delia's command rang out once more!
"Shuckle! Power Trick! Then Rock Slide!"
"Shu!!"