This was a tactic Nessa had planned from the moment she sent out her Pokémon, something Marvin hadn't anticipated.
If that Rock Slide struck, even if Frosmoth wasn't knocked out, it would at least be heavily injured and unable to continue fighting.
In a rush, Marvin yelled, "Protect!"
Boom!
A green barrier sprang up at once. This all-purpose defensive move successfully blocked Drednaw's Rock Slide. As the large rock shattered against it, the protective shield crumbled along with it.
Gritting his teeth, Marvin shouted again, "Quick! Frosmoth, use Powder Snow!"
In a battle where the type matchup was against him, he couldn't afford to fall into the opponent's rhythm.
Protect couldn't be used consecutively. If Nessa's Drednaw kept launching Rock-type moves, and all Frosmoth could do was dodge, then it would only be a matter of time before it was hit and taken out.
Though weak in power, Powder Snow was an Ice-type move with the advantage of fast execution and a chance to freeze the foe. If he could just lock the opponent down, he'd gain control of the battle.
The second the command was given, Frosmoth whipped up a chilly wind. Tiny ice crystals formed into a flurry of snowflakes and swept toward Drednaw.
Nessa didn't pay the attack any mind, and simply gave her next order.
"Drednaw, Rock Polish!"
Rock Polish let a Pokémon grind its body smooth to reduce air resistance, sharply increasing its speed.
Once Drednaw completed the move, its speed would be on par with Frosmoth. Add a quick charge after that, and it could close the gap in an instant and unleash Rock Slide at point-blank range, which would be enough to finish the opponent in one hit.
The fine snowflakes brushed against Drednaw's body, but it ignored them. A faint sheen glowed on its shell as it began polishing itself.
Seeing this, Marvin called out urgently, "Give it everything you've got, Frosmoth! Powder Snow!"
The moth immediately expanded the move's range. The entire field was soon blanketed in a fine flurry, turning into a snowy white world.
Nessa saw that her opponent hadn't changed tactics and showed no concern for Drednaw's safety. She kept her eyes on it, waiting for it to finish Rock Polish.
After all, Powder Snow was weak to begin with. With Ice moves halved in power against Water-types, even if Frosmoth used all its strength, it wouldn't matter.
* * *
At the spectator area, Shiro narrowed his eyes, closely observing the interaction between the snow and Drednaw's condition.
He discovered something odd. Ice was spreading rapidly across Drednaw's shell and limbs. This wasn't just the work of a normal Powder Snow.
It's not that Marvin was lucky and landed a freeze. It was Frosmoth's incredible control over Ice-type energy that had forcefully wrapped Drednaw in chilling power, freezing it solid.
Shiro's expression changed. He unconsciously glanced at Granny Shae, who stood nearby with a calm smile.
This kind of control over move and typing… was that something she taught Marvin?
Or was Frosmoth simply gifted? Perhaps it was both.
Shae's training, combined with a naturally exceptional Frosmoth… had made freezing with Powder Snow a guaranteed effect.
Noticing Shiro's surprised expression, Shae nodded with satisfaction. A rare look of approval flickered in her eyes toward Marvin. It seemed the brat had actually been serious about training with what she taught him.
If it hadn't been for this Frosmoth's immense potential, she would never have taken in that brat as her student.
* * *
Back on the battlefield, the falling snow was affecting visibility so much so that Nessa still hadn't realized what had happened to her Pokémon.
She just found it strange. Why hadn't Drednaw finished using Rock Polish? And why was Power Snow lasting this long?
A few seconds later, her instincts kicked in. Feeling something was wrong, she ordered, "Drednaw, use Tackle!"
But her voice vanished into the snowy void, with no response at all.
Frosmoth, finding that its opponent had been locked in ice, started to ease up the intensity of its move and gradually withdrew Powder Snow.
When the snowflakes faded, Nessa finally saw what had happened on the battlefield.
The once brownish-yellow arena had transformed into an icy tundra. Her Pokémon stood still with its mouth open, a look of frustration and disbelief on its face, its entire body encased in a thick layer of solid ice.
Drednaw had been completely frozen!
"This can't be…" Nessa was stunned. She hadn't expected anything like this. While she stood there in shock, Marvin didn't stop attacking.
"Frosmoth, Struggle Bug!"
Struggle Bug was a move that let Bug-type Pokémon strike while potentially lowering the opponent's Special Attack.
Although Ice-type moves were resisted by Water-types and only dealt half damage, Bug-type attacks remained unaffected.
Still surrounded by the last drifting snowflakes, Frosmoth lit up with a brilliant green glow. It turned into a sphere of energy and slammed hard into Drednaw's stomach, toppling the frozen creature.
The hit damaged Drednaw and also shattered parts of the ice. It looked like it was about to break free.
Nessa shouted desperately, "Drednaw, break out of it! Use Rock Tomb!"
But Marvin showed no mercy. He followed up with another command: "Frosmoth! Stun Spore!"
High above Drednaw, the moth flapped its wings. Fine, shimmering ice particles rained down onto the Pokémon, quickly covering it entirely.
The cracking ice around Drednaw suddenly went silent. The Pokémon inside, just about to escape, felt its limbs paralyzed.
"Heh…" Marvin smiled and raised his hand.
"Frosmoth, use Bug Buzz!"
Bug Buzz was a move where the Pokémon unleashed damaging soundwaves by vibrating its wings, with a chance to lower the opponent's Special Defense.
Frosmoth flapped its wings fast, producing a piercing screech that echoed in everyone's ears. Drednaw, caught in the center of the sonic blast, trembled as its body twitched under the painful vibrations, yet it couldn't move.
"Drednaw…" Nessa was in complete disarray. She had no idea what to do anymore.
Who would've thought that Frosmoth could freeze Drednaw outright just with Power Snow? And then immediately follow it with Stun Spore, creating a seamless chain of status control that gave her no time or chance to respond.
It was over.
That thought kept repeating in her mind. The screeching Bug Buzz still hadn't stopped.
She pulled out Golisopod's Poké Ball. After a brief hesitation, she put it away and retrieved Drednaw instead.
She didn't believe Golisopod could turn the tide, and right now, the most important thing was… to keep her Pokémon from getting hurt any further.
"I give up!" she raised her right hand high. Marvin also recalled Frosmoth from the field.
Shae nodded in approval and lightly waved her cane, signaling the two trainers to leave the stage.
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