The move Double Team had a clear weakness. While the clones looked exactly like the original, their shadows under the light were noticeably fainter.
To find out which one was the real one, there was no need to closely examine each figure. One only had to watch the shadows.
"Coorv!"
Corviknight let out a deep cry after receiving the info. A pale light shimmered around its body as it darted through the air like lightning, tracing sharp lines across the sky.
Allister's eyes followed its every gesture. He didn't dare let Mimikyu make a move, fearing the action might give away its true position. On top of that, Corviknight was just too fast. He knew his Pokémon's attacks couldn't keep up.
The steel bird swept through the field, seeming to pass by every Mimikyu. Its movements were sharp and precise. Although the clones looked identical, all tilting their heads at the same angle, the bird honed in on one among them.
Then, it dove toward its target. With a swift motion, it snatched something with its beak: tattered scraps of a familiar yellow cloth.
Mimikyu's Disguise had been broken.
"Steel Wing!" Shiro's voice rang out immediately.
Corviknight's blade-like black wings gleamed with a heavy metallic light as they struck toward the revealed Mimikyu on the ground.
The moment the real one was exposed, all the clones vanished on their own. No reason to keep them once the deception failed.
"Protect!" Allister also called out urgently.
Mimikyu wasn't physically strong. Compared to a large armored bird like Corviknight, its defenses were weak. If hit head-on, it might not faint instantly, but it would definitely have to be recalled.
Thud. Thud.
Steel Wing slammed against the green barrier, sending dull echoes through the air.
Inside the shield, the true form of Mimikyu, its shadowy core, curled up, hiding its face in fear. It trembled, not just from the threat of being seen but from the bloodthirsty pressure the steel bird exuded.
"Metal Claw!" Shiro commanded again without hesitation.
He wanted to stay on the offensive and keep the opponent from using any moves. Either Mimikyu would be taken down or forced back into its Pokéball.
Even though the barrier was still holding, Corviknight raised its talons. Steel-type energy sharpened into three solid dark-blue claws, and they hit the green shield hard in a flash.
Protect didn't last long. Plus, its strength was also weakening. That Metal Claw left cracks all over it, and another strike was already incoming.
Allister's mind was in chaos. He hadn't expected the match to go this way.
Normally, a quick and nimble Pokémon like Mimikyu, with its ability, speed, and wide range of moves, should control the tempo of the battle.
But now he was completely overwhelmed.
There wasn't a single move he could think of that might help turn things around. Watching the trembling Mimikyu behind the barrier, he had no choice but to take out its Poké Ball.
"Mimikyu, come back for now."
He called it back just as the last remnants of the green barrier shattered into fading particles. Corviknight backed off and canceled its next strike.
"Hone Claws." Shiro gave an order calmly.
Taking advantage of the switch, he boosted his Pokémon's stats. A basic tactic every trainer knew.
Allister understood this too. He didn't hesitate, quickly pulling out a Poké Ball and tossing it onto the field.
"Go! Chandelure!"
Following a burst of red light, a chandelier-shaped creature floated in the air. Its head bore rounded stripes, and its yellow eyes had no pupils. A small black tuft sat atop its head, crowned by a tall, flickering purple flame. Its lower body was a black lamp holder, with two curled, black, arm-like structures extending outward. At their tips, four more purple flames burned steadily.
Most of these Pokémon were innately malevolent. They often resided in old, Western-style mansions, feeding on the souls of living beings.
It was said that once a soul was drained by a Chandelure, the victim's body would become a lifless shell. An empty husk without will or awareness, wandering the mortal world forever.
Most importantly, it was a Ghost and Fire type, both of which were strong against Corviknight's Steel typing.
Shiro's expression turned serious as he checked the Pokémon's info:
[Name: Chandelure
Type: Ghost/Fire
Level: 42 (Gym)
Ability: Flash Fire
Held Item: None
Moves: Ember, Fire Spin, Night Shade, Minimize, Confuse Ray, Smog, Curse, Pain Split, Shadow Ball, Will-O-Wisp, Memento, Imprison, Astonish, Inferno…]
This Chandelure had mastered a wide range of Fire-type moves, and likely had a high degree of proficiency with them.
Back on the field, Corviknight had just finished powering up when both sides gave their commands at once.
"Aerial Ace!"
"Fire Spin!"
Chandelure's purple flames surged and roared as a violent spiral of fire erupted toward the steel bird.
Fire Spin usually trapped opponents in a vortex of flames, burning them over time. But this one was more like a stream of fire, a pillar shooting upward, threatening to engulf the entire bird.
Corviknight, however, rose swiftly into the air. Since this was an open-air training field, it could fly high enough to evade nearly any attack.
It flipped in the sky, aiming to strike from behind. But Chandelure was already prepared, shifting the position of the swirling flames in an instant.
For a while, the bird could only hover high above the battlefield, weaving to avoid the fire.
After some time, seeing that it couldn't touch it's target at all, Chandelure gradually eased its attack. The patches of purple flame scattered across the ground began to fade.
Corviknight slowly descended, and the two Pokémon stared each other down in silence.
Allister and Shiro racked their brains, trying to come up with a new strategy.
Despite its type advantage, Chandelure was far too slow; it simply couldn't get close enough to strike directly. And many of its Fire-type moves, like Fire Spin, took too long to charge and were far too obvious. None of them could land a hit. Continuing like this would just waste energy.
By contrast, Corviknight could easily chip away from a distance using Air Cutter. Flying-type moves had no particular advantage or disadvantage against Ghost or Fire, so the outcome would come down to the Pokémon's mastery and energy control.
With that thought, Shiro made his move.
"Corviknight, Air Cutter!"
"Inferno!" Allister responded fast.
He knew regular Fire-type moves might not overpower Corviknight's Air Cutter, so he chose Inferno, a stronger Fire move. Its only drawbacks were a slower charge and speed, but otherwise, it packed a punch.
Corviknight flapped its wings, and two sharp, focused blades of air flew toward Chandelure.
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