Cradily was the opposing team's core carry!
Seeing how skillfully Cradily supported its teammates while protecting itself, Sato didn't hesitate, he immediately upgraded its role from healer/support to the main combat core.
At the same time, the other three Pokémon seemed completely enraged by Sato's team targeting Cradily…
Giga Impact!
Rock Wrecker!
Hyper Beam!
Armaldo, Rhyperior, and Claydol all launched their ultimate moves at once, targeting Zoroark and Sharpedo, who were attacking Cradily.
Sato panicked. He had time to shout only one word: "PROTECT!"
But even as he spoke, Dark Energy was already being activated, channeled through the Key Stone as a medium. He attempted to boost Zoroark, Sharpedo, Tyranitar, and Hydreigon all at once!
"TAAAR!"
With their teammates in danger, Tyranitar and Hydreigon wouldn't just sit still.
Lefty and Righty moved with practiced precision; each launching a Dragon Pulse that struck Rhyperior and Armaldo, disrupting their attack speed.
Zoroark and Sharpedo seized that brief moment to activate Protect with all their might!
Due to positioning, Middy couldn't twist its head in time to stop Claydol, but they had other teammates.
On the other side, Tyranitar was charging madly at Claydol, mouth wide open for another Crunch!
Seeing Tyranitar close in again, Claydol -clearly traumatized by Crunch- panicked. It abandoned its Hyper Beam halfway through, didn't even have time to Teleport, and just turned tail and fled…
With Claydol pulled away, Rhyperior's Rock Wrecker and Armaldo's Giga Impact landed squarely on the Protect shields of Zoroark and Sharpedo!
In that moment, the difference between Elite Four and Ace became painfully clear…
Cracks rapidly spread across Zoroark and Sharpedo's Protect barriers!
It was obvious they couldn't hold on for long.
Just as both Pokémon were about to collapse, Sato's [Energy Amplification] arrived. Dark Energy surged into their bodies without end!
In the next moment, the auras of Zoroark, Sharpedo, Hydreigon, and Tyranitar skyrocketed! Breaking through the Ace barrier and halting only at Mid Elite Four level.
In Sato's shadow, Gengar's eyes shone with golden light; no one saw the trace of envy in its gaze.
Dark Energy… it was the perfect catalyst for Pokémon growth, and the best part: no side effects!
But that flash of envy in Gengar's eyes lasted only a second. Its pride crushed it instantly!
It was the only Gengar who wielded Spatial Energy…
The only Gengar with Sage power…
Even without Dark Energy, it would…
Never. Fall. Behind!
Finally, Giga Impact and Rock Wrecker faded. That meant Zoroark and Sharpedo had successfully blocked the enemy's strongest attacks.
And now… it was time for a comeback!
"Hydreigon, restrain Cradily! Zoroark, Sharpedo, take out Rhyperior and Armaldo! Tyranitar, intercept Claydol!"
Sato delivered the orders in rapid succession, no detailed moves were needed. His Pokémon already knew the best counterattacks to use.
Dark Pulse barrage!
Compressed Hydro Pump!
Focus Blast!
Stone Edge!
Lefty, Righty, and Middy attacked in seamless coordination; Dark Pulse continuously bombarded Cradily. But Cradily kept stacking defense and recovery buffs, holding its ground with ease.
However, Sato wasn't aiming to deal heavy damage. It was enough just to suppress its support capabilities.
Meanwhile, Armaldo and Rhyperior were still stiff from the side effects of their last moves.
So when Sharpedo's compressed Hydro Pump and Zoroark's Focus Blast howled through the air, the two could only watch helplessly as the attacks struck them directly.
As for Claydol… it couldn't even handle Tyranitar when it was at Ace level. Now that Tyranitar had powered up to Elite Four level, it was running away in a complete panic.
SPLASH~
BOOM!
The compressed Hydro Pump and Focus Blast landed with full force. Armaldo and Rhyperior cried out in pain. Though their Defense was formidable, their Special Defense was average at best.
Still, they were Elite Four level Pokémon. It wasn't easy to knock them out in a single hit…
But the advantage had finally taken shape!
Cradily was extremely tanky and thrived in drawn-out fights. But when Sato realized the other three opponents were easier to deal with, he adjusted his plan again.
Let Hydreigon lock Cradily down; keep it from supporting anyone else.
Cradily wasn't built for direct offense and had no speed to speak of. Its strength came entirely from its "devotion" to its teammates.
But without teammates… how could it be the carry?
The other three would each be assigned to Zoroark and the rest, one target per attacker, break them down one by one.
Soon enough, Claydol was the first to collapse under Tyranitar's ferocious assault. It had already lost its will to fight earlier, and now looked utterly pathetic.
If not for its teammates nearby -and a bit of pride not to shame the formation- it would've fled long ago. But refusing to flee meant one thing…
Being ruthlessly finished off by Tyranitar!
"Tyrani… TAAAAAR!"
Claydol went down. Tyranitar roared in triumph, then immediately bolted toward Armaldo.
Clearly, Tyranitar was kill-stealing!
Zoroark, as the aniki, had dibs on Rhyperior, so Tyranitar didn't dare touch that one.
…But Sharpedo? Always quiet and low-profile. Tyranitar didn't care.
This move, however, seriously pissed Sharpedo off. Its eyes filled with rage!
'What! You think I can't handle that bug myself?
I was fighting on the front lines before you even evolved out of the sand!'
In the next instant, Sharpedo's speed hit full throttle and it exploded into action.
A five-meter-tall wave rose behind it as it surged forward, dragging the entire tide to slam into Armaldo.
A single hit might not be enough to finish Armaldo. But Sharpedo didn't rely on raw power… it relied on speed!
Spinning the entire wave around Armaldo, Sharpedo whipped up a spiraling torrent that completely engulfed it.
[Surf: Whirlpool Variant]!
Tyranitar stared at the massive, towering vortex in front of it…
Instantly sobered by its fear of water, stopping dead in its tracks.
The watery whirlwind raged for a full minute before it finally subsided. Unsurprisingly, Armaldo was already unconscious inside.
In that moment, Tyranitar knew not only had it failed to steal the kill. It had also accidentally offended Sharpedo…
It instinctively turned to look at Zoroark… only to witness Zoroark slam a point-blank Focus Blast right under Rhyperior's chin!
BOOOM!
Rhyperior toppled backwards with a heavy crash. Defeated on the spot!
Zoroark turned to Tyranitar, its calm gaze full of scrutiny.
In that instant, Tyranitar felt its armor tighten and began shaking its head violently.
It was just… looking. That's all!
☆★
☆★[1]
🅿️🅰️✝️🆁 🅴🅾️🅽 / 🅁🄾🄼🄴🄻🄾🄵🄵
[1] search for this on YouTube: Pokemon In Real Life | All New 100 Johto Region (Reimagined With AI)