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Dunsparce jumped high into the air and slammed down toward Kirlia.
With Serene Grace boosting Body Slam, Hakuya was clearly trying to paralyze Kirlia and restrict her movements. Even if Kirlia used Trick Room later, she wouldn't be able to attack with her full strength.
Luther clenched his fists tightly. He was troubled by how Hakuya was refusing to use close-range moves and he wondered how he could ensure the accuracy of this move.
This was the chance.
"Hypnosis."
Just before Body Slam could land, Luther gave his command.
Caught off guard, Dunsparce was struck by Kirlia's Hypnosis, causing his Body Slam to stall in midair.
Seizing the brief opening, Kirlia slipped aside and evaded the attack.
"Dream Eater."
Kirlia's psychic power forcefully invaded Dunsparce's dream and siphoned his stamina to restore her own.
Seeing this, Hakuya's hand trembled, and the tune from his harmonica grew louder.
Luther locked his gaze on Dunsparce.
"Come on, Hakuya. You've definitely faced this situation before. You must have taught Dunsparce that move. Use it now and make it a close-range strike!"
Kirlia, now revitalized from recovered stamina, moved much more lightly. Although she longed to continue with using the Dream Eater move, Luther hadn't given the order yet, so she stayed sharp and alert as training required.
Dunsparce's body stirred in rhythm with the swelling music.
Half asleep, half awake, he instinctively sensed Kirlia's direction and lunged forward with sudden speed and swung down with Iron Tail.
It was the perfect picture: using Sleep Talk to unleash a close-range attack while still asleep.
"Watch Dunsparce's movements. Evade, then use Attract."
Bertha suddenly stood up.
Luther had chosen another path. It was true that he couldn't deal with the holes in the field; that was likely linked to the moves that Kirlia had mastered.
However, every problem has more than one solution.
Dunsparce snapped awake with his head spinning. The moment he saw Kirlia, he felt an overwhelming urge to cling to her. Luckily, Hakuya's harmonica kept him just barely in check.
Still, Dunsparce's fixation on Kirlia made Hakuya feel like his own child was being led astray.
"Trick Room," Luther commanded.
Cynthia smiled when she saw this on screen.
First, Hypnosis into Dream Eater to steal stamina; then, Attract to secure the time needed to set Trick Room—smooth execution.
Luther was going for the finishing blow.
Fueled by the stolen stamina and aided by Attract, Kirlia closed in on Dunsparce and unleashed Psychic over and over.
"So what if you're tough?" With Serene Grace and Psychic, Luther was betting on the secondary debuffs. Let's see you dodge them all without a single trigger!
Under Hakuya's commands, Dunsparce occasionally managed brief bursts of clarity and struck back to interrupt Kirlia. However, he could never retreat to his burrow.
Every time he tried to dig down, Trick Room's warped speed allowed Kirlia to hurl her psychic power, grab his body, and drag him back out.
The scene was almost comical, as though Kirlia were yanking an enormous radish from the soil.
But neither Luther nor Hakuya could laugh.
It was the only way. To deny Dunsparce rest, they had to do this, but the toll on Kirlia was immense.
Hakuya's mind was spinning with strategy. He wanted to regain control, but the accumulated damage from Psychic had pushed Dunsparce to the brink. If he couldn't break through, Dunsparce would simply be worn down until Trick Room ended.
Even though his stamina was being stolen, he had no other choice.
Enthralled and unsteady, Dunsparce forced out Rest.
"As if I'd let that happen! Kirlia, Dream Eater!"
But as Kirlia blinked in confusion, Luther realized his mistake.
Trick Room was still in effect, and Kirlia had already used Dream Eater on Dunsparce before he fell asleep!
As soon as Kirlia projected her psychic power again, a bolt of lightning struck her as Dream Eater connected with Dunsparce.
Sleep Talk had triggered Thunderbolt.
Kirlia endured the jolt of Thunderbolt and forced herself to complete Dream Eater.
Though she successfully drained stamina from her opponent, Kirlia nearly collapsed from the pain. Luther realized that paralysis had set in.
Dunsparce's infatuation and sleep were broken. He stood, gasping heavily for breath.
Instead of diving into the burrows, he fired a Shadow Ball.
"Counter it, Psychic."
Thanks to Trick Room, Kirlia struck first once again, dealing heavy damage to Dunsparce. The feedback from his accumulated injuries was becoming unbearable.
But the Shadow Ball also hit Kirlia. Both sides exchanged blows and toppled to the ground. Then, they slowly shook their heads and forced themselves back up.
From the stands, trainers leaned over the railing, their palms sweaty as they watched the tug-of-war.
Bertha could no longer remain seated calmly.
Cynthia appeared composed, but she gripped her teacup so tightly that it trembled.
A switch?
By all logic, a switch was the best option.
Kangaskhan had rested for quite some time and her fatigue had eased. If she were sent out now, she could quickly end the fight.
But Hakuya did not switch.
Why? No reason could be found.
With the battle's outcome at stake, it had to be a mistake; he should have been more cautious.
Dunsparce let out a long cry, and Kirlia answered back.
Neither Pokémon waited for orders. Each roared in defiance, trying to intimidate the other.
Trick Room dissolved. Without its boost, Kirlia could no longer act first.
"Dragon Rush."
That was the command Hakuya gave his Dunsparce.
Afterward, he glanced at Luther and smiled.
Luther understood the meaning behind Hakuya's command.
"This is the final strike. Give it your all," Luther ordered. "Psychic."
A terrifying force enveloped Dunsparce's body. Smashing through obstacles and shattering rising stones, he charged headlong into a surging "tide."
It was unfathomable that a Pokémon on the verge of exhaustion could muster such power. Wave after wave of psychic energy battered against Dragon Rush, seeping through bit by bit and striking Dunsparce directly.
The clash of energies was locked in a deadlock.
Drawing on his stamina, Dunsparce pushed harder, driving Dragon Rush within arm's reach of Kirlia.
The Psychic barrier began to crack apart. Dragon Rush's force waned as well, as it was spent.
After an overwhelming clash, there was no explosion or smoke in the arena. Both Pokémon stopped their moves almost in unison.
They stared at each other while Luther and Hakuya clenched their fists tightly.
The referee swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the motionless Pokémon.
Dunsparce endured until the very end. The numbing paralysis running through Kirlia's body overcame her will. She longed to force one last psychic attack onto Dunsparce, but the paralysis ultimately dictated her movements.
With a dull thud, Kirlia collapsed forward.
(End of chapter.)