Chapter 332: Psychic Gym Battle (1) [Bonus]
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Days Later, Mossdeep City – Gym]
The lingering scent of ozone and salt hung faintly in the air of Mossdeep City, a constant reminder of the elemental chaos that had nearly consumed Hoenn. For Azure, the quiet humming of the Pokémon Center was a balm after the intensity of battle.
The last few days had been spent nursing bruises, both physical and emotional, after the titanic clash between Groudon and Kyogre, a spectacle that ended with the chilling sight of Maxie and Archie reduced to dust, consumed by the very power they sought to control.
Azure sat by the window, watching the rebuilt city sparkle under the restored Hoenn sun. Pikachu rested on his lap, occasionally twitching a whisker, while Eevee slept curled on his head, their breathing syncing peacefully.
They were his constants, the anchors that had seen him through Kanto and now through the perilous heart of Hoenn. His other partners—Metagross, Sceptile, Blaziken, and the rest—had finally been cleared by Nurse Joy.
Their recovery was complete, their spirits rekindled. The time for rest was over.
A grin spread across Azure's face, a genuine expression of excitement overriding the recent solemnity. It was time for the battle he had specifically trained for: the Double Battle against Mossdeep's masters of the cosmos, Tate and Liza.
He strode into the Mossdeep Gym, Pikachu over his shoulder, Eevee now awake and alert. The interior was unlike any gym he'd encountered—a celestial dome housing a constantly shifting battlefield. The air felt charged with psychic energy, giving the illusion of walking through stardust.
He found the twins waiting at the edge of the circular stage. Tate, stern and focused, and Liza, calm and ethereal.
They were mirror images, yet their energies, like Solrock and Lunatone, complemented each other perfectly. Liza greeted, her voice soft, "Azure Sky. We felt the power shift when you entered."
Tate added playfully, their eyes sharp, gazing at him, "You are late, but your dedication to Hoenn has been noted. Show us your proof."
Azure stepped forward, flashing the six gleaming Hoenn badges he had collected: Stone, Knuckle, Dynamo, Heat, Balance, and Feather. The twins nodded, satisfied.
*Click*
Liza clicked a button on her custom Rotom Phone. From the floor, a sleek, black gauging machine rose, equipped with six circular sockets. Liza explained, "This is a Double Battle of six Pokémon versus six Pokémon. Place the Poké Balls into the sockets. The machine will calculate their strength and levels, ensuring a fair match. We do not wish to see which Pokémon you choose, only that the challenge is worthy."
Azure nodded, familiar with such protocols from his Kanto League days. This wasn't just a battle of brute force; it was a psychological test before the first move was even made. He had to pick a team that offered coverage and synergy against the Psychic/Rock-type specialists.
His mind ran through the roster as he thought cautiously against the twins, 'Metagross too obvious; Blaziken is strong but vulnerable. I needed specific counters and reliable damage dealers against Tate and Liza…'
He finalized his decision, slotting six Poké Balls into the sockets: Sceptile (Speed and Grass power), Gardevoir (Fairy type advantage), Absol (Dark type brute force and critical hits), Ninetales (Fire power and ability manipulation), Crawdaunt (Dark/Water coverage), and Milotic (Bulk coverage).
*Beep*
The machine whirred, lights flashed, and the gauge confirmed the match was on level ground. He smirked, feeling confident in his choices.
Pikachu suddenly zipped off his shoulder, followed by Eevee, who bounced excitedly toward the spectator stands. Azure watched in exasperation as they somehow procured a massive bucket of popcorn, Pikachu dousing his share heavily in Ketchup while Eevee delicately applied Mustard sauce.
Tate observed dryly with a raised eyebrow, a flicker of amusement in his face, "Your partners are… enthusiastic."
Azure sighed, though a smile touched his lips. He was used to the antics as he said, "They're my cheerleaders at this point…"
The humor faded instantly as the twins grew serious. Two stone pedestals emerged on their side of the battlefield, revealing three Poké Balls each—six in total. A Referee announced, "The stage is set! Let the Mossdeep Gym Battle commence!"
Azure threw his first two Poké Balls high. He declared proudly, "Standby for battle! Ninetales, Absol, let's go!"
*Pop*
The Kanto Alpha Ninetales materialized, its nine fiery tails blazing with golden light, landed gracefully, its held [Charcoal] shimmering. Beside it, the formidable Dark-type Absol, its scythe-like horn sharp and ready, stood poised, its focus enhanced by the [Scope Lens].
Tate and Liza simultaneously released their partners.
Tate commanded, "Solrock, take the field!"
Liza echoed, "Lunatone, shine brightly!"
*Pop*
Solrock (Rock/Psychic), red and bulky, and Lunatone (Rock/Psychic), blue and crescent-shaped, materialized. Azure's stomach tightened as he thought, 'That's not good… they've brought their heavy hitters first…'
He had expected to see them eventually, but deploying their signature Pokémon first was a clear message: the twins intended to end this quickly.
Azure muttered, "I've just got a bad feeling."
Then he noticed the items: Solrock held a [Passho Berry] (weakens super-effective Water Type attacks), and Lunatone wore an [Expert Belt] (boosts super-effective damage). They were prepared for specific counters.
Tate ordered, initiating environmental control, "Solrock, Sunny Day!"
Liza followed up, "Lunatone, start with Hypnosis on Ninetales!"
*Shiii*
The sun intensified instantly, bathing the battlefield in harsh sunlight around the area. The move was standard—boosting Solrock's Fire moves, preparing Solar Beams, and mitigating some water damage.
*Shiii*
Lunatone's choice of Hypnosis was a clever opening, aiming to neutralize the Ninetales' raw firepower. Azure shouted, prioritizing damage output and disruption, "Absol, use Snarl! Ninetales, counter Lunatone with Disable!"
*SCREEE*
Absol unleashed a terrifying, black and red rings of energy sound wave that crashed over both Solrock and Lunatone, slightly dulling their Special Attack power by -1 Stage. And Ninetales glared at Lunatone, causing it to freeze in place.
Azure felt a ripple of apprehension almost immediately. He had anticipated a strong psychic assault, perhaps a combined Psychic attack, but the twins had something far more disruptive planned.
Liza's voice resonated through the gym, calm and absolute, "Lunatone, set up the foundation. Trick Room!"
*Swf*
Lunatone's eyes glowed a vibrant violet. A shimmering, crystalline dome enveloped the battlefield. The energy within the field twisted, warping perception and, more importantly, warping speed.
Azure's face tightened into a frown as he thought bitterly of the situation, 'Trick Room. The move inverted the flow of battle; now, my fastest partners, Absol and the agile Ninetales, were suddenly the slowest combatants on the field for the next few critical minutes. The heavy, typically sluggish Solrock and Lunatone were now moving first.'
Tate didn't hesitate, pressing their advantage instantly as he ordered, "Solrock, pin them down! Gravity!"
*THUMP*
Solrock focused its energy, and a massive, unseen weight pressed down on the battle floor. The move Gravity would negate any levitating or flying Pokémon and prevent them from using moves like Bounce or Fly, ensuring they were firmly planted on the ground and susceptible to Ground-type attacks that might follow.
The twins were formulating a suffocating tactic: slow down the opponent and then render their mobility useless before setting up with Calm Mind. Azure felt the pressure rising, but then, a slight, almost imperceptible flicker crossed his eyes as he thought, 'Ah… so that's they're plan. Pin my Pokémon down using Gravity while they set up they're sweepers. It's not a bad plan… unfortunately, it's useless to us.'
He hadn't won multiple battles by sticking to simple speed tactics. He won by knowing his team's innate strengths and predicting the meta.
The twins watched for the effects of Gravity to settle, expecting to see Alpha Ninetales and Absol momentarily rooted or struggling. But to their surprise—and frustration—neither of Azure's Pokémon seemed hampered as they thought, 'What!! They can move under the force of Gravity! How...?!!'
Unaware of the twins, Azure specialized in having his Pokémon train under the endurance of Gravity Training daily. To his Pokémon, who endured it was nothing more than a casual stroll effortlessly moving against the force.
*Zooom*
Absol, already leaning heavily on its two strong legs, was a master of footwork. It wasn't slowed by the inverted speed of Trick Room, as it instinctively compensated by using its powerful legs to move with a measured, deliberate pace—a technique it developed specifically to fight against slow-speed setups.
*Wooosh*
Absol's natural agility allowed it to shift its weight just as Gravity took effect, effectively rolling with the added pressure instead of being crushed by it. And Ninetales—the Alpha variant—was slightly different than its Hoenn counterpart.
Ninetales, as a Vulpix, endured much worse and has been conditioned to handle the sudden forces of Gravity with relative ease. Its past training showed that it was barely affected by the gravitational pull that was just beginning to intensify.
Azure seized the unexpected breather, the momentary lapse in the twins' strategy. He grinned, the worry lines smoothing out instantly, "Seems like your plan failed, kids! Ninetales, focus the heat! Strong Style Flamethrower on Solrock! Absol, find the flaw! Agile Style Night Slash on the same target!"
*Sssss*
Ninetales reared back, its nine tails flaring brilliantly. A searing column of fire erupted from its muzzle, amplified by the [Charcoal] it held and its ability Flash Fire, boosting its Fire Type Moves by 50% proficiency. The Flamethrower was a concentrated blast, striking Solrock dead center.
*BOOOM*
Since they were now in Trick Room, Absol moved next, its movement purposeful and controlled, not frantic. It darted around the searing pillar of fire, its scythe-arm raised high as its eyes dilated, its ability kicking in.
Absol's inherent ability, Super Luck, allowed it to instinctively sense vulnerabilities and weak spots in its opponent—a talent heightened by the precision of the [Scope Lens]. It wasn't just looking for the spot; it was calculating the trajectory needed to strike a critical nerve…
*SHINNG*
The incoming Night Slash came down with chilling accuracy, aimed not at the thick, protective stone of Solrock's body, but at the narrow fissure where its rocky shell met the psychic energy core…
*CRACK*
Absol landed a critical hit. The damage was immediate and devastating.
The simultaneous super-effective hits caused Solrock to spin violently, the impact of the critical strike shaking its very foundation. The [Passho Berry] it held, intended to defend against a Water-type attack, remained uselessly in its grasp, having done nothing to mitigate the fire and dark assault.
Solrock cried out, visibly stunned, "Solll!!"
Tate and Liza watched, their identical composure cracking slightly. Their perfect opening—the synchronization of Trick Room and Gravity designed to pin they're opponents down—had just cost them half of Solrock's health in a single turn.
Liza whispered, her eyes widened, seeing they're tactic had failed, "They resisted the effect of Gravity instantaneously!"
Tate ordered, his voice sharper now, seeing the dire situation, "We need to recover the momentum! Solrock, use Calm Mind!"
Liza nodded her head, following Tate's example, and ordered, "Lunatone, secure our defense with Calm Mind!"
The twins understood that Trick Room was a ticking clock. If they couldn't control the flow, they had to maximize their power before their time window expired. Solrock and Lunatone began to focus their psychic energy, their special attack and special defense stats rising sharply.
*Shiii*
Azure knew he couldn't allow them to stack boosts. The longer the twins buffed, the more dangerous their combined Psychic and Rock Slides would become.
Azure took this time to make a counterattack as he commanded, "Absol suppress their power with Taunt! Ninetales launch Will-O-Wisp at both!"
Absol grinned slyly as it roared at the Lunatone and Solrock, "Abooow!! (Hey, pebbles! You were useless in helping against the Super Ancient Pokémon! Your very trainers are pathetic; they couldn't contribute much in the end. Worthless.)"
They both took offense to Absol's words as they halted their setup. They glared hatefully at the Disaster Pokémon as Ninetales was already winding up the attack, aiming to hinder the special attacker.
*Sssss*
Simultaneously, as the Meteorite Pokémon were caught up in Absol's Taunt, Ninetales' Will-O-Wisp, a ghostly blue flame, streaked towards both. Both managed to dodge the worst of the flames, but the attack hit, leaving the Meteorite Pokémon with a subtle, debilitating burn that chipped away at their life force.
The Twins frowned, seeing this outcome. At the same time, Absol was circling, its Taunt having served its purpose as Azure thought coldly, 'A single critical hit was often enough to shift the dynamic. Now, it was time for disruption.'
Grinning slyly, Azure ordered, "Absol, stop their focus! Use Snarl!"
*SCREEE*
Absol unleashed a chilling, dark cry powered by Dark-type energy. The Snarl wasn't meant to cause massive damage, but to wash over the field and lower the Special Attack of all opposing Pokémon.
However, both Tate and Liza ordered, "Counter with Shadow Ball!"
*PEW*
Both Solrock and Lunatone launched a Shadow Ball at Snarl. Azure added, "Assist with Fire Blast Ninetales!"
*Sssss*
Ninetales launched a star-shaped blast of fire from its mouth as the attacks collided with each other. The resulting clash made an explosion that could be felt from the shockwave of they're attacks.
*BOOOM*
The resulting explosion forced the Pokémon to skid back from the clash. In the stands, Pikachu, mouth stuffed with popcorn and ketchup, bounced up and down, cheered, "Pika Pika! Chu! (Awesome, keep it up!)"
Eevee, meticulously wiping mustard off her whiskers, nodded sagely, "Eevee!" (The burn will make their physical attack weaker!)"
Azure, hearing the muffled, enthusiastic commentary, barely managed to suppress a smile. Their antics were distracting, but their analysis was surprisingly accurate.
The twins, however, were growing visibly frustrated by Azure's aggressive pressure. They had spent setting up, and Azure had spent two turns negating their setups while inflicting heavy damage.
Azure didn't let up as he continued his attack, commanding, "Let's end this quickly! Ninetales Agile Style Flame Wheel! Absol Agile Style Night Slash!"
Knowing the battle would swiftly turn against them if either one of they're Pokémon fell alone in battle, they made they're choice. Tate's voice, though strained, held a desperate resolve, "Solrock, Explosion!"
Liza, mirroring her brother's grim decision, echoed, "Lunatone, Explosion too!"
Azure's eyes widened a fraction as he thought, stunned, 'A double Explosion?!'
It was a desperate, suicidal tactic, but one that could reset the playing field entirely. He had only a moment to react.
He roared, hoping to take Solrock and Lunatone out before they could erupt, "Ninetales, Absol! End it, hurry!"
Ninetales lunged forward, gathering another burst of fire for a close-range Flame Wheel, while Absol aimed another devastating Night Slash. But the twins' Pokémon, though wounded, still had an ounce of strength…
*KA-BOOOOM*
With a blinding flash, a concussive roar ripped through the gymnasium. Solrock and Lunatone detonated in a twin-powered blast of psychic energy and rock fragments. The explosion was immense, shaking the very foundations of the arena…
*Wooosh*
When the dust settled, coating the starry projections, both Solrock and Lunatone lay unconscious, utterly defeated. But they had not gone down alone.
Lying motionless beside them were Azure's Ninetales and Absol, casualties of the desperate, all-consuming blast. They had followed Azure's command to attack up close, trading their own defeat for the guaranteed KO of the twins' Pokémon.
The referee, regaining his composure, announced, seeing the battlefield, "Solrock and Lunatone are unable to battle! Ninetales and Absol are also unable to battle! Both sides have lost two Pokémon! Quadruple Knockout!!"
Azure let out a slow, deliberate breath. The score was tied: 2-2.
A harsh but strategic exchange. He returned his fallen partners to their Poké Balls, a silent promise to heal them.
Tate and Liza did the same, their expressions solemn, tinged with a respect for Azure's power and the sheer force of his Pokémon. Azure admitted, looking across the battlefield at the twins, "A bold move… But now, Tate, Liza, the true battle begins."
His resolve hardened, his mind already racing through the vast possibilities of his remaining team. He had 4 Pokémon left against their 4. The Trick Room was still active, but perhaps only for a couple of minutes.
He mentally cycled through his options. Gardevoir was fast, Sceptile even faster, but useless under Trick Room as the effects of Sunny Day ended… then his gaze settled on two specific Poké Balls.
Azure didn't hesitate. He knew exactly who benefited most from moving last. He tossed the two remaining Poké Balls into the air as he declared, "I'm counting on both of you! Go! Crawdaunt and Milotic!"
*Pop*
First, the deep crimson form of Crawdaunt, the brute lobster Pokémon, materialized, clutching its [Mystic Water]. Crawdaunt, naturally sluggish but possessing immense raw power, was now one of the fastest-moving entities on the field under the current conditions.
Second, a graceful, shimmering blue serpent appeared: Milotic. Milotic, famed for its beauty and defensive bulk, already began to glow faintly.
Azure had equipped it with a [Flame Orb]—an unorthodox item that instantly induced a burn condition. The burn inflicted minor damage, but crucially, it activated Milotic's Marvel Scale ability, dramatically increasing its already formidable defense during its status affliction.
It was now a near-impregnable wall, and its low speed meant it would act late in the round, maximizing its defensive utility. The twins, momentarily impressed by Azure's immediate tactical shift, responded with their reserves, clearly chosen to maximize the Trick Room effect.
The twins responded. Tate threw his ball first and declared, "Slowking, take the field!"
*Pop*
A regal, if slightly lethargic, Pokémon appeared, its slow movements belying its intense psychic focus. It adjusted the Shellder on its head, its held item [Leftovers] providing steady recovery. Liza followed, tossing her ball and declaring, "Bronzong, support Slowking!"
*Pop*
The ancient, imposing Pokémon floated into position. Its metallic surface bore the faint sheen of constant combat readiness, its held item, the [Rocky Helmet], signaling its defensive purpose. Both were perfectly suited to the inverted speed of the battlefield. The second round began under the lingering effects of Trick Room.
Azure struck first, demonstrating Crawdaunt's newfound speed. "Crawdaunt, cover our advance! Bubblebeam!"
Azure didn't hesitate. He knew the twins relied on coordination, so disruption was paramount as he ordered, "Crawdaunt, use Agile Style Bubble Beam! Milotic, use Attract on Slowking!"
*Blip*
Crawdaunt coiled back, then unleashed a torrent of concentrated, high-pressure bubbles. But instead of flying directly at the opponents, Azure commanded a unique application of the move: the bubbles struck the ground and the air around the twins' Pokémon, destabilizing upon contact and turning completely transparent—a field of invisible, pressure-sensitive landmines designed to impede the twins' meticulous movements and spatial awareness.
*Wink*
Milotic, meanwhile, focused its serpentine charm, aiming the dazzling, pulsing pink energy of Attract directly at Slowking. The twins, however, were prepared for standard tactics as they're eyes narrowed.
Liza commanded, her voice cutting through the rising tension, "Bronzong, defend Slowking as the shield!"
*CLANG*
Bronzong immediately shifted, positioning its genderless, unfeeling body directly between the alluring Milotic and the dazed Slowking. The Attract, entirely dependent on gender compatibility, harmlessly washed over the metal body.
Tate ordered, ignoring the bubbling field beneath them, following up, "Slowking, establish the terrain!"
*Shiii*
Slowking's eyes glowed with immense power. A wave of shimmering purple energy radiated outward, blanketing the entire battlefield…
Psychic Terrain was established.
Azure's brow furrowed as he thought, 'That's problematic.'
The Psychic Terrain boosted the power of Psychic-type moves used by grounded Pokémon (like Slowking) by 50%, but, crucially, it prevented all priority moves (like Aqua Jet, Quick Attack, or even potential priority status moves) from succeeding. The Bubble Beam mines were meant to slow the twins down, but the terrain prevented Azure from capitalizing on quick attacks.
On the stands, Pikachu squeaked in distress, dropping a piece of popcorn. Eevee slapped him lightly on the shoulder, pointing its paw at the still-burning Milotic, signaling reassurance.
Azure adjusted his footing, adapting his plan on the fly. The twins were notoriously defensive and relied on sustained momentum.
He had to break their core quickly, but Bronzong was a massive physical wall, and Slowking was protected by the terrain. But then his eyes noticed the boxed-in cage of Trick Room as he smirked, thinking, 'About time it let up…'
*Crack*
The Trick Room effect finally faded, plunging the battlefield into a moment of natural speed. Azure commanded, his voice sharp and penetrating, "Now that the speed inversion is over, we switch tactics! Crawdaunt, let's power up! Use Swords Dance! Milotic, target the Bronzong with Hydro Pump!"
*Shinng*
Crawdaunt dug its claws into the ground, ignoring the pressure of the Psychic Terrain, its powerful muscles flexing as it channeled energy. The already fearsome Attack stat surged, coating its claws in a menacing red aura.
*SPLASH*
Milotic, its resilience evident despite the burn, coiled and launched a massive, pressurized plume of water aimed squarely at the towering Bronzong. But the Twins reacted, issuing orders to counter him.
Liza commanded, "Bronzong, protect Slowking! Iron Defense!"
Tate countered, "Slowking, focus fire! Psychic on Milotic!"
Bronzong, instead of defending itself, used Iron Defense, raising its already stratospheric physical protection further…
*CLANG*
The Hydro Pump struck with tremendous force, sending sprays of water high into the air, but Bronzong remained firmly fixed, taking only moderate damage. Simultaneously, the attack Milotic had feared most arrived...
*BOOOM*
Slowking unleashed a powerful, terrain-boosted Psychic wave. The purple energy slammed into Milotic's head. The force was tremendous, but the burn-activated Marvel Scale ability proved its worth, reducing the damage significantly. Milotic shuddered but held firm, its long, flowing fins rippling from the impact.
The field stabilized, but the advantage was tilting. The twins were holding strong, forcing Azure to commit resources.
Then came the second decisive tactical maneuver from the Gym Leaders. The twins declared in perfect synchronicity, "Trick Room, now!"
Hearing that, Azure immediately countered, "Oh, heck no! Crawdaunt Taunt!"
Crawdaunt, hearing that, clipped its pincers as it mocked the duo, "Craaa! (You two must be so great… great at being sissies!)"
Bronzong took exception to it, "Bron!! (You bastard!)"
But frankly, Slowking didn't even spare a glance at Crawdaunt's Taunt as it replied, "Slooo… (So what? It takes one to know one.)"
Azure's eyes widened seeing while Bronzong took the bait, but Slowking didn't. Tate slyly grinned as he explained, "My Slowking's ability is Oblivious. My Pokémon is immune to being infatuated, falling for taunts, or being affected by Intimidate."
*Shiii*
Slowking, its eyes still glowing, began to weave a complicated, reality-bending pattern in the air. Time seemed to distort, and a shimmering, slow-motion field enveloped the arena. Trick Room was active.
Azure inhaled sharply as he muttered, "This classic move."
Trick Room flips the speed order, making the slowest Pokémon move first. Slowking (Base Speed 30) and Bronzong (Base Speed 33) were now the fastest combatants on the field, entirely undoing any speed superiority Azure might have claimed.
Crawdaunt (Base Speed 55) and Milotic (Base Speed 81) were now sluggish, forced to slow down drastically. Azure muttered to himself, his mind racing through counter strategies, "They rely on slowing the pace and maximizing their bulk…"
He needed to eliminate Slowking before the Trick Room expired, or he would continue taking hits he couldn't quickly recover from. He swiftly ordered, "Milotic, Agile Style Blizzard! Aim for both! Crawdaunt, Knock Off Slowking!"
Crawdaunt, now moving lethargically under the Trick Room effect, lumbered toward Slowking. Azure needed to disrupt the [Leftovers] recovery.
The Crawdaunt launched a boosted Knock Off, dark energy radiating from its massive claw, aimed at Slowking. Milotic's response was slow but devastatingly cold…
*Wooosh*
It exhaled a chilling blast of Blizzard, a move that spread across the field, damaging both opponents and aiming to freeze them—a subtle play for when the Trick Room eventually ended. The twins reacted, their coordination still impeccable.
Liza ordered, "Bronzong, Gyro Ball on Crawdaunt!"
Tate countered, "Slowking, use Surf!"
*Wooosh*
Bronzong, now fast under the Trick Room, rotated rapidly, launching itself toward Crawdaunt. Gyro Ball deals more damage the slower the user is compared to the target, meaning Bronzong hits Crawdaunt with maximum power. The metallic strike slammed into Crawdaunt's shell.
*CLANG*
The damage was punishing, forcing the crab Pokémon to stagger backward, the [Rocky Helmet] scraping some residual damage onto Crawdaunt…
*SPLASH*
Simultaneously, Slowking caused a massive swell of water to erupt from the ground beneath them. Surf consumed the field, hitting both of Azure's Pokémon since neither had full immunity, only resistance.
Crawdaunt grunted, accepting the water damage, but Milotic took the brunt of the special attack. The Marvel Scale defense, combined with Milotic's natural special bulk, allowed it to absorb the hit, but the accumulated damage was becoming unsustainable.
Azure nodded, knowing this was the turning point. Trick Room had only a few minutes left, and Crawdaunt's Attack power was skyrocketing thanks to the Swords Dance.
He had to cash in that advantage immediately, regardless of the cost. Azure commanded, "Milotic, use Recover! Crawdaunt, end this! Night Slash on Slowking!"
With the slow-motion movement of the Trick Room dictating timing, Milotic began the slow process of drawing on its inner reserves, its body shimmering faintly as its health began to replenish.
*Wooosh*
Crawdaunt, however, moved with a sudden, localized burst of ferocious intent. Its massive claws snapped closed, channeling the full force of its now intensely boosted Attack stat, STAB, into a specialized Night Slash.
The attack was aimed directly at Slowking, and the physical force, even slowed by the Trick Room, was overwhelming. Crawdaunt's claw struck with the power of a hydraulic press as it unleashed its fury.
*CRIT*
A brilliant tactical flash of light erupted as the move connected—a critical hit. Slowking cried out, the Shellder on its head collapsing as the force shattered its concentration and knocked it violently backward…
*BOOM*
Not only that, but it landed on the few bubble beam bombs that Crawdaunt left as it dealt extra chip damage. It slid across the shimmering field, rendered completely unconscious under the super-effective attack.
The referee shouted, "Slowking is unable to battle!"
Liza's eyes widened slightly, the first break in their synchronized calm. Azure had managed to punch through their defenses and score the first knockout.
But the battle was far from over. Bronzong, still floating menacingly, used the remaining moments of the Trick Room to its advantage.
Liza commanded, "Now, Bronzong! Grass Knot!"
*WHIP*
Bronzong's eyes glow green. Then, two blades of grass near Crawdaunt glow green and tie in a knot, causing the Rouge Pokémon to stumble on the knot.
*THUD*
Azure's expression twitched as Crawdaunt soon fainted from the attack. The referee soon declared, "Crawdaunt is unable to battle!"
Azure recalled his Rouge Pokémon as he thought bitterly on that loss, 'Out of all the ways my Crawdaunt goes down… it loses to tripping himself over.'
Azure felt the pressure radiating from the twins, but the excitement of the complex, high-stakes battle was a stronger fire inside him. He knew he had to keep the pressure on, regardless of the terrain advantages the twins held.
He saw that the effects of Trick Room ended as he smiled at ease, reaching for his next Poke Ball, thinking critically, 'Alright, Twins, you got me cornered so far. Let's see how you deal with this one next…'
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 250 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!