The cheers from above the stadium were deafening.
Standing on the left side of the battlefield, the burly Milo revealed an expected smile.
This 'Miss Pearl of Galar' is still too young. Using the same tactic for so long means all future trainers will specifically counter it.
Without adaptability, even the best tactics will gradually expose their weaknesses.
This is why many rookies have good records at the start of the season but struggle in the later stages, even plummeting to second-tier gyms the following year.
If she can't see this, Milo could even predict a string of devastating defeats awaiting Nessa next year.
So, let me give you a lesson in advance.
"Bellossom, Sunny Day!"
Feeling the rain soak his hand, Milo immediately issued a command.
Exactly as Aiden had predicted.
"Sure enough, seeing the same matchup as last time made Milo instinctively let his guard down..."
Aiden muttered to himself.
"So, Nessa's next command is—"
And naturally, this was also part of Nessa's plan.
"Pelipper, Hurricane!"
Both trainers almost simultaneously gave the command.
As the trainers commanded, both Pokémon began to move in sync.
Milo's Bellossom gathered a ball of fiery energy, preparing to slowly launch it into the sky to disperse the layers of clouds overhead.
Once the energy ball ascended, the weather would quickly change to Sunny Day.
However, Pelipper's actions were clearly faster. After flapping its wings a few times, a gale carrying rain vapor howled past, striking the yet-to-act Bellossom like a drawn blade.
In the rain, the exceptionally powerful hurricane was unavoidable.
Before Bellossom could act, it was instantly engulfed by the storm and fell, unable to continue.
Its move was naturally interrupted.
With a one-hit KO, the audience erupted in astonishment.
[Wow, it's over? What happened to that big Bellossom???]
[Mr. Milo's Bellossom, used as a weather setter, should have been trained for durability, and it was directly KO'd?]
[Is this damage right?]
Not just the chat, even Milo himself was stunned for a while before he complexly stared at Nessa's Pelipper.
Choice Specs, this Pelipper actually carried Choice Specs!
Only Aiden in the live stream snapped his fingers; everything was within his expectations.
"Nessa's Pelipper carries Choice Specs which locks it into just one move, making it an incredibly violent attacker. Setting the weather is just a side effect."
He had indeed suggested to Nessa that she could utilize Pelipper's output capability, but he didn't expect her to heed his advice so thoroughly, going with the most extreme setup.
The amplification effect of Choice items on Pokémon is quite significant. For instance, this Pelipper's Choice Specs directly boosts its Special Attack power by about half with a powerful effect.
But the cost is also considerable.
Pokémon carrying these items can only use the first move they make, completely losing their flexibility.
Of course, currently, the result is good.
Since Nessa's Pelipper has always been a mix-up after setting the weather, Milo never thought it would deal damage.
"The failure to set up Sunny Day on Milo's first move is fatal. Further interference attempts might mean more sacrifices."
Suddenly hitting like this directly took out Milo's crucial weather setter, significantly relieving pressure.
Without Sunny Day, Grass-type moves like Solar Beam are almost impossible to use, giving Nessa's swift hands a chance to shine later.
"So, he should send out Ludicolo..."
Before he finished speaking, Milo had already thrown out his second high-end ball, revealing the anticipated Ludicolo with predictive eyes and a rounded figure.
Ludicolo, known as the 'Duck God', is one of the common swift hands in rain teams.
Because of its Grass/Water typing and Swift Swim ability benefiting from Nessa's rain, it's normal for Milo to use it to counter the rain.
"Ludicolo doesn't know Thunder, but the speed boost in the rain ensures it can land a Thunder Punch, four times effective against Pelipper... no amount of lives can withstand that..."
"Oh, wait?"
Aiden suddenly realized something, his eyes instantly brightening.
"I see, this is why Nessa brought Quagsire!"
Before he could explain, the two in the center of the stadium acted simultaneously again, and the battle ignited once more.
"Ludicolo, Thunder Punch!"
Just as Aiden analyzed, Milo issued the command without hesitation, attempting to take out this troublesome Pelipper with speed.
But obviously, Nessa anticipated this move.
"Come back, Pelipper."
A red light recalled Pelipper into its ball, and Nessa desperately suppressed her wildly rising lips, throwing out her second Dive Ball.
"Go, Quagsire!"
Appearing was the closely related and equally dopey-looking Quagsire.
At the same time, Ludicolo's punch had already been thrown.
However, facing Quagsire with a Ground type, the sparkling Thunder Punch barely caused any damage.
"Using Quagsire for synergy defense, you're a little genius!"
Aiden's expression was complex.
Using attribute advantages for synergy defense is very common.
At first glance, this defense is incredibly cool, completely ignoring the opponent's attack.
But did Nessa forget that the Water/Ground family is four times weak to Grass?
"Ludicolo, Energy Ball!"
Milo instantly reacted, seizing the initiative again due to the close proximity of both Pokémon.
Dense Grass-type energy condensed into an elemental sphere, and Ludicolo attacked Quagsire with it using a one-handed method akin to kneading rice balls!
However, Quagsire, directly hit by the Energy Ball, did not immediately lose its fighting capability.
The scarf wrapped around its tail suddenly snapped, and Quagsire managed to withstand this move purely through momentum.
"Huh? Focus Sash Quagsire?"
Aiden was dumbfounded; this move completely exceeded his expectations.
"Quagsire, Thief!"
Nessa decisively countered.
Due to the effect of the Focus Sash, Quagsire, proficient in the Thief move, smoothly snatched a purple-red Life Orb from atop Ludicolo's Rain Dish.
[YOOOOO this is so quality!]
[No wonder the ppl coming from Azure's live stream are skilled at dirty tactics lmao]
[I told you watching Teacher Azure's live stream really improves one's moral quality, now we have the first real case!]
"To be honest, am I the one who taught this…?"
Aiden twitched his lips; who exactly is playing such quirky setups!
But really, though Nessa's tactics were quite absurd, she truly caught Milo off guard.
Could it be that I'm too conservative?
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