"It's useless. No matter how many Pokémon you send out, it won't matter," Shida sneered.
"The match continues! Can Eichi's Heracross defeat Shida's Vileplume?" the commentator shouted.
"Heracross, Horn Attack!"
Heracross aimed its large horn at Vileplume and charged forward rapidly. The surrounding energy fluctuated wildly, a stark contrast to the earlier performances of Ninjask and Shedinja.
"Vileplume, Razor Leaf!"
Countless green leaves spun rapidly, shooting toward Heracross like professional shuriken.
"Protect!"
A massive energy screen instantly enveloped Heracross, adhering to its body like a shimmering layer of armor. The Razor Leaf strikes hit the barrier and turned back into ordinary leaves before fluttering to the ground. Heracross's speed was only slightly hindered by the resistance as it continued its charge.
"Vileplume, Stun Spore!"
In the next instant, orange pollen erupted from Vileplume's stamens. However, Heracross was prepared; it held its breath, and its large horn gathered glowing energy before slamming into Vileplume.
Bang!
A massive force surged from Heracross's horn. Vileplume collapsed onto the ground, its face contorting in burning pain.
"Eichi's Heracross has finally launched a counterattack!"
"Heracross, keep the pressure on! Arm Thrust!"
Heracross continued its assault, raising its arms to strike down at Vileplume.
"Vileplume, Vine Whip!"
Numerous vines extended from Vileplume's body, tightly entangling Heracross. Heracross struggled with all its might, snapping two vines instantly, but new ones immediately sprouted to bind it even tighter.
"Heracross, Substitute!"
Heracross's eyes glowed with white light as energy surged around its body. Suddenly, a duplicate Heracross split off from the original.
"Heracross, Brick Break!"
The Substitute Heracross swung its arm, chopping down at the vines. With a sharp crack, it severed several tendrils. The original Heracross seized the opportunity to burst free from the remaining constraints.
"Heracross, Pin Missile! Fall back!"
Both Heracross gathered countless needles of light in the air and fired them down at Vileplume. It was a dense, overlapping barrage that would make anyone with trypophobia shudder.
Thump, thump!
Vileplume silently endured the baptism of light needles. While firing, the original Heracross retreated to a safe distance, while the Substitute charged at Vileplume once the needles were exhausted. The dazed Vileplume couldn't react in time and was sent flying by the collision.
Bang!
Vileplume hit the ground hard, its body covered in dirt. As the Substitute's attack ended, it shattered into fragments and vanished. Vileplume was now heavily injured, and Eichi knew it was time.
"Heracross, Swords Dance, then Megahorn!"
In mid-air, Heracross's body began to spin. It started slowly but quickly accelerated until it became a spherical storm. Lightning-like energy began to pulse around its massive horn. It locked onto the grounded Vileplume and dived.
At the same time, Vileplume struggled to climb back up.
"Vileplume, Solar Beam!" Shida commanded.
Vileplume glared at Heracross with a determined gaze, pushing its body to the limit. The sun shone brightly overhead, and the audience could see countless rays of light converging into Vileplume's body. White energy filled the flower on its head, causing the surrounding air to distort as it reached full charge. Much like Heracross, the move required a buildup of power.
A few seconds before Heracross could land, Vileplume's energy reached its peak. A pillar of light as thick as a barrel erupted from the giant flower.
Solar Beam, fire!!
"Everyone, look! Vileplume's Solar Beam and Heracross's Megahorn are finally going to collide!"
"Who will emerge victorious? Let's find out!"
The light pillar and Heracross finally clashed. A massive roar erupted from the point of impact, echoing throughout the stadium.
Boom!
Under the sheer force of Heracross's horn, the pillar of light was carved in half. A cry of pain escaped Heracross as it felt the immense energy of the beam battering its body. Every inch of its skin burned, yet it gritted its teeth and pushed through the pain, drawing closer to Vileplume.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this scene is just like the Raticate in Asen's last match!" the commentator yelled. "Can he succeed just like last time?"
"Vileplume, maximum output!" Shida roared.
Vileplume released every drop of stored energy in a single burst, causing the light pillar to expand significantly. Heracross felt an even more crushing force but endured with pure willpower. Then, the beam vanished as Vileplume's energy was spent.
Heracross saw its chance and lunged. Locked in place by the momentum, Vileplume could only watch as the massive horn occupied its entire field of vision.
Bang!
A tremendous force struck. The sudden, intense pain caused Vileplume to lose consciousness instantly. It was slammed into the ground, creating a deep crater where its body remained embedded.
Meanwhile, Heracross's energy dissipated. Its body was covered in wounds from the previous exchange. A wave of exhaustion and pain washed over it, and its vision blurred. It tried to stay upright, but its body swayed unsteadily.
Thud.
Heracross collapsed as its vision went dark.
"Vileplume and Heracross are both unable to battle!" the referee announced.
Shida was slightly surprised, but he found the result acceptable. Eichi felt the same, calmly recalling Heracross to its Poké Ball.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the current situation stands at five Pokémon for Shida and only three for Eichi!"