"Natsuhiko!"
Struck by Beedrill's Cross Cut, Exeggutor's quadruple weakness to Insect-type techniques was vividly displayed.
The painful cries urged the figure in the back to unconsciously quicken their pace.
Yet Beedrill's long needle flashed again, completing the final blow with a Deadly Needle Stab on Exeggutor's last sliver of energy.
Simultaneously, the effect of the Deadly Needle Stab was triggered, enhancing Beedrill's attack power further, reaching its current peak.
Bang!
As Exeggutor fell to the ground, another Exeggutor rushing up from behind finally appeared in Natsuhiko's field of vision.
Two of them, both at the Elite Level!
Natsuhiko's expression slightly darkened. The strength of the Wild Pokémon in Azelf's space was somewhat excessively strong.
Although the two Exeggutors couldn't greatly affect him, Natsuhiko was somewhat concerned about the Pokémon strength that might appear next.
His mind was heavy, but his command did not stop.
"Beedrill, handle the one on the left!" Natsuhiko instructed Beedrill.
"Sss-Buzz!"
Beedrill nodded heavily, immediately closing in on the left Exeggutor.
The Exeggutor on the right, seeing its companion under attack, wanted to help.
"Togetic, use Divine Power again, target the Exeggutor on the right."
Given Beedrill's Physical Attack Ability was fully stacked, defeating the left Exeggutor was only a matter of time. What they needed now was to buy time for Beedrill.
"Chakayi!"
Togetic waved its fingers, and an invisible force once again crossed a considerable distance, directly assaulting the Exeggutor.
Meanwhile, Natsuhiko continued to command.
"Honedge, Shadow Assault."
"Yujira, Shadow Ball."
Honedge darted out from Natsuhiko's shadow, turning into an independent shadow, raiding behind the Exeggutor.
Yujira raised its spoon, a round orb brimming with intense Ghost Energy launched forth, also targeting the Exeggutor.
"Chakayi!"
Togetic, upon using Divine Power, suddenly sensed something and hurriedly gave a warning.
This time, the Wither effect would not be triggered!
Natsuhiko's expression remained unchanged, as he intently stared at the Exeggutor.
After Togetic failed to control it, the Exeggutor, in pain from Honedge's Shadow Assault, bent its body, swinging a large portion like a club towards Honedge — Wooden Hammer!
"Now, Yujira, Exchange Arena!"
Yujira, synchronizing seamlessly with Natsuhiko, already had its thoughts aligned almost perfectly with Natsuhiko's the moment it heard Togetic's cue, and the instant Honedge's attack failed to return in time.
A sudden blue glow appeared in its eyes, the Buddha Beads gently shifted, and the spoon slightly bent. Psychic abilities caused it and the Exeggutor to instantly switch places.
Boom!
The Exeggutor's attack missed hitting Honedge, instead smashing a nearby tree into a splintering explosion.
Wooden Hammer: Slam the opponent using a hardened body, also inflicting considerable recoil damage on oneself.
While the Exeggutor's attack was ineffective, it inflicted damage on itself.
"Honedge, don't worry, attack with full force! Togetic and Yujira will support you!" Natsuhiko shouted.
Apart from Beedrill, with outstanding Physical Attack Ability and the Ghost-type ability to counter Psychic types, Honedge was the best second attacker.
"Ha."
Honedge nodded heavily.
Even though its heart was pounding, it also recognized the responsibility it should shoulder.
"Power Trick! Sword Dance!"
Next, it was time to amplify Honedge's attack power, minimizing the gap between it and Exeggutor's hard power.
At the very least, the attack power should be enough to threaten Exeggutor.
"Togetic, keep using Divine Power, Yujira, keep shifting positions with Instant Movement."
The function of Exchange Arena not only protected Honedge from attacks but also split the two Exeggutors, forcing them to fight on their own, unable to help each other.
If the two Elite Level Pokémon could perfectly coordinate, Natsuhiko and his Pokémon would be in dire straits.
Togetic's Divine Power combined with Sharp Fang and its inherent Celestial Grace trait meant that, probabilistically speaking, there was at least a forty percent chance of making Exeggutor flinch, although this was theoretically the case and the specific calculation wasn't as simple as addition and multiplication.
Moreover, it depended on Togetic's proficiency with techniques and items, as well as the strength suppression Exeggutor exerted on it.
But when it came to luck and gambling on fortune, Togetic was never afraid of anyone.
Like this time, Togetic's Divine Power successfully caused Exeggutor to flinch.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Honedge seized the moment, utilizing the priority mechanism of Shadow Assault to mitigate the shortcomings of its slower speed, instantly appearing behind Exeggutor. The sharp blade, enveloped in Ghost Energy, caused significant damage to Exeggutor.
Meanwhile, Yujira also timely supplemented with a Shadow Ball.
Though as a Ghost-type technique, Shadow Ball couldn't trigger the Curved Spoon and compressed Psychic Arena boosts, the Life Treasure Pearl's effect was triggered, and its side effect was countered by "Magic Defense."
Additionally, with the type advantage, the Shadow Ball also inflicted noteworthy damage on Exeggutor.
"Natsuhiko!" Exeggutor cried out in pain.
Honedge and Yujira might not match its strength, but in terms of raw attack power, they weren't far behind, especially Honedge. Power Trick and Sword Dance, coupled with the Ghost-type's counter effect, left deep wounds on Exeggutor.
Shortly after.
Before the infuriated Exeggutor could launch an attack, Yujira promptly used "Exchange Arena" to swap positions with Exeggutor once again.
Utilizing an extremely annoying tactic, Yujira's Exchange Arena combined with Togetic's Divine Power kept forcing Exeggutor to shift positions, while waiting for Togetic's Divine Power to take effect.
Once Exeggutor flinched, Honedge would immediately attack, and Yujira would also supplement the damage.
Although lacking Beedrill's absolute attack power dominance, using this almost "dirty" tactic, Exeggutor couldn't even manage a counterattack and was almost clueless about its own position.
The tactics practiced on the Saint Anus were applied to actual combat for the first time.
Though Togetic, Yujira, and Honedge were initially unfamiliar in their coordination, with the battle's progression, their cooperation and synergy became increasingly skilled.
Returning to Natsuhiko's side, Beedrill, having finished its battle, looked at them toying with Exeggutor, feeling a little chilly.
It felt that if it switched places with Exeggutor, the result might be the same.
Glancing at Natsuhiko, who was calm beside it, Beedrill felt grateful.
Luckily, we're on the same side.
This "disgusting" tactic should be left for others to experience.
Boom!
As the last Exeggutor fell, it also marked the end of this battle.
Natsuhiko unhesitatingly tossed out a Pokeball.
An Elite Level Exeggutor, selling it on the black market, would surely command a high price.
However.
But upon throwing the Pokeball, he found it didn't open after touching the Exeggutor, nor did it capture them.
Natsuhiko furrowed his brows, "Another Trainer? No, Azelf is not allowing the capture...."
After all that effort defeating three Elite Level Exeggutors, he couldn't capture them...
Shaking his head, if Azelf didn't allow it, there was nothing he could do.
After all, he couldn't win against it.
But as he prepared to give up, he saw a wisp of faint, gauze-like strip drifting from the three Exeggutors towards their location.
"Is this... Psychic Ability?" Natsuhiko paused, recognizing what these strips were.
Then he looked over at Yujira beside him, seeing it also staring blankly at the "gauze."
'Is this a benefit for Yujira? If so, it might still be worthwhile, at least it's not a loss.'
However, an unexpected situation arose for Natsuhiko.
The "gauze" didn't drift towards Yujira, but instead...
It entered his body!