But Steven understands Aoki, so does Aoki not understand Steven?
In the end, Slowking still used Teleport to disappear from the spot with Blaziken.
It wasn't because Slowking was stronger, but because Gengar, which had been hiding in the shadows, appeared at this crucial moment and hit Claydol with two Shadow Balls.
The sneak attack was successful, preventing Claydol from restraining Slowking and allowing it to escape with Blaziken.
So Steelix's attack missed, and the destruction of the Ancient Armor and the grass knot did not work.
This is a contest between Zhang Liang's strategy and the ladder over the wall.
It can be seen that there is indeed a difference between single-core and dual-core, with dual-core having a greater advantage. However, if the person using single-core has stronger command ability and seizes the opportunity, it is still possible to win against the dual-core lineup.
Steven's lineup combination is relatively hasty and rough, but it cannot be said that Steven's strength is not strong.
Slowking was almost trapped, surrounded like that. Even with its immense strength, surrounded by so many powerful men, Slowking would have had no chance of escape.
With Aoki losing one of his two cores, and the Sandstorm Core posing little threat to Steven's team, Aoki would be in trouble.
But now, the trouble lies with Steven. He's poured too much effort into dealing with Slowking, almost risking everything. If he seizes the opportunity, he can turn the tide;
if not, his situation will become even more difficult. Sure enough, Slowking appeared above Aerodactyl with Blaziken.
Its prepared Flame Kick gathered in its foot, striking down at Aerodactyl.
Aerodactyl, having just managed to hold off Aoki's Aggron from interfering with Steelix's plan to take down Slowking, had clashed with Aggron but failed to gain the upper hand and was blasted away by Aggron's overwhelming power.
The old strength was gone, and the new strength had not yet emerged.
Steven's face was grim. At this point, it was clearly impossible to rescue Aerodactyl, who had become separated from the team. So, the only option was to try to capture Gengar, who had gone deep behind enemy lines to rescue Slowking.
*Boom!
* Blaziken, its golden flames blazing, delivered a powerful kick to Aerodactyl's back, sending it crashing to the ground.
The rapidly falling Aerodactyl had no chance to retaliate. Aggron seized the opportunity, unleashing a barrage of sharp pebbles, like homing missiles, that slammed into the falling Aerodactyl.
*Boom!*
The moment Aerodactyl hit the ground, vines burst forth from all sides, binding it tightly!
Aggron leaped high, unleashing a combination of a powerful attack and an earthquake! *Boom
!
* *Whoosh!
Whoosh! Whoosh!* The aftershocks of the earthquake spread outwards from Aggron, stirring up sand and gravel. Aerodactyl slumped into a deep crater, unable to battle!
Steven had anticipated Aerodactyl's incapacitation; though his expression remained grim, he now focused his attention on Gengar.
As Claydol was blasted away by Gengar's Shadow Ball, Metagross, reacting quickly, unleashed its psychic power, simultaneously triggering its Shiny Pokémon ability, making the psychic attack even more powerful as it hurtled towards Gengar!
However, Gengar ignored Metagross's psychic attack, instead focusing on the Aggron that had just recovered on the ground. A glint of light flashed in Gengar's eyes again, and it adopted Aggron's Steadfast ability!
Steadfast prevents a Pokémon at full strength from being instantly KO'd by an attack, preserving its last bit of health.
Therefore, no matter how powerful Metagross's attack, it couldn't KO it.
Aoki had instructed Gengar to do this only because Gengar's defenses were weak, and he knew that Steven's Shiny Metagross possessed a special burst of power; whether or not it could KO Gengar, it was a safe bet.
Boom!!!
As expected, Metagross's Psychic attack struck Gengar. Aoki's prediction proved accurate; Steven's Metagross, with its Shiny Pokémon ability activated, nearly KO'd Gengar with Psychic. Fortunately,
Gengar's Sturdy ability allowed it to retain some health and use the momentum from Metagross's attack to quickly escape the encirclement,
avoiding being surrounded .
Slowking's eyes flashed with psychic power, helping Gengar quickly return to Florges' side. With a little time, Florges would be able to fully restore Gengar's health. Steven,
seeing this, was stunned again.
All his plans and trump cards had been unleashed, only to be anticipated by Aoki—a significant blow.
Aoki would soon have a full team at full strength again, a dual-core lineup, while Steven had already lost an Aerodactyl. Dragging things out would be disadvantageous.
Perhaps he should seize the opportunity while Gengar was weakened and go all in—maybe there was still a chance!
A resolute glint flashed in his eyes, and he immediately made his decision.
Standing still, Aoki saw Daigo's eyes and knew what he was thinking.
Given Aoki's current advantage, victory was practically in his grasp if he fought slowly, but Aoki didn't want to win that way.
Since Daigo had chosen a head-on confrontation, he couldn't back down either.
The Sandstorm's speed increased again. Blaziken landed from the air and used Sword Step to charge at Daigo's Aggron. At the same time, Aoki's Aggron also took a big stride, assuming a bull-horn-forward stance, and charged with Double Headbutt. Daigo's Aggron did the same.
Slowking and Tyranitar, as the core, also decided against a conservative approach.
Teleporting to the front, Gengar, having recovered some stamina, immediately joined in, using Blaziken's ability to boost its speed again.
Only Florges, still standing at the back, was the first to attack, successfully binding Steelix in place with Grass Knot, rendering it immobile.
Aoki's Aggron clashed with Steven's Aggron's Double Headbutt!
Slowking's psychic powers entangled Steven's Metagross, wrestling in mid-air.
Blaziken bypassed Aggron and clashed with the similarly Swords Dance-enhanced Ancient Armor, engaging in a brutal, hand-to-hand combat.
The most terrifying was Tyranitar, living up to its nickname "Little Godzilla," grabbing Steelix's tail and being swung around like that.
Keep in mind, this is Steelix! To be swung through the air by Tyranitar was truly a visual spectacle.
The audience cheered.
Although the previous battles, with their back-and-forth exchanges, were also exciting and had their palms sweating, nothing beat this head-on clash—it was far more thrilling and exhilarating!
Adams and his two companions on the platform were speechless. What had been a brilliant battle of strategic command had now devolved into a basic clash of Pokémon strength.
However, through the battle just now, they had a pretty good understanding of Aoki and Daigo's strength.
Both possessed the ability to become Elite Four members, but since there was only one position available, they had to choose the more suitable one.
Adams shook his head, a smile on his face, "Youth is great, they just go for it without hesitation."
He seemed helpless, but his satisfaction was evident.
Genji and Grandpa Konohamaru were also speechless, understanding without saying why the two had chosen this way to end their battle.
The others on the platform also smiled knowingly.
The new Four Heavenly Kings are about to appear!
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Fifth update! Requesting monthly tickets! Sorry, the chapter was duplicated; I've rewritten it. Please refresh the page.
(End of Chapter)