What was Kashiwagi planning?
The answer was simple: a strategic swap.
Chansey had charged through the fire and thick smoke toward Mega Camerupt for one reason—to deliver the poison.
Under the influence of Telekinesis, Mega Camerupt was almost impossible to miss. Furthermore, since it was floating, the recoil from its own fire moves couldn't push it back down, and it was unable to use most physical Ground-type moves that required contact with the earth.
This last point was far more important than the accuracy buff.
One had to remember that Mega Camerupt could learn Fissure. What if Chansey closed the distance only to be struck by a one-hit KO move?
On the other side.
Although her vision was obscured by smoke, Courtney—who was linked to her Pokémon through the Mega bond—was about to order a massive Ground-type move when she suddenly realized the trap. Kashiwagi had used Telekinesis specifically to disable her most powerful options.
Exactly as he had calculated, many Ground-type moves require physical contact with the earth to be released smoothly. The floating Mega Camerupt was currently unable to use the moves she wanted.
"Flip over... Earth Power!"
In the heat of the moment, she made a daring call.
"MOOO!"
In mid-air, Mega Camerupt didn't hesitate. It forced its massive body to tilt, aiming the volcano on its back directly at the ground. Ignoring the Chansey right in its face, it unleashed a torrent of Ground energy!
BOOM—!!
Blinding yellow shockwaves slammed into the mountain path. The fiery smoke was instantly dispersed by a shockwave mixed with dust. Chansey, being the closest, undoubtedly took the brunt of the impact head-on!
The ground shook violently, and the entire mountain rumbled as if the earth itself were being torn apart.
Mega Camerupt's ability is Sheer Force, which removes additional effects of moves to increase their power. Earth Power, which normally has a chance to lower the opponent's Special Defense, was boosted to an absolutely terrifying level!
However...
Even a catastrophic Earth Power wasn't enough to break the pink nurse.
As a premier Special Wall, Chansey was already a nightmare for Special Attackers. Add the Eviolite and the Light Screen, and she became an immortal god of durability undeniably the nightmare of almost every Special Attacker.
No matter how fierce the attack, the damage dealt might not even exceed the health she could recover using one Soft-Boiled.
The only challenge Chansey faced was keeping her footing so she wouldn't be blown off the mountain by the sheer pressure.
When the shockwaves from Earth Power dissipated,
Courtney looked into the smoke-filled path where Mega Camerupt's silhouette, still aimed at the ground, was faintly visible. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Kashiwagi was still approaching.
And when the smoke cleared.
The pink Pokémon stood there, looking almost entirely unfazed.
How?! Courtney felt a mental jolt. Was that a double Protect? Or is she just... that tanky?
"Lucky!"
Courtney's momentary lapse was all the opening Chansey needed. She spat a concentrated glob of toxin directly at the volcano Pokémon, inducing a severe Badly Poisoned state.
"Earth Power... again!"
Courtney was still unwilling to give up.
Mega Camerupt, its face turning a sickly purple as bubbles formed at its mouth, let out a muffled groan and fired another pillar of Ground energy at the earth. This time, Chansey didn't resist.
She allowed the shockwave to blast her backward—straight toward where Kashiwagi was running.
The ground moaned under the assault of the yellow light, but Kashiwagi, as if oblivious to the danger, lunged upward from the ground. He caught Chansey mid-air and tossed her toward the only remaining lava-free spot. "Stealth Rock!"
"Lucky!"
Chansey raised her hands, summoning a swarm of sharp, floating stones and her final task was done.
Kashiwagi promptly recalled her.
"Great job... leave the rest to the others!"
To ensure a switch isn't interrupted by Courtney or Mega Camerupt, the trainer actively closing the distance is the most effective method.
Given this, despite the inherent risk, he had moved in close.
Not far away.
Seeing Kashiwagi safely swap Chansey out, Courtney's heart was still racing.
It wasn't just the Chansey's Special Defense that bothered her; the trainer performance was also one of the reasons.
So obsessed with victory...
She raised a hand to hide a smile. People at the base often said her smiles were creepy, so she usually covered them up. But while she could hide her mouth, she couldn't hide the gleam in her eyes.
Kashiwagi felt a chill go down his spine. Does she have an ace up her sleeve? He didn't hesitate, sending out his closer: Mawile.
Pop!
"Mawile!"
Mawile landed and immediately frowned at the rivers of lava.
The field was a mess. Without Magnet Rise, she'd be forced to endure the heat. She quickly took to the air, hovering above the molten gravel.
"Eruption..."
Courtney stayed offensive. She knew the poison was ticking. Every second that passed drained Mega Camerupt's life force. Her Pokémon was on a countdown to fainted status.
"MOOO!"
Dizzy from the venom, Mega Camerupt roared and fired one last pillar of fire into the sky. A meteor shower of lava rained down.
Mawile, fresh and focused, danced through the carnage with pinpoint precision, closing the gap.
"Swords Dance!"
The sight of Mawile spinning gracefully amidst the falling fire was a masterpiece of "danger-beauty." Her attack power surged to terrifying levels.
Courtney sensed the end. Mega Camerupt was weakening. It would be one final clash.
"Sucker Punch!"
Kashiwagi gave the command. Mawile turned into a black blur, lunging at the volcano. Courtney locked eyes with her Pokémon.
"...Self-Destruct..."
KABOOM!!!
Mawile's fist connected with Mega Camerupt's jaw, but at the exact same moment, the volcano's body ignited with a blinding, incandescent white light.
The resulting shockwave sent rivers of lava flying in every direction. A massive mushroom cloud of soot and white smoke rose into the sky, blotting out the mountain. The explosion was so powerful it triggered a localized landslide, sending boulders tumbling down the slopes.
Kashiwagi didn't even have time to tell Mawile to defend. The air pressure alone sent him flying backward.
He had been too close!
As the mountain shook, wild Pokémon for miles around huddled in their burrows, trembling in fear at the nuclear-scale blast emanating from the summit.