"That's impressive."
Kiawe, who had been quietly watching the match from the sidelines, shirtless as usual, spoke up—something he rarely did during battles unless it truly warranted comment.
"Huh? Why do you say that?" Lilie looked up at him curiously. Could he really tell that much just from watching?
"The way Maki had her Whimsicott use Sunny Day… it was flawless," Kiawe said, eyes still fixed on the field. "Even from this distance, you can feel the heat radiating off it. If a Fire-type Pokémon were battling in that kind of environment, it could absolutely unleash its full power."
His gaze drifted toward a Charmeleon that had been cheering alongside Maki's other Pokémon. It reminded him of the one his grandfather had left him. He'd also been raising a Charmander of his own lately—though it wasn't quite strong yet.
Still, Kiawe was deeply familiar with the evolutionary line and its capabilities. He knew just how terrifying the Solar Power ability could be under a blazing sun.
It was from that understanding, and his well-earned battle experience, that he reached a clear conclusion: Maki's true potential couldn't be fully expressed in a one-on-one match.
"That's why, even though your theoretical knowledge is strong, you're still lacking in real battle experience, Lilie," said Sophocles matter-of-factly, casually munching on a bag of chips.
"If I put my mind to it, I can catch up fast!" Lilie shot back, a bit flustered.
"So you're still afraid to touch Pokémon, huh~" Lana chimed in from seemingly nowhere, taking a playful jab.
"Technically speaking, if I wanted to, I could touch Pokémon!!"
...
The effects of Tailwind were active on both Whimsicott and Tsareena. Tsareena immediately felt the shift—it was subtle but annoying. No matter where she moved, it felt like she was going against the wind. As if the entire world was working against her.
Meanwhile, with Tailwind boosting her, Whimsicott's speed skyrocketed. The powerful incoming attack completely missed.
"Growth!" Maki called out, not wasting the opportunity.
"Use Sweet Scent!" Mallow countered quickly.
She might act carefree most of the time, but Mallow was anything but reckless in battle. She already realized that, at this rate, Tsareena wouldn't even get close enough to land a hit.
Sweet Scent would lower the opponent's evasiveness—a necessary tactic under the circumstances. She didn't have much choice; Whimsicott could boost her stats as much as she liked otherwise.
But Maki wasn't done. He committed fully to his strategy and didn't issue any new orders. Whimsicott just kept spamming Growth.
Mallow had no idea just how dangerous Whimsicott's Prankster ability could be. She assumed Whimsicott had only used Growth once—but in truth, it had sneaked in a second activation.
The sweet scent from Tsareena spread out across the field. Whimsicott couldn't completely resist its effects, but by now, she had no reason to fear Tsareena's attacks.
"Whimsicott, fire away! Unlimited Firepower!!"
Buffs complete, Maki gave the green light with unwavering confidence.
"Whiii~!!"
Whimsicott let out an excited cheer. She was finally back in her favorite mode—Unlimited Firepower! Normally relegated to a support role, she was loving every second of being the main damage-dealer for once.
At first, Mallow and the others weren't sure what Maki meant by "Unlimited Firepower." But they were about to find out.
Tsareena, bolstered by the effects of Sweet Scent, closed in. This time, she didn't go for a kick. Instead, she used Zen Headbutt.
"Focus on the crown!" Maki reminded Whimsicott.
That decorative structure atop Tsareena's head—it was the most unique part of her body. Rumor had it that if it was touched, Tsareena would instantly lose all her strength.
The truth probably wasn't that dramatic, but it was undeniably her weakest point. And since Zen Headbutt required leading with the head, it was practically inviting the enemy to target it.
"Stop!" Mallow called out, alarmed. Tsareena was a rare Pokémon, native to Alola and seldom seen elsewhere. She assumed Maki wouldn't know about her crown's vulnerability.
But to her shock, Maki had not only noticed it—he'd made it his target. Her entire plan was collapsing.
Tsareena was forced to break off her attack and stop in her tracks—but it was too late. Whimsicott's barrage had already begun.
Tsareena pivoted with grace, pushing off from the ground to dodge and prep her next move.
But the moment she looked up—another beam of white light struck from the front.
BOOM! BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
The first hit connected, and Whimsicott didn't let up for a second. Without even setting up with Fairy Wind, she charged straight in, launching a relentless barrage of Tri-Attack that exploded across the field like firecrackers.
Even the spectators were stunned silent by the sheer ferocity of the assault.
"I think I finally get what 'Unlimited Firepower' means~" Lilie said, her expression one of wide-eyed disbelief.
After spending the last few days with Maki and Whimsicott, she'd pegged the Pokémon as mischievous and scatterbrained. Who would've thought she turned into a complete beast in battle?
Under such an overwhelming offensive, Mallow had no choice but to surrender.
"That was totally unfair~!" she pouted, returning her exhausted Tsareena.
"Hey, tactics are part of battling too," Professor Kukui said with a laugh, clearly amused.
"Ugh! This is all your fault, Professor—for insisting on practical training!" Mallow shot him an accusing glare.
"Eh? Isn't that, like, tradition?" Maki asked, genuinely puzzled.
Kukui: …
Mallow: …
"Alright, who's next to take on Maki? Let's not keep him waiting," Professor Kukui said as he walked over to the viewing area.
"I-I'm just gonna go cheer you all on from over there," Mallow laughed awkwardly and jogged away.
"Hey Lana, weren't you the one who said you'd battle first? Looks like it's your turn!" Mallow crept up behind Lana, ready to push her toward the battlefield.
If she'd known how badly this was going to go, she never would've volunteered first and taken the hit for Lana.
"N-Nope. I think I'll just watch a little longer…" Lana stood her ground, firm as a rooted tree, refusing to budge.
"Then I'll do it."
Kiawe stepped forward, a blazing determination lighting up his eyes.
-------
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my Patreon ——— patreon(.)com/PrimalDemon [remove the parentheses ( )]