Chapter 265: Lost More Than Just the Match
Among the various sleep-inducing moves, Sing is the slowest to take effect.
Each sleep-inducing move has its own limitations: the Psychic-type Hypnosis and the Normal-type Yawn require the opponent to directly see the user's actions; the Grass-type Sleep Powder requires the enemy to inhale the powder; and Sing requires the opponent to listen for the duration of at least one song.
Also known as: Could you give me the time of one song to turn this sleepiness into forever?
Normally, this move has the lowest usage rate in arena battles.
A slow activation time is a major taboo in fast-paced competitive matches.
Yet at this moment, as Little Lapras sang her heart out, Froslass was utterly helpless.
She was out of moves. Not a single drop left…
The commentator was still fruitlessly repeating, "Incredible! This is just too incredible! It seems Arthur has created another miracle!"
In reality, Arthur suspected the commentators hadn't even fully grasped the situation.
Because everything had happened too fast!
This was the exact strategy they had planned before the match—
Use the unexpected trump card, Smart Strike, to throw the opponent off balance, then go all-in, applying immense pressure to end the match in a short amount of time!
"Applying pressure" didn't just mean taking down Ninetales. More importantly, in the process, they continuously forced Ivy and Bianca into dangerous situations, rapidly depleting their available move slots.
After Lapras revealed Smart Strike, the entire battle seemed to shift into quad-speed. Both sides began using their moves at a drastically accelerated pace!
All twenty-four move slots between the four Pokémon were used up in a very short time, a rare sight in professional competition.
The reason for this was all part of Arthur and Asher's pre-match plan!
Snow-based teams excel at wars of attrition.
Their exclusive move, Aurora Veil, provides excellent protection, and the snowfall itself deals continuous, passive cold damage. Although this damage was nullified in this match because they also fielded two Ice-types, the opponent's overall style remained unchanged.
Ivy and Bianca were very accustomed to slow-paced battles of repeated engagement and gradual exhaustion.
You could tell just from Froslass's choice of attack.
Its primary damage move was Draining Kiss—mediocre damage, but it healed the user.
Its core strategy was to play it safe and outlast the opponent.
So, Arthur's side had decided from the start that they couldn't get drawn into a drawn-out fight in the enemy's comfort zone. That would only lead to their own defeat.
They had to pull the opponent into their tempo, and then use their wealth of experience to win!
What looked like a reckless, headstrong charge with no escape plan was, in fact, the most meticulous tactical arrangement!
The final result was, naturally, a joyous one.
After all move slots were exhausted, Froslass fell asleep to the song before it could even re-establish the weather with Hail.
Despite being at nearly full health after the snow returned, and being fully confident she could take on Little Lapras one-on-one, it was all for naught.
Once you fall asleep, it's all over.
Little Lapras gently picked her up, placed her on her back, and then carefully glided to the edge of the field. She moved with exceptional stability and silence, as if afraid of disturbing Froslass's sweet dreams.
Behind the gentlest care was the most ruthless calculation.
Upon reaching the edge of the field, Little Lapras gently took her off her back, then charged up a massive Water Gun and blasted her straight out of the arena!
Froslass woke up the instant the Water Gun hit.
In the real world, sleep wasn't an inescapable state like in the games; getting hit would naturally wake you up.
But on the competitive stage, it was even more powerful than in its video game counterpart!
Because competitive matches have boundaries.
A ring out is an instant loss!
Previously, during the Everhart family's banquet, Arthur's opponent's Poliwrath had tried to use Submission to throw his Frogadier out of the ring to quickly end the match.
This was permitted under the rules of competitive battling.
Pushing an opposing Pokémon out of the arena had the same effect as knocking it out.
Poor Froslass simply closed its eyes, and when it opened them again, its match was already over.
Amidst the roar of the crowd, Froslass, just waking from its dream and almost completely unharmed, wore a look of utter confusion.
She felt like she was in good enough shape to take on two more Lapras! Unfortunately, the referee didn't give her the chance.
"Froslass is out of the arena! Will the trainer please recall their Pokémon. This match is now over. The winner is—the Sea Carp Team!"
Bianca sighed in vain and recalled the bewildered Froslass with her Poké Ball.
Outplayed by a single move. Her skills were just not on the same level.
Afterward, as they walked to the center of the field for the handshake, Bianca glared at Arthur with an adorably fierce expression.
"You dastardly schemer! Always playing these dirty tricks!"
Beside her, Ivy was, as always, as gentle as water.
"What a shame, we still lost to you. It seems this year's Best Rookie award can only belong to you."
Bianca's fierce pout, revealing her small canine teeth, was something Arthur found cute. But Ivy's gentle congratulations nearly sent a shiver down his spine.
For a fleeting moment, Arthur thought he saw nine fox tails unfurling like a peacock's fan behind Ivy, along with a pair of murderous eyes.
A classic case of pink-on-the-outside, black-on-the-inside!
After a short break, the second doubles match began.
During this time, Arthur brazenly went straight to the opposing team's lounge.
His match was over, so he didn't have to worry about leaking tactics or information. He also consciously stayed away from the Starlight and Frost players who were about to compete, simply finding a corner to sit in.
The main reason was to pick up his Little Eevee.
The little guy looked like he was having the time of his life and had forgotten all about going home.
When he arrived, Ivy's Vulpix had probably already heard the match result. Seeing Arthur approach, it jumped up and nudged him, looking very annoyed.
The Ninetales Ivy had used was, strictly speaking, this little Vulpix's great-aunt. Long-lived Pokémon have very low reproductive rates, so their generational gaps are small.
Seeing its great-aunt so badly injured, the Vulpix was very unhappy, and its gaze towards Arthur had turned sour.
Arthur didn't bother arguing with a half-grown fox cub.
He just asked as he picked up Little Eevee, "Ninetales lost. Are you very sad too?"
Fortunately, Little Eevee thought for a moment, let out a couple of yelps, and replied via telepathy.
"But Master won. I'm not sad. It's just that Vulpix is a little unhappy."
Hearing this, Arthur put the little guy down with satisfaction.
Good. His kid hadn't been completely stolen away yet.
Just then, Ivy and Bianca came over. Ivy picked up the little Vulpix, who was still glaring at Arthur, and teased him.
"What's wrong, Ace Trainer? Still hanging around after the match? Are you planning to defect to our team?"
"..."
Arthur was speechless.
She clearly knew his Eevee was here but still asked that question on purpose. She was obviously messing with him.
And yet, as she said it, Ivy's smile remained just as gentle, her confused expression looking completely genuine.
Pink-cut-black!
But considering he had just beaten them, Arthur decided to let it go.
"It's nothing. I just came to take this little guy back."
"Not staying a little longer? Your Eevee looks so reluctant to leave."
Ivy's smile was playful and knowing.
At that moment, watching Little Eevee's longing gaze towards Vulpix, she inexplicably felt like she had just won back a point.
The corner of Arthur's mouth twitched. This damn competitive spirit…
Helpless, he could only go along with Ivy's suggestion.
Just then, Little Eevee happily jumped out of Arthur's arms and joyfully ran back towards its white moonlight.
When the pouting Vulpix turned its head away, refusing to look at him, he even used a flash of movement to suddenly appear right in front of it.
In that instant, all three people present were stunned.
"Is that… Substitute?!"
Little Eevee's real body had teleported in front of Vulpix, while an identical fake body was left behind where he had been standing at Arthur's feet.
Without a doubt, this was the Normal-type move: Substitute!
In the time it took to play one match, this little guy had apparently learned another new move.
At that moment, the feeling of having won back a point that Ivy had just felt was instantly shattered into a million pieces…
She dimly realized that what she had lost was… more than just the match.
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 35 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you