In a dimly lit room.
"Crawdaunt, Dragon Dance! Sharpedo, stack your Speed Boost ability! Murkrow, use Tailwind to boost everyone! Sandile, use Hone Claws! Umbreon, stay close to me, be ready to protect!"
Sieg issued command after command to his Pokémon preparing for battle, emphasizing stat-boosting moves.
This wasn't some regulated match, this was real wilderness combat!
Therefore, Sieg had sufficient time to let his Pokémon apply various beneficial effects. Of course, he believed Kikuta wouldn't neglect this either.
Or rather, her Plus and Minus ability Pokémon had been enjoying amplification bonuses from the start.
Sieg made a gesture for his Pokémon to conceal themselves while carefully groping through the darkness. Right now, both trainers were like hunters stalking through a dark forest.
Who would strike first? Who would be discovered first?
Either could drastically influence the battle's outcome!
In the silent environment, every sound became exceptionally clear—breathing, footsteps, wind.
Fine beads of sweat formed on Sieg's forehead. A single droplet fell to the ground—the splash distinctly audible.
"Ampharos, Dragon Pulse! Manectric, use Discharge!"
"Magnezone, Electric Terrain!"
Following a crisp female voice, the dim arena instantly erupted with brilliant light.
The entire dark power plant illuminated in an instant!
Electrical arcs gradually permeated the air, forming a massive field. Electric Terrain further amplified Electric-type power.
Seeing Kikuta expose her position first to attack, Sieg immediately reacted. The hand crossbow launched instantly, poisoned bolts silently shooting forth.
"Hmph, cheap tricks!"
Kikuta's expression was utterly dismissive. She released another Pokémon to block the poisoned bolts.
Including the Pokémon shot dead at the stairwell earlier, Kikuta had now sacrificed two Pokémon to shield herself from attacks.
Watching her, Sieg understood these expendable Pokémon she felt no attachment to were likely wild Pokémon she'd captured, not her main team members.
Killing these Pokémon accomplished nothing.
After all, she never intended to command them in battle—they were purely consumables.
"Crawdaunt, Crunch!"
"Murkrow, use Gust!"
"Sharpedo, stack Speed Boost to the limit, then Crunch!"
"Sandile, use Rock Slide for support!"
"Umbreon, prepare to defend!"
Seeing the dragon-shaped purple light wave surging toward him, Sieg hastily responded.
Though Dragon Pulse wasn't Ampharos's STAB move and its power would be considerably weaker, Dragon-type moves were still Dragon-type, overwhelmingly powerful.
Crawdaunt opened its claws. Dark-type energy gathered.
It directly crushed the dragon head. After Dragon Dance's amplification boost, Crawdaunt's power had reached its peak.
Sharpedo darted left and right throughout the room. Its Speed Boost ability made its form impossible to track, only a fleeting blue shadow could be glimpsed.
"Use Magnet Bomb, target Sharpedo!"
(Fires steel bombs that home in on the opponent; attack never misses)
Kikuta reacted instantly, choosing Magnet Bomb specifically to counter Sharpedo. Though the magnetically controlled bombs locked onto Sharpedo—
No matter how fast it moved, the Magnet Bombs tracked it relentlessly like homing missiles.
"Bang~"
The attack finally connected. The magnet clung tightly to Sharpedo's body. With magnetic force controlling it, Sharpedo's Speed Boost ability was completely negated.
Fortunately, thanks to Tailwind's boost, Sharpedo's speed remained decent. It hastily disengaged and returned to Sieg's side.
"Interesting. Seems you're worth taking slightly seriously. Magnezone, use Magnetic Flux."
(Magnetic Flux: Manipulates magnetic fields to raise the Defense and Special Defense of Pokémon with Plus or Minus abilities)
Kikuta's Pokémon team composition had clearly formed a complete system. Not only did they coordinate flawlessly, but their core strategy was well-defined.
Magnezone's Magnetic Flux and Electric Terrain served as dual-core amplifications, combined with the original Plus and Minus ability bonuses.
At this moment, Ampharos and Manectric, under various enhancements, were not inferior to ordinary Elite-level Pokémon.
"Sandile, use Stomping Tantrum!"
Sieg didn't expect Sandile to deal effective damage, he only hoped its support would prove useful.
Facing the Ground-type Pokémon, a flash of disgust crossed Kikuta's eyes. She commanded coldly: "Magnezone, Magnet Rise."
(Magnet Rise: Uses electricity to generate magnetic force, levitating in the air; allows allied Pokémon to levitate for a period)
Manectric and Ampharos gradually floated into the air. The Ground-type Stomping Tantrum was directly negated, unable to hit the levitating Pokémon at all.
Sieg furrowed his brow again, looking at Kikuta with deep apprehension. He thought: "She's already solved the biggest weakness of type specialization?"
Teams specializing in a single type indeed made it very easy to coordinate cores and systematic strategies.
Just like Kikuta before him, three Pokémon have formed a cyclical system.
But this approach also had inherent disadvantages: specialized teams lacked versatility, struggled with multi-type defensive coverage, and were easily exploited.
Electric-type's greatest weakness was undoubtedly Ground, not only were they immune to Electric attacks, but Ground countered Electric.
Especially Magnezone, Electric/Steel typing meant quadruple weakness to Ground.
Yet now, Magnet Rise, allowing Pokémon to levitate, successfully avoided this massive vulnerability.
This was an unavoidable consideration for countless type-specialized teams, including Sieg. In the future, he'd need to plan counters for Bug, Fighting, and Fairy types that threatened Dark.
This was an inescapable reality for every trainer who chose type specialization.
By the looks of it, Kikuta had handled this exceptionally well.
"Crawdaunt, use Ice Beam! Murkrow, Hidden Power! Umbreon, Shadow Ball!"
Sieg issued commands again, directing a series of offensive strikes. Meanwhile, Sharpedo and Sandile remained by his side for defense.
"Ampharos, use Thunderbolt!"
"Manectric, use Spark!"
Though nominally three-on-two, Sieg constantly found himself at a disadvantage, not just because of the opponent's various amplifications.
The real issue was the overwhelming advantage of type matchups.
Water-type Crawdaunt and Flying-type Murkrow fought with hands tied, never daring to go all-out.
After all, Electric-type moves enhanced by various amplifications were no joke.
Plus and Minus abilities' inherent amplification, Electric Terrain's boost, type advantage stacking.
Not to mention whatever stat-boosting moves Kikuta might have used earlier, just like Sieg, having her Pokémon apply preliminary enhancements.
"This can't continue! Magnetic Flux dramatically raised both Pokémon's Special Defense and Defense. Even if attacks connect, they can barely deal damage—it's like trying to empty an ocean with a teaspoon!"
Sieg instantly realized he couldn't fight this way. He quickly recalled his Pokémon and fled down the spiral staircase toward the first floor.
Watching Sieg's retreating figure, Kikuta wasn't surprised at all. Instead, she began laughing softly, maniacally.
"Hehehe~~~ Run! Flee desperately! I'll let you cling to hope, that makes it so much more entertaining."
"After all, the moment hope shatters is when despair truly takes hold!"
The smile on Kikuta's face gradually twisted into madness.