Chapter 346:
The Grassy Terrain left by Serperior still lingered on the field, its residual effects active. But its influence wasn't limited to just Meowscarada; it also affected Lucario, who possessed Aura abilities.
The more complex the environment, the more advantageous it was for Pokémon with Aura power.
Because they had Aura, they could clearly perceive changes in their surroundings.
The moment the two Pokémon entered the grassy field, it was like two drops of water merging into the ocean, not creating a single ripple.
In a battle like this, if the trainers were on flat ground, they wouldn't be able to see any changes inside.
The League officials also wouldn't provide any supplementary measures for this.
Not being able to see was part of the test of the trainer's own grasp of the situation.
Only after reaching the top 32, if a trainer had a Flying-type or Psychic-type Pokémon, could they ride the Flying-type or have their Psychic-type Pokémon carry them into the air to better oversee the entire battle.
Of course, that Pokémon was not allowed to influence the battle in any way.
At this moment, only the spectators in the stands could see the faint traces of the two Pokémon moving through the grass.
On the other hand, the two trainers standing on the field could only hear the rustling sounds of movement.
The bespectacled young man took a deep breath. "Lucario, even though this place gives Meowscarada a boost. You can take advantage of the cover to make this your home turf!"
He didn't give Lucario any specific commands.
When you can't see the situation on the battlefield, not giving commands was the best command!
Issuing random orders could easily interfere with the Pokémon's own judgment.
*Rustle...*
The sound of grass brushing against bodies.
Within the grass, Lucario was rapidly closing in on Meowscarada with a bone held in its hand.
Lucario intend on using Bone Rush to land a blow in Meowscarada.
In contrast, after charging into the Grassy Terrain, Meowscarada instead stayed in place, crouching low in the grass, its fur standing on end, alert.
This move immediately stunned the spectators above.
After all, this Grassy Terrain was laid down by Serperior.
It wasn't as if a Grass-type Pokémon could perceive every disturbance in the grass just by being in it.
Especially not with grass this deep.
But what puzzled them was:
Why?
Why did Hayashi Kaede recall Serperior and send out Meowscarada instead?
Even if he sent it out, shouldn't he have dispelled the Grassy Terrain?
Wasn't he just creating an environmental advantage for Lucario?
The advantage this Grassy Terrain gave Meowscarada was completely overshadowed by the advantage it gave Lucario!
"Look, look! He even closed his eyes!"
Some were baffled, especially after Serperior's brilliant performance earlier.
This made most people focus their gaze on Hayashi Kaede.
And once they did, they immediately noticed:
The trainer who had just sent out Floragato had now actually closed his eyes, with no sign of opening them.
Who fights a match like this?
Even if you can't effectively command Meowscarada within this Grassy Terrain, you shouldn't just close your eyes and do nothing, right?
Shouldn't you at least be a little tense?
"He seems like a young trainer who achieved success early and thinks he's the best in the world." The fan who had previously defended Miss Sally, watching Hayashi Kaede's performance below, couldn't help but pat the seat in front of him lightly and comment.
The seat in front happened to be occupied by the spectator who had said Hayashi Kaede would win the championship.
Hearing the comment from behind, he remained silent and continued watching the match below.
He refused to believe that Little Kaede would stand idly by during his Pokémon's battle.
Just like when he picked up his Treecko back then—someone a Treecko immediately warmed up to upon meeting, how could they not love Pokémon?
As Lucario got closer and closer to Meowscarada,
Under the gaze of tens of thousands of people, Hayashi Kaede paid them no mind.
He was calm and composed.
At this moment, his attention was entirely focused on the battle.
Just like in the past, when he and Meowscarada faced the Pidgeot Sky Challenge together.
He had been in a similar state back then.
Only, back then, Meowscarada faced it alone, while this time, Hayashi Kaede channeled his Aura into the grass, sharing its perspective.
With the extended bone club, Lucario moving at high speed, constantly weaved through the grass near Meowscarada.
Large patches of grass around Meowscarada rustled noisily.
"Meowscarada!"
Meowscarada's body grew even more alert.
It knew the Lucario was nearby, deliberately disturbing the surrounding grass to confuse its sense of the exact position.
But it wasn't nervous.
Even though the opponent had rich battle experience,
It felt it wasn't lacking either. Those days spent on the Sky Challenge weren't for nothing.
Besides, it had Hayashi Kaede!
It trusted its trainer unconditionally because he had never lied to it and could accurately guess what it wanted.
"Watch the left, use Grass Knot!"
Almost the instant Hayashi Kaede's voice sounded both in its mind and in reality, Floragato placed its hands on the ground, exposing its back.
Simultaneously, Lucario burst from the grass, raising its bone club to strike Floragato.
But the next moment, a protruding grass knot, as if homing in, rose directly from the ground and entangled its foot.
"Lucario!?"
Along with Lucario's startled cry, the grass knot viciously slammed it onto the ground.
*Thud!*
Its body hit the ground with a heavy, dull sound.
"Now, use Flower Trick!"
After one hit landed, Hayashi Kaede unhesitatingly issued the next command.
Floragato's signature move—Flower Trick!
In the games Hayashi Kaede played, it was described as always hitting and always resulting in a critical hit.
But in reality, Flower Trick required preparation.
It required Floragato to perform certain hand movements.
And right now, the moment Grass Knot caused Lucario to fall was the perfect time for Floragato to prepare, wasn't it?
Floragato plucked a flower bud, held it in its hand, did something to it, and then swiftly threw it at Lucario.
The moment Lucario tried to jump up, the flower bud landed on it like an invisible bomb.
Looking at this seemingly ordinary flower bud, Lucario saw a blinding light at that moment.
Grassy Terrain!
Whether it was preparing the flower bud or the time until its explosion, both were greatly shortened under the boost from the Grassy Terrain Serperior left behind.
*Boom!*
Accompanied by a loud explosion,
The surrounding grass was blasted into shreds, which were then dispersed by the wind as energy.
And coincidentally, at that very moment, Serperior's Grassy Terrain also reached its end.
All the grass dissipated, revealing the current state within.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Lucario, although was resistant to Grass-type moves, had taken two Grass-type attacks, including one Flower Trick, and was already lying unconscious on the ground.