The triple use of the move Surf was easily dissolved.
If it had only been one or two Pokémon facing them, perhaps it would have been difficult to withstand, but with so many Pokémon acting together in perfect coordination, the situation was no longer complicated.
Immediately, Blaziken moved into action.
Flames gathered in its fists; it launched a Fire Punch into the air, and streams of fire cut through the space. But just then, Sharpedo—suspended midair thanks to a jet of water—cast a cold gaze upon it and unleashed a massive torrent from its mouth.
The move Hydro Pump appeared midair, sweeping away the flames from Blaziken's attack and, with a thunderous crash of water, lunged toward him.
The power of Sharpedo's Hydro Pump was truly formidable, and for a Blaziken leaping in midair, it was even harder to dodge.
However, Blaziken's expression didn't waver in the slightest.
In that instant, thousands of strands of psychic energy shot forth, wrapping around Blaziken's body. At the same time, a huge boulder on the ground was lifted by Slowking, who held it effortlessly with a single hand thanks to his refined control. With a simple gesture, he switched Blaziken's position with that of the rock.
Boom!
The Hydro Pump struck the boulder, shattering it to dust. Droplets of water scattered as if a light rain had begun to fall.
The attack had ended—but the true battle was only just beginning.
Tyranitar roared, launching a rain of rocks in all directions, all aimed at the Sharpedo still suspended in the air.
A fish that could fly was even more troublesome than a bird.
However, just as the stones were about to strike, balls of ice collided with them. Walrein controlled icy spheres that intercepted the rocks one after another and even began to overpower them.
"GRAAAHHHH!"
Tyranitar wasn't alone. With Aggron's roar, even more fragments of rock joined the chaotic clash in the air.
While the attacks canceled each other out, Crawdaunt, with a cold stare, used the water pooled on the ground to channel water-type energy and launched a rapid charge toward Tyranitar.
But Slowking's eyes gleamed. Amid flashes of multicolored light, a long black psychic blade appeared in the air, formed by the fusion of psychic power and mental energy.
The blade came crashing down violently toward the charging Crawdaunt.
Suddenly, another jet of water fired by Sharpedo intercepted the blade midair.
Clang!
Boom!
The strike diverted the trajectory of the black blade, which crashed into the ground just ahead of Crawdaunt's path, forcing it to stop abruptly.
At that same moment, the ground trembled. Drapion burst from beneath the surface, its pincers and fangs crackling with electricity, striking Crawdaunt head-on before it could react.
The triple use of Thunder Fang took full effect—the current spread like an infection from Drapion's pincers into Crawdaunt's body.
The Sniper ability activated at that moment.
Was that the end of the attack?
No!
Two green spheres shot past Tyranitar and Aggron's line of sight, flying straight toward the Crawdaunt that Drapion had hurled away.
At the same time, just as the black psychic blade had been deflected, Slowking's psychic threads wrapped around Blaziken once again.
The muscles in Blaziken's legs tensed, and with an explosive leap, he reached tremendous speed. Empowered by Slowking's psychic energy, his velocity increased even further, turning him into a streak of red and yellow lightning.
Flames swirled around his legs, concentrating in the soles of his feet—Blaze Kick!
Shelly, witnessing that perfectly linked and seamless sequence, felt her expression change again and again.
Cain's ability to command a full-team battle far surpassed hers. He could coordinate eight Pokémon at once without losing composure, each attack connecting flawlessly with the next, forming a perfect chain.
Now Shelly understood: Cain's real target was the least conspicuous one—Crawdaunt!
High above, Sharpedo suddenly twisted around and dove to intercept Blaziken. With Walrein blocking Stone Edge, there was no danger of being struck from behind.
If Blaziken managed to hit Crawdaunt, Sharpedo was ready to counterattack and inflict devastating damage.
With its type advantage and higher level, Sharpedo was confident it could knock Blaziken out—or at least injure him severely.
Meanwhile, Crawdaunt, though wounded from the assault, still had high defense and could continue fighting.
Take one down first!
Blaziken, however, didn't stop. With every stride, the flames grew stronger, further boosting his power.
But Sharpedo didn't notice that while it charged toward Blaziken, a shadow had slipped into its own reflection on the wet ground.
Crawdaunt reacted by raising a brilliant green shield—Protect!
It was ready to block Blaze Kick.
But the tides of battle often turn in an instant.
Slowking's eyes flashed, and the psychic threads around Blaziken tightened abruptly.
In a blink, Blaziken swapped positions with Drapion on the ground.
Already prepared, Drapion once again charged electricity into its fangs and pincers—but this time, it was aimed straight at the oncoming Sharpedo.
Behind them, the corners of Cain's lips curved into a faint smile.
"You finally fell for it! I knew you'd focus on Blaziken's type disadvantage and use it as your turning point."
Shelly's face turned pale.
Only now did she realize she had walked straight into the trap.
The true target from the very beginning wasn't Crawdaunt... it was Sharpedo, the one with the weakest defense!
But it was already too late.
All she could do was try to salvage something from another direction.
Drapion's triple Thunder Fang struck brutally across Sharpedo's face.
The water conducted the electricity. Surrounded by jets, what should have been its advantage became its downfall.
A deafening thunderclap resounded.
Suddenly, enormous green vines burst from the ground—Florges' Grass Knot had already been waiting, ensnaring the paralyzed Sharpedo and yanking it violently out of the water streams.
The descent was swift and brutal.
On the ground, Blaziken was already waiting. This time, the flames had concentrated in its fists—a Fire Punch combined with Sky Uppercut!
An ascending strike and a descending one were about to collide in the middle of Sharpedo's fall.
Sharpedo struggled desperately, its sharp scales scraping against the vines as it tried to break free.
But right then, Gengar emerged from its shadow. Its dark body was cloaked in a golden electric glow, like a fusion of demon and deity.
The move Thunderbolt shot straight into Sharpedo's body.
Already impaired by the previous electric strikes, Sharpedo was now completely paralyzed by Gengar's discharge.
A faint scent of burnt fish filled the air. The sharp scales and rough skin of Sharpedo were charred instantly, turning completely black.
(End of chapter)