The Meowscarada's Substitute shattered, kicking up a massive cloud of vibrant green dust.
Infernape hadn't expected such a dirty trick, so it failed to hold its breath in time. By the time Erika called out that it was Sleep Powder, the ape had already inhaled a significant amount. The effect was instantaneous.
An overwhelming, suffocating drowsiness flooded Infernape's mind. Its eyelids felt like lead weights, dragging shut against its will. Every instinct in its body screamed at it to simply fall over and surrender to a beautiful, deep slumber.
It was exhausted—worse than if it had pulled a seventy-two-hour shift without rest. If it didn't sleep now, it felt like its heart might actually stop.
However, Infernape knew it couldn't succumb. In League matches, if a Pokémon fell asleep and couldn't wake up within ten minutes, it was a forced forfeit. No audience wanted to watch a Pokémon nap for a whole day. Even if it did wake up eventually, the opponent would have spent that time stacking buffs and field effects until the match was unwinnable.
Fortunately, Infernape belonged to a species known for its fierce combat spirit. Its sheer tenacity allowed it to barely resist the initial pull of the hypnosis. In reality, unlike the games, status moves weren't a guaranteed "off" switch; it was a battle of mental energy and raw willpower.
Infernape gritted its teeth, fighting the haze for several agonizing seconds. Finally, it made a brutal decision: it bit down hard on its own tongue. The sharp, piercing agony of the wound sent a jolt of adrenaline through its system, clearing its head and scattering the drowsiness.
"WU-AO!"
Infernape roared, forcing its inner power to erupt. A towering inferno swirled around its body, the intense heat incinerating every trace of the green powder in the air. It had finally escaped the trap.
"Heh! It looks like your cowardly tactics don't work on us! I'll see what other pathetic tricks you have left!" The Top Donor let out a breath of relief. Every competitive trainer loathed "status spam" players—it was a disgusting, toxic way to fight. He had genuinely worried his Infernape would be put into a permanent coma.
Luckily, monkey-type Pokémon were hyperactive by nature. They weren't that easy to put down. Now that the ambush had failed, the gap in their ranks would be impossible to bridge.
"What else do I have? Didn't you realize the game was already over?" Li Yuan let out a wide, lazy yawn, looking as though he was the one who had been hit by Sleep Powder.
"What do you me—" The Top Donor began to sneer, but he stopped mid-sentence.
He felt a sudden, terrifying pressure erupting from the corner of the arena. It was an aura far more violent than a Swords Dance—a raw, surging power that made his skin crawl.
He spun his head around and stared in horror. Huanhuan, who had vanished during the explosion, was standing in the shadows. Her body was now radiating a golden, high-pressure energy that physically vibrated the air. Her aura had already surpassed that of the Senior+ Infernape.
How... how is this possible? What did she do?
No move should be able to grant such a massive multiplier in a single go—except for one.
Belly Drum.
He realized he had heard the sound of a rhythmic thumping earlier, but he had been too focused on his Infernape to notice the "Grass Cat" hiding in the corner, beating its belly to maximize its physical potential.
Belly Drum—the legendary move that maximized an attacker's power to the 12th stage in an instant. Compared to that, a move like Swords Dance was a mere drop in the bucket. Even with the diminishing returns of energy saturation, a 12-stage boost was nothing short of godlike.
How could a Meowscarada even use such a move? Wasn't that reserved for high-fat Pokémon who could "burn their calories" for a burst of strength? How could a slender, elegant creature like her survive the physical toll?
The Donor's jaw practically hit the floor. He was paralyzed with shock.
Huanhuan didn't wait for him to recover. Her combo wasn't finished. After the Belly Drum, she stomped her foot on the ground. A crackling wave of electromagnetic energy surged from her paw, instantly coating the entire arena in a blue, humming glow.
Electric Terrain.
By setting the field, Huanhuan signaled her intent to shift into an Electric-type stance. She began to draw in the free-floating electrons from the terrain, concentrating them around her claws as she prepared for a lethal execution.
The Top Donor finally understood her routine. She was using Electric Terrain to speed up the charging process of Charge!
If she finished this sequence, not even three life bars would save his Infernape. A 12-stage physical boost + the 30% power increase from Electric Terrain + the doubling effect of a post-Charge Electric move... it was a stack of power that nothing below the Champion rank could hope to survive.
"Infernape, don't give her the chance! Stop her now!" The Donor screamed. He knew that even with the terrain, charging took time. This was their last window to break the chain.
"WU-AO!" Infernape understood the gravity of the situation. It ignored the pain in its tongue and lunged forward, preparing a Quick Attack to interrupt the cat.
However, just as it gathered its momentum, a violent surge of electricity erupted from inside its own muscles. The current fried its nerves, locking its joints and leaving it paralyzed on the spot.
"What the hell?!" The Donor gasped. His Infernape was a Senior+ powerhouse—how could it be paralyzed so easily? Electric Terrain provided a boost, but the ambient energy wasn't enough to induce paralysis in a high-level creature. When did it get hit?
"I see. He mixed Stun Spore in with the Sleep Powder. No wonder the dust had a pale yellow tint to it," Erika noted, her eyes narrowed as she watched the display.
She had to admit, her "brother" was a truly "dirty" player. Sleep Powder and Stun Spore at the same time? He was one move away from adding Toxic to the mix. Was there anyone more "efficiently toxic" than him?
"You shameless coward! Nothing but cheap tricks and status effects! Do you have the balls to face me in a real fight?!" The Top Donor was losing his mind. He had fought "toxic" players before, but never one who hid their status effects so subtly.
His Senior+ Infernape could end the match with one clean punch, but he was being denied the chance to even swing. It was the most frustrating, emasculating feeling in the world.
"Real fight? If you insist on the barbaric, 'head-to-head' style of a caveman, I guess I'll indulge you. It'd be a shame if you lost in the one area you're actually good at. People would laugh," Li Yuan said, spreading his hands as if he were making a massive concession to a pitiable child.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" The Donor screamed, his chest heaving with rage.
This bastard was too much!
You didn't want a fair fight when the match started! Now that you've finished charging and stacking your goddamn buffs, you want to tell me you'll 'indulge' me with a direct clash? Why don't you wait until I'm on my deathbed to offer me a fair duel?!
He wanted to tear Li Yuan apart limb from limb. He had never met someone so utterly, shamelessly arrogant.
But more importantly... what was with that cat? Why was her charging speed so fast? Infernape had only been paralyzed for a few seconds, yet she had already completed the Charge cycle. Even with the terrain's help, it shouldn't be possible.
Was this the "cheat" the Cheat Seller gave himself?
Where the hell is the referee? Is anyone going to do anything about this blatant hacking?!