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Liam quickly rushed out and brought back the incapacitated Weavile. By now, Weavile had also regained consciousness. Seeing itself lying in Liam's arms, its expression instantly turned aggrieved, cheeks puffed up in frustration.
"Heh, don't be so reckless next time. Otherwise, you'll suffer even more. Just rest up for now."
Liam chuckled and spoke to the sulking Weavile, then returned it to its PokeBall.
"Not bad at all, Lance. That Ampharos is quite well-trained. But next, the Pokémon I'm sending out won't be so easy to handle!"
"Go, Arbok! It's your turn to battle!"
The PokeBall flew swiftly from Liam's hand, opening mid-air. A flash of light landed on the ground, and Arbok slowly raised its head, its body coiling and undulating. Its cold snake eyes locked onto Ampharos, while its crimson tongue flicked in and out.
"Liam sends out Arbok! Both Pokémon are ready! Let the battle begin!"
Seeing Arbok enter the field, the referee quickly raised the flag and shouted to both Liam and Lance.
"Ampharos! Use Cotton Spore again!"
As soon as the referee's voice fell, Lance called out to Ampharos.
"Draa!"
Responding to the command, Ampharos shook its body, sending a flurry of white Cotton Spores drifting toward Arbok.
"Arbok! Use Dragon Rage!'"
"Charbok!!"
The moment Liam gave the command, Arbok gathered energy in its mouth. A bluish-purple beam shaped like a dragon shot straight toward Ampharos. The approaching Cotton Spores were swept away by the turbulent wind of Dragon Rage.
"Dodge it, Ampharos! Then use Dragon Pulse!'"
Seeing the incoming Dragon Rage, Lance immediately ordered a counterattack.
"Draa!!"
Ampharos nimbly dodged the beam and retaliated with a similar-colored Dragon Pulse, launching it straight at Arbok.
"Evade, then close the gap! We're at a disadvantage with ranged attacks!"
Liam frowned slightly at the ranged move and quickly shouted to Arbok.
"Chaaa!"
Arbok twisted its body, evading the direct Dragon Pulse, then began slithering forward in a zigzag pattern, rapidly closing in on Ampharos for close combat.
"Ampharos! Don't let it get close! Create distance and use Power Gem!'"
As a Pokémon that excels in special attacks, it was clearly unwise for Ampharos to engage in melee. Having seen Arbok's previous matches, Lance knew full well the power of its close-range strikes. He quickly commanded Ampharos to create distance and continue using ranged moves.
"Draa!"
Ampharos swiftly turned and ran, trying to put distance between them. Its tiny hands gathered energy, forming glowing purple gems in the air that then shot toward Arbok as streaks of light.
"Arbok! Use Dark Pulse!'"
"Charbok!"
As the Power Gem projectiles flew toward it, Arbok opened its mouth mid-charge and unleashed a barrage of black energy rings.
The Dark Pulse collided with the Power Gem, creating a series of explosions in midair, and thick clouds of black smoke quickly spread across the battlefield.
"Ampharos! Now's your chance! Use Charge!'"
Seeing Arbok vanish into the dark smoke, Lance's expression grew tense. He immediately shouted to Ampharos.
"Draa!!"
Ampharos skidded to a halt and began charging electricity. Sparks danced across its body and returned to its core. Its golden-yellow fur puffed up even more, making its already sleek body swell. Its small eyes locked on the smoke, ready to strike the moment Arbok emerged.
"Now! Arbok, Wrap! Followed by a full-powered Ice Fang!'"
Just as Ampharos focused intently on the black smoke, electricity crackling around its body, Liam suddenly shouted.
"What?! No! Ampharos, below you—watch out!"
Lance realized the danger the moment Liam yelled. He frantically shouted to Ampharos.
"Draa?"
"Chaarbok!!"
But Lance's warning came too late. As he spoke, Arbok burst up from beneath the ground and, in the blink of an eye, coiled tightly around Ampharos. Its jaws opened wide, and its fangs shimmered with icy energy as it bit down hard!
"Ampharos! Cotton Guard! Then Discharge with everything you've got!"
Now that Ampharos was tightly bound, Lance had no choice but to gamble everything on this counter.
"Draa!!"
Despite the pain from the constriction, Ampharos suddenly opened its eyes wide. Its fur puffed up even more in a flash, forming a massive cotton ball. Arbok's Ice Fang chomped down hard, but the enlarged fluff absorbed most of the damage.
"Draa!!"
Then came Ampharos's full-powered Discharge. A burst of blinding golden light erupted, enveloping both Pokémon in an electric storm. Arbok let out a low hiss, its face twisted in pain.
Despite now having Dragon typing, giving it resistance to Electric-type moves, Ampharos's Discharge was still immensely powerful.
"Arbok! Toss Ampharos into the water!"
"Chaarbok!"
Still reeling from the electricity, Arbok let out a roar and thrashed its body, hurling the cotton-ball-like Ampharos through the air with a splash straight into the pool.
Even as it hit the water, Ampharos continued discharging electricity. In moments, the entire pool was covered in crackling currents. Bolts surged from the water's surface and dissipated into the air.
"Draa! Draa! Draa!"
"Ampharos! Get back to shore, quick!"
Seeing its Pokémon in the water, Lance shouted anxiously.
But soaked in water, Ampharos's previously fluffed fur now sagged and heavy, weighing it down and threatening to drag it underwater. Struggling, Ampharos flailed its short limbs helplessly in the water.
"Now, Arbok! Hyper Beam!'
Liam wasn't about to miss this golden opportunity to strike his opponent while they were down!
"Charbok!!!"
Arbok swiftly slithered to the pool's edge, opened its mouth wide, and began charging a golden beam of energy. Its serpentine eyes gleamed with mischief as it looked at the panicking Ampharos in the water. Then, with a low growl, it unleashed the Hyper Beam.
BOOM!!!
A tremendous explosion sent a towering column of water into the sky. A golden figure shot out from the blast and crashed onto the ground, twitching a few times before going still.
"Ampharos is unable to battle! Arbok wins!"
"Ampharos!!"
"Chaaa!!"
Arbok hissed with sinister glee as it looked down at the defeated Ampharos. Its tail twitched from side to side, the tip vibrating faster and faster.
"You did well, Ampharos. Come back now."
"Draaa…"
Lance recalled the drenched and unconscious Ampharos with a somber look. After a moment of thought, his expression turned serious. He took out another PokeBall and threw it confidently onto the field.
"Go, Dragonite! Turn this battle around!"
"Roooaaarrr!!"
As Lance's PokeBall burst open, a powerful golden Pokémon appeared—small wings on its back, a little horn on its head, and two long antennae.
Dragonite opened its mouth and let out a mighty roar toward the sky.