Sticky Web, typically used as a trap to reduce the opponent's speed upon entry, had been developed into a defensive move by Ariados.
Unlike regular silk, Sticky Web was composed of a semi-liquid, semi-solid white mucus. It had extremely high resistance to blunt force, and due to its powerful adhesive properties, it was also hard to cut through with sharp objects.
In terms of special defense, unless it was a Fire-type move, it was difficult to clear quickly. It even held up well against Electric-types.
Raichu's Special Attack was formidable, its yellow lightning covering nearly half the field. Ariados's silhouette had long been engulfed in the electric light.
But Volkner noticed that Sato showed no sign of worry. A sense of unease crept into his heart, but it was too late to have Raichu react otherwise.
At the exact moment Raichu let its guard down, Sato's lips moved slightly, issuing a rapid new command.
"Ariados, Cross Poison."
As the lightning faded, Ariados emerged from it, rushing toward Raichu with crossed claws raised high…
Then slashed down!
"Protect!"
Buzz~
Raichu was enveloped in a protective energy shield. Cross Poison struck it without effect.
At this level of battle between Sato and Volkner, moves like Protect and Substitute were practically essentials.
Sato wasn't surprised, and the moment the first hit failed, Ariados opened its mouth and sprayed Toxic Thread, directly wrapping the protective shield and Raichu together.
"Raichu, Thunder, break free!"
"Ariados, consecutive Venoshock."
Within the semi-spherical Toxic Thread cocoon, yellow light flickered as Raichu clearly attempted to force its way out with brute power.
But Ariados was equally quick to act, unleashing Venoshock against the Toxic Thread.
Then, to everyone's shock, the Toxic Thread instantly melted and fused into the Venoshock upon contact.
The Venoshock, now infused with the toxins of the web, pierced right through Raichu's Thunder and blasted into its body.
Splat~
"RAI… CHUUU!" Raichu screamed and was sent flying.
Thunder was forcibly interrupted, and the toxin-enhanced Venoshock was even more terrifying than Thunder itself. At the same time, the toxic field activated.
Raichu was poisoned.
"Keep up the Venoshock."
In "poisoned" status, Venoshock's power doubled and its accuracy was extremely high. Raichu began to dodge frantically, but the toxins were spreading all around, shrinking its space of movement.
As it became cornered, Volkner issued a new command without hesitation.
"Raichu, Wild Charge!"
Clearly, Raichu was going all out for a final hit!
Seeing this, Sato showed no fear and immediately had Ariados use Megahorn.
Wild Charge vs. Megahorn!
In terms of attack power, Raichu and Ariados were about evenly matched. But Raichu was still poisoned, and Ariados had the Sniper ability.
Even in a direct clash, Ariados could find the opponent's weak point and strike first.
BOOOOM
The collision triggered an explosion. Raichu was blasted backward, and Ariados slid out of the smoke from the impact.
"Raichu has lost the ability to battle. Ariados wins!" the referee announced decisively. Sato took the first round.
From the stands, Joseph and Mark exchanged glances, clearly seeing the excitement in each other's eyes. Sato had taken the first win in an away match, and his momentum was soaring.
Across from them, Volkner silently recalled Raichu. A trace of seriousness flashed in his eyes, but when he tossed out the second Poké Ball, it was done without hesitation.
"Magne~"
A steel-gray Pokémon floated into the battlefield, it was clearly the Steel/Electric-type Magnezone, a hard counter to Ariados!
Poison-types were notorious for being tricky, but against Steel-types, they were completely suppressed.
Also, Ariados's Toxic Spikes setup had now become useless.
Fortunately, Sticky Web was still active, and Magnezone's Speed was reduced by one stage upon entry.
"Battle resumes!" As soon as both Pokémon were on the field, the referee promptly announced it, giving Sato almost no time to come up with a counter-strategy.
"Magnezone, Magnet Bomb!" Volkner's command came quickly, keeping a fast pace.
Magnet Bomb: a move that launched homing steel explosives at the opponent, extremely hard to dodge.
"Ariados, Baton Pass."
A flash of red light marked Ariados's return to its Poké Ball, and at the same time, Sato sent out another Pokémon.
"Flamethrower."
Thanks to Baton Pass, the switch between Ariados and Houndoom happened swiftly, and Houndoom was already preparing Flamethrower during its appearance.
Flamethrower met Magnet Bomb head-on, triggering a series of continuous explosions, smoke and dust rolling across the field.
"Keep up the Flamethrower!"
"Magnezone, Light Screen!"
Realizing that Houndoom's Special Attack was too powerful -and that Magnezone couldn't keep up in speed- Volkner chose to take a hit in order to raise Light Screen.
Light Screen halves the damage taken from Special Attacks. A very strong defensive move.
"Use Nasty Plot."
'If you defend, I'll boost!'
Sato didn't rush his Pokémon in recklessly. Instead, he adapted to the situation and began powering up.
"Lock-On."
The next second, Volkner gave another command, and Sato's brow furrowed; he instantly knew this wasn't simple.
Sure enough, the red crosshair symbol slammed onto Houndoom at lightning speed, and Magnezone began charging its ultimate Electric-type move…
Zap Cannon!
Normally low in accuracy, but with Lock-On, it becomes pinpoint-accurate and highly threatening.
"Zap Cannon… fire!"
"Focus Blast."
"No way! How can Houndoom use Focus Blast?!" Volkner frowned and shook his head, rejecting the idea as soon as Sato spoke.
But in the next moment, Houndoom gave a sharp twist of its head and launched a pale Focus Blast straight at the incoming Zap Cannon!
The immense energy of both Zap Cannon and Focus Blast clashed; this was the third massive explosion since the battle began…
This time, both "Houndoom" and Magnezone were caught in the blast. "Houndoom", who acted second, took the brunt of the energy wave.
Then, to everyone's shock, Houndoom vanished on the spot, replaced by a black-bodied, red-maned Pokémon…
Zoroark!
Its Illusion ability had worn off!
"Zoroark, chain Focus Blast." Sato had no intention of hiding it now, pressing forward aggressively.
With the boost from Nasty Plot, Focus Blast's power was no weaker than Zap Cannon, and much easier to control.
Volkner's expression grew increasingly serious. Sato was proving far more troublesome than he had anticipated. Many of his strategies had already been seen through.
And once Sato found an opening, his counterattack was fierce… Raichu had lost that way.
Now, Magnezone was falling into the same trap, being pulled into Zoroark's rhythm.
One slip, and it would be struck by Focus Blast, leaving Zap Cannon as its only option to fire back.
But constant defense always breaks eventually…