Just as Rando's [Trainer Move: Karate Chop] was about to strike the back of Sato's neck, a wave of goosebumps surged over him, and his body instinctively dodged to the side.
Whoosh༄
The chop missed!
Sato, having narrowly avoided it, immediately turned around; only then did he see the towering Rando, built like an Ursaring.
But even after missing the strike, Rando didn't even flinch. Without changing expression, he swung his fists and closed in again!
Because they were already close, and with Zoroark and Gengar still holding off Kangaskhan and Machamp, Rando reached Sato without resistance.
Left hook!
Straight punch!
Uppercut…
A violent barrage of fists rained down toward Sato. The surrounding Trainers who were still battling stared wide-eyed, thinking Sato might really be in trouble this time!
Half a minute later, the sound of Rando's punches slicing through the air continued… yet he hadn't even touched the corner of Sato's clothing.
In fact, the next moment, Sato -who had been dodging- suddenly charged forward. A powerful leg whip slammed into Rando's soft abdomen, forcefully knocking him back.
For a moment, both sides of the battlefield paused, and everyone had only one thought…
'A powerful Pokémon was already considered a sign of outstanding talent; but even his martial arts skills were this strong?'
How could the gap between people be this wide!?
That's what everyone thought, and even more so Rando, who had been fighting in close quarters. Feeling the throbbing pain in his gut, he was utterly stunned.
Tried to ambush him and got kicked instead… damn, that really hurt!
"DRAA!"
Just then, Drapion finally broke free from its opponents and ran back, furious and ready to strike at anyone who got close.
"Cross Poison."
Without hesitation, Sato ordered Drapion to attack Rando directly. This was no time to follow League regulations when fighting the Underground.
Rando had no choice but to retreat. At the same time, he sent out his third Pokémon, Golduck.
Golduck's body was extremely muscular, resembling its Trainer. When faced with Cross Poison, it used Fury Swipes to tear the attack apart with brute strength.
This was a Golduck that had clearly been built for physical combat, with all its stats maxed out in the wrong direction!
And its level was also far beyond Drapion's, which had just been on the verge of breaking through.
High Ace Golduck vs. Peak Elite Drapion?
Sato didn't hesitate!
He reached for the Poké Ball, ready to switch Drapion out.
"DRAAAAAAAP!"
But just then, Drapion suddenly let out a sky-shaking roar. Its aura surged, far more intense than its usual state…
Acupressure!
Sato's eyes lit up!
He immediately realized that Drapion had been using Acupressure repeatedly throughout the earlier battle against the grunts, greatly boosting all its stats. Maybe it could fight after all!
He glanced at Zoroark and Gengar beside him. Seeing that both were gradually gaining the upper hand, he decided to give Drapion a shot.
At that moment, Golduck charged in using Aqua Jet, and Sato no longer hesitated.
"Grab it, Thunder Fang."
"Dra!"
Drapion lowered its center of gravity and let Golduck slam straight into its chest. Enduring the pain, it swung its claws and caught Golduck mid-air, lifting it up.
Thunder Fang was executed through its pincers; bright yellow electricity surged across Golduck's body, making it howl in pain!
"Golduck, break free with Aqua Tail! Machamp and Kangaskhan, switch opponents!"
Rando's deep voice bellowed, and he didn't forget the two Pokémon that had been fighting since the beginning.
Zoroark was toying with Kangaskhan, while Gengar used its powerful Psychic talents to suppress Machamp.
…But hearing Rando's command to switch targets, Sato smiled.
"Zoroark, Illusion. Gengar, support with Hypnosis."
Previously, the battle had been two-on-two, with both sides keeping their distance, making coordination difficult. But now that they had switched opponents, they had to move closer.
Zoroark's Illusion tactics were much less threatening in the chaos of the battlefield, but paired with Gengar's Hypnosis, they worked perfectly.
With that side stabilized, Sato shifted more of his focus back to Drapion.
At this moment, Golduck had used Aqua Tail's recoil to break free from Drapion's pincers, but it didn't dare rush in again.
However, Golduck was clearly better in melee. Its Special Attack moves were quite average!
A sharp gleam flashed in Sato's eyes as he gave the next command: "Drapion, Acupressure!"
"Pion!"
Drapion shot a mocking glance at Golduck, then raised its tail claw and lightly poked a point on its own body.
In the next moment, Drapion's aura surged even further, causing both Rando and Golduck to frown.
Sato saw it clearly. This time, Drapion's stat boost was in Defense!
"Golduck, keep firing Water Pulse!"
"Golduck! Gold! Duck!"
Golduck followed orders, hurling a barrage of water "bullets" like they were free.
The blasts exploded around Drapion, and the roiling waves instantly obscured its vision.
"Drapion, prepare Night Slash."
"Dra!"
The next moment, Golduck used Aqua Jet and suddenly burst out from Drapion's right side, targeting its relatively vulnerable flank.
Drapion turned its head, and its right claw and tail claw instinctively swung to grab!
But Golduck had anticipated this… it used Aqua Jet to accelerate again, barely dodging the first grab.
Close range achieved!
In the next instant, Golduck transitioned Aqua Jet into Waterfall, crashing toward Drapion with a huge surge of water.
A shriek rang through the sky but was abruptly cut short. As the waves from Water Pulse fully receded, Golduck was once again caught in Drapion's claws!
Drapion's Sniper Ability had massively boosted its dynamic vision, and hunting with pincers was an instinct born into it.
So sure, you can hit me… but I'll definitely catch you too!
"Night Slash!"
"DRAAA!"
A flash of black light burst out; Drapion's tail claw struck like a lunging serpent, stabbing Golduck precisely in its soft belly. The Dark-type move's pain was so intense it nearly made Golduck's eyeballs pop out!
At the same time, Rando silently rubbed his own stomach… he could feel the pain too. Truly.
"Again, Poison Fang, Thunder Fang!"
"DRA!"
Poison Fang launched from the tail claw, Thunder Fang from the pincers. Drapion unleashed both moves at once, sending Golduck spiraling in agony.
Rando said nothing more. He knew clearly, Golduck was no longer a match.
For a Pokémon that grabs you the moment it closes in, you either needed enough speed to toy with it…
Or land a one-hit KO.
Unfortunately, Golduck could do neither.
What shocked Rando the most was this. Golduck's physical Attack wasn't any weaker than other Fighting-types at the same level, but it still couldn't hurt Drapion!
Too tough…