Chapter 424: Each Gets What They Need
The first surprise Sand Attack, because Arthur had timed it perfectly, had really gotten into the Toxicroak's eyes, blinding it.
This directly caused its opponent's sure-fire Poison Jab to miss.
Little Eevee calmly turned away, then hopped a few steps back, once again creating distance.
Judging from this one exchange, the play was perfect.
But the host still had a strange expression. "Arthur's response is truly unexpected. But is it really necessary? Is it really worth it to occupy a move slot with Sand Attack?"
This was the thought of most of the audience at this moment.
Even if this surprise Sand Attack had caused the opponent's Poison Jab to miss, it was just a simple one-for-one trade. Was it really a big gain? It was okay, I guess.
The key is that the effect of Sand Attack is really too limited. The next time, if the opponent is prepared, it will be very difficult to get such a good effect again.
If the sand doesn't get in their eyes, then this move is really useless…
The Yankee player on the other side also couldn't figure out what Arthur was doing, but he naturally saw this as an opportunity!
"Pursue decisively, Toxicroak!"
"Little Eevee, use Misty Terrain!" Arthur commanded again.
In reality, as a basic skill, Sand Attack has a very fast cooldown. (Note 1) In a short time, while the Toxicroak was still on cooldown from its one move, Little Eevee had already used three skills.
However, besides the final Misty Terrain, the first two were just small moves with minimal effect.
In the eyes of many spectators, it seemed like a waste of move slots.
Of course, the final Misty Terrain was definitely useful. The energy that lingered on the field after it was activated would indiscriminately cure the status conditions of any Pokémon within it. This directly nullified the effect of the opposing Toxicroak's Poison Touch ability.
Because the misty energy would cure the poison status.
But the host was still confused. "Arthur has already used his third move, but is he still not planning to attack?"
Half of his move slots were gone, but Arthur still hadn't used a single attacking move.
Everyone was a bit confused.
Is this the same Arthur who was known for his close-combat, all-out assaults?
Then, the Toxicroak attacked again, still using Poison Jab!
Even if it couldn't inflict the poison status, the Poison-type move itself was still super-effective against Fairy.
So, Arthur used his old method.
"Re-evolve!"
Little Eevee instantly reverted to its initial form, then transformed into a Glaceon.
This way, the weakness to Poison was gone, and Poison Jab was no longer so terrifying.
He then spat a mouthful of Icy Wind at his opponent, slowing the Toxicroak, and then created distance again.
"His fourth move slot! Icy Wind is still a more utility-focused move with limited damage. Is Arthur really not planning to attack?"
At this point, the host seemed even more anxious than the players on the field.
In this round, Arthur had completely changed. He had become so different that even the fans who considered themselves most familiar with him were starting to feel confused and estranged.
Are you a fake Arthur?
The live stream chat had already started a cheerful spam.
"Arthur, if you've been possessed, blink twice."
"A substitute! I'm reporting a substitute!"
However, Arthur didn't care about the chatter from the outside. He was still proceeding according to his own plan.
"Use Baby-Doll Eyes one more time, then get ready!"
Even a Glaceon can use Baby-Doll Eyes; it doesn't have to re-evolve.
And this time, his opponent, facing an Ice-type Little Eevee, switched to a Fighting-type move.
"Toxicroak, use Brick Break!"
Arthur held his breath and waited until the last moment.
"Now! Sand Attack!"
Sand Attack!
Sand Attack again!
Arthur once again brought out this basic skill. Through exquisite timing, Little Eevee once again successfully threw sand into the Toxicroak's eyes, blinding its opponent and causing its attack to miss!
A basic skill had once again done the trick!
At this moment, the opposing Yankee player's expression was as if he had just swallowed a fly.
If he had been countered by a higher-level skill, or if he had lost an exchange, he could at least save some face. Losing to Arthur wasn't really a disgrace.
But to have his attacks repeatedly neutralized by a Sand Attack that a Pidgey from your front yard would know… that's just embarrassing…
At this moment, he even began to suspect that Arthur was doing it on purpose.
Only among the other All-Star players who had been invited backstage, some were gradually starting to see what was happening.
The Blaze Team's Simon was the first to guess, "That kid Arthur… he wouldn't be using his opponent as a sparring partner to practice the accuracy of his Sand Attack, would he?"
Only a team with a quirky way of thinking like the Blaze Team could keep up with such a ridiculous line of thought.
But even within the Blaze Team, there were normal people. Rosaline was the first to ask, "But is a move like Sand Attack really useful on the professional stage? What's the point of practicing something like that?"
Simon shrugged. "How should I know? I think that kid Arthur is a weirdo too. Who can guess his thoughts?"
Rosaline squinted at her teammate.
That "too" you used was truly exquisite.
So you're that self-aware of your own position.
And at this moment, Arthur, on the field, had already used Sand Attack for the third time.
This time, no matter how precisely he timed it, his opponent had already put in his utmost effort to be prepared. The Sand Attack, regrettably, did not get into the Toxicroak's eyes, and the move was thus wasted.
Little Eevee was hit by a free chop from the Toxicroak because of it.
But Arthur still seemed completely unconcerned.
Simon's guess was not wrong at all. Arthur was indeed using this challenger for practice.
He didn't care about the win or loss of a mere All-Star challenge match. Since his opponent had been so pragmatic from the start, trying to use words to trap him and make a name for himself, then Arthur would just grant him his wish. He would give him a small victory in one round, and use it to practice his own reactions.
This was called each getting what they need.
But in the end, it was still the Yankee player who was suffering.
Because soon, even the ordinary spectators, whose eyes were not as sharp as the professional players', gradually got a taste of what was happening.
"Is Arthur using his opponent for practice?"
This immediately caused some arguments in the chat. Some people didn't like this approach from Arthur, while others felt that Arthur was already showing a lot of face by not using his ace Pokémon.
Both sides had their own arguments, and for a time, the live stream chat was in a heated debate.
As for the Yankee player on the stage, he was really suffering.
As Arthur continued to practice the timing of his Sand Attack, the success rate of the move was actually starting to rise again!
He was frustrated to find that even after using all his calculations, believing the rumors that "Arthur is easy to fool," and using the lame excuse of "not bringing an item," and even lowering his own stance from the start…
In the end, he was still being outplayed.
And he was being outplayed by the most basic of moves, Sand Attack!
As time went on, the Toxicroak was actually on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion!
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