When Ursaring and Espurr once again stepped onto the battlefield, both Pokémon couldn't help but think the same thing: "You again?"
This was already their third clash.
But sighing about it now was meaningless. Hakuya's rhythm-driven battle style made him switch Pokémon frequently, and his strict training meant his team had to stay sharp at all times, ready to fight the moment he called them out.
Espurr wasn't in great condition. She wasn't injured, but her stamina had dropped dangerously low.
As the opening vanguard, she had been fighting for a long stretch. Even though Luther had carefully controlled the frequency and variety of her moves, fatigue was steadily creeping in.
"Reflect."
Her slowed reactions made it necessary to set up defenses early. And since Reflect was a move she had already established before, calling on it again didn't eat through too much of her remaining energy.
Hakuya's lips curled into a faint smile as he raised his harmonica and began to play.
Luther's thoughts froze for a moment when he saw Ursaring suddenly charge, thundering straight across the battered field toward Espurr.
He had known that leveling the terrain earlier might give Hakuya certain advantages, but this headlong rush… what was the point of such a reckless gamble? With Reflect up, physical damage would be softened, and Ursaring's approach was so direct it almost looked careless. Wasn't he just turning himself into an easy target?
"Psyshock."
Luther decided to meet force with a move Espurr had already used many times, conserving her strength while punishing the reckless charge.
The Psyshock blasted into Ursaring, forcing him to halt with a grunt, his teeth clenched in pain.
Hunched forward, Ursaring braced one hand on his knee, glaring at Espurr with fiery eyes.
Espurr floated backward a few meters, refusing to relax. She could feel his wild presence pressing against her nerves, and she widened the distance just enough to stay safe.
"Psychic, keep the pressure up. Don't give him a chance to breathe."
Luther knew this was his opportunity. Ursaring's problem was obvious, stamina. He, too, had served as Hakuya's vanguard and had burned through far too much of his endurance.
In his earlier battles with Espurr, Ursaring had been forced on the defensive, enduring blow after blow from her agility and precision. No matter how durable his body, the damage had already piled up to a breaking point.
Now the battlefield was in its purest state: both Pokémon exhausted, both trainers unwilling to back down.
The fight had come down to nothing but sheer willpower.
Ursaring crossed his shadowy claws in front of his chest, forcing Espurr's Psychic to break apart against his guard. Even as another wave of psychic energy crashed into him, he gritted his teeth and fired off a Focus Blast.
"Espurr, dodge!"
Espurr had been expecting this. The moment Ursaring lifted his arm, her body had already begun to shift, instincts sharpening her timing. At the very last instant, she slipped free from the attack's lock-on, staggering but safe.
Now both Pokémon were left panting heavily, their breathing ragged.
Luther frowned. Psyshock, while subtle, could still be tracked from the direction Espurr faced. Psychic was even easier to predict. At this point, both of Espurr's primary weapons were effectively blocked.
His partner hovered weakly, sweat dripping as she struggled to steady herself. The image gnawed at Luther's heart, but hesitation now would mean defeat. He clenched his teeth and made his choice, he had to gamble.
Reflect would soften any blow. Ursaring's raw power was fearsome, but Espurr's agility and precision hadn't failed him yet.
"Close in, use Psyshock!"
Espurr didn't even glance back for reassurance. She abandoned her safe distance, darting forward into Ursaring's danger zone. Without pause, she summoned another Psyshock.
The strike landed cleanly, forcing Ursaring to stumble. Damage was piling up, just as Luther hoped. At this range, Ursaring's sluggish stamina couldn't keep up with her speed. Victory finally seemed within reach.
But then, A jarring note screeched from Hakuya's harmonica.
Unlike the desperate tones Luther had heard earlier, this sound was sharp, triumphant, as if Hakuya were already declaring victory.
Ursaring's eyes blazed. With a guttural roar, he dug his feet into the ground and suddenly hurled his massive body upward.
"So fast?!" Luther's thoughts reeled. "Even now, with his stamina nearly gone?"
At such close range, Espurr had no space to evade. Luther's only prayer was that Reflect would endure. But when Ursaring's claws connected, Reflect shattered like glass. Espurr was struck hard and sent crashing into the dirt.
For a heartbeat, silence hung over the battlefield.
Then, shivering with resolve, Espurr pushed herself upright. Her eyes glowed with sheer willpower as she cloaked herself in psychic energy, lifting once more into the air.
And in that instant, Luther finally understood the faint, knowing smiles Hakuya had shown throughout the match.
This wasn't just raw power. Hakuya had been weaving deception into every moment of battle.
Jumpluff had already shown that tactic, appearing weak, easing defenses, then striking at the perfect moment. Hakuya had taken that lesson, refined it, and delivered it flawlessly.
Brick Break.
The move that could shatter Reflect and Light Screen had been waiting all along. An ordinary move in anyone else's hands… but here, hidden until the decisive moment, it became Hakuya's blade.
By controlling the flow with his harmonica, by constantly warping Luther's expectations, Hakuya had crafted a rhythm that lulled him into false security.
And when the time was right, he broke the tune.
Brick Break wasn't just an attack. It was the final beat, the decisive note, the move that ended the battle.
Espurr gave Luther a remorseful look before her body gave out, dropping weakly from the air.
"It's my fault…" Luther murmured, catching her. "Hakuya read both my rhythm and my strategy. That's how it came to this."
Cradling the still-dizzy Espurr in his arms, he hurried off the battlefield and pressed a Berry drink to her lips. Espurr gulped it down eagerly, the faint color returning to her face.
Luther couldn't help but smile. With gentle hands, he rubbed the swollen bump on her head. Espurr winced, eyes narrowing from the sting.
"Hold on… just a little spray" Luther carefully applied medicine, smoothing it over the injury until her expression eased.
"Don't blame yourself," he whispered. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had even the slightest chance here. You pushed us this far."
He tilted his head toward the arena, a wry grin forming. "And look at that Ursaring, doesn't he look pathetic?"
Espurr's tired eyes followed his finger. On the opposite side of the field, Ursaring was drenched in sweat, his whole chest heaving with ragged breaths.
"I'm going to send him down next," Luther said, determination sharpening his voice.
Marill, who had just been happily chewing on a sandwich cookie, suddenly found himself scooped up by the tail and tossed onto the battlefield.
"Marill, this is your time. Take down Ursaring, and you'll get extra treats tonight."
At first, Marill puffed up her cheeks, wanting to shout back that she wasn't done with her cookie. But the moment "extra treats" reached her ears, her entire demeanor transformed. Her eyes lit up and fists clenched, and she spun around dramatically before facing Ursaring, shouting at him with all the bravado of a little warrior.
Both trainers blinked in confusion.
"What… is she saying?" Luther muttered.
Hakuya frowned, watching Ursaring's reaction. The bear's teeth clenched, his shoulders stiffened, and then, his whole body shook with rising fury.
It clicked instantly.
Marill wasn't actually attacking. She was taunting.
Luther rubbed his temple in disbelief. He certainly hadn't taught Marill that trick. His gaze slid suspiciously toward Jumpluff, who was munching on her Berry in the stands. Startled, Jumpluff froze mid-bite, then shook her head violently, wings flapping in frantic denial.
Luther sighed. He believed her, so had Marill somehow figured this out on his own?
Regardless of its origin, the effect was undeniable. Ursaring's anger flared hotter with every word from Marill's mouth.
Fueled by the promise of treats and her own mischievous pride, Marill straightened up confidently. Across from her, Ursaring's frustration and rage solidified into a single burning thought: beat this cheeky blue mouse into the ground.
(End of Chapter)
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