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A shimmering barrier of light materialized in front of Sceptile, successfully intercepting Heliolisk's powerful Electrify attack. The Detect move created an impenetrable shield that completely absorbed the electrical assault.
Wild currents of electricity crashed against Sceptile's protective barrier like waves against a seawall, but the luminous shield held firm. The barrier stood as an unbreakable wall, completely neutralizing the rampaging electrical energy that would have otherwise dealt devastating damage to the Grass-type Pokemon.
"Don't give it any breathing room! Heliolisk, use Electrify again!" Lee commanded with unwavering determination.
Despite seeing his first attack completely negated, Lee showed no signs of panic or frustration. His voice remained calm and controlled as he directed his Pokemon to continue the assault. This was the mark of an experienced trainer—the ability to maintain composure even when facing setbacks.
Lee understood his tactical situation clearly. When facing Jacob's Sceptile, his team composition put him at a severe disadvantage. He lacked Fire-type, Ice-type, Flying-type, Bug-type, or Poison-type Pokemon that could exploit Sceptile's natural weaknesses. Without access to super-effective moves, his options for dealing meaningful damage were extremely limited.
His only viable strategy was to launch an overwhelming offensive assault. By combining Heliolisk's Solar Power ability with the Electric Terrain's boosting effects, along with Same Type Attack Bonus from Heliolisk's Electric typing and the terrain's damage amplification, he hoped to break through Sceptile's defenses through sheer force.
Lee could not afford to give Sceptile any opportunity to recover or reposition. He needed to maintain constant pressure and capitalize on this moment of advantage. If he allowed Jacob's Pokemon any chance to establish control of the battle's pace, his chances of victory would diminish rapidly.
This was precisely why he ordered Heliolisk to use continuous Electrify attacks without any pause between them. Every second of hesitation could prove costly in a match of this caliber.
"Sceptile, use Grassy Terrain!" Jacob responded with lightning-quick tactical thinking.
Recognizing the danger of allowing Heliolisk to maintain its advantageous field conditions, Jacob immediately chose to have Sceptile activate its own terrain move. His strategy was elegant in its simplicity—by replacing Electric Terrain with Grassy Terrain, he would drastically reduce the damage output that Heliolisk could inflict on his Pokemon.
Without the doubled power from Electric Terrain enhancing Heliolisk's Electric-type moves, the threat level would decrease significantly. Additionally, Grassy Terrain would provide continuous healing for Sceptile while boosting the power of its own Grass-type attacks.
Vibrant Grass-type energy surged upward from beneath Sceptile's feet, spreading outward in expanding circles across the battlefield. The green energy systematically dissolved the existing Electric Terrain, replacing the crackling electrical field with a lush, verdant landscape. Small patches of grass sprouted from the arena floor as nature reclaimed the battlefield.
At precisely the same moment, Heliolisk's second Electrify attack erupted from its position, launching directly toward Sceptile with tremendous force. The timing was unfortunate for Lee—his attack was executing just as the terrain conditions changed.
The electrical current passed through Sceptile's body, causing the large Pokemon to shudder slightly from the impact. However, the damage inflicted was remarkably limited compared to what it could have been. Without the amplifying effects of Electric Terrain, Electrify's power was reduced to its base level. Combined with Sceptile's natural double resistance to Electric-type moves, the attack barely scratched the formidable Grass-type.
"An exceptionally intelligent tactical decision," Layne commented from the broadcast booth, his voice filled with professional admiration. "Jacob first used Detect to completely block Heliolisk's initial Electrify, then immediately followed up with Grassy Terrain to neutralize the Electric Terrain that was boosting Heliolisk's attacks."
Layne continued his analysis, clearly impressed by the strategic display. "By removing the Electric Terrain's power amplification, Heliolisk's damage output has been dramatically reduced. This is exactly the kind of battlefield control that separates elite trainers from casual competitors."
"Lee finds himself in serious trouble now," Layne observed, his commentary becoming more analytical. "From the very beginning of this tournament, we identified that Lee's team composition has a glaring weakness against Grass-type Pokemon. This represents what we call a 'blind spot' in team building—a type matchup that a trainer simply cannot handle effectively."
"The reality is that neither Heliolisk nor his remaining Swampert can serve as reliable counters to Jacob's Sceptile. Both Pokemon lack the super-effective moves necessary to quickly eliminate a Grass-type of this caliber."
"Of course, this situation also highlights just how exceptional Jacob's training has been," Layne added with genuine respect in his voice. "If this were an ordinary Grass-type Pokemon, even with double resistance to Electric moves, Heliolisk's boosted attacks would likely break through eventually. However, Jacob's Sceptile represents something truly extraordinary—one of the most powerful Overlord-class Pokemon I have ever witnessed in competitive battle."
"At the Overlord-class level, very few Pokemon can match this Sceptile in combat capability. The combination of its massive size with incredible speed creates what can only be described as a biological impossibility. It defies everything we understand about the relationship between body mass and agility."
Layne's commentary had taken on an almost reverent tone as he spoke about Jacob's signature Pokemon. His professional objectivity was clearly being tested by his admiration for the remarkable trainer and his equally remarkable team.
"Teacher Layne, commentators are supposed to maintain neutrality," Liliana said with an amused smile, gently teasing her broadcast partner. "We are professional commentators, after all."
"When I provide tactical analysis, I absolutely maintain a fair and objective perspective," Layne replied with a slight chuckle. "However, commentators are still human beings with personal preferences. It's completely natural for us to have favorite players and Pokemon that we find particularly impressive."
"Sceptile, use Leaf Blade!" Jacob commanded, his voice cutting through the arena's ambient noise.
Although Sceptile had absorbed a direct hit from Heliolisk's Electrify attack, the terrain change had shifted the battle's momentum decisively in Jacob's favor. The newly established Grassy Terrain began working immediately, emanating a soft, fluorescent green glow as Grass-type energy permeated the battlefield.
The terrain's effects were immediately apparent—gentle streams of healing energy flowed continuously into Sceptile, gradually mending the minor damage it had sustained. Simultaneously, the grass-covered field amplified the power of any Grass-type moves used within its boundaries, giving Sceptile a significant offensive advantage.
Sceptile fixed its gaze on Heliolisk with the cold, calculating stare of a seasoned warrior. Its eyes held no emotion—only the focused intensity of a predator that had identified its prey. Years of intense battles had forged this Pokemon into a living weapon, capable of maintaining perfect composure even in the heat of combat.
Upon hearing Jacob's command, Sceptile's powerful leg muscles tensed in preparation for explosive movement. Its massive thighs, each as thick as tree trunks, bulged with raw muscular power as the Pokemon gathered itself for a devastating charge.
With tremendous force, Sceptile launched itself forward like a living projectile. Despite its enormous 3.3-meter frame, the Pokemon moved with breathtaking speed that seemed to defy the laws of physics. The previous use of Agility had enhanced its already impressive velocity, creating a faint whistling sound as it cut through the air.
Grass-type energy erupted from Sceptile's wrists, condensing into razor-sharp blades of concentrated natural force. The Leaf Blades glowed with brilliant green light, their edges so perfectly formed they could slice through steel without resistance.
In what seemed like an impossible feat of speed, Sceptile had closed the substantial distance between itself and Heliolisk in mere seconds. The charge was so fast that spectators could barely track the Pokemon's movement across the battlefield.
The size difference between the two Pokemon was stark and intimidating. While both species were technically lizard-type Pokemon, Lee's Heliolisk stood only about 1.5 meters tall, making it appear almost child-like when compared to Jacob's towering Sceptile.
It should be noted that Heliolisk's size was not indicative of poor development or training. As a Pokemon specialized for special attacks rather than physical combat, a typical Heliolisk rarely exceeds one meter in height. Lee's specimen reaching 1.5 meters actually represented excellent growth and conditioning. However, when standing next to Jacob's abnormally large Sceptile, any Pokemon would appear diminutive.
"Heliolisk, use Thunderbolt!" Lee called out desperately, recognizing the immediate danger his Pokemon faced.
Heliolisk's distinctive neck frill began glowing with intense electrical energy, creating a display that resembled a miniature sun. Violent Electric-type power surged throughout its body, building rapidly toward a devastating discharge.
Fierce electrical currents erupted from Heliolisk's form, racing directly toward the approaching Sceptile with crackling intensity. The Thunderbolt attack was significantly more powerful than the previous Electrify, representing one of Heliolisk's most reliable offensive moves.
"Sceptile!" Sceptile's battle cry echoed across the arena as it faced the incoming electrical assault.
Rather than attempting to dodge or defend against Heliolisk's Thunderbolt, Sceptile made a shocking tactical decision. The massive Pokemon chose to absorb the full force of the electrical attack while continuing its relentless charge toward its opponent.
Sceptile's eyes showed no fear or hesitation as the Thunderbolt struck its body. The Pokemon's expression remained completely unchanged, displaying the kind of battle-hardened determination that only comes from countless victories in high-stakes combat.
"Heliolisk, dodge quickly!" Lee shouted, panic finally creeping into his voice.
Recognizing that its Thunderbolt had failed to stop Sceptile's advance, Heliolisk could not afford to remain stationary. The Electric-type Pokemon's legs became enveloped in crackling electrical energy as it prepared to execute an emergency evasion maneuver.
Heliolisk activated its unique ability to stimulate its leg muscles with electrical currents, temporarily unlocking speed potential that far exceeded its normal capabilities. This technique allowed the Pokemon to achieve burst movement that could rival even naturally fast Pokemon in short distances.
The seemingly inevitable Leaf Blade attack was narrowly avoided as Heliolisk vanished from its previous position in a blur of motion. The technique was so effective that even experienced trainers in the audience gasped in amazement.
Witnessing this unexpected turn of events, even Jacob felt genuine surprise. While he was aware that Heliolisk possessed the ability to enhance their speed through electrical muscle stimulation, he had not anticipated this particular specimen could achieve such remarkable velocity.
This display served as a valuable reminder that every Pokemon capable of reaching a tournament's top sixteen possessed unique capabilities that should never be underestimated. Lee's training methods had clearly maximized his Heliolisk's natural abilities in ways that weren't immediately apparent.
"Sceptile, pursue it! Don't give Heliolisk any chance to recover!" Jacob commanded, his tactical mind immediately adapting to this new information.
Although Heliolisk had demonstrated impressive burst speed, Jacob's experience told him that such techniques came with significant limitations. The ability to achieve instantaneous high velocity through electrical stimulation would inevitably have restrictions on duration and frequency of use.
Physical conditioning remained the fundamental basis for all Pokemon performance. Artificial enhancement methods like electrical stimulation would certainly produce negative side effects if overused. Jacob was confident that Heliolisk could not maintain this enhanced speed indefinitely.
"Sceptile!" Sceptile responded to its trainer's directive, immediately pivoting to pursue the fleeing Heliolisk.
Once again, Heliolisk triggered its emergency speed burst, successfully evading Sceptile's second Leaf Blade attempt. The Electric-type Pokemon's evasion was impressive, but Jacob carefully observed its condition after each use of the technique.
After dodging three consecutive Leaf Blade attacks, Jacob noticed subtle changes in Heliolisk's physical state. The Pokemon's legs had begun trembling slightly, and its breathing appeared more labored than before. These were clear indicators that the continuous speed bursts were extracting a significant toll on its stamina reserves.
Heliolisk was approaching its physical limits, and the technique's effectiveness was beginning to diminish. The Pokemon needed time to recover, but Jacob had no intention of providing such an opportunity.
Before Heliolisk could even attempt to catch its breath, Sceptile was already closing in for another attack. The relentless pressure gave Lee's Pokemon no chance to rest or recuperate from the strain of its evasive maneuvers.
The Leaf Blades on Sceptile's arms crossed in a scissor-like formation as it prepared for what would likely be the decisive strike. The blades swung downward toward Heliolisk with tremendous force, aiming to end the prolonged chase.
"Bang!" The sound of the impact echoed throughout the arena.
This time, Heliolisk's desperate speed burst failed completely. The Pokemon's exhausted muscles could no longer respond quickly enough to avoid Sceptile's attack. Instead of successfully evading, Heliolisk took the full force of Sceptile's crossed Leaf Blades directly across its chest.
The attack carved a distinctive X-shaped pattern into Heliolisk's body as it sent the Electric-type Pokemon flying backward through the air. Heliolisk crashed to the ground hard, clearly suffering severe injuries from the super-effective Grass-type assault.
Heliolisk represented a classic example of a high-speed special attacker archetype. While its Special Attack and Special Defense stats were quite respectable, its physical Attack and Defense stats were extremely poor—a trade-off that was immediately apparent from its slender build.
This specialization meant that Heliolisk was particularly vulnerable to physical attacks like Leaf Blade. The situation was further complicated by the continuous health drain from its Solar Power ability, which had been steadily weakening the Pokemon throughout the sunny battle conditions.
"Heliolisk, use Hyper Voice!" Lee commanded, his voice carrying a note of desperation mixed with determined resolve.
Lee understood that his chances of defeating Jacob in this match were extremely slim, but he refused to surrender without exhausting every possible option. His remaining strategy focused on dealing as much damage as possible to Sceptile, hoping to weaken it sufficiently for his final Pokemon, Swampert, to have a fighting chance.
Since Grass-type Pokemon naturally resisted Electric-type moves, Lee decided to switch to Normal-type attacks. Hyper Voice would bypass Sceptile's type-based resistances, potentially dealing more meaningful damage than continued Electric-type assaults.