"Ariados, use Continuous String Shot!"
A stream of white silk burst from Ariados's mouth, spreading across the battlefield. The Murkrow weaving through the air was forced to twist and dodge as the sticky threads sliced across its path.
"Even though Flying-types restrain Bug-types, Ariados's String Shot is still troublesome," Lance—Ash through his three-tomoe Sharingan—observed calmly. "It's a physical technique, unrelated to typing. Once it sticks, Murkrow's wings won't be able to move."
Through the Sharingan's clarity, Ash could see the heavy adhesion of each thread. If even one strand landed, Murkrow's flight would be crippled.
"Murkrow, use Vacuum Blade to cut through the silk!"
"Kraa—!"
Murkrow beat its wings in sharp, irregular arcs. A crescent of blue wind energy—a self-created derivative of Air Slash—flashed from its wings and shredded every incoming thread.
"What move is that? Flying-types have something like this?" shouted Abi, Miwako's younger brother. Having grown up around Grass-types, he knew well how dangerous any Flying-type technique could be to Bug-types.
"It looks like a self-made technique… and a strong one," Miwako muttered. "But that alone won't beat my Ariados."
"Ariados, usual formation!"
Ariados shot two more lines—one from its mouth and one from its tail spike—attaching itself to a thick tree trunk. Then it swung rapidly between branches, moving in unpredictable patterns as if dancing through the forest canopy.
"Ash, Murkrow—use Wind Blade Enhancement!"
Although his Sharingan clearly tracked Ariados's footholds, Murkrow's current level wasn't high enough to react at Ash's speed.
"Kraa—!"
A gale wrapped around Murkrow's wings, forming razor-sharp blades of wind. Its speed immediately spiked—reaching a quasi-Elite tier burst—and the cutting force along its wings grew dangerously intense.
"As expected of a Champion-level trainer… even your elite-tier Pokémon can use such powerful custom moves."
Miwako narrowed her eyes at Murkrow, which was now diving at Ariados like a living arrow.
"Ariados, Venom Barrage!"
A spray of dark-purple venom shot from Ariados's stinger—far more corrosive than Poison Sting, and capable of causing severe toxic poisoning on contact.
"So you're trying to slow Murkrow down with poison? Too naive. Murkrow—Pursuit Dash!"
"Kraa!"
Murkrow vanished from sight, reappearing behind Ariados in a blur. Its sharp beak drove into Ariados's back, drawing a screech of pain.
Pursuit Dash—using sudden close-range explosive speed—was a technique Ash had drilled into Murkrow over only a few days.
With Ash's Mokuton vitality, Murkrow's training never had to fear injuries, allowing it to risk everything for fast growth.
Flying-type attacks naturally restrain Bug-types, and the hit would have dealt double damage.
If Murkrow were closer in level to Ariados, it might have finished it outright.
"Ariados—Scary Face!"
Wounded, Ariados spun sharply and unleashed a contorted, horrifying glare at Murkrow.
"Kra—!"
The level difference and Scary Face's intimidation forced Murkrow's body into a momentary stiff paralysis.
Ariados immediately disengaged, leaping out of Murkrow's attack range before it could recover.
"Ariados, use Confusion!"
A multicolored beam of psychic energy fired from the horn on Ariados's forehead, shooting straight toward Murkrow.
"Kraa—!"
Murkrow faltered midair for a moment as the psychic light struck its body, but with a sharp shake of its wings, the energy dispersed harmlessly. Only shallow marks remained on its feathers—nothing that hindered its movement.
"Useless," Ash said calmly.
"Murkrow is a Dark-type, completely immune to Psychic-type moves. Even with the level gap between Murkrow and your Ariados, Confusion's secondary effect—lowering Defense—only has a 10% activation chance. Even if it triggers, at best it leaves a bruise."
Ash's Sharingan tracked Murkrow's condition effortlessly.
"My Murkrow might be one major tier below your Ariados, so the activation rate rises by 5%, but even then it's only 15%. You won't land that reliably."
Miwako stiffened.
"Tch… I forgot Murkrow was Dark-type. Careless of me."
As a King-tier trainer, failing to recall a basic typing interaction was embarrassing, and her expression showed it.
"Murkrow, use Thousand-Winds Slash!"
Countless razor-thin blades of wind formed around Murkrow, then shot forward in a sweeping storm aimed at Ariados.
Though the technique was only classified as a C-rank custom move, its cumulative cutting power rivaled a solid B-rank attack when layered together.
"There are too many—! Ariados, behind the tree, now!"
Seeing the entire battlefield swallowed by spinning wind blades, Miwako's face finally twisted into alarm.