Is it actively forcing them to exchange Pokémon first? Restricting a threatening opponent?
Young man, your strategy is completely different from before!
Did you prepare for this deliberately?
Alright.
You won.
"Come back! This is my fault, don't worry about it."
Baimu took out the Pokeball to recall the sleepy Altered-color Gengar, who might fall asleep at any moment. Once inside the ball, it immediately perked up.
It sat down in frustration.
To be pulled out and then sent back so quickly, how embarrassing!
The commentator shouted again, "Contestant Baimu has decided to exchange his Pokémon! What kind of Pokémon will he choose to counter Komala!?"
After Gengar left the field, Black Gaze no longer restricted Komala from leaving.
Elma picked up the Pokeball simultaneously as Baimu, seemingly ready to base his decision on Baimu's choice of Pokémon exchange.
Turning passive into active?
To be cautious to this extent, what a troublesome guy!
Baimu was used to trainers who rush headlong, unaccustomed to opponents like Elma who are intent on gaining an advantage through other means.
He tossed the Pokeball in his hand, "It's your turn!"
Bam!
"Miloo~"
The Altered-color Milotic took the stage, its golden scales radiating a dazzling colorful sheen in the sunlight.
The intensity of the arena visibly increased with its appearance; although many trainers and spectators are indifferent to the Gorgeous Competition, they do favor beautiful-looking Pokémon.
On the big screen, Milotic's icon lit up.
Upon seeing this, Elma gave up the exchange, beaming as he commanded.
"Wood Hammer!"
"..."
Komala suddenly leapt up, the slick ice surface unable to limit its movement.
I saw it raise an illuminating green wooden stake above its head and slam it down fiercely at the Altered-color Milotic!
Baimu waved his hand, "Block it! Coiling!"
"Miloo~"
Milotic's tail swung, its body curling into a ball, the brilliant tail fin blooming like petals, actively meeting the charging Komala!
Bang!
Thick smoke dispersed with the explosion.
Komala emerged from the smoke with agile somersaults, hard to imagine this Pokémon is perpetually asleep—its reactions are swifter than those of awake Pokémon.
The next second.
Milotic swept away the smoke with its fan-like tail fin, revealing its still radiant golden scales.
"Miloo~"
"Wood Hammer had no effect! Milotic's Coiling defense is astonishing! There's no doubt it's a Pokémon combining power and beauty!"
The commentator's tone was invigorated; it's clear he particularly fancied the Altered-color Milotic.
Elma's smile slightly waned.
He, as a trainer, knew all too well the force of Komala's Wood Hammer—although it hit only the tail fin part, it certainly struck the Altered-color Milotic.
No reaction?
He dared not hesitate, his thoughts swiftly arranging a new strategy: "Rapid Return!"
"Scald!"
Baimu deliberately slowed down the command, confident that months of training the Attack in Place of Defense technique allowed him to remain advantageous even when attacking second.
Just right to counter Elma's drastically different approach.
Komala's wooden stake hit the ice surface with a loud bang, and its petite body transformed into a green stream, shooting toward the Altered-color Milotic.
The latter raised its long neck high, spraying a blue column of steamy water at the incoming Komala!
The scalding water drenched Komala, its sleepful demeanor suddenly becoming pained.
Yet, it still crashed into Milotic's chin, rapidly converting into red light flying to Elma's held Pokeball.
"Well done!"
The pink-haired boy smiled gently, with another Pokeball in his hand already thrown out.
Bam!
"Swift exchange! Contestant Elma's decision was remarkably quick; does he already have a strategy against the Altered-color Milotic?"
As the commentator shouted, a lizard with a black-collar-like neck umbrella fell into the arena.
Unlike the deliberately quirky Altered-color Gengar, this guy genuinely stumbled a few steps on the ice surface.
Heliolisk, Electric-type Pokémon, Electric plus General Attribute.
Likely a Pokémon Elma captured while studying in the Carlos Region, its data shows its Trait is [Dry Skin].
Meaning when attacked by Water Attribute Techniques it won't be harmed, rather it regains some stamina.
A Pokémon specifically used by Elma to target Milotic.
Baimu's expression remained unchanged.
"Mysterious Guardian!"
Milotic raised its head, emitting a melodious hum like a chant. A pale green light descended from the sky, gradually enveloping its entire body, forming an illusory spherical shield of light.
Elma, unsurprised, ordered, "Hundred Thousand Volts!"
"Urza!"
Heliolisk opened its sunflower-like neck frill, its whole body flickering with bright yellow currents. Amidst intense crackling sounds, a thick lightning bolt shot towards Milotic!
The biggest advantage of Electric Techniques is the rapid speed of their release, as well as the speed at which they hit the opponent.
In the absence of any sign of evasion from Milotic, the lightning that traversed most of the field unsurprisingly struck the latter.
Zzz—
The deafening sound of the current repeatedly resounded, but Elma took no chances.
"Mirror Reflection!"
Just as he anticipated, Milotic's exterior suddenly began to glow with a rainbow-colored aura at some unnoticed moment.
The powerful current of Hundred Thousand Volts was completely absorbed by this aura, transforming into an even thicker bolt of lightning charging towards Heliolisk!
"Quick, dodge!" Elma swiftly commanded.
Heliolisk almost synchronized its movement with the command, dodging to the side. Electric currents flickered on its two large legs, indicating the current's stimulation of its muscles, granting it extraordinary explosive power.
However, the ice field greatly impacted Heliolisk, and despite its efforts to dodge, it unfortunately slipped.
Pa!
Off balance, it fell, and the returning thick lightning seemed to have eyes, accurately striking it as it lay on the ground!
Bang!
Currents and smoke both shot up!
The commentator shouted, "Heliolisk lost its balance! It failed to evade the Mirror Reflection attack!"
Elma looked across at Baimu with a face full of admiration.
He naturally understood that Heliolisk hadn't fully adapted to moving on the ice, but there was no room for error in battle, and he was forced to gamble on Heliolisk being able to stand firm.
But Baimu clearly gambled on it not being able to stand firm, so Milotic's attack was directed lower.
From the result, he lost the gamble.
However, Elma believed Heliolisk hadn't yet fallen; he shouted loudly, "Heliolisk! Jump onto the ice rock and use Parabolic Charge!"
"Urza!"
Amidst the smoke, Heliolisk quickly jumped and landed on an ice rock, its black neck frill opened to its maximum, and currents surged across its body as a flickering Electric Ball formed amidst countless currents, flying into the sky.
In an instant.
A terrifying thunderstorm expanded outward with the lightning ball as the center, hitting Milotic without any suspense.
Zzz—
Compared to Hundred Thousand Volts, the current from Parabolic Charge didn't have such a pronounced pain effect but left Milotic in a rigid stance for a long time, its face showing signs of paralysis.
Heliolisk's entire body shone with a vibrant green light, the damage brought by Mirror Reflection being somewhat offset by the recovery effect of the technique.
But at this moment, Milotic's surface once again lit up with a colorful aura, and all the damage it had endured transformed into boiling energy, which at the moment Parabolic Charge ended, it directed back towards Heliolisk!
"Mirror Reflection."
"Dodge!"
Elma relentlessly repeated the same command.
Heliolisk jumped off the ice rock, not expecting that the moment it leapt, the energy lightning from Mirror Reflection would strike once more.
"Urza!?"
It fell incredulously from the mid-air smoke, and Elma was equally taken aback.
Why was it so accurate?
Of course, it was Coiling's accuracy-enhancing effect!
Baimu quickly ordered, "Charge forward and Self-Rebirth!"
"Milo!"
Milotic swam forward, and the ice beneath it wasn't a hindrance—in fact, it was a help, granting it an unexpected speed boost.
Its surface resonated with an emerald green glow, and the damage from the current was swiftly restored.
Elma hurriedly shouted, "Use Thunder!"
At such a close distance, using Thunder would undoubtedly hit, and it could paralyze Milotic, interrupting its Self-Rebirth.
Unfortunately, Heliolisk's reaction had slowed due to its injuries, and by the time its body began to flash with currents, Milotic was already in front of it.
Simultaneously, Self-Rebirth had already ended.
"Milo~"
"Dragon Tail!"
Baimu swung his hand forward, and Milotic's action of swinging its emerald green long tail down towards Heliolisk mirrored his perfectly.
Bang!
Crash!
Heliolisk's back harshly struck an ice rock, causing it to shatter into debris!