What does it feel like to defeat Lance's sister right in front of him?
Today, Natsuhiko will show you.
As Lance finished speaking, Xiaochun immediately gave her command.
"Kingdra, Dragon Dance."
Whoosh——
"Do-la!" Kingdra was evidently very familiar with Xiaochun's battle habits. As Lance said the battle began, it already knew the first move to make, so it started moving as soon as Xiaochun spoke.
Lightly swaying its body, a thin layer of Dragon Energy appeared around its body. With its unique rhythm, this energy slowly transformed into the shape of a dragon.
However, when Lance said 'start', it wasn't just Kingdra that was prepared.
"Chak-a-yi!"
Togetic had already withdrawn its playful demeanor.
It was the only Pokémon under Natsuhiko with previous battle experience.
During the exhibition match between Uncle Liu and Ghost-type Elite Four Agatha.
An invisible attack rapidly crossed a considerable distance.
"Do-la?"
When Kingdra sensed an attack coming, it was already too late to react.
Divine Power penetrated into Kingdra's body, interrupting its half-completed "Dragon Dance" with Togetic's "Divine Power", triggering an Additional Effect and putting it in a Withered state.
However, Togetic did not seize this opportunity to immediately launch an attack.
Its eyes twinkled cunningly, and as black light filled them, its mouth opened slightly, placing a hand on its forehead. Togetic radiated a lot of gem-like pink light, which enveloped it.
Trickery and Lucky Spell.
"How did Natsuhiko know Kingdra's trait was Sniper?" Lance raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised.
Xiaochun initially felt relieved that Natsuhiko didn't capitalize on Kingdra's Withering to continue the attack. But when she saw the Lucky Spell surrounding Togetic, her expression turned grave.
Just after a single round of contact, she overturned all her previous assumptions about Natsuhiko.
This person is anything but ordinary.
Not impulsively pursuing but instead using the Lucky Spell, that in itself is very clever.
Luck?
Coincidence?
Xiaochun believed more in the judgment brought by experience.
'Sure enough, someone whom Cousin praises wouldn't be simple.'
As Togetic seized the opportunity to use "Trickery" to amplify its Special Attack while "Lucky Spell" prevented critical hits, Kingdra shook its head and recovered from being Withered.
"Kingdra, Smokescreen."
Since "Dragon Dance" failed, Xiaochun immediately altered her strategy from a strong offense.
Kingdra's mouth expelled a mass of pitch-black ink, aimed at Togetic.
"Chak-a-yi!"
Togetic did not dodge, swinging its arms again while its body began to spin at high speed. Mysteriously shimmering leaves appeared around its body, spinning along with it.
Shield of Retribution!
As a "self-created" technique by Natsuhiko, the Shield of Retribution made of "Magic Leaf" effectively blocked Kingdra's "Smokescreen", and Togetic even used its rapid spin to launch the "Magic Leaf" back as an attack.
"Tornado."
Xiaochun was somewhat unprepared for this move from Natsuhiko, but she promptly commanded Kingdra to use "Tornado", intercepting the Magic Leaf from reaching its body.
In just two simple clashes, both of Xiaochun's tactics were thwarted at the outset.
"Dragon's Fluctuation!" Unyielding, Xiaochun abandoned her predetermined strategy for full-on attacks.
Dragon's Fluctuation?
Natsuhiko's eyes flashed, issuing a command for the first time.
"Togetic, Try Again."
Togetic raised its arms, drawing circles with its index fingers toward the opponent. A white spherical Energy Ball formed and swiftly penetrated Kingdra's body.
After Kingdra was hit, it flashed white light, ignoring Xiaochun's command, and used "Tornado" once more.
Seeing this, Togetic grinned mischievously.
It then used "Divine Power" to attack, seizing the gap while Kingdra used "Tornado".
Although this time, luck wasn't on its side, and it didn't trigger an Additional Effect, Kingdra remained in the "Try Again" state, unable to launch any effective counterattack.
At this moment, Xiaochun felt a bit frustrated.
She felt like battling Natsuhiko's Togetic was like punching a pillow, unable to muster any force.
Even though she thought she could take down Togetic with a sequence of attacks if she started an offensive, she found herself unable to get close to Togetic, her plans and strategies completely unraveled one after the other by its series of moves.
It felt like on the strategic level, she was utterly crushed.
In fact, Xiaochun wasn't the only one feeling this way.
The other three watching felt similarly.
Although Lance sympathized with Xiaochun's plight, the intense fighting spirit in his eyes as he looked toward Natsuhiko made it seem as if he wished he were the one being "bullied" by Togetic.
"This Kingdra must have just evolved," Hilona remarked.
Not long after evolution, so it hasn't fully mastered its abilities yet. Otherwise, there was actually a slight chance to attack, when Togetic used "Shield of Retribution" to defend against "Smokescreen".
Though brief, Hilona noticed it.
Too bad Xiaochun didn't seize the opportunity.
"But Natsuhiko's Togetic is indeed well under control. Is this how a Togetic should be trained?"
Hilona gained new insight into the training suggestions briefly described on a sheet Natsuhiko had given her previously.
She now had a clearer idea of her Togepi's future role in her team and a more defined direction for its training.
The Togepi in her arms watched the Togetic on the field, its eyes full of little stars.
Kona's eyes were full of "respect", having been focused all along on a detail others might not have paid as much attention to—that from the start to finish, Natsuhiko issued only one command to Togetic.
This didn't mean the battle relied solely on Togetic's capabilities and Natsuhiko, as a Trainer, didn't play a role.
Rather, it indicated an exceptionally high level of synergy between Natsuhiko and Togetic. Every choice Togetic made seamlessly aligned with what Natsuhiko had in mind.
Because it wasn't necessary, no instructions were given.
But that one command alone essentially secured the victory.
The amplified Togetic, with the damage from the prior two Divine Powers, had a higher win rate even if it stood still and clashed head-on with Kingdra.
But would Togetic opt for a head-on collision with Kingdra?
Clearly not.
Under Togetic's increasingly "annoying" tactics, Xiaochun's Kingdra "met its end with resentment", never once laying a hand on Togetic.
Others assumed Beedrill was Natsuhiko's trump card.
Little did they know, in a one-on-one battle, it was Togetic that was the most "annoying" in Natsuhiko's lineup.
Anyone who's played games knows that without the skill to maneuver, fighting an opponent with pure offensive power and full control capabilities offers no chance of winning.
From the moment Xiaochun commanded Kingdra and Natsuhiko commanded Togetic, the outcome was decided.
Her only chance was if Kingdra's sheer strength was far greater than Togetic's.
But it wasn't.
If Natsuhiko knew what everyone present was thinking, he'd surely burst out laughing.
If you think Togetic is annoying, just wait until you see the "Poke Plane".
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End of the fifth update! Please vote for this month's ticket!!