Combo technique!
Leaping into the air, Krookodile's terrifying giant jaws, wrapped in lightning for an instant, lunged hard at the Togekiss in the sky.
"Angel's Kiss."
"Chaa-koyi~~"
Togekiss instantly put on an adorable expression, crystalline pink energy gathering around it. It didn't dodge at all, just gave the leaping Krookodile a playful wink.
A sweet flying kiss.
"Natsuhiko is very composed, 'Angel's Kiss' is a General Type technique, it can, it can… hmm?"
It was common knowledge that "Angel's Kiss" was a General Type technique.
And General Type energy was that milky white kind, which was also common sense.
But why was the energy Togekiss was stirring up pink?
There was no time for the host and audience to react.
Krookodile suddenly looked a bit dazed and crashed headfirst toward the ground.
Boom!!
"Krookodile has fallen into confusion, 'Angel's Kiss' worked!" The host let out a long breath.
Thank goodness, it still had the same effect.
"Magic Shimmer," Natsuhiko narrowed his eyes and said softly.
"Press the advantage! Natsuhiko chooses… chooses… huh? Magic Shimmer?"
If the host had a trait, his expression right now would be (°ー°〃).
Fairy Energy surged.
Dazzling flashes burst from Togekiss's body, instantly lighting up the entire field.
Fairy-type Techniques were super effective against Dark-type Pokémon, and Krookodile roared in pain.
The entire venue fell silent.
Magic Shimmer?
What technique is that?
Fairy?
The intense pain turned its eyes bloodshot, and its powerful will dragged it out of the "confusion" state.
Morden glanced at Natsuhiko with slight surprise, but quickly gave his command:
"Krookodile, Sharp Stone Attack!"
Thud thud thud—
Krookodile, back on its feet again, slammed its fists into the ground, and stone pillars shot up one after another.
They grew larger and faster.
"Rush in with Divine Speed, Play Rough, finish it."
Togekiss was instantly wrapped in a milky-white halo.
It shot toward Krookodile at a terrifying speed.
The moving speed of those Sharp Stone Attack pillars couldn't keep up with Togekiss at all.
Bang—!!
Krookodile staggered a few steps.
"Retreat!"
Using the force of Togekiss's impact, Krookodile seized the chance to widen the distance between them, its body shimmering with a sandy yellow aura.
"Angel's Kiss!"
Natsuhiko frowned and called out quickly.
At the same time, almost as Natsuhiko spoke, Morden also ordered, "Krookodile, Invisible Rock!"
The two of them spoke almost in unison.
Right after he finished, Morden looked at Natsuhiko in surprise.
"Pre-read! That was a pre-read! Natsuhiko changed tactics again and pre-read Morden's command! This kind of pre-read requires absolute confidence and judgment of the battle situation!"
Togekiss blew another sweet flying kiss.
Krookodile's Invisible Rock had only half formed when Togekiss's Angel's Kiss struck again, throwing it back into a "confusion" state.
"Play Rough."
Togekiss flapped its wings and appeared in front of the confused Krookodile.
Its wings, wrapped in dense Fairy Energy, struck Krookodile again and again, kicking up a cloud of dust, even accompanied by some seemingly cute patterns.
Since Krookodile had given Togekiss a massive boost to its Physical Attack, Natsuhiko felt it would be a waste not to use it.
Bang—
Krookodile crashed heavily to the ground.
"A brilliant pre-read decides the outcome! Natsuhiko's pre-read was godlike and sealed the win in this battle! That last… last 'Play Rough' sends Krookodile off the field! Krookodile is unable to battle!"
After "Angel's Kiss" and "Magic Shimmer," yet another "Play Rough."
These techniques instantly left all the spectators, including the host, utterly baffled.
They just couldn't figure it out.
Could these really… be Fairy-type Techniques?
And also—
One Magic Shimmer, one Play Rough.
The damage they did to Krookodile was way too impressive!
Morden shook his head with a smile and recalled Krookodile.
Looking at Natsuhiko, he said, "So you guessed it?"
Natsuhiko looked back at Morden and grinned.
"The ideal way to deal with a Takeover tactic is either Scattering Rock or Scattering Nails, or Taunt. But you didn't use any of those, Mr. Morden. Even when Krookodile was facing Togekiss's final finishing blow, you chose to retreat instead of counterattacking. It's hard not to read into that a little."
Where there's pre-read, there's also counter-read.
If Morden had changed his call afterward and turned Krookodile's Invisible Rock into a Taunt, the flow of the battle might have shifted.
Morden smacked his lips twice.
"Impressive."
With that, he took out another Pokeball.
He paused with it in his hand.
And asked, "Those two techniques, are they from a Fairy-type Pokémon?"
"Yeah," Natsuhiko nodded calmly, then added, "Mr. Morden, small heads-up: Fairy Type has a type advantage over Dark-type Pokémon."
Hearing this, Morden's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Got it."
He spoke, then threw out the Pokeball.
But before the new Pokémon appeared, Natsuhiko said to Togekiss, "Trick."
Togekiss's eyes flashed with a dark gleam.
Seeing this—
Morden was left speechless.
He really wasn't going to let even a sliver of an opening go.
But this was a move allowed under the rules of a full-team battle, and Natsuhiko had even answered some of his questions.
He wasn't just clearing things up for Morden; he was also clearing things up for all the spectators.
And he was smacking the faces of all those people who kept doubting him.