"Lucario?"
Ryosuke pulled out his third Poké Ball and threw it.
Bang—
"Swampert!"
A Pokémon with black fins and a blue body appeared on the field.
One of the Hoenn starters, Water and Ground-type—Swampert!
"Earthquake!"
"Jump into the air and use Aura Sphere!"
Swampert slammed its arms into the ground, and the field immediately began to vibrate violently as Ground-type energy spread from underground.
Lucario closed its eyes, and its Aura power emanated.
The energy hidden underground could be clearly sensed.
"Luca!"
Lucario quickly leaped into the air, and a rock suddenly protruded from where it had been standing.
Its paws extended and then clasped together, condensing a blue sphere of energy.
Lucario raised the Aura Sphere and threw it toward Swampert!
Bang—
The dense smoke from the explosion engulfed Swampert!
"Waterfall!"
Swampert, covered in a rush of water, burst out of the smoke, heading straight for Lucario's landing spot.
"Luca!"
Lucario crossed its arms and was sent flying by Swampert, sliding several meters across the ground before stopping.
"Hammer Arm!"
"Bone Rush!"
Seeing Swampert rush toward it recklessly, Lucario's eyes narrowed, and a translucent, yellowish-brown bone club suddenly appeared in its paw.
Bang!
Swampert's heavily falling Hammer Arm was blocked by Lucario with its bone club.
The powerful blow caused Lucario to retreat a short distance.
"Luca!"
Lucario angled the bone club, deflecting Swampert's power.
As Swampert lost its balance and fell forward, Lucario spun around to Swampert's side, swinging the bone club and continuously striking Swampert's body.
"Force Palm!" Steven said.
The bone club in Lucario's paw suddenly dissipated, and both palms shot out, striking Swampert's side.
The impact force contained within Force Palm sent Swampert flying several meters.
"Earthquake!"
"Swampert!"
Swampert slammed one arm into the ground, sending gravel flying and creating a small crater.
While unleashing the move, it also stabilized its retreating form.
Bang!
A rock suddenly rose from the ground, striking Lucario with strong Ground-type energy.
"Luca!"
Lucario fell heavily to the ground, then got up with difficulty.
"Lucario seems to be in a dangerous situation! It looks like Steven Stone, who hasn't lost a single point, is going to lose points in the finals!" The commentator said excitedly, watching the battle.
Ryosuke's Swampert was only one step away from Champion level.
Combined with its type advantage, it was normal for it to battle Lucario to this extent.
Unfortunately, Lucario hadn't learned any Grass-type moves. Otherwise, it would have given Swampert a real challenge.
"Calm down, Lucario." Steven, however, remained very calm.
Severely hit by Earthquake, Lucario clutched its rapidly heaving chest.
"Good opportunity! Press the advantage!" Ryosuke showed a joyful expression and quickly shouted:
"Swampert, Earthquake!"
Lucario probably couldn't take another Earthquake.
"Quick Attack!" Steven's eyes narrowed as he shouted.
Lucario had only recently evolved, so the Extreme Speed move hadn't been fully mastered yet.
So at this moment, it was still using Quick Attack.
Lucario's figure shot forward.
Swampert raised its arms and slammed them down!
Gravel flew, and powerful Ground-type energy spread across the entire field as the Earthquake shook everything!
Lucario closed its eyes tightly, sensing the tremors of the Earthquake.
Then it suddenly stepped forward with a foot glowing with white light!
This step cracked the ground where it landed!
Lucario leaped forward, spinning its body in the air.
Swampert looked up in astonishment, watching Lucario fly over its head.
Lucario landed, then pushed off again, shooting forward.
"Low Kick!"
Lucario suddenly extended its leg, performing a sliding kick to Swampert's leg, causing it to fall heavily to the ground.
"Get up quickly, Swampert!"
Swampert braced itself with its arms on the ground, trying to stand up.
"Calm Mind."
Lucario closed its eyes and sat cross-legged on the ground.
The energy within its body surged rapidly!
By the time Swampert got back on its feet, Lucario, with its eyes still closed, also rose.
"Aura Sphere!"
"Earthquake!"
Lucario shifted its body to the side, placing its paws one above the other at its waist.
Aura quickly condensed into a blue sphere of energy.
This posture was somewhat similar to a "Kamehameha."
"Swampert!"
Swampert slammed the ground, and cracks appeared in the surrounding earth!
Lucario sensed the speed of the Earthquake energy fluctuation underground, took a few steps forward, and then suddenly lunged.
Swampert's eyes instantly widened as a rock suddenly protruded from the ground.
It seemed as if Lucario was about to collide with the rock, but unexpectedly, Lucario seemed to have anticipated it already.
It pushed the Aura Sphere in its paws forward!
Bang!
The blast shattered the rock in front of it!
Lucario's paws touched the ground, then it rolled forward, arriving in front of Swampert.
Its eyes then opened, and an Aura Sphere quickly condensed between its palms!
A blue glow illuminated Swampert's face.
"Luca!"
Boom!
Lucario's mouth curved slightly, and the Aura Sphere shot out, exploding directly on Swampert's face!
Lucario leaped backward, flying out of the black smoke, and landed on the ground.
"Swampert is unable to battle! Lucario wins!"
Once the smoke cleared, the referee confirmed Swampert's condition before waving the flag and announcing the result.
Currently, on the large screen in the arena, three of Ryosuke's six Poké Balls had dimmed.
On Steven's side, all six were still lit!
And there were only two Pokémon icons shown.
"So strong..." Ryosuke recalled Swampert, giving a bitter smile.
However, he had anticipated this outcome.
Steven's Skarmory was so powerful, and looking at the Empoleon and Lucario that appeared earlier, they were probably just for training.
Furthermore, the strength of Steven's other Pokémon was even harder to estimate.
From the very beginning, he had abandoned rotation strategies and chosen a direct assault!
This was also the preferred tactic of most Trainers.
Rotation? I don't know what that is.
All I know is that using overwhelming force is the way to go!
Steven just felt that the Ever Grande Conference didn't require rotation.
So he decided to use their favorite aggressive tactics against them.
Ryosuke pulled out his fourth Poké Ball, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Then he opened his eyes and said in a deep voice:
"My loss isn't necessarily a loss..."
"There will always be a winning side!"
He threw the Poké Ball in his hand, accompanied by a flash of white light.
Ryosuke's fourth Pokémon appeared!
"Sa!"
With a deep purple body and sapphire-like eyes, it was an "old acquaintance" of Steven's.
The Dark and Ghost-type Sableye!
This, however, completely blocked Lucario's Fighting-type moves.
Since Lucario had only recently evolved, many of its moves had not yet been mastered or refined.
After Calm Mind, the main purpose was to enhance the power of Aura Sphere.
But now, Calm Mind seemed to have no effect.
"Lucario, are you alright?" Steven asked.
After all, Swampert's Earthquake was still very powerful.
"Luca!" Lucario gasped but answered firmly.
"Very good!"
"Use Bullet Punch!"