Skarmory used Steel Wing as it dove. With only this one strike, Koffing would be completely incapacitated.
Since it could not be avoided. Then before dying, it still had to tear a few feathers off your body!
Closer…
A little closer…
Skarmory was already getting closer and closer to Koffing, while Tetsuya's eyes remained fixed firmly upon Skarmory.
He needed a single point in time, the instant when Skarmory was close enough yet Koffing could still release its move.
'Now!'
Skarmory was only about five meters away from Koffing.
"Poison Gas!"
Koffing had been waiting for Tetsuya's command the entire time and instantly sprayed out a large amount of poisonous gas, black clouds spreading outward and shrouding the area.
At this point, Skarmory no longer had time to change moves and directly plunged headfirst into the Poison Gas, choking on several breaths of it. Although it would not become poisoned, the feeling was certainly unpleasant.
"Skarmory, continue attacking!"
The Shadow shouted. Since nothing could be changed, it was better to bravely charge forward.
"Toxic."
Poison-type moves were ineffective against Steel-type Pokémon...
Yes, everyone present clearly understood such common knowledge, but Tetsuya still wanted to test just how powerful the Toxic condensed from the essence of Koffing's toxins truly was.
Tetsuya spoke. Although this move would not stop Skarmory, these highly corrosive toxins could still damage its feathers.
Skarmory charged downward while enduring Koffing's Toxic. With a sweep of its wings, it fiercely slammed Koffing onto the ground. After succeeding, Skarmory hurriedly flew out from the area covered by Poison Gas.
Tetsuya recalled the Koffing lying on the ground before shifting his gaze toward Skarmory.
The feathers that had originally been glossy and beautiful had already become dim and dull. Although it had not caused any substantial damage to Skarmory, Koffing's Toxic had stripped away the metallic luster from its feathers, which could be said to have greatly reduced both its defenses.
At present, Koffing's overall strength was naturally the weakest. In the following battles, this Shadow Team member would no longer be able to suppress him like before.
Against Skarmory, Houndoom had the type advantage, but Skarmory could fly. If it employed harassment tactics, Tetsuya would become very passive.
Fortunately, thanks to Koffing's efforts, Skarmory's defense had been greatly weakened. Now was precisely the time for Beedrill to take action.
Beedrill against Skarmory!
The two Pokémon vibrated their wings while flying in midair. An aerial battle was about to begin.
"Skarmory, Swift!"
The Shadow launched a probing attack.
"Block it with [Twin Fury]."
Tetsuya still had not revealed Beedrill's greatest speed. Once the Shadow relaxed his guard, he could deliver a fatal blow.
Beedrill waved its twin stingers, unleashing high-frequency thrusts, and Skarmory's Swift attacks all fell one after another.
"Air Slash."
The Shadow continued probing.
"X-Scissor."
Tetsuya also merely responded with simple counters. X-Scissor barely managed to block Skarmory's Air Slash.
After several more rounds of attacks, Tetsuya continuously kept Beedrill, such an offensive Pokémon, in a defensive state.
"Skarmory, enough, Steel Wing!"
The Shadow believed he had already seen through Tetsuya's intentions. He was nothing more than a coward who only wanted to seek victory steadily and cautiously. Finally, he ordered Skarmory to launch a frenzied close-range assault.
Skarmory's speed simply was not enough in Beedrill's eyes.
"Double Team."
At the very instant Skarmory was about to attack Beedrill, Beedrill's figure suddenly blurred and split into more than twenty clones, all of which continuously shifted positions at high speed.
Skarmory, suddenly faced with this abrupt change, had already become somewhat panic-stricken.
"Skarmory, quickly fly upward!"
The Shadow Team member had already realized the danger. Flying to a higher altitude was indeed a wise choice.
But…
How could Tetsuya allow you to do that!?
"[Twin Fury]!"
More than twenty Beedrill shot toward Skarmory. After practicing "Focus Energy," Beedrill's attack speed had become incomparably fast, and every attack would stab four or five times.
All that could be seen was feathers flying through the sky while Skarmory's painful cries rang out.
The Shadow clenched his teeth tightly, but his powerful battle awareness did not collapse because of this. He was merely astonished that this Tetsuya kid could actually possess such tactics.
"Steel Wing!"
The Shadow shouted.
Naturally, the final Beedrill was the real body. At the moment it attacked, Skarmory used its remaining power to send it flying away with a strike.
Skarmory's attack carried tremendous force, and Beedrill nearly fell from the sky.
Although Beedrill had also suffered considerable injuries, it was in far better condition than Skarmory. Right now, Skarmory was already at the end of its strength, giving the feeling that even a gust of wind could knock it down.
"Fell Stinger!"
Since Skarmory was about to collapse anyway, it might as well become Beedrill's springboard.
Beedrill thrust forward its twin stingers as energy surged throughout its entire body. As long as it defeated Skarmory, its own Attack would greatly increase.
At this point, the Shadow could completely recall Skarmory and forfeit, but he was, after all, part of the Shadow Team. How could he possibly admit defeat to a mere child!?
---◓---
Skarmory fainted, while Beedrill's Attack greatly increased because of the excitement of victory.
However, Beedrill did not have much "HP" left. Against the next opponent, it would have to use its ace move, "Endeavor". As long as it successfully used Endeavor, it would forcibly reduce the opponent's "HP" to the same level as its own.
As long as it could successfully use Endeavor against the next opponent, the advantage would remain firmly in Tetsuya's hands.
Now the Shadow Team member had already lost two Pokémon, while the current Beedrill had just increased its Attack and was in an extremely dangerous state.
"Rapidash!"
Following a neigh, Rapidash raised its proud horn high as it appeared before Beedrill. The flames covering its body burst to twice their previous intensity, giving the feeling that they would completely swallow Beedrill.
With Rapidash in such a state, Beedrill found it difficult even to approach. Even the long-range Pin Missile could not break through Rapidash's "flame shield".
It was highly possible that this Shadow was guarding against Beedrill's "Endeavor."
"Come back, Beedrill."
Beedrill's stamina had already been overdrawn, so there was simply no need to continue fighting.
Tetsuya was just preparing to recall Beedrill…
"Wait! Shadow Team matches do not allow Pokémon to be switched midway through the battle. If you recall it, it will count as this Beedrill losing!"
The Shadow acting as referee said.
"I don't need your reminder."
Tetsuya recalled Beedrill. The score was now tied two to two.
As for this Rapidash, any one of his remaining three Pokémon could handle it.
"Golett."
Tetsuya threw out a Poké Ball, and an automaton-like Pokémon appeared.
After Golett entered the field, it immediately waved its fists energetically. Fighting Rapidash here could be considered much easier!
Rapidash excelled at long-distance running, while its short-distance burst speed was not particularly impressive. Therefore, ordinary battlefields could not fully bring out all of Rapidash's strength.