"Metagross, time to make your move," Steven said calmly.
A wall of light with a metallic sheen surrounded Metagross's body as Iron Defense increased its Defense.
Immediately afterward, all twelve of Metagross's short claws fired silvery-white beams straight at the [Blizzard Vortex].
Steven nodded.
Steven knew perfectly well how powerful his Metagross was. Very few could withstand those twelve Flash Cannons!
…Yet they had actually failed to break through Mamoswine's [Blizzard Vortex].
Metagross's strengths ultimately lay in close combat. Although Flash Cannon was tremendously powerful at its level and with STAB, it could not represent Metagross's true might.
Metagross began spinning, and before the remaining power of Flash Cannon had even dissipated, Gyro Ball was already underway. Its entire body gleamed with a metallic sheen, especially around its outer edge…
A combination of Gyro Ball and Meteor Mash!
This time, Metagross's attack collided with the [Blizzard Vortex] with a continuous hissing sound.
It was a head-on clash, a confrontation between both sides' strongest ultimate moves, and both Pokémon poured every ounce of their strength into it.
Metagross and Mamoswine were evenly matched in Attack power, but ultimately, Metagross held the type advantage. It broke through Mamoswine's [Blizzard Vortex] and slammed all of its power into Mamoswine!
However, the training under Pryce had played a considerable role. Although Mamoswine had been struck so hard by Metagross's combination of Gyro Ball and Meteor Mash that it could barely use any moves…
There was still "one" move!
Freeze-Dry sprayed from its nostrils and seeped into Metagross's body through even the tiniest gaps in its body.
Mamoswine fell!
Steven let out a long breath…but when he looked up at Metagross again, he discovered that it was already trembling on the battlefield.
Even Steven had never seen his Metagross like this before. Metagross was highly resistant to cold, and ordinary Ice-type Pokémon could not affect it in the slightest. Yet today, it had actually been injured this badly by the cold from this Mamoswine.
It was simply unbelievable!
Tetsuya recalled Mamoswine. Steven really lived up to his reputation. Mamoswine had not tasted defeat in a long time. Although it had lost, battle experience like this would be remarkably beneficial to its growth.
Next up, Drapion.
As soon as Drapion entered the field, it scattered Toxic Spikes all across the battlefield. Although they would have no effect whatsoever on Steven's Steel-type Pokémon, for Zangoose, they were indispensable.
"Hone Claws." Tetsuya gave the order. Drapion was a natural-born warrior, and against Metagross in its current condition, it had to raise its offensive power to the maximum.
After being honed, the hooked claws on both pincers, as well as the hooked claw on its tail, became even sharper.
"Stop it, quickly!" Even Steven could not afford to withstand the power granted by a boosting move like this. However, Metagross's entire body was already frozen stiff, leaving it completely unable to move!
Brick Break, Night Slash, Crunch…
Just as Drapion was preparing to use Fell Stinger to deliver the finishing blow to Metagross, Steven voluntarily recalled Metagross, forfeiting this battle.
With Metagross voluntarily leaving the field and forfeiting, Steven had no other choice. If he allowed Fell Stinger to secure the knockout, Drapion's Attack power would increase dramatically, making the battles that followed even more difficult.
Tetsuya's strength had already left Steven without absolute certainty of victory, so every step had to be taken cautiously.
Now, Drapion was bursting with vigor after using Hone Claws. How to deal with it was something Steven needed to consider.
"Mawile, Play Rough!" Steven threw out his third Poké Ball. The Fairy type had not yet officially become a type, but Play Rough was unquestionably a Fairy-type move.
Although Drapion was not particularly wary of Fairy-type moves, Play Rough had a high chance of making the opponent let down its guard and lowering its Attack.
Mawile was extremely agile and did not engage Drapion head-on. Just like before on the deck, when it had always hidden behind Aggron without showing itself, in this battle it also bounced around, launching probing attacks as though it were playing, leaving Drapion with nowhere to utilize its "vigor".
"Pin Missile!"
Drapion could no longer afford to be toyed with and had to take forceful measures.
Pin Missiles as dense as a fine rain shot toward Mawile. Mawile turned around and revealed its huge jaws, swinging them and knocking the Pin Missiles to the ground before using the momentum to bite at Drapion!
Drapion was no ordinary opponent either, extending both pincers to clamp onto Mawile!
…However, Fairy-type Pokémon seemed to have naturally keen senses, let alone Steven's Mawile. It was as though it had eyes on the back of its head. With a swing of its huge jaws to either side, it knocked Drapion's pincers away, then moved to bite down on Drapion's neck.
Drapion ducked its head, and Mawile sailed right over it!
Mawile had tremendous momentum and shot straight past Drapion's body, but it was not over yet. Tetsuya had also been waiting for this opportunity. Drapion swung out its tail and clamped onto Mawile's hind leg, immediately leaving Mawile suspended in midair as it let out a howl of pain.
"What…? How could that be!?" Steven did not understand. Steel-type Pokémon generally had high Defensive capabilities. There was no way an ordinary clamp could make it howl in such pain.
It turned out that Drapion had used Fire Fang with its tail pincers, which was super effective against Mawile!
Mawile was not one to sit around waiting for defeat either. Once it reacted, its huge jaws swung backward again and bit down on Drapion.
Tetsuya was confident that if this continued, Mawile would definitely fall first. His Drapion could secure two consecutive victories, putting the battle heavily in his favor!
---◓---
Mawile and Drapion became locked in a fierce struggle, neither able to break away. A trace of delight flashed across Steven's face before it returned to calm.
Suddenly, dazzling white light flashed across Mawile's entire body!
'Not good.'
Tetsuya's heart jolted, but it was already too late. He had never expected this Mawile to use a move like this without the slightest warning, nor did it need any instruction from Steven…
A silvery-white beam shot from Mawile's mouth and completely engulfed Drapion, allowing Mawile to break free from Drapion's restraint.
After the white light faded, Drapion collapsed.
'…'
Tetsuya recalled Drapion. A battle he had originally thought was already his to win had ended in defeat just like that.
He could not help feeling somewhat regretful. When Mawile had been attacked by Drapion's Fire Fang earlier, it had used Swallow. After accumulating a certain amount of damage, that lethal white light had been Spit Up, returning twice the damage it had just received to Drapion.
It had seemed completely silent and inconspicuous, yet veiled a terrific killing move. Steven's terrifying tactics made Tetsuya's heart tremble slightly.
However, his rhythm had not been disrupted yet. Losing one battle absolutely could not affect his state of mind for the next.
Zangoose!
A Pokémon that naturally radiated killing intent. The moment it entered the battlefield and stepped on the Toxic Spikes Drapion had laid down, its eyes became bloodshot, as though all the power in its body were about to erupt!
Kill…
Close Combat!
Before Mawile could recover from the damage it had suffered in the previous battle, it was already intimidated by this reaper…
In an instant, it was buried beneath Zangoose's barrage of punches and kicks and became incapacitated.