"Next up—it's your turn. Go, Rufflet! Climb higher and widen the distance!"
Peter threw the Poké Ball with a shout, posture clearly signaling a stall strategy.
"Sandstorm," Cynthia ordered instantly.
Then she paused—
A faint smile appeared.
"And Dragon Claw—behind you."
The "Rufflet" in the sky exploded into smoke.
At the same time, a small mound of earth bulged up behind Garchomp.
Dig.
Of course.
"Rufflet" was actually Zorua in disguise.
The moment it emerged from the Poké Ball, it had used a layered deception—
Substitute + Illusion.
A fake Rufflet soared upward to bait attention.
Meanwhile, the real Zorua burrowed underground, approaching silently.
But—
Cynthia caught it.
"Zorua!"
The white fox popped out of the earth with a mischievous grin—
Only to meet a waiting Dragon Claw.
"Bang!"
The slash cut through—
Yet no blood flew.
Zorua dispersed into smoke again.
Another Substitute!
"Use Foul Play!"
"Zorua!"
From within Garchomp's own shadow, the fox materialized. Its paw tapped lightly atop Garchomp's head.
The ground exploded.
Garchomp was slammed down, fissures spidering across the plaza.
Foul Play—an attack that uses the opponent's own Attack stat against them.
Against a powerhouse like Garchomp, a surprise Foul Play was devastating.
Peter's eyes lit up.
"Now! Will-O-Wisp!"
But—
"Flamethrower."
Blue spectral flames had just begun forming before a torrent of orange fire swallowed Zorua whole.
"Zorua—!"
The fox cried out, blasted backward, collapsing unconscious.
Peter caught it, face tight with regret.
"So close…"
Cynthia exhaled quietly.
That had been dangerously close.
She hadn't expected Peter to be operating on the third layer of mind games.
Especially after Arboliva's sacrificial Memento—
It was perfectly logical to assume defensive tempo.
Instead—
Dig.
And if not for Garchomp's hypersensitivity to ground vibrations—
She might not have noticed.
Peter specialized in reverse thinking.
You think I'm stalling?
No—I'm ambushing.
But ironically—
Because she detected the "trick," she confidently chose Dragon Claw—
Only to step directly into his trap.
"After all," Peter said lightly while treating Zorua's wounds,
"Ghost-type offense is what she does best."
He recalled the fox.
"Even if Will-O-Wisp landed, it probably would've only burned a small patch, right?"
Cynthia nodded.
"Should've just used Memento again…" Peter muttered.
Zorua actually had better mastery over Memento.
Cynthia went quiet for a moment.
Then softly—
"I used to think I fought pretty dirty."
"…?"
"Until I met you."
Peter blinked. "Huh? What'd you say? Sandstorm's too loud."
"Nothing. Next."
…
"Alright then. Rufflet—you're up! Tailwind!"
Peter moved immediately.
He knew—
Against Garchomp, his remaining Pokémon couldn't last even a full exchange.
If he didn't seize tempo—
They'd fall instantly.
As expected, Sandstorm swallowed Rufflet the moment it appeared.
But—
It pierced through the wind and dust.
Wings spread wide.
Air currents surged behind it.
Cynthia tilted her head.
"…Strange."
Why was Rufflet noticeably faster than before?
"Climb higher! Strengthen Tailwind!"
"Skreee!"
Riding the wind, Rufflet soared skyward.
Tailwind intensified—
Suppressing the Sandstorm entirely.
For a fleeting second—
Victory gleamed in its eyes.
Then—
A dark-blue blur appeared behind it.
Garchomp.
Dragon Claw flashed.
Rufflet was swatted from the sky instantly.
It spiraled down with cartoonishly dizzy eyes.
Peter recalled it gently.
"Good work. Thank you."
Now—
Aside from the severely injured Lopunny and Vigoroth—
Only one Pokémon remained.
Thirteen minutes had passed.
Seven minutes left.
"Conceding now is still an option," Cynthia said.
Her competitive fire had cooled slightly.
She didn't wish to crush a promising junior too harshly.
Peter looked up.
"If I surrender now, wouldn't that look ugly?"
"And besides…"
"In my view—"
"The real battle is only just beginning."
The Sandstorm faded completely.
Tailwind remained active.
Rufflet—holding a Choice Scarf—had successfully stalled out Sandstorm.
That was crucial.
Peter's smile deepened.
"Last one."
"Indeedee—battle!"
"Indeedee~"
The maid-like Indeedee stepped forward.
A violet aura rippled outward.
Psychic Terrain activated.
"Trick Room."
No hesitation.
Cynthia blinked.
Trick Room requires casting time.
In games, it's always last priority.
Meaning—
Peter was standing still—
Letting her hit him.
"Flamethrower—cover the area!"
No hesitation.
A sweeping inferno engulfed the field.
There was no angle of escape.
Given Indeedee's level—
Survival was impossible.
"It's over," Cynthia murmured softly.
The firestorm raged.
Then—
From beyond the flames—
Peter's voice echoed calmly.
"Not even close."
"Trick Room—activate."
Cynthia froze.
A cubic distortion unfolded—
A three-dimensional grid overlaying the battlefield.
The flames dispersed.
Indeedee stood there—
Bandaged across its head.
Wounded—
But standing.
Cynthia had no time to process.
"Garchomp—Dragon Rush!"
But—
Under Trick Room—
Indeedee moved first.
"Indeedee—Healing Wish!"
"…?!"
Cynthia's pulse skipped.
Too late.
"Indeedee~"
Sparkling light rose from its body.
It closed its eyes peacefully.
The move completed.
Cynthia's fingers twitched.
She suddenly regretted not overwhelming Peter early with consecutive full-power assaults.
"Healing Wish…" she whispered.
Peter recalled Indeedee smoothly.
"Thank you. Your partners will carry your will forward."
He threw another Poké Ball.
"Lopunny—one more time."
Lopunny appeared—
Tall. Steady.
Then—
Healing light descended.
Wounds vanished instantly.
Energy surged back to full.
She stood—
Fully restored.
Battle-ready.
Cynthia stared.
The tide had turned.
And there were still minutes left on the clock.
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T/N:
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