Ground versus air, Rock/Grass versus Flying—on paper, Cradily seemed to have the elemental advantage since it possessed Rock-type moves that countered Flying-types. However, Cynthia's Togekiss was notoriously difficult to deal with.
"Is this the fossil Pokémon resurrected by Devon Corporation? Interesting,"
Cynthia's voice carried across the field.
Steven didn't hesitate for a second and issued the first command:
"Cradily, use Energy Ball!"
Cradily's massive body shuddered slightly as dense green energy instantly gathered around the petals on its head.
An emerald orb of light quickly coalesced and, with a whistling howl of wind, shot straight toward Togekiss in the sky.
The Energy Ball was incredibly solid, packed with powerful grass-type energy, and its speed far exceeded that of a typical Energy Ball.
Cynthia's reaction was just as swift. She commanded calmly:
"Togekiss, Air Slash!"
Togekiss spun elegantly, its wings flapping powerfully.
The invisible air was instantly sliced, forming two visible white blades that met the incoming Energy Ball with a sharp, piercing sound.
The Air Slash was lightning-fast, as if it had crossed space in an instant.
The two powerful energies collided violently mid-air!
A dull explosion echoed over the battlefield. The airflow was torn into a chaotic mess, and energy fragments scattered in all directions.
Emerald and pure white hues intertwined, creating a brief but dazzling shockwave that pushed the surrounding air outward.
Smoke briefly obscured Togekiss, but soon, a strong gust of wind radiated from the center of the explosion, clearing the floating dust and revealing the elegant flying pokémon in the sky.
Ariel narrowed his eyes. The first round of confrontation was already this intense; both sides were holding nothing back.
He thought that this wasn't just a simple test, but an initial probe of each other's styles by two top-tier Trainers.
Steven's offense was direct and powerful; the speed and intensity of Cradily's Energy Ball were extraordinary.
Cynthia's response, meanwhile, was cool-headed and precise. Her timing with Air Slash was perfect, neutralizing the impact of the Energy Ball while showcasing Togekiss's exceptional mobility.
Togekiss flipped nimbly in the air, its wings flapping lightly, completely unaffected.
Cynthia didn't give Steven a chance to catch his breath. Her voice was calm, her decision absolute:
"Togekiss, Flamethrower!"
Togekiss spread its wings as brilliant light burst from its body, formed by countless tiny, dazzling points of light.
A broad, blazing torrent of flame erupted from before it, surging straight toward Cradily on the ground.
The flames were incredibly fast, reaching the target almost at the same moment Cynthia finished her command.
Steven's gaze locked onto the dazzling fire in the sky.
He knew that Cradily's movement speed was not an advantage. Facing such a wide-range, high-speed special attack, complete evasion was almost impossible.
He made a quick judgment:
"Cradily, Ingrain!"
Cradily's massive body sank slightly as its root-like feet delved deep into the soil beneath.
Simultaneously, a surge of life energy rose from deep within the earth, wrapping around its vines and petals to form a visible green film of light.
The dazzling light fell upon Cradily. The violent energy impact made the ground tremble, and the intense glare swallowed Cradily's silhouette.
Seeing this, Ariel's heart stirred.
Ingrain? Was he planning to just tank it?
Cradily's durability was indeed excellent, but against a special attacker like Togekiss, tanking hits wasn't a long-term solution.
Steven's intention likely went a layer deeper.
He knew that Steven's tactics were never about simple damage trades; there had to be a more profound strategy behind it.
As the light faded, Cradily's form reappeared.
Though the green film of light on its body had dimmed significantly, it had successfully blocked the vast majority of the Flamethrower's damage.
Rooted to the earth, its body remained stable, appearing as though it hadn't taken a fatal blow.
However, Cynthia didn't seem surprised; her expression remained composed.
"Togekiss, Dark Pulse!"
Togekiss let out a sharp cry as a mass of purple-black energy condensed in the air.
The energy mass twisted, radiating an ominous aura as an invisible pressure rapidly swept toward Cradily.
Dark Pulse wasn't a STAB move for Togekiss, but with its high Special Attack, it could still deal impressive damage.
Steven's eyes narrowed.
Dark Pulse—this move was very troublesome.
This move had a chance to make the opponent flinch.
Cradily was already slow; if it entered a flinching state, it would be even harder to catch Togekiss.
But he quickly regained his composure, a flicker of decisiveness in his eyes.
"Cradily, Protect!"
A transparent green barrier lit up around Cradily, enveloping it completely.
The Dark Pulse slammed into the barrier with a dull thud. The purple-black energy splattered against the outer wall but could not penetrate it.
The barrier shuddered after taking the hit, but it ultimately held firm.
Watching from the sidelines, Ariel gained a deeper understanding of their tactical thinking.
Cynthia's Togekiss not only had a diverse movepool but was also exceptionally flexible, attempting to suppress Cradily through speed and special attacks.
Meanwhile, Steven's Cradily was steady and sturdy, using Ingrain and Protect to withstand damage while waiting for an opportunity to counter.
It was like a battle between an unstoppable force and an immovable object.
The previous shyness on Steven's face was gone, replaced by pure focus.
That level of insight into the battle reminded Ariel of Steven's online posts about ore classification and rare pokémon fossils.
Clearly, whether it was stones or pokémon battles, he was a genius who delved into things to the absolute limit.
Cynthia's expression remained calm throughout, as if everything was within her expectations.
She watched Togekiss, giving it silent encouragement.
This poise—remaining unfazed even if a mountain collapsed before her—gave Ariel a more direct realization of the Sinnoh Champion's strength.
He thought to himself that it was no wonder Steven viewed her as a formidable rival; she wasn't some airhead, but a strategist who had everything under control.
The battle fell into a stalemate.
Togekiss circled in the air, looking for the next opening to attack.
Cradily remained rooted to the ground, motionless like a reef waiting for its prey to draw near.
Minutes and seconds ticked by, and the air grew thick with tension.
Steven knew that passive defense was not a permanent solution.
He needed to find a breakthrough. Togekiss was flexible, but after every attack, there was always a brief pause.
That would be the opportunity!
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