"Mr. Mime, use Protect."
Despite having her rhythm momentarily disrupted by the high-arc Seed Bomb, Fu Xuan's expression remained as calm as a frozen lake. On the field, the colorful barrier of light flickered into existence, effortlessly absorbing the impact of the exploding seeds.
"It seems," Fu Xuan remarked, her eyes narrowing slightly, "that it will be difficult to overcome your persistence without demonstrating a true measure of strength. Mr. Mime, Baton Pass."
"Come back, Venusaur!" Silver Wolf reacted instantly, recalling her Pokémon before Fu Xuan's switch could even finish.
She knew exactly what was coming. Mr. Mime was a versatile utility player, but it lacked the one move that turned the Grand Diviner into a nightmare: Teleport. A Fu Xuan who could manipulate the battlefield through instant relocation was on an entirely different level than one who merely stood behind barriers.
By using Baton Pass, Fu Xuan wasn't just switching; she was transferring the stat boosts from Calm Mind to the next entrant. The Grand Diviner was playing the long game—if her utility lead couldn't crush Silver Wolf's front line, she would simply build a monster and hand over the reins.
The light faded, and Hypno materialized in Mr. Mime's place.
Hypno was one of Fu Xuan's two primary pillars, alongside Alakazam. It was this duo, coordinated with the Diviner's predictive processing, that had utterly overwhelmed Welt Yang. Because of the "Path-Projection" nature of this tournament, Fu Xuan's Psychic-types possessed a level of synergy that felt less like a trainer and pet, and more like a single mind operating two bodies.
Silver Wolf immediately sent out her next choice. "Go, Cloyster!"
Cloyster was a risky pick against a Psychic specialist, but Silver Wolf had specifically tailored its move set to counter the mobility of Teleport.
"Use Whirlpool!"
"Teleport, get out of the way," Fu Xuan commanded smoothly.
The vortex didn't aim for Hypno. Instead, it slammed into the center of the stadium floor, exploding outward. Torrents of water surged in a violent, circular wall. This was a tactical application Silver Wolf had devised: the severe energy fluctuations caused by the churning water acted as "noise," making the precise spatial coordinates required for Teleport difficult to lock onto.
Hypno managed to blink to the edge of the arena before the vortex fully formed, but its range of motion was now severely restricted.
"Hypno, Psychic," Fu Xuan countered, opting for a direct offensive now that her mobility was hampered.
"Cloyster, Icicle Spear!"
The two attacks crossed in mid-air. Hypno's mental energy surged outward, a shimmering wave of force that bypassed physical armor to strike at the mind. Meanwhile, Cloyster conjured massive pillars of ice that shattered into a rain of jagged spears.
"Take the hit," Fu Xuan said calmly. "Then, Calm Mind."
Hypno endured the stinging impact of the ice, using the momentary mental stun caused by its own Psychic attack to find a window. It sat cross-legged amidst the freezing rain, its eyes glowing as it stacked another layer of Special Defense.
"Whirlpool again!" Silver Wolf shouted, trying to tighten the noose before the buffs became insurmountable.
"Future Sight," Fu Xuan countered.
Silver Wolf's heart skipped a beat. Future Sight was the most psychologically taxing move in the Psychic arsenal. It didn't strike immediately; it set a "doom timer" on the opponent. With Hypno's double-stacked Calm Mind buffs, a direct hit from Future Sight would likely end Cloyster's run in a single explosion.
"Cloyster, Hydro Pump! Go all out!"
"Hypno, Protect."
Silver Wolf was desperate to interrupt the countdown, but Fu Xuan's defensive timing was impeccable. The high-pressure jet of water slammed into the green sphere of Protect, splashing uselessly into the surrounding vortex.
"Now, Psychic!" "Shell Smash! Follow up with Icicle Crash!"
Silver Wolf threw caution to the wind. Shell Smash shattered Cloyster's external armor, drastically lowering its defense but sending its speed and attack power into the stratosphere. She hoped the increased speed would allow Cloyster to dodge the mental lock-on.
However, the expected mental assault didn't come. Instead, Hypno used Psychic to grab the walls of the Whirlpool itself, using the water's momentum to slingshot its body high into the air, hovering above the arena via telekinesis.
"The beauty of a high-compatibility Psychic-type," Fu Xuan chuckled, "is that we don't need many words. With one command, it understands the intent behind the tactic."
Silver Wolf's face darkened. Telepathy. Fu Xuan wasn't just calling out moves; she was communicating complex tactical shifts directly into Hypno's consciousness. The verbal commands were nothing more than a smokescreen to keep Silver Wolf guessing.
Silver Wolf's mind raced, her processors working at maximum capacity to predict the "Future Sight" impact window while simultaneously tracking Hypno's position. It was a familiar feeling—the same tactical suffocation she had felt when Julian first tested her. But this was worse. Fu Xuan's calculations weren't just fast; they were right.
"Don't just stand there, little hacker," Fu Xuan prompted, her voice airy. "The future is arriving. Psychic!"
Silver Wolf looked at the timer. Future Sight was due to detonate in seconds. If she used Protect now, she might block the Psychic blast, but she wouldn't have the energy to block the Future Sight that followed.
"Icicle Spear!" Silver Wolf yelled, choosing to trade damage. If she was going down, she was taking a piece of that Hypno with her.
But as the icicles launched, the mental attack never came. Fu Xuan had feinted. Hypno had shifted into a defensive posture, its own Protect catching Silver Wolf's spears with ease.
And then, the sky turned purple.
The massive energy ball of Future Sight materialized directly above Cloyster, who was now armorless and vulnerable from Shell Smash. Silver Wolf realized too late that every move she had made—the Whirlpool, the Shell Smash, the trade—had been a path carefully laid out by the Grand Diviner.
She hadn't been fighting a Pokémon. She had been walking into a prophecy.
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