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"Espeon is unable to battle! Scyther wins!"
With the referee's announcement, Anon's third Pokémon was defeated and withdrew from the field. The situation had become increasingly unfavorable for him.
"Come back, Espeon. You did your best."
Anon raised his hand and recalled Espeon with his PokeBall. His expression had grown deeply grim—he clearly realized just how badly the tide had turned against him.
"Liam, your Scyther is seriously impressive. To unleash such explosive power and speed in an instant... it really forced me to look at it with new eyes. But I'm not about to give up—at least not when it comes to Bug-type Pokémon! Let's test our skills! Go, Heracross!"
He swiftly threw out a PokeBall, and with a flash of light, his fourth Pokémon landed. A strong Heracross fluttered its wings and settled on the grass. Its pale blue body was clad in sturdy armor, and the long horn on its head resembled a steel shovel.
"Heracross!"
After landing, Heracross flexed its arms and struck a series of bodybuilder-like poses, showing off its powerful physique.
"A bug battle, huh? That's just my style! Scyther! Give him a proper greeting—Vacuum Wave!"
Hearing Anon's challenge, Liam's eyes lit up with excitement. He raised his hand and immediately ordered Scyther to attack first.
"Chass!"
With a sharp flick of its scythe-like arms, Scyther unleashed a crescent-shaped wave of cutting air.
"Heracross, Pin Missile!'"
"Heracross!"
Anon quickly countered. Heracross's horn glowed a dazzling white, and glowing missile-like needles shot out rapidly from it, colliding midair with Scyther's Vacuum Wave. The attacks canceled each other out in a flurry of impacts.
"Charge in, Heracross! Use Double-Edge!" shouted Anon.
"Herraaah!"
At the command, Heracross lowered its head and rushed forward. Its bug arms flared with red Fighting-type energy, swinging on both sides as it charged straight at Scyther.
"Too slow, way too slow! Scyther! Agility! Circle around Heracross and use Fury Cutter!"
"Chass!"
When it came to raw power, Scyther clearly couldn't match Heracross. But in terms of speed, Heracross didn't even come close.
Scyther activated Agility again. Its form vanished and reappeared around Heracross in rapid blinks—disappearing, appearing, then disappearing again.
Each time it reappeared, Scyther would lash out with its scythe, striking Heracross hard. At first, Heracross managed to endure with its tough exterior, but after a few more hits, it was visibly struggling to withstand the barrage.
"Heracross! Rock Blast!"
While Heracross was under siege, Anon's eyes flashed and he gave a swift order.
"Heracross!!"
At the sound of Anon's command, Heracross lowered its protective arms from its head, let out a furious cry, and slammed both arms into the ground. A sharp cracking noise echoed out, and the ground around it erupted in a massive explosion centered on Heracross.
Countless shards of rock blasted into the air—large and small—flying in all directions with devastating force. (A very different use of Rock Blast.)
"Chass!"
Scyther's insect wings beat rapidly as it calmly dodged through the airborne debris. Those it couldn't avoid, it slashed apart. Not a single stone struck it as the rubble finally fell to the ground.
"Megahorn!"
The explosion had stirred up not just debris but a thick cloud of dust. Just then, Anon's urgent voice rang out. The moment his words fell, a sharp, vibrating sound pierced the air.
From within the smoke came a blinding white light—a massive horn, glowing and vibrating intensely, shot forward and blew away the dust as it lunged straight at Scyther.
"I told you—you're too slow! Dodge it, Scyther! Use Wing Attack!"
Even though Megahorn was a powerful Bug-type move, no matter how strong an attack is, it's useless if it doesn't land.
Scyther said nothing as it watched the incoming Heracross. With a light step, it vanished and reappeared behind Heracross.
"Chass!"
The thin wings on Scyther's back flared with bright white light and slammed into Heracross's back.
"Heracross!!"
Heracross cried out in pain, stumbled forward a few steps, but didn't fall. It quickly turned, glaring at Scyther with fury.
"Still standing? Scyther! Again—Wing Attack!"
"Chass!"
White light once again coated Scyther's wings. Its whole body trailed twin white streaks as it lunged toward Heracross.
"Heracross! Aerial Ace!"
"Heracross!"
Following the command, Heracross's wings extended, lifting it high into the air to dodge Scyther's attack. Then it twisted midair and dove down vertically from above.
Boom!
"Chass!"
A loud impact sounded, followed by a pained cry as Scyther was slammed downward.
"Scyther! Silver Wind!"
Just as Scyther was about to hit the ground, Liam shouted urgently.
Scyther, who had closed its eyes in pain, snapped them open at the sound of Liam's voice. It twisted midair and released a Silver Wind, using the recoil to push itself back up.
"Chass!"
As it soared skyward, Scyther's body began to glow red—its stats temporarily boosted once again. Luck was clearly on their side today.
"Beautifully done, Scyther! Let's show them what we've got—go in with X-Scissor!"
Liam praised Scyther's good fortune and launched a counterattack. He knew full well that the best defense was always a strong offense.
"Cha!!"
Scyther's wings beat rapidly. Both scythe-arms glowed with sharp white energy, slashing twin arcs through the air as it dove toward Heracross.
"Heracross! Use Aerial Ace again!"
Seeing Scyther diving toward him, Anon quickly shouted his command.
"Heracross!!"
At the command, Heracross spread its wings again and charged upward to meet Scyther head-on.
"Scyther! Now use Double Team!"
Seeing Heracross charging up as well, Liam knew Scyther couldn't take another Aerial Ace hit. It was time to avoid direct confrontation.
"Chass!"
Scyther immediately braked midair and halted its charge. Dozens of clones burst forth from its body, forming a ring that surrounded Heracross.
"Herra? Heracross?"
Surprised by the sudden appearance of multiple foes, Heracross faltered, hovering in place in a nervous sweat.
"Heracross! Don't panic! They're illusions—only one is real! Target all of them with Pin Missile!"
Seeing Heracross hesitate, Anon quickly tried to calm it and gave a firm order.
"Heracross!"
Hearing the command, Heracross refocused. Glowing missiles trailed white light as they rapidly launched from its horn, striking and dispersing Scyther's clones one after another.
"Chass!"
Just as another Pin Missile was about to strike the next Scyther "clone," this one suddenly sidestepped the attack. Heracross's eyes widened in surprise—too late. A pair of scythe-arms glowing with white energy slashed across its body.
Time seemed to freeze.
Scyther hovered quietly in midair, wings beating gently. Heracross's body paused, then its wings stopped. Its eyes rolled back as it fell straight down.
"Heracross!"
Seeing his Pokémon plummet from the sky, Anon cried out in panic. From that height, the impact would surely cause serious injury—or worse...
"Scyther!"
"Chass!"
Right then, Liam called out.
Scyther nodded in response, then transformed into a yellow-green blur and streaked downward. Just before Heracross hit the ground, Scyther caught it and gently lowered it in a bridal carry, setting it down in front of Anon like a true gentleman.
Watching Scyther's surprisingly chivalrous act, Liam suddenly remembered something…
Heracross and Scyther seemed to share the same egg group.
Eugh. The implications were... disturbing, to say the least.