Chapter 48: Dual Hoenn Champions? Secured!

Meanwhile.

In the Hoenn region, inside the manor behind the Sootopolis Gym.

"Graceful, simply too graceful!"

Wallace sat on the living room sofa with his legs crossed, looking at his good friend beside him with a teasing expression.

Steven wore dark black lines on his forehead. Knowing Wallace's temperament all too well, he was well aware that this remark was no compliment, but rather sarcastic needling.

Ten minutes ago, he had been somewhat reluctant to start this match.

In his own words:

"A game where you can reach the highest rank simply by casually spending some money and messing around isn't worth wasting too much time on. With that kind of energy, I might as well go dig for stones."

It was precisely this contempt that led to Wallace mocking him when he was forced into a desperate switch with his Skarmory by the opponent.

"Well? Do you still dare to look down on Mizu-ya?"

Wallace arched his slender eyebrows and said.

Steven replied calmly, "I certainly don't look down on anyone. His battling style is indeed sharp enough."

"...Sharp?"

Wallace wore a peculiar expression. "If you had watched his livestreams, you would never be able to use those two words. The new tactic I asked you to test out today was actually pioneered by him."

"In reality, this is merely the tip of the iceberg of the tactics he has created."

Steven said thoughtfully, "It is rare to see you hold someone in such high regard."

Wallace shrugged. "I simply find his tactics very interesting. You know I've always liked interesting things."

He put on a pretentious sigh. "I truly have no idea how I managed to become friends with someone like you who loves boring stones."

Steven rolled his eyes almost imperceptibly. "Are we going to keep playing or not? Your Whiscash is about to bite the dust."

Wallace hurriedly called out, "Whiscash, use Protect!"

***

Steven actually didn't bring a Metagross?

After a split second of astonishment, Xiachi immediately adjusted his mindset.

Indeed, he had been making too many assumptions.

Who stipulated that Steven had to deploy a Metagross?

Given that he himself brought a whole bunch of Electric-type Pokémon along with Rillaboom, a Ground-type Steelix was undoubtedly a far more fitting choice.

At this moment, it was a foregone conclusion that the newly entered Steelix would take the Electro Ball completely unscathed.

Misfortunes never come singly.

On the other side, Whiscash's consecutive uses of Protect had somehow successfully succeeded!

As Rillaboom's sliding tackle failed to shatter that transparent barrier, the advantage held by Xiachi and Iono had quietly vanished.

The full-health Steelix, the Tailwind whose duration was rapidly running out, and the Spikes scattered all over the ground...

All of these signaled that Steven and Wallace were about to usher in a dominant offensive phase.

"Xiachi, how do we play this?"

Perhaps overwhelmed by the psychological pressure brought by the dual Champion titles across the field, Iono blurted out Xiachi's real name directly.

Completely focused on the battle, Xiachi paid no heed to such details and said calmly, "Don't panic. Deal with Whiscash first. Tailwind still has a little time left, so you can bypass Steelix and attack Wallace's side!"

It is better to hurt ten fingers than to chop one off. Not only was the Steelix immune to Electric-type moves due to its Steel and Ground typing, but it also resisted Flying-type attacks.

Kilowattrel truly had no good options against it, so it was better to directly breach Wallace's backline.

Iono followed suit and nodded. "Alright, Kilowattrel, use Air Slash on Whiscash!"

Xiachi, on the other hand, did not issue commands immediately, instead waiting for a brief moment.

He was observing Wallace's movements.

When he noticed that Wallace chose not to switch Pokémon, but instead opted to sacrifice Whiscash—

Xiachi decisively recalled Rillaboom and shouted, "Come forth, Indeedee, Reflect!"

The previous setup by Wallace and Steven finally bore fruit as the newly deployed female Indeedee stepped squarely onto as many as three layers of [Spikes].

Her health bar instantly plummeted by a full quarter!

This was the power of three layers of Spikes.

Even if the opponent dealt zero offensive output, as long as they were forced into constant rotations, they would quickly lose their combat capability.

However, since Xiachi had chosen to switch Pokémon, it proved he was prepared to bear the cost.

The speed boost from Tailwind allowed Indeedee to swiftly set up [Reflect] right after entering the field.

Meanwhile, Steelix's Rock Slide finally came crashing down.

Although it was not a same-type attack bonus move, the move's high intrinsic power, coupled with its effectiveness against Kilowattrel, caused a massive amount of damage.

Had it not been for the Reflect timely erected by Indeedee, Kilowattrel probably would have been left on the brink of fainting.

Iono let out a long breath of relief. "Phew, that scared me..."

"It's fine, feel free to attack," Xiachi comforted her. "Leave the rest to me."

Though Iono felt warm and fuzzy inside, she put on a tough front verbally. "Hmph, just watch me shark them all!"

"Kilowattrel, use Electro Ball on Milotic!"

Milotic was precisely the backline Pokémon Wallace had switched in.

There was only a sliver of time left for Tailwind.

Even though it was not in the [Charge] state, the power of this Electro Ball was not quite as devastating as the one that had nearly one-shot Skarmory.

Yet it was still more than enough to deal a catastrophic blow to Milotic.

And once Milotic was dealt with, the only opponents left to handle would be Steelix and the low-health Skarmory.

It was essentially safe to say the victory was locked in.

Could they take down two Champions in one go?

As expected of me, Iono-sama~

Just as Iono began to daydream about Xiachi showering her with praise later, she abruptly noticed something.

Milotic showed no intention of using Protect whatsoever, and the move Steelix was preparing to unleash was not Rock Slide, but... Gyro Ball!

With an effect opposite to Electro Ball, the slower the user of Gyro Ball was compared to the target, the greater the damage it could inflict!

In other words, the remaining moments of Tailwind might just become the final straw that crushed Kilowattrel.

Watching Milotic's coordinated Hydro Pump firing simultaneously, Iono's mood plummeted to the bottom like a roller coaster.

Gyro Ball combined with Hydro Pump—given Kilowattrel's current status and durability, it was impossible to withstand this.

Deliberately holding back Gyro Ball and waiting to strike together with Milotic just to ensure she couldn't react in time?

As expected of Steven...

Just as Iono fell into despair, a calm voice transmitted through her earpiece: "Indeedee, Ally Switch!"

The moment the words fell, a flash of light illuminated the screen, and Kilowattrel and Indeedee, who had been standing quite far apart, suddenly swapped positions!

The belated Gyro Ball and Hydro Pump struck Indeedee squarely instead.

Iono was dumbfounded.

Ally Switch—Xiachi actually brought this move?

Though she knew this guy always packed some bizarre, niche moves, when Ally Switch was actually executed, Iono still felt a surge of pleasantly surprised relief from escaping disaster.

"Leave the rest to me" was no empty promise.

Xiachi had truly pulled it off!

"What are you standing there daydreaming for? Go and one-shot Milotic!"

The voice ringing suddenly in her ear jolted Iono back to reality, and she commanded, "Kilowattrel, Electro Ball!"

The spinning Electro Ball blasted toward Milotic like a missile.

Indeedee had naturally made a heroic sacrifice, but her fall allowed Rillaboom to make a logical re-entry onto the field.

With a resolute expression, it stepped over the [Spikes] littering the ground, then delivered a sliding tackle straight into Milotic.

Combined with that fatal Electro Ball, Wallace's Milotic crashed down as well.

There was naturally no need to speak of the remaining matters; facing Kilowattrel and Rillaboom protected by Reflect, Steelix stood powerless.

Within two or three minutes, it and the Skarmory—which had only a sliver of health left—both perished.

This battle against the dual Hoenn Champions was secured!