Gengar had shards of ice on his body, but he was also being attacked by the move Psychic.
Fortunately, the Lucario who had charged forward never actually got to strike Florges. In midair, Slowking used his psychic powers to stop him in time.
Although it was just a fraction of a second, it was enough for Slowking to use Teleport and appear right in front of Lucario. A powerful burst of psychic energy struck him directly, pushing Lucario back.
However, with Slowking occupied, Milotic seized the opportunity to attack. A torrent of water shot from her mouth, heading straight for Drapion.
Boom!
Drapion couldn't withstand the combined attack from Milotic and Garchomp and was instantly knocked down. Fortunately, he fell right into one of the areas affected by the Grassy Terrain move that Florges had previously prepared.
Under Cain's orders, Swampert didn't go to help Drapion, as he had his own task. While holding Gastrodon by the ears, Swampert tried to lift him, but behind him appeared sharp, blade-like leaves that struck him forcefully.
The attack came from Cynthia's Roserade, who, under her guidance, had found the perfect moment to strike. Being a Grass-type, it had a major advantage against Swampert, a Water/Ground-type. Despite being a single hit, the damage was significant.
However, Cain had anticipated this move. At the same time that Swampert fell after taking the hit, two dark green energy spheres struck Gastrodon. It was Florges's Energy Ball.
Since Gastrodon shares the same types as Swampert, Energy Ball was just as effective.
"Swampert!" Cain shouted.
Despite being badly injured, the Pokémon struck the ground hard, using the momentum to launch himself forward. With both hands together, he struck Gastrodon directly, completely ignoring the Energy Ball that Roserade launched at him.
He knew his strength didn't match Gastrodon's, but if he could pull off a one-for-one trade, it would be worth it.
With that determination, Swampert managed to land a hit on Gastrodon just before Roserade's attack reached him.
Then:
Crack!
The ground sank slightly under the weight of both Pokémon, and a moment later, Florges's Energy Ball also struck Gastrodon.
Gastrodon was left unconscious in the crater, unable to get back up. Swampert, with his team's support and following Cain's orders, had successfully taken down a stronger opponent.
Meanwhile, Drapion's situation was critical. After being knocked down by Milotic, Garchomp didn't miss the opportunity. With a mighty roar, he launched a sphere of yellow and violet energy into the sky.
From the clouds, meteorites wrapped in fire began to fall.
Draco Meteor!
Even though the Misty Terrain on the field reduced the power of Dragon-type moves by half, a move like this was still devastating.
The meteorites rained down indiscriminately, but their main targets were the areas of Grassy Terrain that Florges had strategically spread across the battlefield.
Cynthia had noticed that each area of the Grassy Terrain had been carefully calculated by Cain, and Garchomp used Draco Meteor to destroy them.
Cain couldn't stop it. Milotic had already cornered Drapion, and although the rain was beginning to subside because Politoed's Drizzle ability had ended, Cain didn't order for it to be extended—doing so would also benefit Cynthia's Milotic.
Once again, Drapion was struck by Milotic's Aqua Tail, sent flying back to Cain's side.
Since fighting under Cain's command, Drapion had never been so cornered. He had always been the toughest and most reliable on the front lines, but against Garchomp and Milotic, he couldn't keep up. This left him visibly shaken.
Still, this wasn't the time for reflection. With great speed, Drapion got back up, his eyes full of determination, electrical sparks forming in his mouth and claws.
Triple Thunder Fang!
This was his strongest counterattack against Milotic.
On the other side, Slowking, having successfully stopped Lucario with his psychic powers, created a small area with Trick Room, trapping both himself and Lucario inside.
Before he could attack, Cain gave him new orders. With another use of Teleport, he appeared behind Cynthia's Spiritomb.
Slowking focused all his psychic energy, including that stored in his body, forming a spear made of Psychic energy, ready to strike.
At that moment, Slowking's eyes shone with the light of the move Miracle Eye, aiming directly at Spiritomb.
Meanwhile, Cain's Gengar, who had freed himself from the ice caused by Spiritomb, reappeared from the shadows to face Lucario. With two Shadow Balls, he intercepted Lucario's Aura-covered fist.
Boom!
Both Pokémon were blasted back by the explosion. At the same time, Slowking hurled his spiritual spear, piercing Spiritomb's spectral body and dealing considerable damage.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Drapion directly faced Milotic's powerful Hydro Pump. Despite the impact, he managed to bite three times with his Triple Thunder Fang before being knocked down again.
In the final moment, he used his tail to strike Milotic with Poison Tail, leaving her with additional injuries.
Although Drapion couldn't stay on his feet for a while, Milotic also showed signs of burns and poisoning due to the attacks she had taken.
Cain, with his vast battle experience, had managed to balance the fight, trading blows strategically and dealing considerable damage despite being at a disadvantage.
However, Garchomp, after unleashing the devastating Draco Meteor, remained a formidable threat. Even with Dragon-type moves weakened, his strength as a pseudo-legendary was undeniable.
(End of chapter)