U-turn allows the user to quickly retreat by using the recoil from its own attack.
Though it doesn't deal much damage, it let Zoroark minimize the cost of taking Azumarill's Superpower head-on while making a swift exit.
And the moment Zoroark returned to its Poké Ball, Sato threw out another Poké Ball at the same time.
"Ariados, Cross Poison!"
"Dos-Dos!"
Without a hint of hesitation, Ariados charged straight at Azumarill the moment it appeared, clearly ready for a head-on clash.
"Hmph, Azumarill, Aqua Tail!"
Zoroark's voluntary retreat gave Orin a surge of momentum. He believed there was no such thing as an unbeatable strategy; as long as he found a counter, victory would follow.
Azumarill swung its tail again, forming a massive whirlpool that surged toward the charging Ariados.
But Ariados wasn't backing down either. The two back leg-like claws on its thorax crossed, glowing with a thick purple poison aura. Then it slashed violently: two intersecting blades of poison flying straight into Azumarill's Aqua Tail.
BAAANG!
A loud bang echoed across the field as Cross Poison clashed evenly with Aqua Tail.
Shock passed through Orin's eyes. His Azumarill's strength could rival that of top-tier Fighting-type Pokémon.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to catch a cute-type Pokémon so different from his usual style.
But Sato's Ariados seemed even stronger than Azumarill in raw power, especially considering that Cross Poison was a slightly weaker move than Aqua Tail.
"Ariados, Venom Drench."
Just then, Sato issued his next command. Orin quickly responded, "Water Pulse, rinse the field!"
"Azuma~"
Ariados spat out several strands of purple toxin-webbing with a series of splat sounds, scattering them all around the battlefield. But just as they landed, the spreading waves from Water Pulse swept through the area, washing away the toxins.
"Attack, Cross Poison."
Though it looked like Venom Drench had been neutralized, Sato showed no sign of frustration. In fact, the lingering water helped spread the toxins even further across the field, severely limiting Azumarill's movement space.
As a martial artist, Orin had never feared direct confrontation. Seeing Ariados charge again, he was about to command Azumarill to meet it head-on!
…When the strong stench rising from the field made him feel something was wrong.
Looking at the battlefield, Orin's expression instantly darkened.
"Azumarill, charge energy in place, prepare Ice Punch!"
Seeing this, Sato grinned, then shouted his next command, "Ariados, Toxic!"
"Dos-Doooos!"
Ariados dashed excitedly toward Azumarill, but didn't get too close. Then it opened its mouth and fired a stream of poison that splashed onto Azumarill in the blink of an eye. It happened so fast, Azumarill didn't have time to react.
Azumarill was Badly Poisoned!
"Follow up with Venoshock."
Toxic followed by Venoshock -the most common combo for Poison-type Pokémon- had now become a death sentence for Azumarill.
"Azumarill, Water Sport, defend yourself!"
Orin's eyes were full of caution. Just earlier, Water Pulse had backfired and made things worse. The little pride he had felt was instantly crushed.
In the field, Azumarill drew a circle with its hands, summoning a large flow of water that appeared around it out of nowhere.
As Venoshock approached, it immediately commanded the surrounding water to intercept and absorb the attack.
A strange scene unfolded…
Once Venoshock merged into the water flow controlled by Azumarill, it seemed to act independently of Ariados's control, suddenly veering off course just before hitting.
It missed!
"Ariados, keep using Venoshock."
Sato kept a close eye on the field, though he wasn't overly concerned. Poison-type Pokémon excel at war of attrition. Once the target is poisoned, all that's left is to stall it out.
Right now, Azumarill was not only Badly Poisoned, but its already slow speed had become even more restricted.
So all he needed to do was continue limiting Azumarill's mobility, then wait patiently.
Even if Venoshock missed its mark, it wasn't completely wasted. Most of the attacks still landed around Azumarill.
Besides, ever since Ariados consumed the Draconpoison Husk, it didn't just gain a longer lifespan, its entire body had been enhanced.
Dragon-type Pokémon live long for a reason, they're built with powerful bodies.
After Azumarill used Water Sport to block the third wave of Venoshock, it began panting heavily, eyes squinted as it looked toward its opponent, relying on little more than instinct to retaliate.
"Ariados, Venoshock."
Sato's voice remained calm and steady, and Ariados just as cautiously circled Azumarill. Each time it spotted the slightest opening, it launched another Venoshock.
Orin knew this couldn't go on, but he was mentally trapped, unable to come up with a solution.
Until the poison flared again… draining the last of Azumarill's stamina. Orin wiped the sweat from his hands, dazed as if waking from a bad dream.
That helpless feeling… was exactly like when Zoroark dominated Machamp.
"Azumarill has lost the ability to battle. Contestant Orin, please send out your next Pokémon!"
'…'
"I'm counting on you now… Blaziken!"
Orin hadn't given up. He quickly sent out his final Pokémon: the Fire/Fighting starter from Hoenn: Blaziken!
"Ariados, return."
Upon seeing Blaziken, Sato immediately recalled Ariados without hesitation.
With victory nearly in hand, Sato's goal was now to preserve as much strength in each of his Pokémon as possible.
"Gengar, it's your turn."
"Geng~"
A flash of red light revealed Gengar, whose golden eyes shimmered as it appeared on the battlefield.
"Battle, continue!"
"Blaziken, Fire Pledge!"
"Gengar, dodge it."
No sooner had the commands been issued than Gengar vanished from sight, blending into the air itself.
But Blaziken didn't hold back. It slammed both fists to the ground, summoning a dozen pillars of fire that erupted from below. Thick white smoke quickly filled the field.
Sato saw it clearly: the smoke came from poisonous residue burning away and evaporating.
Clearly, Fire Pledge wasn't meant to hit Gengar; Orin's aim was to alter the terrain that had put him at a disadvantage.
But Sato wasn't about to waste the opportunity. As soon as Fire Pledge began to fade, he issued a command: "Hypnosis."
"Gengengen~"
Just as the flames completely vanished, Gengar suddenly appeared in front of Blaziken, its chubby hands swinging a Hypnosis Pendulum in wide arcs.
Hypnosis activated!
"BLAZIKEEEEEN! DON'T FALL ASLEEP!" Orin shouted in panic, trying to wake it using a [Trainer move: Revival Roar].
…Unfortunately, it didn't work.