Aerial Ace, a Flying-type quick strike move.
When used by bird Pokémon, it often includes a midair spin to increase speed and power.
But when Greninja used it, it felt more like a series of consecutive Cuts, completely lacking the usual form of Aerial Ace.
Still, even if the "presentation" changed, Aerial Ace was still Aerial Ace, and against Breloom, it was 4× super effective!
And in a battle between glass cannons, one misstep often meant total defeat…
Sato had predicted Masaki's prediction, and with Greninja executing the command cleanly, Breloom was taken down with just a few slashes.
"Breloom has lost the ability to battle. Greninja wins! Trainer Masaki, please send out your next Pokémon!"
Greninja had won the first match, but anyone who understood even a little about battles knew this one was a total rout between the Trainers.
After losing three rounds in a row, Masaki -who had only recently won the Ace Tournament- couldn't help but doubt himself… 'Were all those previous matches… fake?'
Taking a deep breath, Masaki pushed down his chaotic thoughts and resolutely sent out his fourth Pokémon.
"Octillery, let's go!"
Once there were two Pokémon back on the field, the referee finally spoke again, "The battle continues!"
This time, Greninja made the first move, continuing with the same Aerial Ace-like slashing move as it charged toward Octillery. And it wasn't until Greninja was nearly in front of Octillery that Masaki's command finally rang out.
"THUNDER WAVE!"
"OCTI!"
Octillery didn't even look at the approaching Greninja. It simply began crackling with blue electricity on its own.
The blue sparks spread rapidly, sweeping across the field in an instant.
Next moment…
Aerial Ace hit!
Thunder Wave… hit!
"Octillery, Charge Beam!"
Masaki suddenly felt reinvigorated. Thunder Wave had halved Greninja's Speed, a massive blow for a quick-attack-type Pokémon!
And though Octillery was a Water-type Pokémon, it could still learn many moves from other types. The Electric-type move Charge Beam would definitely deal decent damage to the Water-type Greninja.
'This time… I might have a chance!'
Masaki was hopeful.
Sure enough, Greninja -now "Paralyzed"- was crouched motionless, its hands dug into the dirt, seemingly… playing with mud?
With a loud boom, the Charge Beam exploded directly on Greninja's body.
Masaki pumped his fist, thinking that he just needed one more hit to finish the round!
…But right after, Greninja charged out from the blast zone without even a change in expression.
At the same time, Sato's voice rang out in sync.
"Night Slash."
Swiish~
And since Octillery wasn't a speed-oriented Pokémon, Night Slash landed successfully, sending Octillery flying backward.
"H-How… HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!"
Masaki cried out. A Water-type Pokémon had taken a direct hit from Charge Beam and didn't even flinch?
And then delivered an even stronger counterattack?
But on Sato's side, he actually thought it was a pity. Greninja still lacked some experience… it didn't even know where Octillery's weak spots were.
Otherwise, this battle could've ended even faster.
As for how Greninja could take a Charge Beam and still counter like it was nothing, that was thanks to its Ability, Protean.
Protean: the user's type changes to match the move it's using.
At that moment, Greninja had become a Ground-type!
"Night Slash."
"Octi!"
'Charge Beam didn't work… then let's try the Grass-type move Seed Bomb!'
The only reason Masaki could think of was that Greninja seemed to have been playing with mud earlier.
Mud Sport -also a move- halves the power of Electric-type attacks.
At the same time, Sato, using silent synchronization, gave Greninja its next command in an instant.
{Aerial Ace.}¹[1]
The next moment, the incoming Seed Bomb was nearly upon Greninja, but with one clean upward slash from Aerial Ace, it was neatly cleaved in half.
The two seed halves exploded on either side of Greninja, causing almost no damage.
What's more, Greninja had now become a Flying-type!
Without needing another order from Sato, Greninja pursued the momentum, dashing in again with Aerial Ace, unleashing a flurry of slashes on Octillery!
Masaki clenched his fists as he watched the scene before him. While his heart ached for Octillery, he was still waiting for an opportunity…
He was waiting for Thunder Wave's paralysis effect to kick in!
But even after Octillery was nearly diced into calamari rings -ahem…-, not once did the Paralysis effect show up!
Seeing the silent Masaki, Sato thought for a moment and quickly understood why.
Paralysis effect?
'You're probably not going to see that trigger in this lifetime…'
Greninja, while under Mud Sport, had become a Ground-type.
Even if there were faint electric currents of paralysis still inside its body, they had already been discharged into the ground by the time Charge Beam hit.
From that moment on, Thunder Wave no longer had any effect on Greninja.
…And finally, Octillery was taken down by brute force from Aerial Ace.
"Octillery has lost the ability to battle. Greninja wins! Trainer Masaki, please send out your next Pokémon!"
Four consecutive losses!
Masaki stood stunned as he recalled the fallen Octillery, and glanced again at the still-energetic Greninja on the other side.
'Maybe the real fake match… is the one I'm in today.'
Sato looked at Masaki with a bit of sympathy, but could only sigh helplessly.
He had actually intended to keep a low profile… but good looks and strength just wouldn't let him! 'Hahh…'
"…ainer [2]Masaki, please send out your battling Pokémon!"
The cold, indifferent referee urged him again.
Masaki snapped out of it, only to realize the spectators were still clapping for him, cheering him on.
In that moment, he suddenly remembered the reason he'd thrown down this challenge in the first place.
Was it to win?
Maybe a little…
But more than that…
It was to become stronger!
"There's just the two of you left. Who wants to go first?"
This time, Masaki took out his last two Poké Balls and asked them directly.
Both Poké Balls shook violently, as if they both wanted to go out immediately!
Masaki gave a soft laugh and was just about to send out his next Pokémon, when Greninja voluntarily stepped off the field.
And stepping forward next was a majestic white Pokémon, with a crescent blade on its forehead and fierce claws on all four limbs.
Absol. Also known as… the Disaster Pokémon!
As Absol entered, it even caused a stir in the audience stands.
After all, legends described Absol as a bringer of calamity. Whoever saw one would be cursed with misfortune.
But with the commentator's careful explanation and calming words, the crowd eventually settled down.
Even if it's a Disaster Pokémon, wasn't it still caught?
Back on Masaki's side, he gave a helpless smile, no longer having any other thoughts in his heart. He just hoped he wouldn't lose too miserably.
Still, Absol's appearance made his choice much easier.
"Alright then… you're up!"
•
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¹.{ Sync Moves } { } For sync moves
[1] { } For sync moves
[2] "…ainer" cause Masaki only heard that part… QUALITY!