"Go, Rhydon!"
Team SkyCrown sent Rhydon onto the field. Although Flygon could immunize itself to Ground-type moves, if Electabuzz rode on Flygon, it could also completely avoid Ground-type moves, becoming an aerial artillery platform.
However, Rhydon, being a Ground type, was also immune to Electric-type moves. And seeing the confidence with which Team SkyCrown sent it out, Ethan Black suddenly had a hunch.
That Rhydon might have the ability Lightning Rod. Although in this world abilities hadn't yet been clearly defined—like Flygon's Levitate ability, which was simply described as a special capacity to be immune to Ground-type moves...
That didn't stop some people from having discovered that Rhydon could possess the Lightning Rod ability. If that were the case, then the strategy of Electabuzz riding Flygon as an aerial platform would completely collapse.
And not only that! The Lightning Rod ability didn't just nullify Electric-type moves, it could also boost the user's Special Attack upon receiving them. If that happened multiple times, Rhydon could become the true dominant artillery on the ground!
On top of that, that Electabuzz was clearly intended to counter Walrein. But if Rhydon had Lightning Rod, then Walrein would lose its only natural enemy, leaving Team Devon completely exposed!
"Rhydon, huh? Looks like you've got an ace up your sleeve too... Then, go, Feraligatr!" Seeing Rhydon appear, Team Devon responded by sending out a Water-type Pokémon with quadruple type advantage against Rhydon.
Facing a Water-type Pokémon, Team SkyCrown clearly already had a strategy prepared. As soon as Feraligatr entered the field, they immediately threw out a Poké Ball: a beautiful Altaria appeared.
"Against the Water type, Team SkyCrown sends out Altaria, a Dragon- and Flying-type Pokémon!"
"Altaria is an excellent choice—not only can it defend against Feraligatr, but it's also immune to Ground-type moves and can counter Flygon, the aerial dominator. Three birds with one stone!"
The two commentators once again praised Team SkyCrown's choice.
Ethan Black watched with great interest the battle between the two teams. When Altaria appeared, his pupils suddenly contracted, vaguely guessing Team SkyCrown's plan.
In addition to the three advantages the commentators had mentioned, this Altaria might also be meant to lure Team Devon into sending out an Ice-type Pokémon. Altaria also had quadruple advantage over Grass and double over Fighting, so Team Devon would definitely avoid using those types.
If Ethan Black's assumptions were correct, then with Electabuzz neutralized by Lightning Rod, and Grass- and Fighting-types eliminated, and considering that Rock-types were also countered by Walrein...
Furthermore, Ethan Black suspected that Team SkyCrown's Walrein had the ability Thick Fat, which granted it eight times greater resistance to Ice-type moves. If Devon sent out an Ice-type, that Walrein would become a truly unstoppable beast!
Just as Ethan Black predicted, Team Devon sent out Sneasel, an Ice- and Dark-type, to cover against Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokémon.
Seeing Sneasel on the field, the trainer from Team SkyCrown smiled with a mysterious expression, and one of his teammates threw out Heracross.
Heracross, being a Fighting type, had quadruple advantage over Sneasel, so this choice was completely logical. In addition, its Bug typing gave it combined defense against Psychic-, Dark-, and Grass-types.
"It's not just the Fighting-type advantage... Against Bug-type, Team Devon will surely rely on Flying, Fire, or Rock types."
"Flygon already covers Flying, so... will they go for Fire or Rock?"
Ethan Black's eyes narrowed. Both Fire and Rock types were countered by Walrein.
If everything was as he had predicted, then Team SkyCrown was using a classic "nurture the boss" strategy: creating an environment where their best Pokémon—Walrein—had no natural enemies, making it practically invincible.
After SkyCrown sent out Heracross, Devon quickly responded with Charizard. With its Fire- and Flying-type, it could easily take down Heracross, and it also had the ability to join forces with Flygon to harass Altaria from the air.
That move was probably the best of the entire selection process. If they managed to dominate the skies, they could still pose a great threat to Walrein, which couldn't fly.
But Team SkyCrown had already anticipated this. They immediately sent out Pelipper.
"This is it! Team SkyCrown sends out Pelipper, Water- and Flying-type, as their final choice!"
"Pelipper? Although it's a Water type and has the advantage against Charizard in the air, don't forget Electabuzz, the aerial electric cannon!"
"Exactly, Pelipper is very vulnerable to Electabuzz. I don't understand what Team SkyCrown is planning..."
The two commentators frowned as they watched that last choice.
But Ethan Black could only sigh: "What are they planning? I'm one hundred percent sure that Rhydon has the Lightning Rod ability!"
After deciding which Pokémon each team would use, the five combatants from each side entered the field and positioned themselves on circles marked in a quarter of the arena.
"Huh? What's going on here? Are the trainers also going to participate in the battle?"
Ethan Black frowned, still not fully understanding the rules of the Pokémon Professional League tournament.
Were the trainers fighting too?
Wasn't that a bit too much?
Humans, with their fragile bodies, couldn't possibly fight against Pokémon!
With the doubt lingering in his mind, Ethan Black took advantage of the battle's preparation time to pull out his phone and search the internet.
(End of Chapter)