"That's more like it!"

  Sato remained calm and collected uhe onsught of attacks. If it had been only sneak attacks, that wouldn't have been his master's true style.

  "Zoroark, Protect! Cover!"

  "Power Whip!"

  "Fmethrower!"

  Thick green vines, reinforced with bzing red energy, shed toward Zoroark, trying to interrupt it!

  But—before the attack could nd, Houndoom had already bee out, its va-infused Fmethrower colliding directly with Power Whip!

  Now, both sides had four active Pokémon each.

  On the assassin's side: Fearow, Arbok, Rhydon, and Tangrowth—a banced trol-heavy lineup.

  On Sato's side: Zengar, Larvitar, and Houndoom—equally versatile and strong.

  In Pokémon battles, having more Pokémon wasn't always better—if they cked proper coordination, it could cause interferenstead.

  Sometimes, a two- or three-Pokémon synergy was more effective, sihey only had orainer.

  But the thing Sato remembered most about his master's peak, was his perfect six-Pokémon coordination.

  "Let's keep going! Larvitar, Rock Slide! Gengar, Shadow Ball!"

  Larvitar waved its tiny arms, summoning hundreds of gray boulders—scattering them like a rain of destru, c the entire enemy lineup!

  Gengar, surrounded by ten floating Shadow Balls, mixed them into the Rock Slide barrage, waiting for an opening.

  "Tricks like these won't work! Rhydon, Stone Edge! Tangrowth, Vine Whip!"

  Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Rhydon crouched low, bringing both hands together, f a massive crimson stoweehen hurled it forward!

  The rotating red boulder smashed through the Rock Slide, bsting a hht through the attack, then exploding on impact!

  "Lar… Larvi?!"

  Larvitar was stuhis was the first time its perfectly executed Rock Slide had been pletely tered.

  Meanwhile, Tangrowth's vine whips, writhing like dozens of green serpents, shed at the Shadow Balls—destroying all ten before they could even reach their target!

  "Houndoom, Zoroark, Fmethrower!"

  The fmes erupted, f the vines back—but at the same time, Arbok and Fearow had already moved in, aiming their attacks at Houndoom!

  Poison Fang and Drill Peck struck viciously—targeting what seemed to be the easiest prey.

  "Awooo!"

  Houndoom snarled. Did they really think it was the easiest target?

  In an instant, the Fme Orb's energy surged through its body, fueling its Moltehrower!

  The bzing inferno roared toward Arbok!

  Meanwhile—Larvitar, regaining its posure, charged toward Fearow, summoning another Rock Slide—but this time, shaping the boulders into a shield!

  "Gengar, Psychic! Zoroark, Dark Pulse!"

  Psychiergy locked Tangrowth and Rhydon in pce, even if only for a few seds—that was all Zoroark needed.

  Dark Pulse erupted, following Fmethrower's path, smming into Arbok!

  Arbok was knocked out instantly!

  "Double Earthquake!"

  Rhydon and Tangrowth broke free, leaping into the air before smming the ground with all their might!

  The tremors surged forward—Houndoom had just fitag and had no time to react—the shockwaves sent it tumbling down!

  Zrabbed Larvitar, leaping away, while Gengar floated above the battlefield.

  However, Fearow took advantage of the chaos, abandoning Larvitar to dive-bomb Houndoom.

  "Drill Run!"

  A critical hit—Houndoom was down! Now, both sides had lost one Pokémon each—back to square one!

  Two red lights fshed, both trainers recalling Arbok and Houndoom. It seemed that even the dead-fish-eyed assassin didn't io use cheap tricks this time.

  There was ation.

  "Again!"

  The assassin charged forward, entering the fight himself!

  "Zoroark, Night Daze! Lock down Tangrowth! Gengar, take down Fearow! Larvitar, handle Rhydon!"

  Sato rushed in as well—engaging in hand-to-hand bat against his master!

  Houndoom was down—and now, there was no oo restrain Tangrowth.

  In this kind of chaotic battle, Tangrowth was actually the most dangerous oppo.

  That meant—Sato had to rely on the most mobile Pokémon in his lineup—Zoroark, who could use both Fmethrower and Night Daze, to keep it in check!

  Gengar had the best ce of taking down Fearow—with Thunderbolt at its disposal, all it needed was one good opening to secure the win!

  As for Rhydon versus Larvitar… It was like a fully-grown fighter beating up a kid.

  The only advantage Larvitar had was its small size, making it mile pared to the bulky Rhydon.

  But defense alone wasn't enough—victory depended on when Gengar could take down Fearow and rush to Larvitar's aid.

  As for why her trainer was calling out more Pokémon… They both o hold reserves in case of ued situations.

  So, both sides maintaihe current lineup. If Sato's key to victory was Gengar versus Fearow—then for his master…

  "Rhydohat Larvitar as fast as possible!"

  Sato gritted his teeth, barely dodging a straight punch. He was worried about Larvitar too—both were Rock/Ground-types.

  Larvitar might bee powerful iure—but right now…

  Boom!

  A small green figure was sent flying—but it quickly got back up, throwing dozens of rocks at Rhydon, blog its path as it tried to assist Fearow!

  It was a future pseudo-legendary—it couldn't be the o its teammates down!

  Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Rhydon was relentless, unleashing Stone Edge once more—the spinning crimson boulders unched forward, aiming straight at Larvitar!

  "Zo help—"

  "Laaaar!"

  Larvitar's determined cry cut off Sato's and.

  Pg its tiny hands on the ground, it summoned a series of sharp stones—blog the path of the ining Stone Edge attack!

  A new move—Stone Edge!

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Stone Edges shattered oer another, but Rhydon's Stone Edge barrage also began slowing down—until it stopped pletely before reag its target!

  Rhydon turned around, finally taking Larvitar seriously. At a critical moment, it had mastered an advanced Rock-type move.

  But that wasn't enough!

  Rhydon's heavy footsteps thudded against the ground—moving with ued speed, it charged at Larvitar, both hands glowing e—a high-level Fighting-type move—Hammer Arm!

  Larvitar steadied its breathing. Stone Edge had drained a lot of energy. Seeing the ining Hammer Arm, it knew better than to take it head-on.

  Agility was its true advantage!

  Dragon Dance!

  Larvitar began a mysterious danarrowly dodging the first swing of Hammer Arm!

  Rhydon's eyes widened in disbelief—the tiny creature at its feet had pletely evaded the attack.

  It swung again.

  Another miss!

  "Screeech!"

  A pierg bird cry suddenly drew everyone's attention.

  A powerful surge of electricity crackled around Fearow, sparking wildly—and as the glow faded—Fearow plummeted to the ground, unmoving!

  Sato kicked his master backward, sending him flying.

  The terattack… had begun!