After being hit by Machop's Fire Punch, Aron was sent flying on the spot.
"Nicely done, Machop!"
On Brawly's side, a smile appeared on his face when he saw Machop's attack connect effectively.
"This is bad!" Rosa, watching from the sidelines, worried about Gary's situation.
Yet even in such a disadvantageous position, Gary showed no panic whatsoever. Instead, a mysterious smile appeared on his face.
What happened next left the previously smiling Brawly frozen in place.
Aron, who had been knocked away by Machop's Fire Punch, did not get back up after landing as Brawly had expected. Instead, it remained completely motionless before finally turning into specks of light and vanishing from the battlefield.
"This is..." Looking at Aron turning into light, Brawly immediately came to his senses and stared at the scene before him in disbelief. "That was a Substitute!"
That was right. As Brawly had said, what Machop had struck just now was not Aron itself, but a Substitute.
"That's right." Seeing that Brawly had recognized it, Gary nodded noncommittally.
"Amazing, Gary!" Rosa, who had been worried just moments ago, was now excited for him.
"When did it use Substitute?" No matter how hard Brawly thought, he could not figure out when Aron had used Substitute.
"Could it have been..." After racking his brains, Brawly came up with the answer. "While Machop was evading Rock Throw?"
"That's right." Gary nodded, acknowledging Brawly's conclusion.
But after confirming it, Gary did not continue arguing with Brawly. Instead, he began directing Aron.
"Aron, use Iron Head!"
At Gary's command, Aron, which had been hiding behind a rock, immediately stepped out and charged headfirst at the nearby Machop.
Caught off guard by Iron Head, Machop was struck directly and sent flying by the impact, ultimately landing in front of Brawly.
"Machop!" Brawly