Serperior had prepared for either outcome.
If Leech Seed tangled up Rillaboom and bought Serperior time, he could follow through with Leaf Storm, strengthening himself while dealing considerable damage.
Even if Rillaboom realized he had avoided the trap in his path, Serperior already had Leaf Blade ready to meet him at close range.
Unfortunately, tricks taught by the same trainer were easy to see through. Rillaboom had anticipated Serperior anticipating his anticipation. The thrown Wood Hammer had lost much of its power, but it still dealt enough damage to give Rillaboom the advantage in their first exchange.
It looked as though the attack had left only two shallow marks on his tail. But Serperior knew exactly how tough his carefully trained tail and well-kept scales were. The pain awakened his wild instincts. His crimson eyes narrowed further as he watched Rillaboom's every move, no longer daring to let down his guard.
The two Pokémon had been companions for a long time. They knew each other inside and out, and their strength was closely matched. Every decision could determine the outcome of the battle.
"Why are you all staring at me? I'm just the referee! Watch the battle!" Ye Lan noticed the pointed looks from the stands and nearly flung his microphone away in frustration.
What were those looks supposed to mean? He wasn't commanding either Pokémon today. Why were they acting as if he had taught them to fight like this?
Would he have given those commands? If it were him, he would have predicted where Rillaboom would land and made Leech Seed burst open there. He would have taken the hit to create an opening for Glare, then fired a Leaf Storm right in Rillaboom's face!
Serperior still wasn't ruthless enough. He could have traded that damage for a