VS Leon (3)

"You did well, Dhelmise. You already gave it your all."

Blake recalled Dhelmise. Being able to break through the opponent's Hail at the very end showed just how hard Dhelmise had tried. Unfortunately, its naturally low Speed had held it back.

"You return too, Mr. Mime!"

Leon also took the initiative to recall Mr. Mime. Dhelmise's final Sunny Day had completely dismantled his team-sweeping strategy. With Mr. Mime's remaining stamina, it could no longer withstand the opponent's attacks and set up Hail again. He had seen the Speed of Blake's Haunter and Dreepy; if Mr. Mime tried to set the weather without protection again, it would definitely be taken out in one move.

"Your Mr. Mime is really strong. Even if Dhelmise had been at full strength, it probably wouldn't have been able to withstand that Blizzard."

Blake spoke as he watched Mr. Mime being recalled.

"Your Dhelmise is impressive too. It took so many attacks and still managed to unleash such strength. It even broke my strategy at the end while enduring a move that countered it."

Leon praised it sincerely. This Dhelmise was truly strong, far beyond his expectations.

"Though I've only had it for a month, I understand Dhelmise's personality well enough. It's surprisingly tough."

Blake said, stroking Dhelmise's Poké Ball.

"I can tell. It's certainly extraordinary."

Leon nodded. Taking several super-effective moves head-on—even with its boosts and naturally high Defense—was not something it could endure without sufficient willpower. Of course, that also had much to do with its Trainer's cultivation.

"But I'm more curious: how did you think of using a Normal-type move to pass through a Ghost-type Pokémon's body?"

Blake was curious about Leon's unusual idea.

"That? It's kind of embarrassing. The first time I faced a Ghost-type Pokémon, I had Charmeleon—when it was still a Charmander—use Scratch on it. Naturally, it did nothing. Then Charmander passed right through its body and landed in an open patch of ground, where it got beaten up badly. Just now, I was thinking on my feet. Even if things hadn't worked out the way I expected, I could've used the recoil to retreat and dodge Dhelmise's wrapping attack."

Leon scratched his head somewhat sheepishly. That move had really been a lucky break; even he hadn't expected it to go so smoothly. If he hadn't come up with that in the moment, Thwackey might have been traded out by Dhelmise.

"Experience from the past? True. Turning past mistakes into present strength... Then let's move on to the next match. Go, Haunter!"

"Gengar!"

Haunter flew straight out from behind Blake, baring its fangs and claws. Unfortunately, everyone present knew what Haunter was really like, so no one was frightened.

"Then I'll be counting on you! Go, Charmeleon!"

Leon looked at Haunter and, without the slightest hesitation, sent out his ace, Charmeleon. The strength Blake had shown earlier left him unwilling to let down his guard in any way.

"Roar!"

Upon landing, Charmeleon shot a burst of flame toward the sky to build its momentum. Clearly, Charmeleon's entrance was far more intimidating.

"Charmeleon! Flamethrower!"

"Haunter! Dive into the shadows!"

"Roar!"

"Gengar!"

Charmeleon truly deserved to be Leon's starter Pokémon; the pair worked together seamlessly. Before Leon had even finished shouting Flamethrower, Charmeleon had already spewed fire. But Haunter and Blake were no less skilled. The instant the flames left Charmeleon's mouth, Haunter cackled and slipped into the shadows, successfully evading the attack.

"Watch out, Charmeleon! It could be Phantom Force!"

The moment Haunter vanished, Leon immediately warned it. Phantom Force was the only move he could think of that attacked by entering shadows. Charmeleon looked around in every direction, searching for Haunter.

"Sorry to disappoint you! Haunter! Plan A!"

With Blake's shout, Haunter suddenly emerged from Charmeleon's shadow and spat a gob of purple sludge at Charmeleon before it could turn around. Charmeleon hurriedly dodged, but the purple sludge still grazed its tail. Its expression immediately turned ugly.

"Damn! Toxic!"

Seeing Charmeleon's face, Leon immediately understood what Haunter's move had been. Plan A? A very good method—prearranged code words that gave the opponent no time to react. For a Ghost-type Pokémon, it was an excellent choice. But now was not the time to think about that. He had to counterattack.

"Charmeleon! Crunch!"

"Roar!"

Even without Leon's command, Charmeleon had intended to do exactly that. It opened its jaws wide and bit toward Haunter.

"Not a chance! Haunter! Substitute!"

"Gengar!"

Seeing the huge mouth snapping toward it, Haunter immediately put on a terrified expression, urgently pulled a cloth doll from its mouth, and stuffed it directly into Charmeleon's jaws. The doll was instantly crushed, but Haunter used the opportunity to retreat from Charmeleon.

"Substitute? Are you trying to fight a battle of attrition?"

Leon's expression immediately darkened. Haunter had evaded that attack and used the opportunity to widen the distance. If Haunter began kiting Charmeleon now, it probably would not last long. Toxic's damage kept increasing over time!

"How can a single negative status count as a battle of attrition? Haunter! Confuse Ray!"

"No! Close your eyes!"

Haunter grinned wickedly at Charmeleon and threw out a shifting orb of light. Charmeleon immediately shut its eyes. Once Confuse Ray's orb was seen, it caused confusion, but conversely, one would not become confused if one did not see it. Closing its eyes was one of the best options—but clearly, it was not a good choice against a Ghost-type.

"Gengar—hee hee hee hee!"

Haunter did not need Blake's command to know what to do. Aiming in Charmeleon's direction, it immediately began chanting. A pained expression crossed Haunter's face as it visibly weakened, but Charmeleon's expression became even worse.

"Curse!"

Leon's eyes widened. It was the first time he had encountered such, such, such a filthy tactic. He liked using tactics too, but never anything this filthy. Toxic plus Curse—and if he had not warned Charmeleon, there would have been Confuse Ray's confusion as well. Leon believed that if he had sent out anything other than Charmeleon, Blake would probably have added Will-O-Wisp too!

"Charmeleon—"

"Mean Look!"

Leon had just pulled out a Poké Ball and had not even had time to do anything before Blake's order arrived. Haunter's eyes turned pitch-black, pinning Charmeleon in place.

"I won't let you get away that easily!"

Blake knew that after taking several moves like these, most people would switch out their Pokémon. After all, Substitute and Curse also consumed a great deal of Haunter's stamina. Sending out another Pokémon to wear Haunter down would be the better choice, but Blake could not let Leon have his way. If Charmeleon escaped now, he would not be able to catch it again! He had to finish it in one go.

"Did you read me? Then forget it! Charmeleon! Show our determination! Flamethrower with everything you've got!"

Leon waved his hand and shouted.

"Haunter! Dodge it! Then Hypnosis."

"You're doing it again!!!"