The Referee's announcement that Dragonite was Unable to Battle still echoed around the arena as Iris took a deep breath and recalled the exhausted Dragonite.
"Thank you, Dragonite. Thanks for the effort."
Being led around by the nose by Cynthia throughout the match had thrown Iris off balance.
She had wanted to show the person she admired how much she had grown, yet in the end, she was still so helplessly outmatched.
No.
She had to steady herself.
Iris took a deep breath. The match had only just begun; she still had plenty of opportunities!
That's right!
She looked toward the Spiritomb opposite her and threw her second Poké Ball. "Go! Haxorus!"
Bang!
White light burst forth as the powerfully built Haxorus took the field.
"Roar!"
No longer bearing any trace of immaturity, the giant dragon's eyes flashed like lightning. The sharp crimson blades on either side of his face gleamed with cold metallic light as he stared directly at the terrifying opponent formed from a hundred wicked souls.
Protected by Multiscale, Spiritomb cackled endlessly. "Kekekeke—"
Cynthia gave her command. "Will-O-Wisp."
"Haxorus! Taunt!"
Iris followed up without hesitation.
She had suffered enough from Spiritomb's Status Moves in the previous round. This time, she had to cut off the problem at its source.
At the command, Haxorus threw back his head and unleashed a savage dragon roar. The cry carried an overwhelming sense of intimidation and provocation as black-red energy ripples suddenly spread out from him.
Buzz!
The energy ripples abruptly collided with the ghostly violet fireball Spiritomb had thrown, causing it to shake violently before collapsing.
"Gah!?"
Spiritomb's eerie laughter came to an abrupt stop. Black-red light coiled around him before quickly sinking into his body.
Taunt had taken effect, eliminating any possibility of him using Status Moves again.
The