Crack, crack, crack!
A dense chorus of freezing sounds filled the air, loud enough to cut through the scrape of windblown sand.
On the left side of the battlefield stood a massive iceberg. On the right, clusters of ice thrust skyward like spears, forming a magnificent sculpture that resembled a giant flower blooming in the frozen air.
The Ice-type Z-Move—Subzero Slammer.
Faced with Cradily's twin defenses of Sandstorm and Stockpile, Baimu had decisively played one of his trump cards.
So...
What was the result?
The sandstorm still raged. Yellow-brown haze obscured most of the field, while wind and grit swirled through the air, blocking everyone's view.
The iceberg beneath Shiny Milotic stood directly in front of Baimu. He could only wait for his Pokémon's reaction or check the screens elsewhere in the stadium to see how his opponent had fared.
"Milo~"
Perched atop the iceberg, Shiny Milotic exhaled great clouds of frosty mist. It remained unfazed as sand struck its body, its gaze fixed on Cradily inside the distant ice flower.
One second. Two.
Boom!
The iceberg shattered. The ice formed by Z-Power vanished at once, as did the giant ice flower in the distance.
Unlike natural elements formed directly from type energy, they could not remain in the world for long. After a while, they disappeared on their own.
Through the howling sand, Baimu and Shiny Milotic could see Cradily's head lolling to one side, though its body still stood.
Because of Ingrain, it could not fall over completely.
Fortunately, Baimu had sharp eyes. He spotted that the light within its bell-shaped head had gone out.
Deng Pei entered the field against the sandstorm to check. After a brief pause, he raised his right hand.
"Cradily is Unable to Battle! Milotic wins!"
Cheers erupted across the stands.
Down in