Silver Blast Cloud

Aggron was going head-to-head with Hariyama despite being four times weak to Fighting-type moves.

Even if Aggron had the advantage in level, it was hardly a good choice.

But Baimu had a plan.

"Curse!"

"Roar!"

Aggron glared at Hariyama and let out a low growl as black mist rose from its body.

Curse worked differently when used by a Pokémon that wasn't Ghost-type. When Galarian Corsola used it, the move cost it health to steadily drain its opponent's. When Aggron used it, it lowered its Speed and raised its Physical Attack and Physical Defense.

The reason lay in a Japanese wordplay: noroi could mean both "curse" and "sluggish." The two readings matched the move's two effects.

At the same time—

"Arm Thrust!"

Brawly shouted, fist clenched.

Hariyama lumbered toward Aggron, the ground trembling with each step. A bright reddish-brown glow spread across its fan-sized hands.

But Baimu had no intention of letting it close in so easily.

"Fall back! Sand Tomb!"

"Roar!"

Still wreathed in black mist, Aggron retreated several steps to widen the gap. Its gleaming claws slammed into the ground. With a sharp crack, a fissure opened and raced toward Hariyama's feet.

"Dodge right!" Brawly shouted at once.

Hariyama threw itself into a sideways roll. The ground where it had stood collapsed with a roar, forming a terrifying funnel-shaped sandpit.

If Hariyama fell in, its weight would probably make climbing out difficult.

Brawly knew that perfectly well. He couldn't let Aggron make any more pits and destroy the ground beneath Hariyama's feet.

"Use Force Palm again and again!"

"Yama!"

Hariyama roared and thrust both hands forward. A palm-shaped shockwave shot out, followed by a second and a third!

Shockwave after shockwave came flying as its palms kept striking forward!

But Baimu and Aggron had anticipated that move. The