"Baimu suddenly switched Pokémon?"
The commentator sounded puzzled. Hydreigon was in such good shape, so why switch it out?
Plenty of spectators were wondering the same thing.
Only Baimu's fans and Brock's group knew the reason: he wanted to give Pokémon that hadn't appeared yet, or hadn't appeared in a long time, a turn in the spotlight.
It had little to do with strategy.
"Very few contestants can afford to do whatever they want at a tournament. Baimu really is one of a kind."
Brock looked helpless, and the people around him nodded in agreement.
He had traveled through so many regions with Ash, not to mention the many places he had visited on his own. He had seen plenty, but Baimu's performance reminded him of Tobias at the Lily of the Valley Conference.
Of course, Tobias had taken it even further.
Apart from his battle with Ash, when he had been forced to send out a second Pokémon, Latios, Tobias had made it through the entire tournament with Darkrai alone.
That was far more brutal than anything Baimu had done.
Even allowing for the uneven skill levels of tournament entrants, Tobias's feat had been almost unheard of.
Back in the arena.
The Pokémon switch was complete.
"Grrr!"
Aggron stood atop a stone pillar rising from the water. Its massive body filled the entire circular platform.
Rain poured down, instantly soaking its bright silver and dark gray armor.
"Aggron!" the commentator cried. "Baimu has sent this Pokémon out again, but the conditions don't seem favorable for it. What does he have planned?"
"..."
Leon stared at Aggron, whose presence felt as imposing as a mountain. Anger rose in him for reasons he couldn't quite explain.
It was raining, and they were on the Water Field.
Yet Baimu had sent out