There was nowhere to dodge.
What could Kingdra do?
Drake decided to sacrifice a Substitute to save the real Kingdra.
Cradily launched Power Whip, firing four glowing tentacles at Kingdra. But Kingdra's body flashed, and a complete copy split off in front of it as the real one slipped backward!
In an instant.
Two emerald tentacles caught the Substitute. The other two surged past it, still reaching for the real Kingdra.
But Kingdra had already retreated beyond their maximum range.
Cradily stretched with all its might and still could not catch the real Kingdra. It turned back and lashed the Substitute until it vanished.
At the same time.
Kingdra's many Clones dissolved under the Sandstorm. Beneath Cradily, the phantom image of glowing green roots drew blue light from the earth into its body, and the white frost left by Ice Beam on its cheek rapidly disappeared.
It was as though Cradily had never been hit.
Even without Light Screen, the Sandstorm boosted the Special Defense of Rock-type Cradily. With the screen still up, it could easily withstand Kingdra's Ice Beam.
Recovering was easier still.
Their first exchange ended with Kingdra alone losing stamina.
That brief advantage would not decide the match, but anyone could see that Steven firmly controlled its pace.
Drake's Pokémon had been on the defensive almost since the start.
Without a doubt.
Skarmory had played a crucial role in setting this up. It had forced Drake's Pokémon to switch in and out repeatedly, taking hit after hit from Stealth Rock.
Then Flygon had given Claydol so many chances to act. That had made a bad situation disastrous.
Kingdra was in trouble!
Baimu silently mourned the Pokémon that should have been the core special attacker of a Rain team.
Its balanced strengths were one thing, but without an