Skill Swap.
A Psychic-type Status Move that could decide the course of a match outright if used at the right moment.
If Mega Mawile lost its Huge Power Ability, its offensive power would plummet. Marlin's choice made perfect sense.
But how could Baimu let her have her way?
A good trainer avoided any move that might give an opponent a chance to turn things around. Underestimate them strategically, but take them seriously tactically.
Unless taking the hit would create a chance to end the match.
"Protect."
As invisible psychic power spread toward Mega Mawile, a spherical shield of light appeared before it.
The Protect it had learned only recently might struggle to block a burst of damage from an opponent at its level, but stopping a Status Move was another matter.
Bzz!
The air shook violently, and the shield flickered.
"Maw..."
The blue glow in Delphox's eyes swiftly faded.
Marlin bit her lip. This was still within her expectations. If Mega Mawile knew Protect, she would use Skill Swap to draw it out, then follow up with—
"Will-O-Wisp!"
Whoosh!
Countless deep-purple ghostly flames sprang into being. Delphox waved its branch wand, about to send them at Mega Mawile, when its opponent suddenly produced a swarm of clones with Double Team.
"Maw!" it cried out.
What now?
There were only nine Will-O-Wisp flames, while Mega Mawile and its clones numbered more than twenty!
"Spread them among the ones in front!" Marlin knew she had no time to hesitate. Baimu would not give her long enough to find the real one. She could only pick nine at random and take a chance.
Unfortunately.
The girl's luck failed her.
The nine ghostly flames burned through nine clones. The rest had already scattered and were charging Delphox from every direction!
Marlin fought to stay