Victory in the Showdown

The ring-shaped markings on its body were dazzling gold. After it bathed in moonlight, they glowed faintly.

In that respect, the Umbreon resembled the woman before him. Both were beautiful to look at.

Liu Xin waved a hand. "Who told you that ridiculous method would work?"

"Don't think you can erase my memory by knocking me out. Unless you're sending me to the afterlife, that's not happening. Let's talk this over. How about we pretend I didn't see anything?"

The woman said tearfully, "Don't try to fool me. You saw it, and that's that. Let me knock you out first!"

She wasn't listening.

Umbreon attacked at the woman's command, showing no mercy.

Tackle.

It came straight at him with a simple Headbutt, and Liu Xin began hopping from side to side.

She was determined to have Umbreon knock him unconscious and wouldn't listen to a word he said.

"Forget it. If I keep trying to talk her down, I really might get knocked out."

"I'll deal with the problem first!"

"Come out, Cubone."

Liu Xin couldn't keep dodging forever. He had to face her head-on.

He sent out Shiny Cubone, who stared at Umbreon, eager to fight.

The bone collar around Cubone's neck shone with an earthy yellow light, making him look imposing.

Without waiting for Liu Xin's orders, Cubone rushed in to attack.

He swung the bone club in his hand.

Umbreon moved gracefully, dodging every strike with ease. There was even a hint of mockery in its eyes.

You dare toy with me!?

Cubone's fiery temper couldn't take that. He huffed and gripped his bone club tightly.

Then he roared at Liu Xin.

"Come on, buddy. Just because you can't beat it doesn't mean you should take it out on me."

"And you can't even solve the problem yourself? Unbelievable."

Liu Xin was used to this.

He immediately gave an order.

Ground Spike.

Without any warning, the ground beneath Umbreon erupted, and sharp spikes burst through the earth.

"Umbreon!"

It cried out, caught completely off guard.

Fortunately, it reacted the instant the ground trembled beneath its feet, dodging most of the damage.

Even the woman broke into a cold sweat for it.

"Umbreon, use Confuse Ray."

The markings on Umbreon's back flashed, releasing a strange, dizzying light.

This is bad!

Liu Xin sensed trouble, but it was too late. Cubone was engulfed by the light and became confused.

His eyes grew unfocused and his head swam. He staggered around like a drunk.

Ghost-type attacks were hard to guard against.

Umbreon pressed its advantage and swiftly closed in.

Quick Attack.

It flashed forward like lightning and slammed into Cubone.

Thud!

The hit landed squarely. Cubone rolled several times across the ground before coming to a stop.

The impact also snapped him out of his confusion. He shook his head and got up, glaring.

"Cubo, Cubo!"

"Hey, don't blame me. I didn't want this either."

"How about attacking with your eyes closed?"

They passed the blame back and forth, with Cubone giving Liu Xin an earful.

The woman spoke quietly. "Are you two still fighting?"

"Yes, yes. We're continuing now."

Liu Xin gave an awkward smile and told Shiny Cubone to get ready.

"Cubo, Cubo."

Cubone huffed in a sulk, tightened his grip on his bone club, and let out a challenging roar.

Umbreon looked supremely proud. Its earlier success had clearly gone to its head.

Another Confuse Ray followed.

The markings on its back flashed again, releasing that strange light.

The same move wouldn't work on Cubone twice. He closed his eyes so he wouldn't see the attack.

Ding!

He still became confused. It was a mental attack, and closing his eyes did nothing to stop it.

Liu Xin and Shiny Cubone were both stunned. They had fallen for it again.

The woman knew ordinary attacks wouldn't take Cubone down, so she had Umbreon use its strongest attack.

Assurance.

Suddenly, shadows swallowed Umbreon. It was as though a black moon had descended, plunging everything into darkness.

Two red lights gleamed in the endless dark: Umbreon's eyes.

Terrifying waves of dark energy gathered there, building one after another.

Liu Xin had a bad feeling. He roared, "Snap out of it! No matter what, you have to defend against this!"

"If you don't, you'll lose for sure!"

"Do you want to lose?"

The last question struck Cubone to the core.

His confusion vanished in an instant. He threw back his head and roared, back to normal, then immediately made his move.

Boomerang.

He drew his arm back in a wide arc, then hurled the bone club with all his strength.

The terrifying Boomerang tore through the air, carrying astonishing force!

"Umbreon!"

Umbreon unleashed its attack as well. Black shock waves surged forward one after another, no less formidable.

Assurance multiplied the damage its target had already taken. That was why it was so frighteningly powerful.

Boom!

The Boomerang and Assurance collided head-on. The blasts kept coming, and a powerful shock wave spread from the clash.

Liu Xin and the woman both stumbled back several steps as the wind whipped around them.

Liu Xin shouted, "Cubone, use Ground Spike!"

But Cubone froze in place, embarrassment showing in his eyes.

Without his bone club, he seemed to have lost his soul. He couldn't do anything, and even his fighting spirit had faded.

Forget Ground Spike—he couldn't even use Tackle.

Liu Xin finally saw the problem.

At least he had discovered it now, rather than during a Gym battle.

"Believe in yourself. You can do it."

"You're the one fighting, not your bone club. You're the one using the move."

"You're Cubone, not a bone club."

The provocation worked. Cubone bristled.

He began stomping hard on the ground, and it had an effect.

Ground spikes really did start bursting up, striking from within the darkness.

"Be careful, Umbreon."

Worry filled the woman's voice. She was afraid her Pokémon would get hurt.

But Cubone's aim was off, and the spikes missed.

Focus a little more.

Cubone gave it everything he had, pushing past his limits.

Bang!

Ground spikes erupted beneath Umbreon and struck it dead-on.

"Umbreon!"

It cried out in pain. Its Assurance dissipated completely, and the Boomerang came hurtling toward it.

Both attacks struck Umbreon at once. How could its small frame withstand that?

It was sent flying, rolled several times across the ground, and passed out.

Clearly, Ground Spike's devastating power had come from the boost provided by the bone collar.

"Umbreon, are you all right?"

The woman hurried over and picked Umbreon up, her eyes full of worry.

Liu Xin recalled Cubone, walked up beside her, and said softly, "I didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to ask where the bathroom was."

"And right now, I'm a little..."