The Hyper Beam was about to hit Ralts, but the Shadow Ball in her hands still wasn't ready.
She waved away the unfinished Shadow Ball and unleashed the Psychic power within her.
Blue Psychic energy enveloped her eyes as she seized control of the Hyper Beam!
Her Confusion raced along the beam, all the way back to Snorlax!
Ralts let out a shout!
And hurled Snorlax away with a crash!
"Ralts!"
After that, little Ralts was exhausted. She landed and panted heavily.
She was still too young. Her body couldn't yet handle Psychic power that intense.
"Ralts, you pushed yourself too hard. Next time this happens, just use Protect."
Xu Mu stepped forward, picked her up, and gently reminded her.
"Ralts!"
"Xu Mu, I wanted to win..."
Ralts didn't dare argue. She could only explain in a small voice, looking so aggrieved that anyone would have wanted to comfort her.
Xu Mu smiled helplessly.
Where had she gotten that competitive streak?
"All right, I know. But don't do that again, okay?"
"What if you hurt yourself?"
Xu Mu patted Ralts on the head and stood up again.
"Liu Shuo, I'll count this as my loss. Ralts doesn't have the strength to keep fighting."
Xu Mu spread his hands helplessly. Snorlax, too, had nearly lost the ability to fight after taking that tremendous blast of Confusion from Ralts.
But she had pushed herself beyond her limits to do it. To Xu Mu, claiming victory that way wouldn't have felt fair.
It was only a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon. Pocket change!
Besides, Liu Shuo was one of his own. He didn't mind giving him one.
"Thank you, Boss!!"
Liu Shuo jumped with excitement, then ran straight over to Snorlax's belly.
He grabbed one of Snorlax's huge paws and said happily, "Thanks for the effort,