This was her first crushing defeat since entering the Global College League. Even in the round she had lost before, she had not been completely overwhelmed in the very first battle.
Flame Charge had been the best option she could think of at the time. She had hoped its speed and brief moments off the ground would let her avoid Earthquake's interference and interrupt her opponent's attack.
Instead, she had fallen straight into his trap. The thick club had come crashing down, knocking Delphox out on the spot.
Shadow Bone was the signature move of Alolan Form Marowak. It struck enemies with a bone imbued with spiritual power, a Ghost-type physical attack that dealt tremendous damage. A single blow had taken Delphox down.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. How pitiful!" The opposing Pokémon Trainer gazed at the unconscious Fennekin in the crater, sighing with a sleazy expression.
Veranica still ignored him. She silently recalled Delphox and sent out another Pokémon.
"Two Gym Leader Class Pokémon right at the start. Veranica isn't pulling any punches!" Xiao Ran said gravely as he watched Alakazam appear.
They all knew winning this round would be difficult for Veranica, but none of them had expected her to lose so badly in the very first battle.
Not only that, but she had already sent out her second Gym Leader Class Pokémon for the second battle.
"Alakazam, Psychic!" Veranica launched the first attack as soon as Alakazam appeared.
Alakazam's psychic power was even stronger than Delphox's. It excelled at Confusion and used it to move around even normally. With its body floating in the air, it had no need to fear Ground-type moves the way Delphox did.
"Marowak, Dig!" The little figure wearing a bone helmet instantly burrowed underground, easily avoiding Psychic and vanishing from everyone's sight.
"Alakazam, **Psychic