This clearly put Starmie at a disadvantage. After being hit by Toxic, it would be forced onto the back foot for the rest of the battle. Unless it ended the fight quickly, all that awaited it was death from the poison.
"Starmie, use Hydro Pump!"
Mark no longer dared to keep boosting Starmie's defenses with Cosmic Power. Now he only wanted to end the battle quickly and have Starmie defeat Swampert.
Starmie was also growing agitated after being hit by Toxic. Once it received Mark's order to attack, it quickly gathered Water Elemental Power and launched Hydro Pump at Swampert.
"Swampert, I'll leave the rest to you," Zhang Cheng said, letting Swampert handle things on its own.
Swampert was naturally very familiar with Toxic tactics. It had used this move to defeat countless powerful opponents.
"Gana~ Gana~"
Swampert quickly created a Protect barrier in front of itself, blocking the incoming Hydro Pump.
Starmie's Hydro Pump carried tremendous energy and ultimately shattered the barrier. However, there was barely any energy left after breaking through, so the damage it dealt to Swampert was negligible.
What followed was easy to imagine. Mark had no choice but to make Starmie keep attacking, while Swampert only needed to maintain a steady defense.
Swampert defended with Protect and Wide Guard, making it difficult for Starmie's attacks to break through. Even when they breached the barriers, they could not inflict serious damage on Swampert.
"Damn it, do you dare let Swampert face my Starmie head-on?" Mark's face was livid as he watched Swampert keep defending. "Stop hiding like a coward and come out!"
Swampert answered Mark with another Protect. Zhang Cheng ignored him. Battles had always been about the result, not the process.
As the poison took effect, Starmie's condition grew steadily worse, and its attacks became