"Great job!" Aji shouted. "Armaldo, Stone Edge!"
At his command, Armaldo quickly gathered two intersecting rings of sharp stones around its body, then sent them hurtling toward Gengar.
"You're making this too easy. Gengar!" Despite the incoming Stone Edge, Liu Qing looked confident. Gengar wore the same sinister grin as it swayed from side to side, dodging the stones. The instant it neared the ground, it turned into a shadow and raced straight across half the battlefield, slipping beneath Armaldo's feet before materializing behind it.
"Oh no! Armaldo, watch your back!" Aji cried out.
"Gengar, send Armaldo over here! Dark Pulse!" At Liu Qing's command, Dark Pulse erupted, striking Armaldo squarely in the back. The powerful blast sent it tumbling toward Liu Qing's side of the field, where it landed with a thud. Just then, Armaldo let out an agonized cry as an eerie purple glow rapidly spread over its body. It had clearly been poisoned.
"He actually used my Toxic Spikes against me!" Aji sucked in a sharp breath.
"The finishing blow, Gengar! Misfortune!" As Liu Qing spoke, blue-purple light burst from Gengar's entire body, spreading like a shock wave and striking Armaldo. Armaldo screamed as that eerie purple glow flared over its body once more, and it was thrown backward. By the time it hit the ground, it could no longer battle.
"Armaldo!" Aji couldn't help shouting.
"Armaldo is unable to battle. Gengar wins! The winner of this match is Liu Qing!" Nurse Joy announced after checking Armaldo's condition.
"You did great, Gengar. Thank you! Come back and rest!" The long battle had finally drawn to a close. After being repeatedly forced onto the defensive and finally securing victory, Liu Qing let out a small breath, a relaxed smile appearing on his face. Yet there was a hint