"GO!" On the battlefield, Xun Chaoze wiped the rain from his face and threw his third Poké Ball. As before, his third Pokémon vanished completely beneath the water. With a roar, waves surged outward, and Swampert's enormous form emerged.
"What a fine Swampert!" Like Xun Chaoze's earlier Dredging Turtle and Vaporeon, this Pokémon had clearly been raised exceptionally well, judging by its eyes, skin color, and other features. Yet only Swampert gave Liu Qing a distinctly different impression. Lucario had clearly sensed it too, caution entering its previously calm gaze.
"Swampert, this battle is our chance to test the results of all our hard work!" Xun Chaoze seemed keenly sensitive to the change in Lucario's presence. He glanced at Lucario, a smile spreading across his face even as fierce fighting spirit blazed in his eyes, and encouraged the Swampert before him.
"Now this battle should be interesting. Lucario, say hello with Aura Sphere!" Liu Qing issued the first probing command.
At his command, Lucario swiftly gathered energy and fired it, carving a white wake across the water straight toward Swampert!
"What a fast attack!" Xun Chaoze exclaimed. It was considerably faster than during the battle against Vaporeon, stirring his own desire to pit their strength against each other. He countered, "Swampert, Mud Bomb!"
Swampert drew a deep breath and tilted its head back slightly, then thrust it forward and opened its mouth wide. Countless clumps of mud shot out, their speed stretching them into oval shapes. They too plowed across the water and collided with the Aura Sphere.
Boom, boom, boom, boom! A series of explosions shook the field, sending waves churning and smoke billowing. At that very moment, a shadow fell over them. Xun Chaoze and Swampert both looked up sharply to find Lucario already overhead, the brilliant sunlight