Lumiose Conference, Lumiose Stadium.
Sawyer's Slaking displayed impressive stamina and incredibly strong defenses.
Even after taking two super-effective Fighting-type moves in a row, Slaking seemed barely fazed.
Perhaps he had heard Li Wei's grumbling, because Ash finally remembered to buff Hawlucha.
"Hawlucha, Swords Dance!"
Sometimes, Ash was still far too reckless.
When an opponent sent out a Pokémon like Slaking, he should have used a few setup moves first. He might even have swept the team afterward.
All Li Wei could say was that Sawyer knew Ash too well.
"Ash's Hawlucha gets even more fired up after taking an opponent's attacks."
Clemont adjusted his glasses.
"That must be why Sawyer sent out Slaking, right?"
Ash's Hawlucha was all about that first burst of momentum. The second push weakened, and by the third, the energy was gone.
"Next, High Jump Kick!"
Slaking was practically a living target.
Sawyer's strategy was to exhaust Hawlucha's stamina.
After taking a High Jump Kick boosted by Swords Dance, Slaking's remaining stamina had fallen into the danger zone.
"Slaking, slack off."
But Sawyer quickly had Slaking slack off to recover some stamina, bringing it back into the safe zone.
"High Jump Kick!"
"Hang in there, Slaking!"
Though Slaking's stamina was like a candle flickering in the wind, it still held on.
"Let's settle this, Sawyer!"
"Hawlucha, one final Flying Press!"
Sawyer smiled.
"Now's the time! Counter!"
Slaking, which had been lying on the ground all this time, suddenly stood up.
A Counter struck Hawlucha dead-on!
Hawlucha slammed into a tree, snapping the thick trunk in half, and was knocked out.
A true one-hit takedown!
Ash had held the advantage throughout, but a single Counter had knocked out his Battle Bird in one blow.
Sawyer had certainly given Ash an opening show of strength.
With a Slaking