It was a miraculous state. Cheng Tian could feel what Greninja felt. It was almost as though...
"Bond... evolution?" Cheng Tian murmured those words.
Greninja performed a nimble backflip in midair, then braced itself against the ground with one hand. But Zeraora's assault was far from over. It used Quick Attack again to close the distance, unleashing Close Combat and engaging Greninja in a hand-to-hand battle.
Once they clashed at close quarters, the gap between them became instantly apparent. With its enormous level advantage, favorable type matchup, and wealth of battle experience, Zeraora gained an overwhelming advantage almost immediately.
Even so, as Greninja was driven back again and again, it still desperately protected its vital spots. Otherwise, with its frail body and defenses, it probably would not have lasted a single move.
Zeraora raised its right knee and drove it into Greninja's abdomen, while the Ice Punch on Greninja's left fist smashed hard into Zeraora's cheek.
"Ra!"
"Gre!"
Both attacks landed simultaneously. Cheng Tian felt a sharp pain in his stomach almost instantly and staggered, clutching his abdomen.
Zeraora had taken a punch too, but overall, it still held the advantage.
In the current situation, Greninja really should have put some distance between them to fight, but its opponent pressed forward relentlessly. Never mind the Water Shuriken it had only just learned-it did not even have time to unleash the Water Pulse it had long since mastered.
"Use Aerial Ace to get behind it, then Liquidation!"
Zeraora pressed forward furiously. At the very instant it swung a right hook, Greninja seized the opening to use Aerial Ace and unleashed Liquidation from behind it.
However, wholly absorbed in battle, Zeraora's senses were exceptionally keen. Almost the instant it heard the air split behind it, it relied on fighting techniques already etched