The cheers above the arena were deafening.
Standing on the left side of the Battle Court, the burly Milo smiled as though everything had gone just as he expected.
This Black Pearl lady really was still too young. She had used the same strategy for so long that every Trainer she faced next would prepare specifically to counter it.
Without the ability to adapt, even the best strategy would gradually reveal its weaknesses.
That was also why many newcomers had excellent records at the start of the season, only to lose steam in the middle and late stages, or even plummet into the second-tier Gym ranks the following year.
If Nessa failed to recognize that, Milo could already foresee the string of crushing defeats awaiting her next year.
Then let me teach you that lesson ahead of time.
"Bellossom, Sunny Day!"
Feeling the rain soak his outstretched hand, Milo immediately gave his command.
It was exactly as Qingyu had predicted.
"Sure enough, seeing the same opening matchup as last time made Milo drop his guard instinctively..."
Qingyu murmured to himself.
"So Nessa's next command will be-"
And naturally, Nessa had accounted for that too.
"Pelipper, Hurricane!"
The two spoke almost simultaneously.
Following their Trainers' commands, the Pokémon on both sides began moving at the same time.
Milo's Bellossom gathered a ball of fiery red energy, preparing to slowly send it into the air and disperse the layers of dark clouds above the court.
Once that ball of energy rose into the sky, the weather would quickly turn sunny.
But Pelipper was clearly a step faster. After two or three flaps of its wings, a gale laden with rain roared past, stabbing toward Bellossom like a blade drawn from its sheath before Bellossom could act.
The Hurricane, especially powerful in the