This newly formed Water Shuriken was not thrown at Zebstrika in midair.
Instead, it was thrown toward the spot where Zebstrika was about to land.
This was locking on in advance.
The Water Shuriken spun through an arc, reached that patch of ground first, and burst apart.
The instant Zebstrika landed, it would inevitably be caught in the Water Shuriken's blast.
Elesa narrowed her eyes, realizing this at once.
But Elesa was Elesa, after all.
At this critical moment, a bolt of lightning materialized beneath Zebstrika's legs, forming a temporary foothold. Though it lasted only an instant, it was enough for Zebstrika to change its landing point.
It kicked off hard in midair, twisting its entire body sideways and narrowly escaping the range of the water blades bursting from the Water Shuriken.
Water exploded beside it, the spray soaking its fur, but it suffered no direct damage.
Before Elesa's heartbeat had settled, she immediately seized this opportunity.
"Zebstrika, now-Discharge!"
The instant Zebstrika landed, electricity erupted from its entire body. A ring of electric waves spread outward from it, turning the entire center of the field into a golden sea of lightning.
This was an area attack with no blind spots. No matter where Greninja hid, it could not avoid it completely.
Xia You's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice as calm as ever. "Water Pulse."
At his command, Greninja brought its hands close together before its body. A spinning ball of water emerged between its palms, and it thrust it outward.
Water Pulse met the electric waves of Discharge in midair. The water was shattered into countless tiny droplets by the electricity, but it also checked the electric waves' advance.
Sizzle...
The two energies collided, and the powerful current evaporated all the droplets, turning them into a great cloud of white