The May of before might well have suffered a serious setback if caught off guard by alternating attacks like these. But now, with her broader horizons and greater experience, along with the tactics Xia You had explained to her along the way, she realized almost instantly what was happening.
"Dodge!"
She reacted in time, and at her command, both Pokémon narrowly slipped past the Poison Sting, evading Cacturne's surprise attack.
Damn it!
Seeing this, Harley's expression darkened further.
Every strategy he had devised specifically to counter May had failed!
May was growing far too quickly-so quickly that she had completely exceeded his expectations!
If this continued, she would be even harder to deal with the next time they met!
No, I have to stop this momentum!
The thought flashed through his mind, and Harley issued another command.
"Cacturne, use Needle Arm!"
Clearly, Harley wanted to press the attack while Munchlax and Eevee were still off balance after dodging. But again, May was no longer who she used to be. The moment Cacturne attacked, she responded.
"Eevee, use Shadow Ball! Munchlax, use Focus Punch!"
She rapidly issued both commands, and her two Pokémon moved just as quickly, unleashing their moves. Once Eevee's Shadow Ball had formed, Munchlax swatted it with Focus Punch like a volleyball, sending it flying toward Cacturne!
Just like Cacturne and Wigglytuff earlier, May's Eevee and Munchlax had pulled off a coordinated attack!
Struck by Focus Punch, the Shadow Ball abruptly accelerated, crossing almost half the battlefield in an instant and hitting Cacturne squarely!
Boom!
Cacturne had no time to dodge, nor had he even seen it coming. The attack struck him head-on and exploded!
What Harley found hardest to accept was that this combination move had knocked Cacturne out outright!
He stared incredulously at Cacturne, unconscious and