"Close Combat!"
Cynthia's Lucario lowered its stance, azure aura swirling around its body as well.
Cynthia's Lucario struck with both fists and feet, meeting the Aura Bone swung by Xin Mu's Lucario with the close-range prowess that Fighting-type Pokémon took such pride in.
Its blows sliced through the air with sharp cracks like tearing silk.
The two Lucario traded attacks in a relentless downpour.
Using Close Combat, Cynthia's Lucario became a silver-blue whirlwind.
Fists, elbows, joints, even Headbutt-every part of its body became a lethal weapon as it closed in on Xin Mu's Lucario and fought at point-blank range.
The staff formed from aura had a certain length. As an extension of the wielder's limbs, it increased their reach, but once an opponent broke past its attack range and closed in, the staff would become an obstruction.
Without room to maneuver, a long weapon became a burden-provided that the staff couldn't change shape.
Xin Mu's Lucario flicked both hands, and the long staff split into a Three-Section Staff, a form better suited to close combat.
Neither side's voice could be heard on the field anymore. Their attacks left nothing but afterimages.
Faced with speeds too fast for the human eye to follow, all the Trainers could do was trust their Pokémon. Every clash sent blue flashes spraying outward, the result of their auras colliding.
Cynthia's Lucario suddenly changed tactics, turning sideways to take a heavy blow from the Aura Staff on its shoulder, then driving its right fist toward Xin Mu's Lucario's chest at point-blank range.
Xin Mu's Lucario actually released her bone staff, letting the force of the punch break through her defenses, while her arms clamped around her opponent's body like iron pincers.
"Luca!"
Bone Rush's attacks had a time limit, too. That Aura Staff would have broken