Roots burst out of the ground, attacking Lucario.
Lucario calmly regained his balance and blocked Frenzy Plant with his rigid arms. But Red's Venusaur's Frenzy Plant would not stop after being blocked once. It would keep pursuing Lucario until it hit him.
"Lucario! Extreme Speed!"
Lucario evaded the rapidly approaching Frenzy Plant, then closed in on the surging roots and shattered them.
Frenzy Plant was a powerful move. According to the data, Red's Venusaur suffered almost no recoil from using it!
Frenzy Plant packed tremendous power, but its recoil was severe. Red's Venusaur had used Frenzy Plant so extensively that it could almost cancel out the recoil, making its attacks exceptionally precise.
However, that precision came with the risk of being almost unable to move while controlling Frenzy Plant. With Venusaur's accuracy, it could usually do something before its opponent reached it even if it could not move, but Lucario was faster than Frenzy Plant.
"Over there! Finish it off, quickly!"
Cynthia spotted a gap in Frenzy Plant, and Lucario used the roots as footholds to rapidly close the distance to Venusaur.
If this attack landed, even Venusaur might not withstand it. Lucario's attack power was considerable, not only because of his natural strength, but also because Swords Dance had boosted it. A direct hit could bring Venusaur down. That was Cynthia's judgment.
However, Cynthia could not predict Red's next move.
"Sludge Bomb!"
"⁈"
Poison-type moves had no effect on the Steel-type Lucario. Thus, even Sludge Bomb would not harm him. Nevertheless, Venusaur began its attack.
Sludge Bomb struck Lucario directly. A mass of venom hit him and burst apart, briefly obscuring his vision. At that moment, Venusaur lowered its body slightly.
Oh no!
*I understood immediately. This Sludge Bomb wasn't an attack-it was meant to blind him. But I