After hearing Iono's explanation, the chat's excitement instantly climbed another notch.
[Holy crap, Elite Four Rika's thinking is genius! If I'm tanky enough, you can't drain anything from me!]
[Just stacking HP is useless. That only makes you a walking health pack. You need both defenses high enough that they can't drain you!]
[Proof that there's a reason she's in the Elite Four, and chat was still doubting her!]
[Iono, what's with that face? Elite Four Rika has the advantage, and you're still frowning? Whose side are you on?!]
[Iono's like, siding with Rika would be betraying my own side!]
[Is nobody going to praise Iono? She figured out Elite Four Rika's strategy right away!]
[For real. Hard to believe this is the same Iono who used to barely cling to Master Ball rank on the Ladder, lol.]
[Iono's improved so much!]
[Wait, can tactical intelligence actually be transmitted through... you know?]
Xia Chi had only a fleeting instant to think. Resolve flashed in his eyes as he issued his commands. "Meowscarada, Earthquake! Flutter Mane, Taunt Clodsire!"
It was a shame to give up Flutter Mane's Calm Mind boosts, but breaking the deadlock came first.
"Meowha!"
Meowscarada moved at once, dense Ground-type energy wrapping her claws as she stamped hard on the already shattered rocky ground!
Rumble-
A visible, earthen-yellow shock wave erupted from beneath her, racing toward Dugtrio's hiding place like a ferocious dragon roaring through the earth!
At the same time.
"Wooo!"
A purple-black gleam flashed in Flutter Mane's eyes, and a malicious wave of Taunt energy shot toward Clodsire!
At the very instant that Taunt launched, Xia Chi had already raised the Poké Ball in his hand.
Red light flashed with pinpoint precision, safely recalling Flutter Mane before its teammate's Earthquake swept over it and perfectly avoiding