"I..." Xixia wanted to say something, but a deafening barrage of curses filled her headset.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"You didn't ban any of their Pokémon? Are you looking down on your opponent that much?!"
Her mind in turmoil, Xixia grumbled that the teachers at Yangbeila Branch School had looked down on Pokémon High School in the first place.
But she had no way to curse back. Xixia also blamed herself for her poor mindset and getting distracted.
Opposite her, Qiu Yan's expression went from indifferent to icy.
After her opponent's concealment and Qiu Yan's ban, the remaining Pokémon were Talonflame, Jumpluff, Houndoom, and Tropius.
Judging by the lineup, it was very likely a Sunny Day team.
Unless Jumpluff had the rare Ability Infiltrator, its most common Abilities, Chlorophyll and Leaf Guard, both needed Sunny Day to activate;
Tropius's three Abilities-Chlorophyll, Solar Power, and Harvest-all depended on Sunny Day.
Talonflame and Houndoom had Fire-type attacks, which Sunny Day boosted.
That was why Qiu Yan had banned her opponent's Ninetales: it might have Drought, allowing it to set up Sunny Day instantly.
Against such an obvious Sunny Day team, Xixia had actually left Qiu Yan's Ninetales unbanned. Ninetales's most common Ability was Flash Fire, with far more of them having it than Drought.
Send out a Ninetales that forcibly drew in and absorbed Fire-type attacks, and the opposing Fire-type Pokémon would be in an awkward spot. The Sunny Day team's Grass-type members would be in an even worse one.
Leaving Ninetales unbanned was one thing, but not banning any of Qiu Yan's Pokémon was going too far.
This behavior was called an "empty ban": leaving a ban unused, showing mercy and giving the opponent room to perform.
Fine, fine, fine. So you look down on me that much.
Qiu