The Battle Arena had been torn apart by the intense battle, leaving it looking like a plowed field waiting to be cultivated.
Once the referee and the Pokémon League learned that Luther and Dakota were battling, they anticipated the arena would end up like this. They had prepared three backup fields, each with a different terrain, so that these two "big shots" could wreak havoc to their hearts' content.
However, this field clearly hadn't been destroyed thoroughly enough yet. When the referee asked both sides if they wanted to switch to a new battlefield, they both immediately refused.
Other than Ash shouting that anything is possible as long as you believe in Pokémon, no one else could understand the deeper meaning behind Luther sending out Jumpluff.
Everyone was confident that Luther's main Pokémon, at full strength, could hold its own against Dakota's Metagross, Salamence, and Darkrai.
But from everything they had observed so far, it was clear that Luther's other Pokémon were not trained with damage output as their focus. Facing a Pokémon like Froslass, which could combine with weather effects to achieve a result greater than the sum of its parts, using a disadvantageous typing matchup was tantamount to courting death.
Dakota's eyebrow twitched slightly.
"So that's how it is. I was wrong from the very beginning."
"This is the semi-finals. Making this decision proves that you think the Pokémon you brought today are the most suitable for dealing with me, right?"
Dakota had already confirmed it: Luther definitely hadn't brought Houndoom with him this time.
In order to defeat Metagross, Luther's two strongest Pokémon, Azumarill and Mismagius, had fought until they were eliminated.
When had Luther ever done something that sacrificed tempo this badly before?
Since the start of the tournament, Luther had abandoned the steady, reliable style he had always used against similar opponents and instead opted for an aggressive offensive approach to take control of the match.
Dakota could understand that. After all, Luther must have thought that his usual approach wouldn't work, so he had to change.
Dakota was pleased. It was recognition of his strength.
However, in terms of Pokémon selection, Luther seemed to be underestimating him, and even this match.
There were so many Pokémon on Dakota's team that were weak against Fire-type attacks, yet Luther had given up on Houndoom and instead sent out Jumpluff.
Luther understood what Dakota meant and calmly replied,
"Jumpluff is my third Pokémon. Just as you trust Girafarig, I trust her."
"Then show me," Dakota said, pointing toward the sky. "Hail."
Jumpluff's ability was most likely Chlorophyll or Leaf Guard, and it just so happened to be a sunny day today.
In order to activate Froslass's Ability or suppress Jumpluff's, they first had to secure control of the weather.
However, while Froslass was firing the Hail move into the sky, Jumpluff had already drifted all the way to her side.
Yellow powder was carried on the wind and stuck to Froslass's body, some even getting into her nose.
It was Stun Spore.
Dakota's Froslass was extremely fast, and with her Snow Cloak Ability, she was very difficult to catch. They had to slow her down first.
Looking at the trembling Froslass, Luther showed no intention of having Jumpluff retreat.
Jumpluff stopped within arm's reach of Froslass and continued talking to her.
At this distance, Froslass could land practically any move without even aiming. Did this Jumpluff really have no sense of danger? And why wasn't Luther stopping her?
Not only the audience, but even Dakota himself was stunned because he had seen the usually quiet and composed Froslass suddenly change her expression.
Froslass looked extremely displeased with Jumpluff, grinding her teeth in fury.
"Blizzard! Knock her out!"
Froslass was truly enraged.
Jumpluff had constantly criticized her, making comments about her appearance and behavior. Even with that, it wasn't enough; she had mocked her relentlessly.
"With a face that gloomy, no one's ever going to love you."
The moment Jumpluff had finished that sentence, a terrifying blizzard mixed with Froslass's furious scream swept towards her.
After using a protective move, Jumpluff stood safely inside the barrier, continuing to hurl insults.
Dakota finally realized that something was wrong.
That blizzard had practically been Froslass attacking with everything she had. It consumed an enormous amount of stamina, and he had never instructed her to use that much force.
Watching Jumpluff's lively, bouncing figure, Dakota completely understood.
"Calm down. She's just trying to provoke you. Use Snow Cloak to get close to her."
Although Dakota's words allowed Froslass to control her emotions to some extent, when she used Ice Fang, her attack was still filled with fury. Froslass quietly approached Jumpluff, taking advantage of her Snow Cloak ability. Yet Luther did not immediately issue any commands.
But Jumpluff seemed to sense it instinctively.
"I trust you, just like when you chose to leave the research lab with me all those years ago. Face it, endure it... buy time for the others."
These were the words Luther had said when assigning Jumpluff her role before the match.
Luther was not a prophet who could foresee the future. He could only make educated guesses.
He understood Dakota's strength very clearly. Even if he could gain temporary advantages through switching moves, he would likely still fall behind under the overwhelming suppression of Dakota's powerful Pokémon.
Jumpluff had only one responsibility: to do everything she possibly could.
The aim was to wear out the opponent's stamina, inflict status conditions and interfere with Dakota's Pokémon as much as possible. This would help Luther regain time, tempo and perhaps even the advantage.
Now was the moment to use her own body as bait.
Jumpluff wasn't at all panicked. In fact, she was unusually calm.
Dakota felt as though he had fallen into a trap once again, but the die was already cast. Froslass had already chosen what she believed to be the best attack.
"Ice Fang," Dakota ordered.
"Poison Powder!" Luther shouted immediately.
Froslass bit down on half of Jumpluff's body in one go. The Ice Fang attack made Jumpluff shiver violently from the cold, nearly causing her to faint. Due to the flinching effect, she was unable to move, let alone use Poison Powder.
It seemed that Froslass being angry was actually a good thing. That furious strike had prevented Jumpluff from using Poison Powder.
Seeing that Froslass had escaped without being covered in poison powder, Dakota smiled with satisfaction.
"Bullet Seed!" Luther shouted out the fourth move without hesitation.
As she watched the Bullet Seed fly towards her and the Jumpluff being battered by the hail, Froslass sneered and retreated, intending to rely on Snow Cloak once again to evade the attack.
As long as Hail covered the battlefield, defeating Jumpluff would be easy.
Suddenly, a piercing pain spread throughout her entire body.
This wasn't the paralysing effect of Stun Spore. Froslass's battle experience immediately told her that something was wrong.
As an observer, Dakota could see it even more clearly.
Froslass had been poisoned.
Unable to dodge, she was struck head-on by Bullet Seed and staggered backwards repeatedly.
Looking at the swaying cotton fluff on Jumpluff's body, Dakota instantly understood how Luther's Jumpluff had managed it.
Its cotton spores had been coated with Poison Powder.
Although Jumpluff truly had been unable to move and spread Poison Powder directly, the powder had already been stored within the cotton fluff beforehand.
When Froslass released her bite and pulled away, Jumpluff's body trembled slightly, causing the cotton fluff to drift down and stick to Froslass's body.
(End of Chapter)
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