It didn't go for a close-range move—instead switching to a ranged attack. But this time, the move came out noticeably slower. Its body was still caught in paralysis, its speed cut to about half.
"Dodge—then [DRUM BEATING]!"
"Rilla!"
At the critical moment, Rillaboom showed surprising agility. Moving like an acrobat, it barely slipped past the shockwave.
In the games, Acrobatics doesn't have +1 priority—but here it was unexpectedly fast, probably because it was a Flying-type move.
And in Satoshi's experience, Flying-type moves were generally quick.
Boom-Boom-Boom!
Rillaboom hammered its drum. With the rhythm, two massive roots surged up from the earth, turning into two torrents of green power that lunged at Kommo-o.
"Jalaa!" Kommo-o wasn't intimidated. It reacted instantly, burning both roots to ash with Fire Punch.
The gap in strength was still huge—but Satoshi had a plan.
"Jaa?" Just as Kommo-o thought the danger was over, it realized Rillaboom was already right in front of it. Rillaboom's face was hard, muscles taut, fists clenched.
"[ACROBATICS]!!"
"RILLA!!!!""
The strike hit like a violent storm, forcing Kommo-o back several steps, its feet skidding under the impact.
"Jaa… jaa…"
Acrobatics was a Flying-type move—which meant it was super effective against Kommo-o!
"Keep chaining [ACROBATICS]!"
Now that paralysis had slowed it down, Satoshi wasn't about to waste the opening. He pressed the advantage.
"RILLA!!!"
"JALAA!!!"
Rillaboom launched into Acrobatics again, its whole body wrapped in a faint white glow as it hammered in with a flurry of punches and kicks.
Kommo-o refused to yield. Wrapped in raging air currents, it answered with Close Combat, brawling head-on with Rillaboom.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The fight turned into a storm—punches and kicks tearing through the air, whipping up violent gusts until even Satoshi had to grip the brim of his cap.
"Rii…" In the end, under the relentless barrage, Rillaboom was smashed into a rock and lost the ability to battle.
"So strong… I don't think I'll ever forget you," Satoshi said, exhilarated. Beneath the shadow of his cap, his eyes gleamed with eager light.
He recalled Rillaboom.
"Come back, Rillaboom."
"Frogadier, you're up!"
"Koga!"
Satoshi's fighting spirit flared. He snapped his Poké Ball forward, and Frogadier appeared, shouting with fierce resolve.
Seeing that, Satoshi's mouth curled into a confident smile as he swept his hand forward.
Our full power—our whole body—our full power will become one!
"Let's go, Frogadier! Let's become one!!!"
"Koga!!!"
Frogadier answered its Trainer's will with a loud roar—its presence completely different from before. Powerful energy rippled off its body.
"Become one?" By now, Uika had basically finished dealing with the other Pokémon, and her own team was nearly out of stamina, slumped on the ground.
At this point, she could finally just watch Satoshi battle.
But…
What did "become one" even mean?
Frogadier had only just entered the fight, yet it was already radiating a presence like a raging torrent.
Uika didn't understand—but she felt it anyway.
Right now, Satoshi was mesmerizing.
That burning stance—those unwavering convictions even after losing two Pokémon without much resistance—completely captured her.
"So dazzling."
In Uika's eyes, Satoshi stood bathed in sunlight, carrying an extraordinary charm that pulled her in.
And with it came a restless, unsatisfied urge—a strange itch of desire, tugging at her, begging to be released.
I think I'm going to fall for him… I'm sorry, Saki.
Just watching made Uika's anticipation—and her hunger—grow.
Inheriting our partners' will, we'll become stronger!
Satoshi pressed his cap down, eyes flashing.
"Go, Frogadier—use [ICY WIND]!"
"Koga!"
Frogadier lunged forward. Icy Wind poured from its mouth, laced with biting cold as it streaked straight at Kommo-o. The gale wasn't violent, but it slipped past Kommo-o's guard, dealing light damage—while frost began to creep over its feet.
"JALAA!!!" The next instant, a raging violet-blue shockwave surged from Kommo-o's mouth like a furious tide, blasting toward Frogadier.
The force looked like it could tear the air apart—but Frogadier, with astonishing reaction speed, dodged cleanly.
"So fast… why is Frogadier reacting that quickly?" Even Uika couldn't hide her shock.
She'd seen Frogadier fight before, but it had never shown reflexes like this—almost as if it could see the attack coming.
...
I can see!
I can see!
I can see what Frogadier sees!
I can see what Satoshi sees!
In that case—
"[WATER PULSE]!"
Satoshi and Frogadier's movements began to sync up. They slapped their thighs and released Water Pulse. Water splashed as the move condensed into a shuriken—and fired.
Water Pulse arced through the air with a sharp cutting edge, skimming past the rocks ahead and slicing straight for Kommo-o.
"Jalaa!" Kommo-o met the sudden attack by thrusting out a hand, green light flaring. Water and Dragon power collided in midair—Kommo-o cleanly severed the Water Pulse, then charged in with Dragon Claw.
"[CUT]!"
"Koga!"
Frogadier formed two pale-blue energy kunai like razor blades and slashed at Kommo-o in an instant.
Kommo-o didn't flinch. Dragon Claw flared—green energy gathering in its hand, flashing brilliantly. Kunai and claw collided again and again, producing sharp, crisp cracks.
With each impact, the kunai started to splinter—and the green energy of Dragon Claw began to fracture too.
But in raw power, Kommo-o still had the edge. The next blow caught Frogadier and shoved it back several steps.
"Ah…" Satoshi felt the pain too—but he ignored it, sweeping his hand forward.
"[AERIAL ACE]!"
"Koga!"
The moment Cut shattered, Satoshi didn't look surprised. He just kept attacking.
"Koga!" Pale-blue energy wrapped Frogadier's hands and feet. It became a streak of lightning—punch, kick, one-two, one-two—hammering Kommo-o hard enough to drive it back, even knocking it off balance into a half-kneel.
Inheriting eachothers' will—let's reach the unseen summit!
We'll become stronger—stronger and even stronger!!!