"Lele!"
Caitlin called out to Tapu Lele.
"Diedie~!"
Tapu Lele raised its hands. A ring of pinkish-purple light spread across the battlefield.
It was the Ability Psychic Surge. It created Psychic Terrain.
At the same time, Selene's Incineroar let out a roar toward Tapu Lele. Tapu Lele flinched slightly as the effect of the roar took hold.
This was the Ability Intimidate.
Because of Intimidate, Tapu Lele's Attack was lowered.
"Psychic Terrain, huh? That's a bit annoying," Selene muttered as she looked at the faint purple glow on the ground. She clicked her tongue.
While Psychic Terrain was active, Psychic-type moves became stronger. Pokémon on the ground also could not be affected by priority moves.
In other words, while this terrain was active, moves like Fake Out were useless against grounded Pokémon.
"Incineroar, use Parting Shot!"
Selene gave the order without hesitation. Since Psychic Terrain was up, a move like Fake Out wouldn't work anyway.
However, Parting Shot could still be used.
"Calm Mind!"
Caitlin responded very quickly.
Incineroar began to growl and shout insults at Tapu Lele. Tapu Lele looked annoyed. It was clear that Incineroar was saying some very rude things.
But at the same time, a faint light shimmered around Tapu Lele. It was using Calm Mind.
"Caitlin reacted well," Damian praised while watching the scene.
Since Incineroar was using Parting Shot to switch out, there wasn't much point in attacking it directly.
Strengthening Tapu Lele at that moment was a much better choice.
Calm Mind increased Tapu Lele's Special Attack and Special Defense. Parting Shot lowered the target's Attack and Special Attack.
This meant Incineroar only successfully lowered Tapu Lele's Attack, which didn't matter much because Tapu Lele relied on Special Attacks.
Furthermore, Calm Mind gave Tapu Lele a boost to its Special Defense. After this first exchange, Caitlin had gained a slight advantage.
"Caitlin reacted so quickly," Platinum said in admiration. Sharp reactions were necessary for any strong Trainer.
Caitlin's immediate counter to Selene's move proved her skill.
"Not bad. This is getting more interesting!"
As Parting Shot finished, Incineroar returned to Selene's Poké Ball. Selene looked at Caitlin with a bold smile.
"Next up... Tapu Koko!"
Selene threw her second Poké Ball with a sharp motion.
With a flash of white light, Tapu Koko spread its arms and floated in the air. Its sharp eyes stared intently at Tapu Lele.
"Die? Diedie??"
Tapu Lele's eyes widened. It looked at the Tapu Koko across from it in total shock.
Wait a minute! Back then, didn't you lecture me for having no sense of responsibility? Didn't you scold me for leaving Akala Island to travel with a human?
And now you're doing the exact same thing?!
Fine! Fine!
I thought you were a responsible guardian deity. Is this what you call responsibility?
I actually worried about you before! I thought taking care of two islands at once would stress you out too much. But you just ran off with a human too?
How can you face Tapu Bulu?! I despise you!
Tapu Lele looked at Tapu Koko with clear contempt. Facing that look, Tapu Koko wasn't ashamed at all. Instead, it stared right back.
You little brat! Didn't you and Tapu Fini abandon your responsibilities first? You have the nerve to judge me?
Right now, Bulu is doing all the work for all four islands alone! It's all your fault! I'm just following the example of you two traitors!
I, Tapu Koko, am not in the wrong!
"Die~ (Koko, you really have no shame.)"
"Ming!! (You have no right to talk! You and Fini left us first!)"
"(Fini and I were caught by humans. We couldn't just break our word, right? But you? You definitely got caught on purpose! You have no shame!)"
"(Lies! I was defeated in battle and captured fairly. I didn't hold back!)"
"(Then why didn't you refuse the challenge? You're so cruel, leaving every single job to Bulu. I look down on you!)"
(You have no room to talk. Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson, Lele! You selfish shell-dweller!)
"(Fine! You rooster-head! You think I'm afraid of you?!)"
On the field, the battle hadn't even started, but the two guardian deities were already screaming at each other.
Of course, normal people couldn't understand what the Pokémon were saying.
"Wow! A battle between two Guardians?! And they seem to have such a good relationship. They're even greeting each other before the fight," Lillie exclaimed as she watched the two deities.
Oh my! This is such a rare scene! A battle between the legendary Guardians of Alola!
"Indeed, it's incredible. Their fighting spirits are very high. But... is that really a greeting?"
Lusamine was also amazed. Since ancient times, the Island Guardians had been the faith and symbols of the Alolan people.
Probably no one ever thought they would one day fight for different masters on a battlefield.
However, Lusamine had her doubts about Lillie's "greeting" theory.
Looking at how angry Tapu Lele and Tapu Koko seemed, it didn't look like they were saying hello.
It looked more like... they were roasting each other?
But that couldn't be right, could it?
As Guardians from ancient times to the present, the four Tapus should have a great relationship. They had been colleagues for thousands of years, after all.
Lusamine thought she must be misinterpreting it. Maybe they were just very excited to see each other again?
"Right? The Tapus are supposed to be very close."
"Yeah, I think so too."
Lillie and Lusamine convinced themselves. They couldn't possibly be cursing each other out, right?
That was impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Lillie was very sure.
Actually, it's completely possible. And they are definitely making personal attacks, Damian thought to himself.
It was just a shame Tapu Fini wasn't here yet. Otherwise, Damian would have loved to release her too, just to see which side she would take.
Or would the "Shell Lady" just sit there eating snacks and drinking juice while watching from the sidelines?
Yeah, knowing Fini's personality, she would definitely do that.
Back on the field.
"Koko!"
Selene's excitement was rising. She shouted to Tapu Koko.
A circle of electric sparks lit up on Tapu Koko's body, then instantly filled the entire field.
It was the Ability Electric Surge!
The field turned into Electric Terrain. Pokémon on the ground would have their Electric-type moves strengthened, and they couldn't be put to sleep.
Electric Terrain replaced Psychic Terrain. This made Tapu Lele even angrier.
"Now, how is your Lele going to fight my Koko?"
Selene grinned. Actually, Tapu Koko didn't have a type advantage over Tapu Lele. Selene even had a Nihilego that could counter Lele.
Even though Nihilego was also weak to Psychic moves, Selene was confident her Nihilego was stronger than Lele.
But considering how much Psychic Terrain strengthened Lele, and the fact that her opponent was a powerful psychic Trainer, Selene chose the safer and more stable method.
"A Pokémon battle isn't decided just by a terrain boost," Caitlin answered calmly.
She had originally wanted to switch Tapu Lele out, but Lele had just responded to her through telepathy.
It wanted to fight!
Since it was Lele's choice, Caitlin was willing to support it.
A blue light flashed in Caitlin's eyes. Her powerful psychic energy began to pour into Tapu Lele.
Tapu Lele's power began to rise.
"I figured you could do that."
Selene wasn't surprised. She had considered this when she saw Caitlin using psychic powers to control the Poké Balls.
Powerful psychics almost always specialized in Psychic types. That was because their psychic power let them strengthen their Pokémon.
However, it wasn't a huge problem. At the Champion level, the extra strength someone could add was limited.
More importantly... Koko was naturally stronger than Lele!
And she, Selene, was stronger than Caitlin!
"Koko, Wild Charge!"
Selene swung her arm and ordered Tapu Koko to start the attack.
Lightning crackled all over Tapu Koko's body. It dropped low and zoomed across the ground toward Tapu Lele at high speed.
The Electric-type move, Wild Charge!
The stray sparks from Electric Terrain were absorbed into Tapu Koko's body as it charged.
The power of Wild Charge was being strengthened by the terrain!
"Psychic!"
Caitlin's eyes sharpened as she gave the command.
Tapu Lele let out a high-pitched cry. Its eyes glowed with blue light. A wave of psychic energy formed and surged toward the incoming Tapu Koko.
Tapu Koko had no intention of backing down. Its speed increased again. Covered in roaring electricity, Tapu Koko flew upward and smashed directly into the Psychic wave.
It was a head-on collision between Wild Charge and Psychic!
BOOM!
With a heavy explosion, the golden lightning on Tapu Koko's body flared. It smashed through the psychic energy. Strong shockwaves rippled through the air, one after another.
"So strong!"
Lillie raised her hand to shield her face. The wind from the collision was too much. She could only watch the center of the impact through the gaps in her fingers.
The golden lightning and colorful psychic waves crashed against each other. But Lillie noticed that the figure wrapped in lightning was slowly breaking through the psychic barrier!
Wild Charge was suppressing the Psychic attack.
Tapu Lele realized this too. It poured out its psychic energy with everything it had, but it was useless.
"Lele!" Caitlin called out sharply.
CRASH!
A second later, Tapu Koko shattered the Psychic wave and kept going, slamming toward Tapu Lele.
The figure covered in golden lightning was overwhelming!
Even though Tapu Lele was frustrated, it used its psychic powers to quickly move sideways. It barely dodged the Wild Charge.
"You can't run," Selene said, her smile widening.
Tapu Koko's greatest strength was its speed and its ability to adjust on the fly!
After missing, Tapu Koko turned in midair with the sharpness of lightning. It dived down again, aiming right for Tapu Lele.
It was too fast!
BANG!
This time, Tapu Lele didn't have time to dodge.
The Wild Charge hit directly. Electricity spread wildly across its body. Tapu Lele cried out in pain. The massive force of the impact sent it flying backward. It crashed hard into the ground.
Caitlin's expression changed.
"Nature's Madness!" Selene ordered.
The recoil from Wild Charge hit Tapu Koko, but it only paused for a split second. It dived down at high speed, raised its right arm high, and slammed it into the ground.
The Fairy-type move, Nature's Madness!
A deep crack split the ground. The energy of Nature's Madness burst through the crack and raced toward Tapu Lele's position.
BOOM!
The energy exploded, hitting Tapu Lele directly. A loud blast echoed, and thick dust filled the air.
Tapu Koko slowly floated back up. It looked down at the thick dust below, but it didn't move yet.
"So powerful!"
Platinum bit her lip. She looked at the overwhelming Tapu Koko.
No wonder she could be Damian's girlfriend. No wonder she spoke with such confidence. No wonder she wasn't afraid of their challenge.
She actually suppressed a Tapu Lele that had been strengthened by Caitlin's psychic powers. This strength...
It was terrifying!
And most importantly, Selene was also a rookie Trainer who had just started her journey this year.
Was this really the strength a rookie should have?
Platinum was completely convinced now. Professor Rowan had lied to her. What
The Selene in front of her was far beyond that!