Although Salamence's special attack was powerful, it was still somewhat lacking compared to Rotom's Nasty Plot boosted power.
As a result, while the Dragon Pulse versus Discharge showdown was visually impressive with a wide aftermath, Salamence still lost.
It was even hit by the residual Discharge that wasn't fully neutralized. If it hadn't reacted quickly and used Hurricane to attack Rotom, creating distance, Rotom would have successfully closed in.
The biggest weakness of fast mixed attackers is their frailty, frustratingly so, and pseudo-legendaries are no exception. Unless they have defensive investment, high damage, high speed, and high defense cannot all be achieved at once.
On the field, a flicker of pain crossed Salamence's face. Rotom's current had a strong numbing effect, making its muscles ache terribly, as if it had been sitting on the toilet for too long.
Fortunately, it wasn't fully paralyzed.
Behind and to the side, Ruan Jingjing frowned. Silently brushing the dust off her clothes, she looked at Li Xiang, who stood calm and composed in the distance, and made a decision in her heart.
"Discharge."
"Draco Meteor!"
Both trainers gave their commands. But before Rotom could transform into a massive electric ball and attack Salamence, Salamence had already raised its head and spat a searing hot energy sphere into the sky!
The sphere shot straight into the heavens!
Electricity crackled!
The electricity surrounding Rotom had reached its peak brightness. Salamence didn't dare take the hit head-on and frantically flapped its wings, trying to flee while also attempting to use Roost.
But no matter how fast it was, it still couldn't fully dodge a move with such a wide range.
As the energy sphere ascended and Salamence retreated, Rotom was already upon it!
Crackle—
Electricity arced!
Salamence was grazed by the edge of the Discharge, its body instantly stiffening!
Seeing this, Rotom quickly pressed forward, ready to make it experience a close-range Discharge!
But then, a rumble came from above!
The intense pressure and the growing heat approaching it made Rotom stop immediately. It looked up and activated Protect.
A green light shield materialized.
It then saw countless massive fireballs descending from the sky with terrifying force, bombarding every part of the field. One of the fireballs was clearly heading straight for it!
There was no time to dodge!
That thought flashed through Rotom's mind.
The next second.
Bang!
Protect shattered!
The enormous fireball broke through Protect and slammed heavily into Rotom!
Rotom was smashed onto the ground!
Thud!
Dust flew everywhere!
Smoke covered its small body.
What a terrifying Draco Meteor. Not only did it have a wide attack range, but each individual fireball could even break through Rotom's Protect!
Li Xiang gained a new level of respect for Ruan Jingjing. Back when school started and he watched her spar with Shen Qing, her Draco Meteor hadn't been this powerful, nor had there been this many fireballs.
Of course, the possibility that she had been holding back couldn't be ruled out, but what Li Xiang saw before him was a Salamence that had truly mastered Draco Meteor.
"Wooosh!"
Out of the dust, an angry Rotom shot out at high speed, releasing a thick bolt of lightning at Salamence, which was using Roost.
Crack!
Thunder roared!
The blue-scaled dragon's body was covered in burn marks from electricity. White feathers fluttered on its surface, quickly landing on its wounds to heal them.
The lightning bolt came!
The beam of electricity plunged into its body!
"ROAR—"
Salamence let out a pained howl. Roost was interrupted, and the injuries it had just recovered reappeared.
Fortunately, the lightning bolt wasn't a continuous attack. Rotom had also hit Salamence after it had lost its Flying-type. The not-very-effective hit meant it didn't take much damage.
At that moment, Ruan Jingjing decisively threw a Poké Ball, withdrawing Salamence.
I see. She was worried about Salamence suffering the same fate as Excadrill, so she wanted to heal it a bit before withdrawing it? And she used Draco Meteor to wear down Rotom's stamina in the process.
She had calculated that Rotom had no recovery moves.
Li Xiang watched as Ruan Jingjing threw out her third Poké Ball.
Bang!
A flash of white light.
A Pokémon with a mostly black body adorned with colorful patterns appeared.
It looked like a kettle and had an eye similar to an Unown. On its shoulders were a pair of colorful wings. On its sides were fork-shaped handles, and at its base was a tassel-like tail resembling wings.
It was Sigilyph, a Psychic/Flying-type Pokémon from the fifth generation with the Magic Guard ability.
It was known as the guardian deity of ancient cities, similar to the drone patrol police in cyberpunk settings.
This Pokémon was undoubtedly very interesting. But why send it out against an Electric-type?
Li Xiang didn't quite understand Ruan Jingjing's choice. He didn't think Sigilyph could withstand Rotom's attacks.
This question lingered in his mind.
Fortunately, Ruan Jingjing soon provided the answer herself.
As Sigilyph landed, Rotom greeted its new friend with Discharge.
Sigilyph reacted quickly, using Protect to decline the gift.
But the gift was heavier than it had anticipated, and Protect alone wasn't enough to refuse it. As soon as it entered the field, its stamina was greatly reduced.
Blue electricity danced merrily across the field. Sigilyph flew weakly, as if it had been drinking.
Then, Sigilyph's eyes suddenly lit up.
Li Xiang saw this, and sensing what was coming, quickly told Rotom, which was about to press the attack, to use Protect. But he was a step too late.
Sigilyph had transferred its confusion status onto Rotom using Psycho Shift!
Good grief, that is allowed?
Li Xiang looked at Rotom, which now seemed as if it had been drinking, utterly astonished.
Sigilyph's method was simple. After entering the field, it feigned weakness and got hit by the electric current. Then, where Li Xiang couldn't see, it deliberately ate a berry. That berry was most likely the Passho Berry commonly used in games, which has five different flavors.
If it ate a flavor it disliked, it would become confused. Similar to eating a berry that causes allergies, just not as severe.
What a cunning strategy!
Li Xiang had to admire Ruan Jingjing's tactic. He had never seen that one before.
But even more admirable was Sigilyph's strong execution.
To be safe, he shouldn't keep Rotom on the field.
Just as Sigilyph was about to make its next move, Li Xiang decisively withdrew Rotom and sent out Greninja.
Greninja landed and seamlessly used Camouflage and Protect.
Sigilyph silently used Cosmic Power to boost both its defenses, making itself tankier.
A Cosmic Power into Stored Power build?
Li Xiang looked thoughtfully at Sigilyph. Stored Power is a move whose power increases the higher the user's stat stages are raised, similar to Incineroar's Lash Out.
On the field, Sigilyph had lost track of Greninja but showed no signs of panic. While using Miracle Eye, it spread out its telekinetic waves to locate Greninja's position.
It was—
"Behind you!"
Ruan Jingjing's shout came.
Sigilyph's eyes flashed brightly. Extrasensory surged from its body as a tangible shockwave, sending Greninja, which had been approaching, flying backward!
Pfft!
A sound like a fart.
Sigilyph turned around and saw that it had only struck an illusion. And behind it, there were many more illusions!
Double Team!?
Sigilyph's telekinetic waves couldn't distinguish between the illusions and the real body. It was just a special detection method that could ignore Camouflage. It still needed to be combined with sight to find a hidden opponent.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
Pink light shone brightly. Sigilyph turned into a giant flash bomb, causing all the illusions to vanish without a trace.
But one of the shadows was far outside the range of Dazzling Gleam's attack. It spat a large cloud of thick smoke at Sigilyph!
The black smoke instantly covered half the field!
"Fly out! Use Defog!"
Ruan Jingjing shouted without hesitation.
The height the smoke spread to was limited, and it was very dangerous for Sigilyph to remain inside the smoke, even with telekinetic wave detection.
The moment she finished speaking, the sound of flapping wings was heard. A dark silhouette moved within the smoke, followed by the whoosh of wind, and the smoke began to disperse.
But just as Sigilyph popped half its head out from the top of the smoke, the flapping sound stopped abruptly!
It was as if it had been grabbed by some invisible force, and it suddenly fell!
Thud!
The muffled sound of a heavy object hitting the ground!
Then, a bloody light that even the smoke couldn't block flashed!
A cold gleam swept across!
"Protect!"
Ruan Jingjing shouted. A green light shield appeared in the smoke even before her words!
Zzz—!!
The sharp sound of a blade cutting through glass!
Then, the sound of glass shattering followed!
Ruan Jingjing's heart skipped a beat.
"Psychic! Seal the way!"
She shouted loudly. Sigilyph spun as it broke out of the smoke, rising into the air, pink-purple light glowing on its body.
This sealing technique could hinder many opponents from approaching, a practical special use of Psychic. But it wasn't easy to learn.
Ruan Jingjing saw Sigilyph appear in her line of sight and unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
Crackle! Smack!
Ice-blue lightning pierced through the smoke, splashing onto Sigilyph like a laser.
It froze at a visible rate, forming a giant snowman. Then, with a smack, it fell to the ground, snow scattering everywhere.
Sigilyph inside was exposed, having fainted.
Ruan Jingjing opened her mouth but said nothing.
Since Greninja had entered the field, Sigilyph had become increasingly passive, finally being taken out by an Ice Beam. The blame for this fell on her as the trainer.
Still, Greninja's invisibility was indeed terribly troublesome.
The smoke dissipated.
Greninja walked out of the smoke, its pace measured and deliberate, like a male model on a runway.
"Greninja."
It narrowed its eyes, smiling at the spectators in the stands, then looked at Ruan Jingjing and crooked its finger at her.
Continue?
The arrogant Greninja was, as usual, provocatively showing off.
"Hey, hey, hey! That's enough!"
Greninja was immersed in its own world, but Li Xiang mercilessly snapped it out of it with a kick.
"This is just a practice match. Who are you showing off for!"
Li Xiang stepped forward, smacked it on the head, smiled apologetically at Ruan Jingjing, and ran back.
Greninja somewhat aggrievedly held its head. It was just getting fired up and couldn't help itself, wasn't it?
Ruan Jingjing chuckled. The junior was quite interesting.
Patting the Poké Ball at her waist, she released Braviary.