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"So, next…"
Mammon recalled Slither Wing and threw out his second Poké Ball.
"Nihilego, prepare for battle."
"Yi~"
The Poké Ball opened in mid-air, a white light descended, and a Pokémon resembling a jellyfish floated in the air.
Its gelatinous tentacles swayed gently and unconsciously, vaguely appearing like a human girl.
It was the Ultra Beast, Nihilego!
"'Parasite' Nihilego, huh?"
Champion Steven's brow furrowed slightly as he cautiously watched the blurry Nihilego in the sandstorm.
The Ultra Beast series, similar to the Paradox Pokémon series, differs from normal Pokémon.
Not only are they very strong, but their instincts are intense, and their danger level is extremely high.
And Nihilego is one of those very dangerous Ultra Beasts; its parasitic instinct is extremely exaggerated, as it will parasitize not only humans but also Pokémon.
Although Mammon didn't use Legendary Pokémon, Paradox Pokémon and Ultra Beasts should never be underestimated.
Also… "It can float," Champion Steven said, looking at Nihilego floating in the air, feeling quite helpless.
If it can float, Nihilego naturally won't touch the Spikes on the ground, so it won't be affected at all.
"Skarmory, Stealth Rock!"
Champion Steven pondered for a moment before decisively ordering.
Unlike Spikes, Stealth Rock, also a field-control move, affects the sky as well!
Theoretically, Champion Steven really wanted Skarmory to use Whirlwind to force Nihilego to retreat.
But Whirlwind's charge-up is relatively slow, and Nihilego could completely take advantage to attack. It was likely that before Whirlwind could even be used, Skarmory would be hit by Nihilego.
Champion Steven hadn't fought Nihilego before, but he had seen Selene use Nihilego to battle others and knew that Nihilego's special attacks were extremely powerful.
Skarmory shrieked, and Stealth Rock projectiles flew out.
"Thunderbolt." Mammon chuckled softly.
Nihilego's tentacles crackled with electricity, and as it pointed a tentacle, a Thunderbolt shot towards Skarmory in the sandstorm.
Completely unaffected by the sandstorm!
After all, Nihilego is a Rock-type Pokémon, and the sandstorm's effect on it was much less severe than on Slither Wing.
"Skarmory! Dodge!"
Champion Steven was startled.
Skarmory threw out Stealth Rock while rapidly retreating.
However, Thunderbolt came flying swiftly, hitting Skarmory directly. Golden electrical light instantly enveloped Skarmory's entire body.
Skarmory let out a painful shriek as the electricity fiercely corroded its body.
Electric is super effective against Flying! And Skarmory's Special Defense is very low.
Boom!
Thunderbolt exploded, sending Skarmory's entire body flying.
The sandstorm still raged, and Skarmory crashed heavily to the ground, already unconscious.
"Skarmory is unable to battle, Nihilego wins."
The referee announced the battle result.
"It couldn't even take one hit?" Wallace clicked his tongue.
"Of course not. Skarmory had already been hit twice by Slither Wing. It would be a miracle if it could withstand this Thunderbolt," May said, unsurprised.
"However, Stealth Rock was used. Champion Steven's strategy today is truly very cautious," Cynthia commented with a faint smile.
Although Champion Steven's battle style has always been steady, this was truly the first time she had seen him like this.
He had completely abandoned offensive moves, instead focusing entirely on field setup.
Currently, the sandstorm, Spikes, and Stealth Rock on the field all favored Champion Steven. Although Skarmory was sacrificed, strictly speaking, it wasn't a loss.
"But the problem is, all these things disappear with one Defog."
Wallace curled his lip, thinking that Champion Steven was completely grasping at straws.
He understood Champion Steven; in a head-on battle, defeating Mammon was basically impossible.
After all, Mammon's Pokémon surely possessed astonishing combat power, so he could only resort to tactics.
But the field that was set up by sacrificing Skarmory could be cleared with one field-clearing move, couldn't it?
Was he betting that Mammon didn't have a Pokémon with Defog?
On the field.
"Spikes and Stealth Rock, quite interesting." Mammon looked at the field, which appeared almost unchanged on the surface.
Meanwhile, Champion Steven, after recalling Skarmory, pondered for a moment before throwing out his second Pokémon.
"Claydol! Go!"
A flash of white light, and a black Pokémon appeared in front of Champion Steven.
It looked like a black clay doll overall, with mysterious patterns on its body and a circle of red eyes on its face.
This was the Ground/Psychic-type Claydol.
"It seems he's still guarding against Nihilego's special attacks."
Mammon surveyed the Claydol, instantly understanding Champion Steven's intention.
Claydol has resistance to Rock and Poison-type moves and is immune to Electric-type, so Nihilego's signature special attacks would have little effect on Claydol.
However, Nihilego itself is 4x weak to Ground.
"But will it really work?"
Mammon's lips curved slightly.
"Claydol, Psychic!"
Champion Steven's eyes flickered slightly, and he didn't use a Ground-type move. Instead, he used the Psychic-type move, Psychic.
Of course, Psychic also counters Nihilego.
Claydol's eyes glowed with blue Psychic energy, and a materialized Psychic wave swept towards Nihilego.
"Power Gem."
Nihilego raised a tentacle, and beautiful ruby/sapphire/emerald formed around its body. Beams of ruby/sapphire/emerald light shot out.
The Rock-type Power Gem.
Power Gem and Psychic collided in mid-air. However, after only a moment, Power Gem shattered Psychic and continued its momentum, striking Claydol.
Rumble!
Power Gem roared violently, and Claydol cried out in pain, retreating.
"Indeed, it's no match at all."
Champion Steven's lips were tightly pressed, but it wasn't surprising, as Nihilego's special attacks are extremely powerful.
Fortunately, Power Gem was not very effective against Claydol, and Claydol's defense was also very high.
The damage from this Power Gem wasn't very high.
"Claydol, Light Screen."
Champion Steven's mind raced, and he immediately ordered Claydol.
The Psychic-type Light Screen can reduce damage from special attacks received from the opponent for a period of time.
Claydol whimpered, and a translucent Light Screen appeared in front of it.
"Hex."
Mammon raised an eyebrow.
Nihilego's tentacles glowed with a dark luster, and dark energy orbs shot one after another towards Claydol.
The Ghost-type Hex!
Boom! Boom!
Hex's dark energy continuously bombarded Claydol. Claydol let out cries of pain. Although Hex's power wasn't very high, it was super effective against Claydol after all.
But as Light Screen merged into Claydol's body, the damage from Hex to Claydol was already within Claydol's acceptable range.
"Get closer!"
Champion Steven decisively gave the command.
In fact, Nihilego hadn't moved a single step since it appeared; it had always stayed in place.
That was because Stealth Rock was still on the field, and if it moved, it might touch the Stealth Rock.
The sandstorm on the field was gradually weakening, and it wouldn't be long before the sandstorm weather disappeared.
Claydol charged at Nihilego at full speed.
"Earth Power!"
When Claydol was only about ten meters away from Nihilego, Champion Steven immediately ordered.
Claydol let out a low Growl, and beneath Nihilego, yellowish-brown energy began to glow.
The Ground-type Earth Power.
But what Champion Steven couldn't understand was why Mammon didn't prepare to let Nihilego dodge the impending Earth Power.
Why?
Was he planning to defend with Protect, or directly counteract with an attack?
Champion Steven couldn't figure it out at once; this was a 4x super effective Earth Power.
The light of Earth Power on the ground became increasingly brilliant. Finally, the immense Earth Power erupted like a volcanic explosion.
"Mirror Coat."
And Mammon finally spoke.
"?" Champion Steven's pupils constricted. What?
Nihilego didn't question Mammon's decision, and a mirror-like barrier appeared on its body.
Boom!
Earth Power directly struck Nihilego. Although Nihilego showed no expression, judging from its trembling body within the Earth Power, the damage from this Earth Power was very high!
Although Nihilego's Special Defense is very high, Earth Power is still 4x super effective against Nihilego.
But at the same time, the thin mirror on Nihilego's body had now taken on a special color.
"Nihilego." Mammon called out softly to Nihilego.
"Yi~!"
Nihilego's ethereal cry now seemed to carry a hint of madness.
Mirror Coat: Returns double the damage from a special attack received from the opponent back to them!
And Nihilego had just hardened a 4x super effective Earth Power attack!
Boom!
The next moment, Mirror Coat instantly reflected towards the opposing Claydol, and a giant energy orb shot at Claydol at a speed impossible for the naked eye to react to.
A violent explosion, accompanied by Claydol's pained scream, sent Claydol plummeting from the air.
Thud~
Claydol crashed to the ground, directly falling unconscious.
Looking at the unconscious Claydol, Champion Steven's mind couldn't process it for a moment.
Nihilego floated weakly in mid-air. Although it had hardened Earth Power, its current state was already very poor.
But compared to Nihilego, Claydol was clearly in a much worse condition.
"Claydol is unable to battle, Nihilego wins."
The referee came to his senses and announced the battle result.
As the referee's words fell, a burst of intense cheers instantly erupted throughout the venue.
"Holy cow, that's amazing! I thought Nihilego was done for."
In the Unova League, Iris watched the live broadcast, unable to help but click her tongue.
That Mirror Coat was truly too unexpected.
Claydol, which had Stealth Rock for field control, an absolute type advantage, and even Light Screen activated.
Honestly, if Mammon hadn't switched out Nihilego, Iris wouldn't have known how Claydol could lose!
But that Mirror Coat was too incredible.
"It's also because Nihilego could actually withstand it. Otherwise, Mirror Coat wouldn't have taken effect, and Nihilego would have fainted first."
Alder exclaimed in wonder, but if it were him, he truly wouldn't have thought of that Mirror Coat.
After all, Mirror Coat is a very niche move, and compared to Mirror Coat, directly switching out Nihilego for another Pokémon would definitely be the choice of more Trainers.
"My man, of course, is more special!"
Rosa was in a good mood, saying smugly.
Tsk~
Hearing Rosa's words, Iris rolled her eyes. Look at you, so capable.