Gumshoos.
General Type Pokémon.
Famous for its appearance, no, for its patience.
A Pokémon known for its remarkable endurance.
Loves to stake out spots where prey must pass, using its exceptional patience to wait for the prey to come near, striking at the crucial moment and dealing heavy damage.
Gumshoos is obsessively focused on its prey; if targeted, one will face incessant harassment and attacks unless it's defeated.
Clearly.
This group of Gumshoos treats this tree fruit forest as bait, luring nearby Wild Pokémon to approach, and then attacks.
If they don't wait for prey, before night falls, they'll choose to use the tree fruit behind them as food.
So Gumshoos is an omnivorous Pokémon.
But now.
Latios has become their prey.
No wonder such a large tree fruit forest is filled with tree fruits yet untouched.
Turns out, it's guarded by this group of Gumshoos.
"Hoo!"
The Gumshoos that was just attacked and punched to the ground by Monferno returned to its group, baring its teeth and growling lowly.
With its growl, the dozen Gumshoos also let out low growls.
"Oss—"
"Ggh—"
Latios and Monferno approached, and Little Eevee jumped down from Natsuhiko, standing behind them.
"Roar!"
With a low growl from Gumshoos, the Gumshoos that had long been poised for action immediately began to move.
Yet they didn't attack immediately.
Seen.
Four Gumshoos turned around and lay on the ground, kicking the ground repeatedly with their hind legs, splashing sand towards Latios and Monferno.
Sandslash!
Can lower the opponent's accuracy.
On the other side.
Another four Gumshoos stood upright, somehow holding clumps of brown mud in their hands, throwing it alongside the sand at Latios and them.
Mud-Slap!
Also a technique that can lower the opponent's accuracy.
The difference is, "Mud-Slap" has a chance to inflict damage, while "Sandslash" doesn't.
But "Sandslash" can ignore Flying Type Pokémon and Pokémon with the "Levitate" trait, immune to Ground-type Techniques.
Seeing this scene, Natsuhiko showed a look of surprise.
He's seen cooperation between Wild Pokémon before.
But ones as disciplined as these Gumshoos are rare.
However, astonishment aside, Natsuhiko immediately said to Monferno, "Shield of Retribution."
"Ggh!"
Monferno let out a low shout, flames rising from its hands, then suddenly opened its mouth, spewing forth a thin flame, followed by its body spinning rapidly.
Like a "Flame Vortex" centered on itself, blocking all sand and mud with flames.
This left the remaining Gumshoos ready to charge.
A bit perplexed.
Such a situation had never occurred before.
But while they hesitated, neither Natsuhiko nor his Pokémon did.
Monferno took swift strides, clenched its fist in a quick dash, arriving right before the Gumshoos that had stopped halfway.
It was the same Gumshoos previously struck by its "Flame Fist."
But this time.
Monferno used "Enhanced Fist"!
Fighting-type Techniques can achieve multiplied damage against General Type Gumshoos.
Bam!!
A solid punch struck the Gumshoos on the head.
The Gumshoos felt its head buzz and completely lost consciousness.
Fell to the ground, losing the ability to fight.
And due to the effect of "Enhanced Fist," Monferno's Attack Power increased.
Dark red light emitted from its entire body, flames on its tail burning fiercely.
At the same time.
Latios followed right behind Monferno.
Having nearly been ambushed, Latios was now holding back a breath of frustration.
"Oss!!"
While flying rapidly, its body flashed with a special frequency, blue-purple Dragon Energy circulating around.
With this force, Latios's flight became erratic.
Dragon Dance!
Moreover.
In flight, its scales continuously shot out like bullets, sweeping across the Gumshoos' location.
As more scales shot out, its speed increased.
At this moment.
The Gumshoos finally reacted.
Tactic unsuccessful.
Then Xia Jibao fight!
Facing the approaching Latios, several Gumshoos opened their mouths, leaping towards Latios.
"Buyi~~"
A tender voice was heard from Eevee.
Its body shook continuously, pink sound wave-like ripples spread out.
The ripples continued to expand, covering a large area.
Synchronous Interference!
This is a technique inherited by Natsuhiko's Eevee.
Though seldom used, faced with the same General Type Pokémon of Gumshoos, it showed good effect.
The technique "Synchronous Interference" only causes harm to Pokémon of the same type.
The limitation is significant, but the technique's power is strong in contrast.
Though Eevee's power isn't strong, its "Synchronous Interference" this time skillfully created space and opportunity for Latios and Monferno.
Latios flew like a jet, swiftly sweeping over the Gumshoos' heads.
With "Dragon Dance" and "Scale Shot" completed, Latios's current speed couldn't be tracked by the Gumshoos anymore.