Rocco frowned as he watched the roaring flames sweep toward Mienshao and immediately said,
"Mienshao... use Bounce to leap over the Fire Spin!"
"Then attack Infernape!"
"Mien..."
Mienshao's eyes sharpened.
A faint blue glow lit up around its body as its legs suddenly tensed.
A powerful springing force erupted beneath it.
Dust burst up from the arena floor, and Mienshao shot straight into the sky, dodging the surging flames.
"Mien!"
High in the air, Mienshao cried out.
Then its body plunged toward Infernape at high speed, its legs glowing faint blue as it descended with fierce momentum.
"Infernape... use the ultimate move!"
"Dodge!"
Aaron's expression did not change. He chose not to clash head-on with Mienshao.
Bounce was a Flying-type move, and it was super effective against Infernape.
When it was time to back off, he would back off.
So he had Infernape use the legendary technique known as dodging.
"Infer..."
Sure enough, the moment Infernape heard Aaron's command, it let out a low growl.
With a flash, it dodged Mienshao's attack.
BOOM!
The spot where Infernape had been standing was smashed into a massive hole by Mienshao. Thick smoke billowed upward, and shattered stone flew everywhere.
Poor Machamp.
It was going to have to repair the floor again later.
(Machamp: Waaah... go easy on it! Floors have feelings too!)
Somewhere in the corner, Machamp cried itself unconscious on the spot.
...
Aaron looked at the power behind Mienshao's move, and his eyes narrowed.
This Mienshao's Attack was absurdly high.
"Mienshao... use Bulk Up!"
Rocco was not surprised that Infernape had dodged Mienshao's attack. He continued calmly giving orders.
"Mien..."
Mienshao let out a low growl.
A faint red glow lit up around its body as it began striking strange training poses in place.
"Infernape... stop it."
"Use Taunt!"
Aaron was not about to let Mienshao power itself up. He immediately shouted to Infernape.
Taunt was a move that provoked the opponent, preventing them from using status moves for a period of time and forcing them to use attacking moves instead.
"Infer..."
Infernape nodded, then immediately started mocking Mienshao.
It made rude gestures, pulled faces, and taunted it with every move.
Not far away, Mienshao had still been training gracefully, but a flash of fury instantly crossed its eyes.
Its Bulk Up was interrupted.
It glared furiously at Infernape, who was busy making a complete fool of it.
Damn monkey... I'll crush you!
Mienshao was grinding its teeth so hard they almost shattered.
"Mienshao, calm down... use Aura Sphere!"
Rocco narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke to Mienshao.
"Mien!"
Mienshao forcefully suppressed the rage in its heart.
A blue glow lit up around its body.
A basketball-sized blue sphere of energy instantly condensed.
It hurled the Aura Sphere fiercely at Infernape.
The terrifying Aura Sphere shot forward like a cannonball, racing across the arena floor at tremendous speed.
Broken stone and dust on the ground were swept aside by the force.
"Hm?"
"You think you're Lucario now?"
"Trying to play mixed attacker, huh...?"
Aaron thought to himself.
"Infernape... use Fire Punch!"
Aaron immediately gave Infernape the order.
He did not dare casually take a physical attack from this thing.
But a special attack?
Was he supposed to be scared of that too?
"Infer!"
Infernape let out a low growl.
Searing flames surged over its fist, wrapping around it completely.
Facing the Aura Sphere flying toward it, Infernape punched out with all its might.
The blazing Fire Punch collided with the blue energy sphere.
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted.
Thick smoke and sparks burst across the arena, and the terrifying shockwave swept out in every direction.
The fierce wind whipped Aaron's and Rocco's clothes until they snapped loudly.
Aaron remained expressionless.
He calmly looked into the thick smoke.
As the smoke was drawn away by the exhaust fans, a golden figure was revealed.
It was Infernape.
There were a few burn marks on its body now, likely caused by the explosion.
"I still underestimated this Mienshao..."
Aaron narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Infernape's injuries and muttered to himself.
"Mienshao... press the attack!"
"Rapid-fire Aura Spheres!"
Rocco did not let the advantage slip away. With his eyelids lowered, he continued speaking softly to Mienshao.
"Mien!"
A blue gleam flashed through Mienshao's eyes, and powerful energy erupted from its body.
Blue Aura Spheres rapidly condensed one after another in front of it.
Mienshao grabbed the Aura Spheres and hurled them fiercely at Infernape.
One after another, like cannonballs, they surged wildly toward Infernape.
A strange look flashed in Aaron's eyes.
His mouth opened slightly, as if he had said something.
But the wind was too strong, and the roar of the Aura Spheres was too loud.
No one heard what Aaron said.
All they could see was Aura Sphere after Aura Sphere swallowing the area where Infernape stood.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Several terrifying explosions rang out in succession, shaking the entire Fighting Arena.
The dreadful energy shockwaves swept outward like a raging tide.
...