Heracross looked like a gigantic rhinoceros beetle. Its entire body was wrapped in a blue shell harder than iron, and behind it was a pair of small wings.
Its eyes were yellow and oval shaped. Above them grew two antennae and one thick, powerful horn.
That horn was not only Heracross's proudest weapon, it was also a symbol of its identity.
It was known as the Single Horn Pokémon, a Bug and Fighting dual type.
The battle resumed.
"Cyclizar, start by Taunting Heracross."
The goal was to seal off the possibility of Heracross using Swords Dance to boost itself, preventing unnecessary difficulty.
Heracross already possessed outstanding attack power. If it were allowed to enhance further, it would become extremely troublesome.
Cyclizar lifted its head and let out a low growl filled with provocation. A fiery symbol seemed to flare on Heracross's forehead.
The normally kind hearted Heracross was enraged. It stomped the ground angrily, determined to make that stinking lizard taste the power of its horn.
Its compound eyes locked onto Cyclizar. The small wings on its back beat rapidly as it lowered its horn and charged forward.
Megahorn.
One of Heracross's signature moves, driving its hard and magnificent horn straight into the opponent.
Cyclizar held an absolute advantage in speed. Like lightning, it darted forward, raised its claw, and slapped Heracross across the face.
It struck once and retreated immediately, giving Heracross no chance to latch on.
In the blink of an eye, Cyclizar had withdrawn five meters away. It shook its paw hard, feeling the lingering sting from the impact. Heracross's shell was truly hard.
It would have been better suited to fight Noivern, that reckless brute, trading flesh for flesh in direct collision.
After being slapped, Heracross grew even more furious. It halted its charge and slammed its thick horn into the ground. The stone floor instantly cracked with fine fissures. The anger in its yellow compound eyes was nearly overflowing.
With Heracross's speed, chasing Cyclizar directly was impossible. Another method was needed to break the stalemate.
This was where the role of a trainer became crucial.
Timely strategic adjustment.
"Heracross use Bulldoze."
By continuously stomping the ground, it attacked all nearby opponents. The damage was not high, but it carried an additional effect of lowering the opponent's speed.
If Cyclizar were hit twice, its speed advantage would be erased.
The opponent had immediately targeted Cyclizar's greatest strength.
Heracross shifted its stance and began alternately stomping with both feet.
The once pristine battlefield quickly deteriorated under its power. The ground became uneven and riddled with pits.
Cyclizar ran along the outer edge, unable to find a good opportunity to strike.
In that case...
Silas called out clearly, "Shift Gear."
Few Pokémon could learn this move, and Cyclizar was one of them.
Its effect surpassed even Dragon Dance.
It increased attack while greatly boosting speed.
Generally speaking, when one side powered up, the other would follow suit to avoid falling behind.
But due to the earlier Taunt, Heracross could not use status moves.
It either had to continue using Bulldoze or rush forward to interrupt Cyclizar's boost.
Neither option put Cyclizar at a disadvantage.
Now it depended on the opponent's choice.
Behind Cyclizar, two gears, one large and one small, appeared and began grinding against each other.
Heracross chose Vacuum Wave.
A priority move. It swung its fists, striking the air and releasing waves of compressed air as attacks.
At the instant Heracross attacked, Cyclizar interrupted Shift Gear on its own and used Quick Attack again.
Both were priority moves, but Cyclizar's natural speed was superior.
Just as the Vacuum Wave was about to strike, Cyclizar twisted its body and dodged cleanly.
Not only that, it closed the distance in a flash.
In the next moment, Cyclizar spun around and lashed its tail toward Heracross.
Breaking Swipe.
Two dull thuds echoed.
Heracross staggered back two steps, but the damage was limited.
Breaking Swipe was not about raw damage. Its purpose was to lower Heracross's attack stat.
After being struck, Heracross seized the opening to counterattack.
Its bright blue body shot forward like a cannonball. Its horn gleamed coldly as it unleashed Megahorn in haste.
"Quick Attack, pull back."
Silas's command was precise.
Cyclizar had no intention of engaging in close quarters. As Heracross charged, it used the momentum from its tail swing to leap backward. Its figure blurred again, barely evading the piercing horn.
The horn tip grazed its scales and drove half a foot deep into the ground, sending stones flying.
Lowering attack once was clearly not enough. Heracross still hit hard.
If that horn had connected fully, it would have punched a hole through.
They needed another Breaking Swipe.
Heracross showed no intention of stopping. Using the momentum of its charge, it resumed alternating stomps, sending tremors rippling outward.
The already uneven battlefield, combined with the relentless vibrations, finally took effect.
Cyclizar could not maintain distance forever. Its speed was inevitably reduced by one stage.
Behind it, Heracross pressed forward step by step, continuing to use Stomping Tantrum to restrict Cyclizar's mobility.
"Now is the moment. Heracross, Vacuum Wave barrage."
Gym Leader Gurkinn seized the instant Cyclizar's rhythm faltered and issued the command decisively.
Heracross's fists moved rapidly, firing transparent air waves like a string of cannon shots. The angles were tricky, nearly sealing off every path of escape.
Dodging was no longer the optimal choice. Silas reacted instantly.
"Close in and use Breaking Swipe again."
Cyclizar did not hesitate. It trusted Silas completely.
Using Quick Attack, it advanced toward Heracross, narrowly dodging several Vacuum Waves.
But luck did not last forever.
With a dull thud, one Vacuum Wave struck its side. Cyclizar's body wavered.
It did not stop. It accelerated forward, dragon type energy gathering densely along its tail.
Another Vacuum Wave followed, but the angle was slightly off, grazing past and striking the ground instead.
In less than a second, Cyclizar had already reached Heracross. Its tail cut through the air and slammed into Heracross's head.
Two heavy impacts sounded.
Heracross visibly weakened.
Its attack had now been lowered by two stages. Its attack stat had dropped below Cyclizar's.
With both attack and speed inferior, Heracross's defeat was inevitable.
Under Silas's command, Cyclizar used Breaking Swipe four more times. Heracross's attack plummeted to absurd levels.
Its strikes could no longer even break through Cyclizar's defense.
In the end, a final Quick Attack sent Heracross crashing onto its back, unconscious.
Even in its fainted state, it kept muttering about that stinking lizard.
It was simply too disgusting to endure.
(End of Chapter)