Chapter 90 Fairy-Type Association, The Eighteenth Type.
"This is just the beginning!" San Yang muttered smugly, then commanded his Haunter to launch another attack.
Dark-type moves are indeed doubly effective against Psychic-types.
However, having learned his lesson once, Xia Mu wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
After inquiring about Gardevoir's situation and receiving her eager reply, Xia Mu also entered true battle mode.
He could play along with ordinary trainers, but against those who knew how to use tactics and possessed considerable strength, Xia Mu would naturally take it seriously.
...
As time passed, the battle between Gardevoir and Haunter continued.
The intensity of this battle had reached a new level, leaving most onlookers dumbfounded and incredulous.
Trainers familiar with San Yang, in particular, admired his superb skills and meticulous planning.
Even so, Xia Mu handled the situation with ease, and Gardevoir's strength was indeed far superior to Haunter 's.
They weren't even in the same league; Gardevoir was level 47, while Haunter was only level 39.
If it weren't for San Yang's superior command skills, Haunter would have been defeated by Xia Mu long ago.
"It's a pity your Haunter 's level isn't high enough, and its damage output is insufficient. If you could train it better, or even evolve it into Gengar, you might be able to win.
"However, your tactics are too underhanded.
While suitable for Ghost-type Pokémon, Ghost-type Pokémon can't just rely on sneak attacks and clever tricks to win.
You can explore the power of Ghost-type Pokémon more deeply."
Xia Mu gave him his evaluation. While praising him, there was also a hint of belittling.
This San Yang was indeed not weak; at least he commanded the Ghost-type Haunter with ease.
Clearly, he had mastered his sneak attack strategy, and many trainers must have suffered at his hands in the past.
"Don't be so smug! You've only countered Sucker Punch and Shadow Sneak 's surprise attack.
Stop giving me grand theories; the battle isn't over yet." San Yang ignored Xia Mu's advice, his growing impatience stemming from Haunter 's inability to quickly defeat Gardevoir.
Indeed, his tactics had been exposed, his tried-and-true moves rendered ineffective, meaning that using this method in future battles would be useless against those present.
Surprise attacks could be blocked with Protect or Substitute, and in battle experiments, Xia Mu even discovered that Teleport could be used to anticipate surprise attacks and dodge them in advance.
However, he hadn't yet tested other support skills.
Nevertheless, Xia Mu believed that while surprise attacks had become purely stealthy in the real world, their fundamental nature remained unchanged.
For example, if the opponent used...
The rule that Sudden Attacks are ineffective with non-offensive moves is now being applied to Gardevoir using Teleport to dodge, effectively rendering Sudden Attacks ineffective.
However, the real world is the real world, and skills have changed to some extent.
For example, Teleport is no longer a skill for escaping battle, but rather a skill for moving and dodging within a certain range.
Regarding skills that can directly disengage from battle, Xia Mu currently only knows that U-turn remains the same as in the game, unchanged.
After using U-turn, the Pokémon automatically returns to its Poké Ball. As for Phantom Assault, countering it is even simpler.
In the game, you either use Substitute to block it, or you use Phantom Assault to counter it in the same way.
Of course, speed is crucial. For example, if both Gardevoir and Phantom Assault are used simultaneously, the faster attacker will strike first, allowing the attacker to then strike the first attacker.
After all, Phantom Assault is a stealthy attack; once exposed, the attacker becomes a target.
Gardevoir doesn't know Phantom Assault, so Xia Mu's only countermeasure for now is Substitute.
However, while Substitute doesn't have the HP-based limitations of the game, it still consumes a lot of stamina.
Actually, Xia Mu has many techniques in mind to counter the first-round stealth attack.
For example, what would happen if a real-world flying skill clashed with Phantom Assault…?
"That's enough. You've been attacking all along, now it's my turn. I've completely figured out your fighting style, Gardevoir, Moonblast!" With Xia Mu's command, he gave San Yang no more chances.
Moonblast, a special attack move that isn't exclusive to Fairy-types!
Although the damage to Ghost-types is only average, and even halved against Poison-types, the level advantage and previous consumption make this move enough to instantly kill Haunter.
As for moves like Moonblast, even experienced trainers, let alone ordinary trainers, have never heard of them, let alone seen them.
Fairy-type has not yet been officially recognized as a new type in this era.
Ultimately, Fairy-type is too special; most of its moves are exclusive skills, and currently only some regional leagues have established Fairy-type research groups.
For example, the Galar region has research on Fairy-type.
...
Inside a hidden room.
Blaine watched Xia Mu and Gardevoir on the battle stage, shaking his head helplessly.
Although he had signaled Xia Mu to be lenient and give away some badges, and Xia Mu had agreed, only two badges had been given away so far, just yesterday.
And these two were given away rather reluctantly; although the two trainers were very excited to receive the badges, it was essentially charity.
"This kid is steady in his actions, but he's too flashy. I wonder if he can send out a few more badges this afternoon," Blaine muttered to himself, then looked at Professor Magnolia, who was intently watching Gardevoir.
"What's wrong, old woman?" Blaine's address was very affectionate, as if he were addressing his wife.
Hearing his question, Professor Magnolia turned her head to look at him, not minding the form of address, and continued, "Have you heard of the Fairy-type Association that was recently established in academia?"
"Fairy-type Association?" Blaine was slightly taken aback, then shook his head. "I haven't heard of that.
There shouldn't be such an association in the Kanto region. Is it a new organization established in your Galar region?"
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(End of this chapter)