Chapter 1397: Despicable

"Hooli!"

Rillaboom moved in response, its sturdy arm muscles tense, pure Dark-type energy condensed in its palm, turning into a layer of dull black halo.

At the same time, it used its wooden drum as a fulcrum, and fiercely leaped toward the Gardevoir on the opposite side!

Boom!

The sturdy figure crossed the sky, jumping nearly twenty meters in the blink of an eye, and then leaped again, crossing the entire field like a triple jump!

You have to know that in order to allow Dynamax Pokémon to move freely, Wyndon Stadium is over a hundred meters long; even if the positions of the two Pokémon are not on the bottom edge, they are sixty or seventy meters apart.

But under its feet, it seemed to be just two or three steps.

So fast!

Even the audience at the scene who had watched Leon's matches countless times couldn't help but marvel at the strength he displayed.

Gardevoir was serious, its footsteps dodging toward the diagonal side like a light dance, ensuring its distance from Rillaboom, and both hands were raised high to release a faint pink-purple radiance.

The light condensed at the high point above its head, turning into a small golden moon.

"Sana!"

It gave a low drink, the moon suddenly became dazzling, and instantly shot out a beam of brilliant golden energy, its surface covered with fine pink-purple particles, and the air seemed to be trembling as if it were about to shatter.

Hum!!

Accompanied by harsh sounds and blinding golden light, it went straight toward the rushing Rillaboom like a high-tech ray.

In an instant, a strong flash erupted!

Then the light quickly dimmed, and the explosion that many audience members imagined didn't happen. What was presented before their eyes was the strange scene of Rillaboom holding its black-red arm high, cutting through the moonlight like a razor.

The roaring sound of energy infusion echoed continuously, but it also made it difficult for it to approach Gardevoir.

Both sides seemed to be deadlocked.

But long-range fighting close-range, Dark-type fighting Fairy-type, is destined to be a bit worse.

Under the continuous moonlight beam of Gardevoir, Rillaboom's legs gradually slid backward, leaving two shallow trenches.

The situation took a turn for the worse!

The host couldn't help but shout: "Both sides went all out at the start! Gardevoir successfully suppressed Rillaboom with Moonblast! The first round of confrontation is about to have a result!"

Facing Rillaboom's decline, Leon seemed unaware, just continuing to wave his hand calmly: "Go!"

"Hooli!"

Rillaboom's eyes flickered, its left leg stepped back to support its body, and then it roared and exerted force with its right arm, actually relying on this explosive power to suppress it back in a very short time.

It was this short gap that allowed it to break free from the energy impact of the moonlight.

Boom!!

The complete Moonblast rushed to the arena floor, suddenly stirring up terrible shockwaves and dust!

Before the host could speak, a sky-blue stream of light had already emerged in the dust-filled field.

"Acrobatics!"

"Psychic! Catch it!"

Leon and Diantha's commands sounded one after another, and then the flying stream of light rushed through the dust, revealing Rillaboom's sturdy figure that seemed to be jumping, but was actually flying around.

After all, how could a normal jump move horizontally and change direction suddenly in the air?

Just like its move name—【Acrobatics】.

Gardevoir's eyes flickered with blue light, and its psychic power spread out like a big net in front of it, waiting for Rillaboom to approach.

Who knew it jumped and flew around Gardevoir for half a day, but didn't completely stick to it, but returned to the half-field where the wooden drum was in the last jump.

This made the audience a bit unable to understand; why didn't Rillaboom attack?

"It doesn't dare to enter."

In the preparation room, All Baimu explained the doubts for An Xing'er, "The traps laid by your Aunt Diantha are seen by Leon and Rillaboom, and they won't easily fall for it."

Even the initial Knock Off was actually prepared to resist Psychic, who knew Diantha didn't use it, letting Gardevoir bombard Rillaboom from a distance.

Using Acrobatics is partly to see if there is a chance to raid, and partly to judge whether Gardevoir can catch its fast-moving self—

The answer is worth rejoicing, Gardevoir can't catch it.

An Xing'er nodded half-understandingly.

In fact, Leon's tactical strategy seems straightforward, similar to Ash's. In reality, it belongs to the type of being rough but fine.

Leon: "Drum Beating!"

"Hooli!"

Rillaboom landed in front of the wooden drum, took out drumsticks that didn't know where they were placed, raised its arms, and smashed down fiercely!

"Dum——!"

"Dum dum——!"

"Dum dum dum dum——!"

The rhythmic drum beats echoed continuously, the flat ground suddenly shattered, and several thick brown tree roots drilled out, whipping toward Gardevoir like living things!

"Sana!"

Gardevoir's blue eyes remained unchanged, its slender arms raised slightly, and invisible psychic power instantly spread out in front of it, forming a solid psychic barrier.

The tree roots whipped the invisible wall crazily with the drum beats, making continuous cracking sounds, and circles of violent ripples spread on the surface, but they never managed to break it.

Its figure floated slightly, taking the initiative to approach Rillaboom, and the surging psychic power also spread forward, trying to extend to the opponent through the tree roots.

And when the psychic power touched the physical object, it naturally bloomed with color.

Leon saw the light on the surface of the tree roots and immediately shouted: "Don't let it succeed! Rillaboom!"

"Hooli!!"

Rillaboom roared and continued to speed up the drumming, and the tree roots covered by psychic power suddenly became crazy.

Diantha let out a shout: "Suppress it! Catch it!"

"Sana!"

Gardevoir held its hands flat, its white dress fluttering with the wind,

In the center of the two Pokémon, several tree roots as thick as a person's embrace were glowing blue, dancing wildly like giant pythons, occasionally whipping the ground and shaking up large pieces of dust.

The host shouted: "Drum Beating and Psychic are clashing fiercely, Gardevoir is infiltrating!"

The area covered by blue light is continuously increasing; no matter how Rillaboom drums, it still can't stop the spread of psychic power.

Obviously, although it can easily defeat the Champion's main force, it has no way to deal with the Champion's ace.

Leon was very decisive about this, "Kick the drum out!"

"Hooli!"

Rillaboom kicked the wooden drum in front of it fiercely, making it fly quickly toward Gardevoir in mid-air.

But in the blink of an eye, the wooden drum was frozen in the air.

"Sana——"

Gardevoir was about to continue arresting the opponent, but Rillaboom launched a further attack first.

"High Horsepower! Charge!"

Boom!

Only to see it kick the ground fiercely, the ground exploded, and its sturdy body, wrapped in earthy yellow Ground-type energy, rushed forward in a straight line like a runaway heavy tank!

Bang!

The deafening roar echoed in the field!

It was Rillaboom using all its brute force to hit the wooden drum controlled by psychic power, using it as its own shield, trying to suppress Gardevoir at close range in the most direct and rough way!

Diantha wasn't panicked, her fingertips lifted slightly, "Reflect."

Light waves flowed.

Colorful glass barriers bloomed in front of Gardevoir, blocking Rillaboom's path; unlike the usual physical damage reduction effect, it seemed to have become some kind of shield skill.

Just like the most common usage in the animation.

Bang bang bang bang——

The continuous shattering sound was like thunder, bombing everyone's ears.

They witnessed Rillaboom hitting the light barriers like a cannonball, shattering them one by one, but every time one was shattered, the speed and light dimmed a bit.

"Hooli……"

Rillaboom roared in a low voice; Reflect was indeed strangely hard, giving it the feeling of hitting a reinforced concrete wall, and the counter-shock force spread to its arms and shoulders along the wooden drum.

Finally, its figure froze in front of the remaining light barrier, unable to continue moving forward at all.

A bang.

The wooden drum used as a shield suddenly exploded into fragments all

Diantha's eyes brightened slightly.

That's right, that was the split-second opening!

"Mystical Fire!"

She tapped her necklace lightly, actually assisting Gardevoir in Mega Evolving while issuing the command!

A chorus of screams came from the audience, and the host also shouted in surprise: "Contestant Diantha has unleashed Mega Evolution!"

Dande also seemed surprised by Diantha's move, not that Rillaboom couldn't attack the Mega Gardevoir at this moment.

It was just that, according to his understanding, Diantha had always valued Gardevoir's Mega Evolution, viewing it as a performance that could boost morale; even if it wasn't necessarily solemn, at least it wouldn't be like this.

But it must be said, it was indeed crucial!

Hum—

A dazzling light shot into the sky, the Mega Stone and Key Stone resonated violently, and vast energy surged madly into Gardevoir's body.

Her figure slowly elongated in the light, her limbs became more slender and elegant, her skin glowed with a faint soft light, the chest plate split into a heart shape, and her supple long dress became even fluffier, resembling a European-style princess dress.

In less than a second, as Rillaboom landed due to exhaustion, Mega Gardevoir let out a low moan, her eyes lighting up with a deep and majestic purple glow.

"Gardevoir!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Beams of swirling scorching orange flames suddenly appeared, sticking together to form a wondrous ring of fire.

Mega Gardevoir raised her slender arms slightly, and the ring of fire flew toward Rillaboom, who was close at hand.

The latter naturally didn't just wait for the opponent to attack, and took to the air again following Dande's command!

"Acrobatics!"

Bang!

The ground trembled, and in the blink of an eye, Rillaboom was in mid-air.

Who knew that the Mystical Fire would act like a maggot on a tarsal bone, actively turning to chase it, forcing it to flip and shift continuously in the sky, as agile as if it had grown a pair of wings on its back.

And the ring of fire also tossed and turned, truly looking incredibly brilliant.

Seeing that it really couldn't dodge, Rillaboom simply landed behind Mega Gardevoir, trying to use her as a meat shield.

But the situation didn't go as smoothly as imagined at all.

Mega Gardevoir elegantly pulled her long dress and leaped slightly, and the swirling ring of fire flew past the ground and her legs, then suddenly rose to strike Rillaboom, who was following her jump!

"Rillaboom—"

Boom!!

Scorching orange flames rolled into the sky!

The mighty shockwave sent Mega Gardevoir, who was also extremely close, flying away, but she was well-prepared for this, fluttering like a white flower butterfly and landing in the distance while spinning.

Leaving behind Rillaboom, who was being crazily scorched by the flames.

The host shouted: "Mystical Fire hits! This must be a quite fatal blow!"

Mega Gardevoir and Gardevoir can be completely called two different Pokémon; the increase in output capability is no small matter!

In the preparation room, Iris sighed in admiration: "Miss Diantha's Gardevoir is truly worthy of being her ace!"

An Xin'er was also very happy, turning her head to ask All Baimu, "Is, is she, my aunt, considered to have the advantage now?"

"Keep watching."

All Baimu didn't answer, just patted An Xin'er's head.

She turned her head back in confusion, and then, amidst Iris's surprised cry, discovered that Rillaboom, who had been hit head-on by the Mystical Fire, hadn't actually fallen!

"Rillaboom! Hang in there!"

The host shouted excitedly.

Cheers and screams erupted from the audience, cheering for Rillaboom for holding on!

Even though its condition looked very bad, and it might only have one hit left before falling.

But as long as it could hold on, there was hope for a comeback.

An Xin'er's expression became nervous, but All Baimu revealed a rather strange expression.

Just because Dande chose to switch, and Mega Gardevoir moved half a step to the left with an unscientific movement, blocking the recall beam while the shadow beneath her spread forward with lightning speed.

Dande was stunned; the heavily injured Rillaboom didn't have time to dodge, let alone counterattack, and was taken down by this lightning-fast 【Shadow Sneak】.

All this happened in less than ten seconds, leaving countless viewers and the host stunned.

Countless question marks flashed rapidly in the live stream's barrage.

"Rillaboom is unable to battle!"

After Deng Pei approached, he gave the conclusion immediately.

The audience was in an uproar.

The host gasped, "Incredible, Mega Gardevoir sealed Contestant Dande's recall route and defeated Rillaboom. This..."

Why does this scene feel strangely familiar?

Diantha and Mega Gardevoir smiled at each other, looked sideways at the distant contestant preparation room, and bowed elegantly.

The audience thought she was doing it for them and erupted into screams instantly.

Only the champions in the preparation room knew the reason for her bow.

"All Baimu, you've started a very interesting era." Cynthia laughed.

Lance remained silent.

Both of them, including Diantha below, had once been "victims" of the switch strategy.

And now Diantha was using what she learned to hinder Dande's switch; otherwise, with his ability, he could have let Rillaboom exit the field smoothly.

Of course, if this strategy were used by someone else, it would very likely earn them words like "despicable."

But not the champions.

They are the makers of the rules, guiding the trend of the battle world.

No matter what strategy a champion adopts, as long as it doesn't reach the point of moral decay, it will be seen as the trend of the future.

That's why Cynthia said All Baimu started a very interesting era.

Everyone has gained a new understanding of Pokémon switching.