Chapter 631: Archeops

【Lock On】!

Alice realized she had fallen into Baimu's trap.

She had planned to use the sandstorm weather to continuously wear down Porygon2's stamina, then rely on Garchomp's Sand Veil ability to lower its attention, and finally seize the moment of its attack to close in and counter!

Without a doubt.

This was the orthodox offensive tactic.

Who could have expected Porygon2 to use Lock On, causing her entire chain of setups to fall apart at the last moment.

Alice couldn't help but clench her fist.

Suddenly.

Garchomp fell from the freezing white mist, hit the sand with a thud, then dropped to its knees as if losing its balance, panting heavily.

Its face was full of exhaustion from having its stamina heavily drained.

"Garchomp! Come back!"

She had no time to feel delighted as she quickly recalled it into its ball, saying gently: "You've done very well already, take a rest first!"

As long as it wasn't knocked out, everything could still be salvaged — far better than being completely out of the match.

The commentator shouted: "Trainer Alice has recalled Garchomp! Having endured the Ice Beam, it has not lost its ability to fight! The Iron Tail at the critical moment blocked the Ice Beam!"

As the words fell.

The big screen replayed a close-up of Garchomp's tail after it hit the ground, showing the thick, powerful dragon tail mostly covered in frost, wisps of cold air rising from it.

Even the wind and sand couldn't conceal it.

The situation was obvious — Garchomp had used its spinning posture to block the Ice Beam with Iron Tail, successfully avoiding being one-shot.

Unfortunately, this was ultimately an unintentional move and failed to perfectly deflect the Ice-type energy beam.

With Garchomp now having lost the vast majority of its fighting power, it was basically impossible for it to continue battling Porygon2; retreating while still useful was the only option.

"Pory."

High in the sky, Porygon2 slowly lowered its dimly glowing tail, a flash of pain from being scraped by flying sand crossing its face.

To say the sandstorm weather had no effect at all would definitely be wrong — not only does it damage Pokémon that aren't Ground-, Rock-, or Steel-type, it also obscures vision.

The farther the opponent is, the more blurred their figure becomes.

Unfortunately, Lock On only works once.

Of course.

What it couldn't accept most was that the Ice Beam had failed to take down Garchomp.

One must remember that the Download Ability had boosted its Special Attack, and combined with its own inherent power — and it still couldn't finish the job?

How?!

Porygon2 found itself growing restless, seemingly brought on by nervousness.

The heavy burden of the finals' opening had indeed put some pressure on it — not just it, but everyone on the team clearly understood what this occasion meant.

They had to bring out their best condition to face the opponent.

"..."

It adjusted its state, calmly overlooking the field wrapped in wind and sand.

Its own strength surpassed most of the opponent's Pokémon — there was simply no need to rush. If a one-shot kill failed, then so be it.

The one who should be anxious is the other side.

Baimu gazed up at Porygon2 high above and murmured softly: "That's right, calm down Porygon2 — this is only the very beginning. What decides the outcome isn't a momentary win or loss."

Bang!

The light sound of a Poké Ball opening.

A large bird with a serpentine head and colorful feathers quickly took the stage, landing on a protruding rock and letting out a hoarse, piercing cry at Porygon2:

"Aaah!!"

"Trainer Alice's second Pokémon is Archeops! This is an ancient bird Pokémon revived from a fossil, possessing both Flying and Rock types!"

The commentator's voice reached the ears of all the spectators.

Brock pressed his right hand against his chin, his left arm folded across his chest, and said softly: "Archeops, huh — looks like for the first half Alice is planning to push through with the sandstorm weather."

Because the all-member battles of the Lily of the Valley Conference include a halftime break and field switching, they can also be divided into two halves to formulate different plans.

Alice's intentions were clear at a glance from her choice.

"Archeops..."

Dawn looked at Archeops with some worry — she knew its Ability was Defeatist, which sharply lowers both offenses when its stamina is depleted.

This was a huge disadvantage!

If it didn't take down the opponent while its stamina was full...

She began to feel anxious for Alice, who had clearly fallen into a disadvantage, the Poké Ball flower in her hand swaying weakly.

On the field.

The two trainers each issued their commands.

"Hidden Power · Ground!"

"Tailwind!"

High above, a white light flashed across Porygon2's body, and its smooth appearance vanished, becoming covered in craters large and small like the moon.

Its color also changed from pink to a brown similar to the field.

"Aaack!"

Archeops cried out hoarsely, spread its wings, ran forward for a few seconds, then summoned a visible milky-white gale.

The gale blew the yellow sand away, swirling around its wings as it sped toward Porygon2.

This one was already fast, and now with the tailwind boosting it, it possessed speed surpassing even that of Garchomp. In the span of a single breath, the distance between the two was closed infinitely!

All Baimu shouted: "Discharge!"

"Porygon!"

Porygon2's eyes flashed with electricity as it looked calmly at the ferocious-looking Archeops, which stretched out its sharp claws and pounced like a primordial hunter.

The next instant.

Explosive lightning surged forth from within its body!

"Agility!"

Boom!

Like a sudden thunderclap on flat ground, a massive ball lightning suddenly materialized above the field. Violent currents writhed within it like ten thousand serpents in frenzy, making one's heart tremble.

Yet Archeops was not within it.

This one once again raised its speed, narrowly dodging the damage zone when Discharge was unleashed, and was now nimbly and swiftly circling around the massive ball lightning in flight.

Even with Porygon2's dynamic vision, it was difficult to capture its figure.

Commentator: "The continuously boosted speed has given Archeops extraordinary mobility! It is displaying the prowess it possessed as a sky hunter in primordial times!"

When the terrifying ball lightning vanished, Alice decisively commanded: "Iron Tail!"

"Ack!"

Archeops roared and transformed into a black shadow as it pounced on Porygon2.

The latter was startled and instinctively dodged sideways, only to find its opponent had vanished from the spot as if teleported, immediately followed by a violent buzzing sound above its head.

It had just raised its head when a metallic-gleaming tail came whipping down!

Bang!

The metallic light exploded into a skyful of silver mist!

Porygon2 plummeted to the ground like an arrow loosed from its string, then with another bang kicked up countless clouds of dust that mingled with the silver mist, blending into the sandstorm.

The battlefield became blurred and unclear.

"Iron Tail hits! The attack is very effective! Porygon2 must be grateful it switched its type earlier!" the commentator shouted loudly.

The audience erupted in cheers!

Archeops truly was sharp and unstoppable since entering the field. After consecutive speed boosts followed by an attack, Porygon2 simply couldn't react in time.

But Alice did not grow complacent.

"Don't give it a chance to use Trick Room! Dive down and use Stealth Rock!"

"Ack!"

Archeops folded its colorful wings and once again became an afterimage as it descended from high above. Lightning-fast speed pierced through the smoke and dust, allowing it to see Porygon2 on the ground.

The latter's body surface shimmered with light, seemingly preparing to use some move.

Crash!

Archeops slammed heavily into the ground, its sharp claws touching the surface causing countless sharp stone pillars to suddenly rise up from Porygon2's body!

"Porygon!"

Porygon2 was launched into the air, involuntarily letting out a muffled groan.

The stone pillars shattered, sending countless rocks flying in all directions.

All Baimu shouted loudly: "Fly back up and use Recover!"

Porygon2 used the impact of the Rock-type energy shattering to fly into the air, a green glow appearing on its body surface as it healed the wounds on its abdomen caused by Stealth Rock.

Commentator: "Stealth Rock hits again! Facing Archeops with its extraordinary speed, Porygon2 seems to have lost the composure it had during its battle with Garchomp!"

The audience seats were in an uproar.

The situation on the field seemed to have completely tilted toward Alice. The utterly defenseless Porygon2 made nearly everyone develop the view that victory for Archeops was in sight—

Except for one person.

After two attacks, Porygon2 seemed overwhelmed, but in reality it had failed to inflict the damage she had anticipated.

It's too tough!

Changes, attacks, and even defense—can a man-made Pokémon really do everything?

Alice clearly didn't know that Porygon2 was holding an Eviolite. She only knew that right now was the best opportunity to reduce All Baimu's numbers, and it was necessary to bring out her trump card ultimate move.

She absolutely could not let Porygon2 take the chance to leave the field or set up Trick Room!

"Pursue it!"

"Ack!"

Archeops ran forward, took a running start and took to the sky again, spiraling at extreme speed toward the Porygon2 using Recover.

Being unable to directly flap its wings to take off is, to some extent, considered its weakness.

Alice believed that All Baimu was precisely aware of this point, which was why he had Porygon2 use the explosion's impact to fly into the air, buying time for Recover.

There was even a chance to use other moves—

Don't even think about it!

The gale buffeted Archeops's body, allowing it to approach Porygon2 at a speed the naked eye could barely discern, its long tail covered in metallic light.

"Ack!"

In a hoarse cry, it vanished once again.

Porygon2 instinctively looked toward a higher place, and a red crosshair appeared in its eyes.

Lock-on again!

Alice's heart jolted. Although the distance was considerable and there was wind and sand obscuring the view, she, who remained vigilant, still clearly saw Porygon2's condition.

She hurriedly shouted: "Iron Tail! Knock it down again!"

The Ancestor Bird flying behind Porygon-II flapped its wings, its whole body rolling forward, and its tail whipped down through the air like an iron whip!

Whoosh!

The wind sounded dull and heavy.

Porygon-II had nowhere to dodge; once again it was struck on the forehead by the iron tail and slammed into the ground, its rapid plunge even producing a sound of tearing wind.

Screech—Boom!

Dust and smoke billowed up, mingling with the silver mist in midair!

"Ancestor Bird! Chase after it again!"

She was dead set on repeating the scene from just now.

But unexpectedly, when the Ancestor Bird once again tucked its wings and dove vertically to pierce through the smoke, what appeared before its eyes was Porygon-II, its entire body crackling with stored-up lightning.

"Pling."

The red crosshair of 【Lock-On】 was especially eye-catching.

If the Ancestor Bird was an ancient sky hunter, then the Porygon-II at this moment was the modern hunter hunting it!

Alice's pupils dilated!

"Thunderbolt."

All Baimu pointed at the Ancestor Bird, like a judge pronouncing the final verdict.

A chorus of gasps rose from the spectator stands, and the commentator instinctively tightened his grip on the microphone.

A reversal?

Again in such a brief instant!?

Alice clenched her silver teeth, and the moment when Garchomp was struck by the Ice Beam flashed through her mind; thick regret instantly transformed into the fighting will to counterattack!

She punched the air and shouted: "Now—Acrobat!!"

Hmm!

A powerful current surged out from Porygon-II, roaring toward the Ancestor Bird like a thunder dragon.

But facing such a ferocious attack, the Ancestor Bird neither defended nor retreated; its tucked wings beat frantically at a dizzying speed!

Swish swish swish!

In a world only a high-speed camera could see clearly, the Ancestor Bird whirled around the lightning almost ghost-like, even leaving trails of afterimages behind it.

At the same time.

The pale-blue gemstone hidden within its feathers shattered.

Adding even more dazzling brilliance to its already sparkling wings.

And when the looping lightning that had missed surged back toward it, the Ancestor Bird's wings, wrapped in flight power, had already smacked down onto Porygon-II's head!

"Ack!!"

Boom!

Orange-yellow current and sky-blue light exploded together!

The terrifying shockwave scattered the sand and wind, turning into turbulent streams that shot straight into the sky, finally going poof with a rising cloud of smoke.

The commentator was about to speak when the aerial Rotom timely slowed down everything that had just happened and displayed it in a window.

His heart trembled, and he excitedly opened his mouth to shout:

"A perfect counter! Facing Porygon-II's Lock-On Thunderbolt, the Ancestor Bird risked itself to bring out its trump-card move—Acrobat! Both sides struck each other!"

The giant screen replayed everything; countless viewers watched in awe the scene of the Ancestor Bird's desperate counterattack, unable to be deeply shaken by it.

Wah!

The cheers shooting to the clouds seemed capable of summoning an earthquake!

Alice also saw the replay on the giant screen and quietly breathed a sigh of relief; it was really great that the Flying Gem obtained from the Dragon's Nest could be put to use.

Although it was only one strike, as long as it was used well, it was enough to reverse the situation.

She had worried that Porygon-II might have a move like Protect, causing Acrobat's power to drop significantly.

But clearly, the previous time Porygon-II hadn't even had time to use a move before being hit by the Ancestor Bird's Stone Edge, so why was its reaction after taking consecutive attacks not only not slower but even faster?

Alice didn't have time to think further as the thick smoke on the field dispersed.

She quickly looked.

She saw the howling sandstorm gradually subside, and in the field full of gravel and rubble, Porygon-II and the Ancestor Bird stood on opposite sides.

They both lay prone on the ground, motionless.

A double knockout?

This result was still acceptable; Porygon-II should be the only Pokémon on All Baimu's team that could set up Trick Room.

With Porygon-II out of the match, she could let her Pokémon speed up without any worries.

Alice quietly waited for the referee to announce the result.

Suddenly.

Her expression stiffened, and she immediately showed a look of disbelief.

The commentator's voice rang out as well: "The result of Porygon-II and the Ancestor Bird neither giving way is both falling! They—wait! Porygon-II disappeared! Substitute! That was a Substitute!"

The prone Porygon-II twitched twice, turning into an illusory light and shadow before vanishing.

At a slightly farther position.

Another Porygon-II emerged from the dirt, wounded on its back but bright-eyed; it slowly rose into the air and calmly looked down at the unconscious Ancestor Bird.

"The Ancestor Bird is unable to battle! Porygon-II wins!"

"Unbelievable! Porygon-II actually used Substitute to dodge the Ancestor Bird's Acrobat! Who could have expected this outcome!?"

The commentator transmitted his astonishment into the heart of every viewer.