"So that's how it is... this tactical setup is actually a triple-core strategy?"
"Tyranitar and Cacturne prepare the desert field, and then Vibrava uses this technique, 'Ryū: Odoshi', to complete the final transformation!"
Next, the guests directed their gazes toward the yellow sand being dragged into the sky, their expressions serious and full of admiration.
Just as they had said before, the strength of a trainer is determined entirely by the combat power of their team. Even if all your Pokémon are only at the professional level, if through team coordination you can deploy Quasi-Elite level strength, then you are also a Quasi-Elite level trainer.
Just like now: around a sandstorm system, after multiple boosts, Vibrava had directly obtained Quasi-Elite level combat power!
"It's truly incredible."
With another sigh of amazement, they once again focused their attention on the battlefield.
At that moment, facing a Vibrava with Quasi-Elite level combat power, even though Dragonite had unleashed its strongest wind control, it was still being defeated by Vibrava.
"Is the battle over?"
"A Vibrava with Quasi-Elite level power... How is anyone supposed to fight that?"
Seeing the sand dragon flying in the sky, the spectators shook their heads.
After Dragonite's defeat, Jorge only had two Pokémon left, while Ethan still had four.
The audience began to assume the result was already decided.
"I didn't expect to be pushed this far. For a Vibrava to have Quasi-Elite level power..."
Jorge raised his head toward the figure in the air, his expression filled with emotion.
"But... that Vibrava's weaknesses are also very obvious."
As soon as he finished speaking, a Poké Ball in his hand quickly released a flash of white light.
"That Pokémon is... Zoroark!"
When Ethan saw the figure appear on the field, his pupils contracted.
Zoroark has the appearance of a gray bipedal fox, with a dark red mane covering its back, giving off a sense of cunning.
"Huh? What Pokémon is that?"
Confused murmurs arose outside the field.
Since Zoroark is an extremely rare Pokémon, most of the spectators had never seen it before.
"Can that mysterious Pokémon really face one with Quasi-Elite level power?"
While examining it from head to toe, they tried to guess why Jorge had sent it out.
The next instant, Jorge gave the answer.
In the air, Vibrava suddenly moved.
But what no one understood was that it suddenly dispersed the sand surrounding it and quickly moved away from it, rising even higher, as if it had encountered something extremely terrifying!
"What is Vibrava doing?"
The spectators couldn't understand the scene.
The mysterious Pokémon on the field hadn't moved. What was Vibrava afraid of?
"This is..."
"Oh no, it's an illusion!"
"Vibrava has fallen into the illusion created by Zoroark!"
Recognizing the situation, Ethan—who knew Zoroark's abilities well—drastically changed expression.
Although Vibrava had reached the Quasi-Elite level thanks to "Ryū: Odoshi," its real level was still only the professional level.
Zoroark's Illusion ability acted directly on the Pokémon itself. In other words, in front of Zoroark, Vibrava was nothing more than an ordinary professional-level Pokémon.
"Vibrava, calm down! All of that is fake!"
Ethan shouted, trying to wake it up.
"So you discovered it?"
"Zoroark, Night Daze!"
Jorge looked at Ethan with a bit of surprise.
Dark-type energy condensed in Zoroark's mouth and it launched a dark wave.
In the air, Vibrava heard the command to dodge, but in its perception there was no visible attack. It didn't know where to move.
Boom!
An explosion resounded.
Vibrava's figure plummeted from the sky.
Immediately afterward, Zoroark rushed forward and, with the move Sucker Punch, drained its remaining strength.
"Is it... over?"
"It lost! The Quasi-Elite level Vibrava lost!"
The stadium fell silent.
They had believed Vibrava could crush everything and that there was no longer any suspense. Yet that Pokémon called Zoroark had defeated it with apparent ease.
The contrast was so abrupt that no one knew how to react. Vibrava's defeat was far too inexplicable.
"What a powerful illusion... No wonder they call it the Illusion Fox."
Ethan recalled Vibrava and silently looked at Zoroark.
Zoroark possesses an extraordinary ability to create illusions from birth. An adult Zoroark can easily generate illusions capable of confusing hundreds of people, completely deceiving their senses and those of other Pokémon.
The Zoroark on the field, clearly trained carefully by Jorge, had an even greater illusory power.
If it weren't for the rules prohibiting moves against humans and the stadium being protected by barriers, the entire audience would probably have fallen under its illusion.
"Innate illusions this powerful...?"
Ethan slightly closed his eyes, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, the audience burst into discussion.
"How are you supposed to fight against that?!"
"It's practically cheating!"
"It's way too strong."
"That Zoroark, just with its illusion, is already Quasi-Elite level."
"And this one reaches that level by itself, without relying on the team!"
Without a doubt, Ethan had fallen into a complete disadvantage.
"I didn't expect the situation to change so quickly. Another Quasi-Elite level Pokémon?"
Even the guests sighed: the battle was extraordinary.
"Against illusions, either you find a way to break them... or you overcome them with even stronger mental power."
"Ethan's Slowking is very strong. Could it break Zoroark's illusion?"
While they debated, they saw that Ethan was already holding a Poké Ball.
"Is it Slowking?"
Many thought so.
But when the Poké Ball opened, a blue figure appeared.
"That Pokémon is... Lucario!"
Seeing that it wasn't Slowking but Lucario, everyone was stunned.
A Fighting and Steel-type Pokémon... how was it supposed to deal with illusions?
"It's that Lucario with exceptional mental strength."
Lucas narrowed his eyes, intrigued.
Even so, no matter how strong its mind was, could it surpass a Psychic-type Pokémon?
"What a strange guy... Zoroark, Illusion!" Jorge gave the command.
An invisible force emanated from Zoroark.
Although the field looked calm, everyone knew the real battle had begun.
"The Illusion Fox versus the Aura Hero... which one will be stronger?"
Ethan closed his eyes for a moment and then firmly ordered:
"Aura Sphere!"
Upon hearing the command, Lucario condensed a sphere of energy and fired it.
A cry swept through the stadium: the move Aura Sphere struck Zoroark directly!
"How is that possible?!"
"Zoroark's illusion was nullified!"
Jorge was filled with surprise. It was the first time he had seen his illusion broken so easily.
(End of Chapter)