[Species: Sandslash]
[Type: Ground]
[Level: Early Elite Four-level, Level 61, 10/100 EXP]
[Status: Old injury in the right claw has not yet healed.]
[Potential: Elite Four-level]
...
After activating the Eye of Appraisal and seeing Sandslash's data panel, Himeko let out a slight breath of relief.
Level 61, early Elite Four-level.
It was only two levels higher than Lopunny.
On top of that, there was an unexpected gain.
This Sandslash was not in good condition.
With an old injury on its claw, it naturally could not display one hundred percent of its combat strength.
That meant Lopunny still had an extremely high chance of winning!
"Sandslash! Sandstorm!"
"Roar!!"
Sandslash slashed both claws through the air in front of it.
Surging Rock-type energy began to ripple through the arena.
The originally clear battle arena was instantly swept by a storm.
Countless tiny grains of sand were mixed within it, blurring everyone's vision.
The opponent's battle intention was very clear.
Against Lopunny, he would first create an environment advantageous to himself before fighting.
The sand grains carried by the storm moved at high speed, and they still stung when they struck Lopunny's body.
Fortunately, Lopunny had a layer of fur protecting it.
Otherwise, in such a harsh environment, its skin and fur would have been injured instantly.
Even so, the surging sandstorm greatly hindered Lopunny's movements.
Sandslash, on the other hand, was completely at home in this environment.
Its speed was even much faster than before!
Sand Veil?
Himeko frowned slightly, her expression becoming serious.
This battle had to be ended quickly!
"Lopunny! Quick Attack! Ice Punch!"
Whoosh!!
Lopunny's speed reached the extreme.
Like a streak of brown lightning, it crossed the entire arena in an instant and charged right up to Sandslash.
Deep-blue Ice-type energy lit up around its fist.
An unstoppable Ice Punch smashed fiercely toward Sandslash.
If this move landed, it would definitely deal no small amount of damage to the Ground-type Sandslash.
"Nice try! Sandslash! Dig!"
"Roar!!"
Sandslash lowered its body.
Its sharp claws frantically dug into the ground.
As dust and smoke splashed up, it instantly dug out a pit more than a meter deep and burrowed inside.
Lopunny's attack missed. It steadied its body and looked at the newly dug pit.
It was pitch-black inside, and Sandslash's figure had long since disappeared.
The ground began to tremble.
One rapidly extending ridge after another rose across the surface.
Those were the traces left behind by Sandslash moving through the tunnels it was digging underground.
Lopunny lowered its head.
It stared.
And it stared for a full ten minutes.
The ground was covered everywhere with raised ridges left behind after Sandslash's digging.
Lopunny was also somewhat troubled by the continuous assault of the sandstorm.
Finally, as if it had at last predicted Sandslash's movement path, Lopunny moved quickly onto that route.
Then it brought down a Mega Punch.
The enormous force made the entire arena tremble.
A deep crater was blasted into the ground.
At the bottom of the crater lay Sandslash, eyes rolled back and limbs turned upward.
"Sandslash is unable to battle! The winner is—"
"Wait! No!"
Just as the referee was about to announce Lopunny's victory, Himeko suddenly spoke up and interrupted him.
The next second, the unconscious Sandslash gave a soft poof.
It turned into a mud statue, then shattered apart.
That was Substitute!!
Then the real body...?
"Watch your feet!!"
Himeko reacted immediately.
As soon as she finished speaking, the ground beneath Lopunny's feet began twisting in a spiral.
Lopunny's body uncontrollably sank downward.
It was as though it had fallen into a swamp!
"Good job, Sandslash! Drag it into Sand Tomb just like that and finish it off!"
Terumitsu's face lit up with joy.
Even that pale, somewhat sickly face of his flushed red.
Lopunny's body slowly disappeared from the ground, fully sinking into Sand Tomb!
In the next instant, rumbling booms and terrifying movements came from beneath the ground.
The heart-stopping battle lasted a full minute before finally subsiding.
A victor's smile had already appeared on Terumitsu's face.
Underground, a battlefield like this was Sandslash's home turf.
Without a doubt.
It was absolutely a great victory for his Pokémon!!
Whoosh! Bang!
A huge hole broke open on the surface.
Two figures, one yellow and one brown, burst out of the ground!
(End of Chapter)
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