This time, Swanna made the first move.
A Water Pulse shot toward Gengar. It was a mid-level Water-type move—not particularly fast, nor especially powerful.
The rippling wave spread slowly across the battlefield.
In the stands, Misty, Ash, and the others watched without concern. An attack that slow shouldn't have been able to hit Gengar.
But to everyone's surprise, Gengar didn't dodge.
Instead, it took the attack head-on.
The Water Pulse struck Gengar, yet it didn't even budge.
Skyla froze for a moment.
"Gengar didn't dodge?"
Her original plan had been to use the slow-moving Water Pulse to force Gengar into a specific position before having Swanna launch an aerial assault.
But Gengar ignored the attack entirely.
The moment the Water Pulse landed, Gengar shot upward.
Swanna, which had been preparing to use Brave Bird, suddenly lost its timing.
Sam laughed.
"I knew you'd attack from the air. You're worthy of being the Gym Leader of Mistralton City. You've even trained a Pokémon like Swanna, which isn't naturally suited for prolonged aerial combat, to perform continuous airborne attacks."
As soon as he finished speaking, Swanna suddenly froze in midair.
"No—it's Cursed Body!"
At that moment, Swanna had been immobilized by Disable triggered through Gengar's Cursed Body.
Now, it had no way to avoid Gengar's next attack.
"Dream Eater!"
Gengar unleashed its strongest move.
It instantly appeared above Swanna, glowing with crackling energy. A strange light extended from its hand, drawing away part of Swanna's mental energy.
"Rain Dance!"
Without warning, rain began falling across the battlefield.
This was Swanna's field-changing move.
Raindrops splashed across Gengar's body.
"Moisture Body!"
Gengar's movements immediately slowed.
Under the heavy rain, water clung to its body. The effect of Swanna's hidden ability became far stronger, almost acting like a form of restraint.
Then Swanna twisted its body.
The immobilization effect ended.
Countless feathers appeared around it, spinning rapidly through the air.
A moment later, the whirlwind of feathers slammed into Gengar.
Gengar was blown away and crashed down beside Sam once again.
Just as Sam was about to ask if it was okay, Gengar let out a sharp cry.
It was obvious now.
Gengar was finally getting serious.
A dark aura spread around its body.
Its form gradually became translucent and ghostly.
This was the activation of Night Shade.
At that moment, Gengar's movements became almost impossible to track.
Even with Swanna's Keen Eye, it could barely keep sight of its opponent.
"Dark Pulse!"
"Curse!"
"Mean Look!"
Three moves were activated in rapid succession.
By now, Swanna's body had reached its limit. Its build simply wasn't suited for remaining airborne for so long.
Forced to descend, it retaliated with Water Gun, Water Pulse, and Air Slash.
The attacks collided with Gengar's offensive barrage.
Boom!
The battlefield shook as both sides fought evenly.
Then Skyla spoke.
"You're strong. But as the guardian of the Freedom Badge, I have to go all out."
The next moment, Swanna began gathering energy.
It was preparing its ultimate move—
Hurricane.
At the same time, Gengar took several steps back and prepared its strongest attack, Dream Eater.
The problem was that Dream Eater was a close-range move.
To use it, Gengar had to get close.
Hurricane, on the other hand, was a long-range attack.
On paper, Gengar was at a disadvantage.
Yet Gengar showed no fear.
It charged forward.
By then, Swanna's Hurricane was fully formed.
A massive tornado roared across the battlefield toward Gengar.
"Destiny Bond!"
At the critical moment, Gengar activated its most troublesome move.
The instant it locked onto Swanna, it plunged directly into the Hurricane.
Swanna's body suddenly trembled violently.
Pain spread through it.
The reason was simple:
Destiny Bond had linked the suffering of both Pokémon.
Every injury Gengar received from the Hurricane was reflected back onto Swanna.
As the pain intensified, Swanna's control over the Hurricane weakened.
At the same time, Skyla realized that Swanna could no longer move properly.
Then a dark shadow appeared behind it.
Gengar had already closed the distance.
"Dream Eater!"
The attack landed.
Swanna shuddered as if struck by a powerful psychic blow.
A moment later, it fell from the sky.
Boom!
Swanna crashed onto the battlefield and lost the ability to fight.
The match was over.
Sam had won.
The stands erupted with cheers.
Misty and Ash celebrated excitedly, while Sabrina merely smiled.
"Not bad. He actually knows what he's doing."
Skyla walked forward and extended a badge.
"Congratulations. You won the match. It seems your confidence wasn't just empty boasting after all."
Taking the Freedom Badge from her hand, Sam scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly.