"Dragapult versus Gouging Fire."
Looking at the two Dragon-type Pokémon facing off in the arena, Platinum pondered.
"It seems Dragapult has the advantage."
Platinum murmured.
"Hmm, from a normal analytical perspective, Dragapult does indeed have the advantage."
Caitlin nodded, agreeing with Platinum's statement.
Dragapult is a classic high-attack, high-speed burst Pokémon, especially its astonishing speed.
Moreover, Dragapult has the ability to fly, while Gouging Fire does not. Therefore, theoretical analysis naturally gives Dragapult the advantage.
"But Champion Geeta probably doesn't know about Gouging Fire's signature move, right?"
Platinum looked at Geeta. There was only one Gouging Fire in Area Zero, and it was captured by Mammon.
The outside world knows very little about Gouging Fire, let alone its signature move.
And Gouging Fire's signature move is a natural counter to close-combat Pokémon.
Burning Bulwark: It Protects the user from attacks with its superheated fur, burning any opponent that makes contact.
That's right, this is a Protect-like move similar to Spiky Shield, but unlike Spiky Shield's prickling damage, Burning Bulwark inflicts a burn on the opponent.
As is well known, the burn status greatly reduces physical attacks. If Dragapult gets burned, its combat power will sharply decrease.
And... if she lacks information, Geeta might actually order Dragapult to use its super speed to approach and attack Gouging Fire!
In the arena.
"Gouging Fire."
Mammon raised his Poké Ball and aimed it at Gouging Fire.
"This is...?" Geeta frowned slightly at the sight.
This classic opening move immediately made Geeta guess what it was, but if so, it would be absolutely disadvantageous for her.
Mammon recalled Gouging Fire into its Poké Ball.
The Dynamax Band on his wrist glowed with crimson energy, and Dynamax energy continuously flowed into the Poké Ball.
Dynamax!
Once, twice, thrice!
The Poké Ball expanded three times, becoming incredibly huge.
Mammon threw it forcefully, and the Dynamaxed Poké Ball opened, revealing Gouging Fire, now enveloped in a crimson Dynamax glow.
The next moment, Gouging Fire's body rapidly expanded and grew larger.
In the blink of an eye, a nearly forty-meter-tall Dynamax Gouging Fire stood in the arena, roaring with a sky-shattering cry.
"Woah~!!!"
With the appearance of Dynamax Gouging Fire, the entire stadium was plunged into a frenzied atmosphere, with countless spectators cheering excitedly.
The visual impact of Dynamax was simply too stunning. How could a Pokémon tens of meters tall not excite people?
"Dynamax, Champion Geeta shouldn't be unfamiliar with it, right? This Indigo Plateau Arena has also been infused with energy points by Eternatus. Champion Geeta should be aware of this."
Mammon looked at Geeta with a smile.
Not only Dynamax energy points, but Mammon also had Terapagos create a Terastal Orb and place it in the Pokémon Center.
This allows participating trainers to replenish their Terastal Orbs' energy at the Indigo Plateau.
So, in fact, all four power-ups can be used at the Indigo Plateau, which also makes this World Championship even more exciting.
Geeta fell silent.
"This is bad. This is very disadvantageous for Champion Geeta."
In the stands, Nemona couldn't help but click her tongue and say.
Originally, Dragapult had an aerial advantage and a speed advantage, which it could use to battle.
However, now that Gouging Fire has Dynamaxed, these two advantages are not as significant.
Although after Dynamaxing, due to its massive size, Gouging Fire is now a sitting duck.
But Dynamax moves have an extremely large range and cannot be fully Protected against, which is very disadvantageous for Dragapult.
With Dynamax moves completely covering most of the arena and the sky, how can you expect Dragapult to dodge?
Unless Geeta also uses Dynamax, Dynamaxing Dragapult to counter Dynamax.
But once Dragapult Dynamaxes, it abandons its original advantages to clash Dynamax moves with Gouging Fire.
In this case, Dragapult would actually be at a disadvantage.
Because Dragapult's defensive stats are not high, and Gouging Fire? It clearly looks like the tough-skinned type.
Indeed, Gouging Fire's wild and ferocious large physique is quite convincing.
And the fact is, Gouging Fire's most outstanding quality is not its attack, but its physical defense.
"But if she doesn't want to Dynamax Dragapult, she'll have to send in other main Pokémon."
Liko analyzed.
And Geeta's choice was exactly as Liko said.
Having Dragapult also Dynamax and clash Dynamax moves with Gouging Fire would be a very foolish act.
Because this would undoubtedly abandon Dragapult's proud speed advantage.
But without Dynamaxing, Dragapult battling a Dynamaxed Gouging Fire would also be too difficult for Dragapult.
So Geeta decisively chose to switch Pokémon.
She sent out Avalugg, and immediately had Avalugg Dynamax, using Dynamax to counter Dynamax.
Although Avalugg is actually weak to Fire-type, Geeta had no other choice.
In the first round of engagement, Mammon had Gouging Fire use Dynamax Cannon, which was converted from Flare Blitz.
Geeta, on the other hand, decisively used Max Guard to defend.
In the second round, Gouging Fire continued to use Dynamax Cannon, while Avalugg used Max Quake. The Ground-type Max Quake was super effective against Gouging Fire.
Both Dynamax Cannon and Max Quake hit their targets, but it was clear that Gouging Fire's STAB Dynamax Cannon dealt more damage to Avalugg.
It was also thanks to Avalugg's excellent physical defense.
The Sunny Day brought by Dynamax Cannon began to scorch the sky, and Gouging Fire's ancient active genes began to activate, boosting Gouging Fire's physical attack.
In the third round, Gouging Fire still used Dynamax Cannon for a powerful attack.
Geeta thought for a moment and still had Avalugg use Max Guard, extending the Dynamax duration.
After three rounds of engagement, both Pokémon's Dynamax began to become difficult to sustain.
"Tsk~ So clever."
Mammon watched as both Pokémon's bodies began to shrink, and couldn't help but click his tongue.
Two Max Guards blocked two of Gouging Fire's Dynamax Cannon, thus successfully outlasting Gouging Fire's Dynamax duration.
Otherwise, if all three Dynamax Cannon had hit, even with Dynamax, Avalugg might not have been able to withstand it.
"Come back."
With Dynamax over, Geeta swapped out Avalugg and brought Dragapult back in, pitting Dragapult against Gouging Fire.
"As expected of Champion Geeta, truly calm."
Mammon praised.
"Just a bit of tactical application," Geeta said humbly.
She now understood that Mammon would likely use six different Pokémon against her, just like he did against Wallace.
But the prerequisite was to first defeat one of her Pokémon before Mammon would switch out Gouging Fire.
This way, there would be a chance!
Geeta didn't expect to defeat Mammon, but at least she couldn't be swept, right? Being swept would be too embarrassing.
She was, after all, Paldea's chief Champion and chairperson.
"Dragapult, Dragon Darts!" Geeta launched the first attack.
Dragapult chirped, and the two holes on its head glowed with a faint blue light. Two Dreepy made of energy shot out, speeding towards Gouging Fire.
"Dodge."
Although Dragon Darts was fast, such a simple and direct attack was too presumptive to hit Gouging Fire.
Gouging Fire retreated a distance to dodge.
"Phantom Force!" Geeta immediately commanded.
Dragapult's body strangely shifted and entered a deep rift that appeared beside it, a Ghost-type Phantom Force.
"Observe calmly." Mammon narrowed his eyes slightly.
Gouging Fire watched its surroundings warily. Soon, a dark shadowy rift appeared behind Gouging Fire.
Dragapult, wreathed in ghostly light, burst out from it and slammed into Gouging Fire.
Gouging Fire noticed it immediately and turned to meet it with Dragon Claw.
But it was still a bit too late. Dragapult's Phantom Force was a step faster, heavily impacting Gouging Fire's body.
Gouging Fire grunted. This Phantom Force hit hard; even Gouging Fire was knocked off balance.
But that was all.
Gouging Fire roared, enduring the pain to swing its Dragon Claw at Dragapult, but Dragapult quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding the Dragon Claw.
"Its movements are indeed very fast," Mammon wasn't particularly surprised, as this was how Dragapult battled.
"Its defense is indeed excellent, and its reaction time is also very quick."
Geeta was also analyzing the information she had just received. She had great confidence in her Dragapult.
But even with a STAB Phantom Force hit, this Gouging Fire didn't even take a step back, and its counterattack was so fast.
If Dragapult hadn't retreated immediately after hitting, it might have been torn by that Dragon Claw.
But... this hit-and-run tactic is viable!
Geeta confirmed this in her mind. With a bit more caution, Dragapult could continue to kite Gouging Fire like this.
Although there was risk, how could a high-attack, high-speed Pokémon engaging in a speed battle be without risk?
"Gouging Fire, Dragon Pulse!"
Just then, Mammon initiated the attack.
Gouging Fire opened its mouth and unleashed a fierce-looking dragon beam towards Dragapult.
"Sucker Punch!"
Geeta shouted decisively. This was an opportunity!
Dragapult's eyes flashed with black light, and it instantly dashed towards Gouging Fire, avoiding the Dragon Pulse along the way.
The Dark-type priority move, Sucker Punch!
Mammon's lips slowly curled into a smile.
Dragapult's Sucker Punch was incredibly fast, but as it lunged towards Gouging Fire, it saw the fur on Gouging Fire's body ignite with a surging flame, like a fiery barrier.
"No! Dragapult!"
Seeing this, Geeta immediately sensed something was wrong.
However, Sucker Punch was too fast. Dragapult wanted to pull back, but it was already a bit too late, as the distance between them was now too close.
Bang!
Dragapult's Sucker Punch heavily collided with Burning Bulwark, causing ripples on the surface of the fiery shield.
The barrier wasn't broken at all. Instead, the flowing flames traveled up Dragapult's body, like a persistent parasite.
Geeta's pupils constricted.
The next second, with a bang, intense flames erupted from Dragapult's body, and Dragapult painfully lowered its head.
This was... a burn!