"Don't let the opponent catch their breath, Kingler, use Bubble Beam!"
As soon as the referee announced the start of the battle, Kingler's mouth launched a barrage of bubbles that transformed into a beam of light, fired directly at Sandslash.
"Sand Attack!"
Thanks to Ethan Black's constant training, Sandslash no longer feared water at all.
When the Bubble Beam attack came rushing at him, he calmly raised his arm. The Ground-type move Sand Attack turned into a small sand tornado that clashed head-on against the opponent's attack.
What once only created a faint sand cloud, now, after his special training in sandstorms, allowed Sandslash to condense Ground-type energy into thick rocks, forming with the wind a mini sandstorm.
Boom boom boom!
The small sand tornado collided with Bubble Beam, causing an explosion from the impact of the energies.
In the very next instant, before the smoke cleared, Sandslash suddenly emerged from underground right behind Kingler! His claws glowed white: he had used Crush Claw!
Boom boom boom!
Attacked from behind, Kingler couldn't defend himself. He received repeated strikes from Crush Claw, even cracking his sturdy shell.
"Counterattack, use Crabhammer!"
Kingler's trainer shouted urgently.
But just as Kingler turned around to strike back, Sandslash had already disappeared into a hole he had dug earlier. He immediately reappeared behind Kingler, launching another assault with Crush Claw.
Crack!
Another Crush Claw combo landed on Kingler. A sharp cracking sound came from his shell, and Kingler let out a groan before collapsing to the ground, unable to continue battling.
"Come on, drink some nutritious juice."
Seeing Sandslash defeat Kingler with his dig-and-strike strategy, Ethan Black quickly offered him some juice to help him recover.
Glug glug.
Sandslash drank down an entire bottle of juice. But before he could even catch his breath, the next trainer had already stepped onto the stage, throwing his Poké Ball. A Butterfree appeared on the field.
"Looks like these guys are really going to make this into a carousel battle!"
Ethan Black frowned as he saw the new opponent and the eager challengers waiting for their turn below the stage.
"Begin the match!"
The referee, seeing that the challenger was ready, announced the start without hesitation.
"Butterfree, use Gust on the enemy!"
The challenger licked his lips in excitement, convinced that Sandslash was exhausted after so many battles.
"Dig!"
Ethan Black frowned slightly.
"You won't escape! Butterfree, use Poison Powder over the hole, then use Gust!"
Seeing Sandslash hide underground, the opposing trainer grinned widely. Clearly, he already had a counter-strategy for Dig.
"Poison Powder plus Gust?"
Ethan Black grew alarmed at the rival's strategy, and quickly ordered Sandslash to exit the hole and seal it with Ground-type energy.
"Hmph! Too late! Butterfree's Poison Powder has already covered the entire field!"
The enemy trainer laughed arrogantly as he saw Sandslash emerge from the tunnel.
"Oh, really?"
"Sandslash, use Sand Whirl (Rapid Spin + Sand Attack)!"
Ethan Black looked at Butterfree, floating just above Sandslash, and showed a faint smile.
At once, Sandslash began spinning rapidly, creating a strong wind. Sand Attack followed immediately, forming a sand tornado that not only dispersed the Poison Powder, but also rose up toward Butterfree in the air.
"Butterfree, dodge quickly!"
At this sight, the challenger finally panicked and shouted frantically.
"Sandslash, teach him a lesson! Use the full Sand Whip combo!"
A cold, fierce glint flashed in Ethan Black's eyes. These guys were too brazen, and he felt they needed a warning.
Normally, just dispersing the sand whirlwind would have left Butterfree defeated after being battered by the wind and sand.
But Ethan Black didn't intend to let it end so easily. He ordered Sandslash to execute the full Sand Whip combo: three consecutive strikes that, along with the tornado, brutally slammed Butterfree into the ground.
BOOM!
The whirlwind crashed down violently, shaking the entire battlefield.
"What was that!?"
Many spectators who had never seen the combined move Sand Whirl were left wide-eyed, astonishment written across their faces. How could it have such power?
"Butterfree!"
Butterfree's trainer, completely shocked, rushed onto the field, ignoring the dust cloud. He quickly picked up his severely injured Butterfree and ran off to seek treatment.
"Is that guy warning us?"
Dylan Scott watched as the trainer left with his Pokémon, his eyes gleaming with significance.
The other challengers also changed their expressions. Everyone understood the meaning behind Ethan Black's actions.
"Come, Sandslash. Rest a bit."
Ethan Black scanned the crowd, noting their tense faces. He gave a faint smile.
Sandslash also ran over to him, plopped down on the ground, and eagerly began drinking his nutritious juice. For quite a while, no one dared disturb him.
Without a doubt, the previous attack had worked. Though many still wanted to defeat Ethan Black, they feared the deadly counterstrike of a desperate Sandslash. Even if they won, they might be eliminated from the rest of the tournament.
It was better to face him in a fair battle. Win or lose, at least they wouldn't end up like Butterfree.
That's why the next challenger to step onto the stage didn't immediately send out his Pokémon, but instead patiently waited for Sandslash to finish resting.
"Thanks for waiting. Let's begin."
Ethan Black didn't make him wait too long. Seeing that Sandslash had recovered, he smiled apologetically.
And once restored, Sandslash completely dominated again. Using his mastery of Dig, Crush Claw, Rapid Spin, and Sand Attack, he defeated another five opponents in a row.
Only one challenger remained!
(End of chapter)