The Medicham's yoga pose was ghostly.
Not only did it soar into the air like a great roc, but as it retreated, it left behind streaks of luminous blue afterimages, which looked quite mystical.
"Grab it! Use Body Freeze Technique!"
Baimu certainly wouldn't let it leave just like that.
The Galarian Corsola, eager to finish and go home early, also wouldn't allow the prey to escape from its grasp. Its eyes gleamed with eerie blue light, surging toward Medicham.
The latter immediately froze mid-air, as if someone had pressed pause.
"Break free! Don't let the tide affect you!"
Fujishu shouted loudly, "Sync with its wave motion! Rise and fall, rise and fall—"
Under his guidance, Medicham's body shook violently, vigorously resisting the Galarian Corsola's hold. The curse's power emerged from its shadow, continually seeping into it and sapping its strength.
Its breath seemed to be weakening.
Everything seemed to be going well, but Baimu sensed something was off.
Why is the light getting brighter?
He quickly looked down at the Galarian Corsola, whose slight trembling immediately made him realize how intense Medicham's resistance truly was.
Something's wrong!
"—hide in the Tide Spin!"
As soon as he spoke, Medicham in the air emitted a brilliant light, its body glowing dazzlingly, making it impossible to look at directly. Its legs folded in a meditative stance as it floated in the air.
With each breath, terrifying Spiritual Power spread to the half-submerged Galarian Corsola in the Tide Spin.
Whoosh—
The turquoise water vortex quietly vanished, as if wiped away by an invisible giant hand, exposing the round Galarian Corsola. Seeing Medicham bursting with divine light, the Corsola, usually stuck in a long-term slump, appeared a bit panicked.
Baimu was also slightly panicked.
Isn't it usually the challenger's Pokémon that goes into Burst Seed mode during a Gym Battle, not the Gym Leader's?
But thinking back to the battle against Ash Ketchum, when Fujishu's Makuhita evolved, and recalling past encounters, how often had he seen opponents burst into such power unexpectedly?
Baimu's mindset instantly steadied. He knew that regardless of how strong Medicham became after bursting, he just had to tackle whatever came his way.
"Don't panic! It can't hurt you!"
The priority was to stabilize the Galarian Corsola's state. This kind of sudden situation might be rare for it; if it wasn't stabilized, they'd be finished.
"To see if you can break through a tidal wave, you have to try!" Hearing his words, Fujishu chuckled, "Mind Head Hammer!"
"Chirp!"
Looking like a light bulb, Medicham clasped its hands together, nodding its head and arms towards the Galarian Corsola, while the spiritual power gathered on its forehead formed a blue vortex, seemingly twisting the space itself.
"Gurgle..."
The frightening aura made the Galarian Corsola a bit timid.
"Don't be afraid! You can do it! Show the resilience you used against Aggron!" Baimu shouted again, "Trust me!! Absorption Power!!"
The Galarian Corsola echoed its trainer's shout, the resolve contained within the words burning like a flame, giving it courage.
The corners of its drooping mouth suddenly tightened into a straight line, and its eyes turned resolute.
"Gurgle!"
It forcefully extended its smoke-like branches. The four tendrils on its back shattered instantly, transforming into a dense fog that enveloped the approaching Medicham!
Whoosh!
Medicham charged into the mist without hesitation, skillfully flipping upside down entirely, like a heavy hammer, and slammed down fiercely towards the Galarian Corsola.
The massive force instantly drove it into the ground!
Bang!
The ground shook violently.
Rubble flew, and thick smoke billowed.
The arena fell into a dead silence, and no sound could be heard.
Fujishu confidently folded his arms, appearing certain that Medicham had defeated the Galarian Corsola, "Even the most stubborn waves will eventually break!"
"...You're right." Baimu, calm within, spoke steadily and powerfully, "But the Galarian Corsola isn't a wave, it's a reef, a steadfast underwater reef! Misfortune Never Comes Alone!"
As soon as the words were spoken.
In an instant.
A pair of bright red eyes gleamed from the smoke, followed by countless deep blue rings expanding outward, dispersing the smoke while also blasting Medicham away!
"It still had some strength in reserve? Was my judgment off?"
Fujishu was shocked, "Strong Mental Will!"
"Chirp!"
With the light dimming on its body, Medicham clasped its hands once more, and invisible energy spread outward.
But unexpectedly, with half its body buried in the ground, the Galarian Corsola suddenly lifted its head, a dark purple sphere, larger than its own body, rapidly formed on it. The compressed energy vibrated intensely and shot towards Medicham at high speed!
Whoosh—
The wind howled sharply.
Medicham's face changed dramatically, its Spiritual Power was easily disrupted by the Shadow Ball!
"Did it grasp a new move? It can be accomplished if it wants to!"
Baimu showed a delighted expression.
Fujishu shouted loudly, "Quick, dodge!"
But Medicham couldn't dodge in time and was hit squarely by the Shadow Ball.
Bang!
The Ghost Attribute Energy exploded, stirring up plumes of smoke.
Soon after, Medicham emerged from the smoke, seemingly having endured the Shadow Ball, but after spinning around once, it collapsed unconscious.
Xiaoren immediately raised the flag upon seeing this.
"Medicham has lost the battle capability, the Sun... uh, Galarian Corsola wins!"
She shouted, then noticed that the Galarian Corsola was also half-buried in the ground with dazed eyes.
"Galarian Corsola has lost the battle capability!"
It seemed like they ended up taking each other out.
Baimu walked into the arena somewhat helplessly, patted the fainted Galarian Corsola, "You've already tried your best, thank you."
Just about to recall it into the Pokeball, he inadvertently noticed tiny cracks on its shell.
He suddenly realized.
So that's it, Medicham's Mind Head Hammer had hit a critical point, and the changes in both its abilities—the physical defense increased by Iron Wall and Primordial Power, and the physical attack decreased by Absorption Power—had all been ignored by that attack.
The Yoga Power... this Trait is really impressive.
On the other side.
Fujishu recalled Medicham, and seeing Baimu back in position, he couldn't help but clap his hands, "Splendid! Your Galarian Corsola has proven with action that it's indeed a reef, not a tidal wave.
"Then the next one, I wonder if your remaining reef can withstand it!"
He suddenly threw a Pokeball.
Bang!
A flash of white light,
The ground trembled slightly, and a massive, two-meter-tall Hariyama landed.
"Yama!"
Hariyama let out a deep call, sounding like the voice of a mountain.
Seeing this, Baimu threw out a Pokeball.
Bang!
"Roar!!"
A thunderous roar sounded, the silver beast landed heavily, kicking up dust as it revealed its fierce expression.
Fujishu was initially taken aback but then chuckled, "I didn't expect you'd choose Aggron."
"Because it's my trump card, at such a decisive moment, I naturally have to rely on the one I trust most."
Baimu responded with a smile.
Though four times weaker against Fighting Attributes, his long-standing experiences assured him that Aggron would not let him down.