Our turn.
A plain sentence, yet it signifies one thing.
Lance and Natsuhiko are angry.
Being blocked at the door, and with two blasts right off the bat, it's hard not to be angry.
But Baird seemed indifferent to Lance's words.
He chuckled softly.
"This is my home turf."
With that said, several flashes of red light appeared at his waist, and one by one, the Pokémon appeared in front of him.
Camerupt, Torkoal, Magcargo, Typhlosion, and Houndoom, plus the previous Magmortar, a total of six Pokémon.
All of them are Fire-type Pokémon!
In such a scorching lava region, calling it his home turf is no exaggeration.
Although apart from Magmortar, the rest are only Gym Leader level, with the field's augmentation, they nevertheless shouldn't be underestimated.
A researcher of the League with such capability?
Even if he is the gene bank administrator, he's somewhat an important figure in the League.
But this is probably something the League didn't expect.
That's why after the gene bank explosion event occurred, the League couldn't correctly assess his strength, allowing him to successfully escape.
Beside Natsuhiko.
Alakazam, Beedrill, and Togekiss surrounded him.
Next to Lance, Dragonite, Aerodactyl, and Gyarados weren't about to be overshadowed.
As Charizard, the main contributor in resisting Magmortar earlier, inevitably got injured, Gyarados replaced its position.
But when facing so many Fire-type Pokémon, Gyarados, the only Water-type Pokémon, became exceptionally crucial.
"I'll control the field," Natsuhiko said softly, adjusting his hat.
Lance nodded.
Their momentum didn't require much communication.
Similarly.
There was no need for any communication with Baird on the opposite side.
In real life-and-death battles, shouting out Pokémon names and techniques is actually foolish, so such moments further test the Trainer and Pokémon's momentum.
The first to act was Torkoal.
A scarlet-white beam emitted from Torkoal's shell, suspended at the top of the cavity.
The trait "Sunshine" takes effect!
The weather inside the cavity now became "Sunny Day"!
Buzz—
The pink barrier centered on Alakazam spread out, covering a large area.
Change of arena, Psychic Arena!
One side controls the weather, the other controls the field!
But then came Gyarados.
"Roar—!!"
First, with its "Intimidation" trait, it gave a scare to the entire opposing field, then created a stream of water out of thin air, with scales shimmering bright blue.
Rain Dance!
What can counter weather is only weather!
Since the opposing side already has the advantage of the lava region, if they gain control over the weather, that would be really troublesome.
Lance's judgment was correct.
Even in such an environment, Gyarados's "Rain Dance" cannot bring actual rainwater, but if it can offset their "Sunny Day," that's enough.
Baird watched this scene and chuckled softly.
Among Natsuhiko and Lance's Pokémon, the most troublesome one for him, Gyarados, was thus restricted.
He waved grandly.
Magmortar's eyes shined coldly, and the scorching "Jet Flame" carried with it rolling hot wind, rushing straight toward Beedrill.
The spiritual threads shot out in the sky, gripping Beedrill's body, with Alakazam's spoon swirling, its fine control of psychic power allowed it to drag Beedrill, adding a certain speed boost.
Beedrill faced the attack without panic, simply flapping its wings continuously, using "High Altitude Movement" and "Tailwind" almost simultaneously.
With a loud boom.
Magmortar's attack missed.
As the flames passed, Beedrill calmly began to use "Sword Dance" to strengthen itself.
It knew clearly its role.
The duties of an assassin and finisher are its responsibilities; direct confrontation in such battles are not what it should be doing.
Beedrill didn't make a move, but the unimpressed Aerodactyl did, letting out an angry roar, controlling countless rocks to shoot out, sweeping toward all opposing Pokémon.
Then the standing Flame Beast stepped forward, back flames surging wildly, its max power "Flamethrower" met Aerodactyl's attack.
Not only did it evaporate and gasify Aerodactyl's attack, but also had spare force to sweep toward Aerodactyl.
Yet the next second.
Alakazam's extending spiritual threads showed no sign of withdrawing, linking Aerodactyl and Dragonite.
"Exchange Arena" deployed!
The relinquishing and unready Aerodactyl exchanged positions with the poised Dragonite.
A blast of blue-purple flame erupted from Dragonite's mouth, sweeping away Typhlosion's residual "Flamethrower."
Dragonite then was enveloped in Dragon Energy, using "Dragon Dive" to plummet down, targeting Torkoal.
Defeat Torkoal, then liberate Gyarados!
This was the goal.
Camerupt sidestepped, standing in front of Torkoal, and faced the incoming Dragonite with a meandering flame.
At this moment.
A streak of bright white arc light unnoticed by everyone reached the back of Baird's Pokémon.
It's Togekiss's "Divine Speed."
The wings trembled continuously, sending out milky white circular arc blades from its wings, and the "Air Slash" cut through the air towards the Camerupt.
No!
It's the Torkoal!
"Roar——!!"
A black shadow leaped up.
Teeth glowing with black light shattered one of the "Air Slashes," and Houndoom appeared just in time.
Taking advantage of the gap between Magmortar's attacks, the energy had just recovered, and it blasted another "Air Slash" with a shot.
Both "Air Slashes" were neutralized before they could take effect.
However.
This was merely the beginning.
Buzz!
Alakazam's form suddenly swapped with Togekiss, and the exchanges continued without pause.
This time the switch was with..... Dragonite!
The Dragonite that was originally blocked by the Camerupt from the front suddenly appeared at the rear of the Torkoal, thanks to Alakazam's "Exchange Arena" technique!
This!
Was the system that Natsuhiko had built for Alakazam, for his Pokémon.
The "Unlimited Defense Swap" system, where you would never know from where the real attack would come.
And at this moment, Baird finally understood.
The biggest threat was not the Water-type Gyarados, not the Quasi-God Speed Dragon, not the highly threatening Togekiss, but the calm and composed one that hadn't launched any attack but controlled the entire arena's pace...
Alakazam!
This was the core, the role it should play.
Its presence allowed its companions to work together and yield a result that was greater than the sum of its parts!
Natsuhiko spent so much thought and time building the "Unlimited Defense Swap" system.
The initial outline was unveiled!
Baird's face was filled with gloom.
He gritted his teeth.
Torkoal, I leave it to you!
But!
Leave this Alakazam to me!
Houndoom intercepted the "Air Slash" from Togekiss just as it landed, and leaped into the air again.
It happened to pass by the descending Dragonite.
This was a forceful one-for-one strategy.
But can it succeed?
Natsuhiko smiled.
The next moment.
Alakazam's form disappeared once again.
And what appeared in front of Houndoom was a Beedrill with scarlet compound eyes flashing. The crossed Double Needle Cross took on Houndoom's "Shatter" head-on.
The assassin Beedrill doesn't attack head-on, except when it can gain an energy advantage.
Houndoom might not fear Insect-types, but the Dark-type technique "Shatter" it used was just countered by Beedrill's Insect-type "Cross Cut."
In this wave of technique clash, Beedrill had the advantage, so it could strike!
This was also the characteristic of the system, to strike when possible.
Boom!
Boom! Boom!
The Beedrill collided with Houndoom, Dragonite's "Dragon Dive" struck directly into Torkoal, and Togekiss's "Triple Attack" resisted Camerupt's "Jet Flame."
All of these.
Were completed in an instant.
And this.
For Natsuhiko and Lance, was still only the beginning.
The Dragonite that crashed into Torkoal's body blurred for a moment, and when it reappeared, it was in the air, facing the exhausted Houndoom that was forced to fall from the sky.
Taking its place was the Beedrill, always ready to reap.
The Torkoal, which had yet to completely lose its fighting ability after enduring Dragonite's "Dragon Dive," was the best "nourishment" for Beedrill.
What's the harm in claiming a kill as the C-position?
Deadly Needle Stab!
After a series of exchanges, not to mention Baird's Pokémon, even Baird himself couldn't quite grasp the situation.
It seemed each Pokémon was facing its respective opponent.
Yet it also seemed that each Pokémon could be facing any one of the opponents.
This was the essence of the "Unlimited Defense Swap."
The enemy you faced would never be known.
Yet your opponent knew exactly who would endure its attacks.
And with that.
The "Sunshine" core Torkoal lost its ability to fight, and the Water-type Gyarados was liberated.
Even if the opponent had an Elite Candidate Level Magmortar, Natsuhiko noticed that the opposing Magmortar hadn't evolved long, likely evolving only after coming here, and was not well-versed enough in its control to fully utilize the power expected of an Elite Candidate Level Pokémon.
And most importantly.
Baird seemed imposing, but a researcher was still a researcher.
A researcher should honestly stick to research.
The waters of a Trainer run too deep for you to navigate.
——————
The eighth update! It's over 20,000 words now, not sure what the final results will be today~~ Please support with your votes!