"Zzzzt—!"
The Thunderbolt crashed down onto the steel-armored drill that Escavalier had transformed itself into. Yet instead of inflicting the obvious damage one might expect, the electric attack was shredded apart and dispersed by the rapidly spinning Pokémon.
"Clang!"
As the electric sparks faded away, Escavalier remained completely unharmed. On the contrary, after using Swords Dance, its entire presence had become even sharper and more imposing.
"Wikstrom! Wikstrom!!"
"Wikstrom! Wikstrom!!"
…
…
Seeing Escavalier effortlessly neutralize Heliolisk's attack, the spectators erupted into another deafening wave of cheers.
Clemont, however, remained completely unaffected by the crowd's support for Wikstrom.
Wikstrom's Escavalier had easily neutralized Heliolisk's attack, but Heliolisk had likewise dodged Escavalier's frontal charge earlier.
Neither side had gained a meaningful advantage.
And if anything, Heliolisk had the upper hand.
After all, Clemont had opened with Electric Terrain, giving Heliolisk a boost to the power of its Electric-type moves.
Thinking this through, Clemont's confidence immediately settled.
His eyes focused on Escavalier as he carefully observed his opponent.
Escavalier excelled in Attack, while its defenses were also exceptionally strong. Its greatest weakness, however, was its poor mobility.
With that in mind, Clemont quickly made his decision.
"Heliolisk, maintain a safe distance and use Aura Sphere!"
Clemont raised a hand and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose before calmly issuing the command.
"Heli!"
On the battlefield, Heliolisk immediately sprang into action.
Its tail whipped from side to side as it began sprinting rapidly around the arena. At the same time, it brought its two forepaws together at its waist, assuming a stance as it gathered its energy.
A moment later, a sphere of concentrated fighting energy formed between its palms.
"Whoosh—!"
While running at high speed, Heliolisk deliberately circled around to Escavalier's rear, entering the blind spot behind the armored Pokémon.
It then thrust one palm forward.
The Aura Sphere shot through the air toward Escavalier's back.
Clemont's decision was undeniably sound.
Whether it was keeping Heliolisk at a safe distance rather than recklessly closing in, choosing ranged attacks, or deliberately selecting a Fighting-type move that was super effective against Escavalier's Steel typing, every decision was extremely sensible.
But Wikstrom's Escavalier was no ordinary Pokémon.
"Fury Attack!"
Wikstrom gave the command in an even tone.
"Bang!"
The Aura Sphere came screaming toward Escavalier's back.
Just as it was about to strike, Escavalier spun around with crisp precision and thrust one of its steel lances forward.
The Aura Sphere was pierced and detonated on the spot.
Although the explosion occurred extremely close to Escavalier, the Pokémon immediately crossed its two lances before its body in a defensive stance.
The resulting shock wave was blocked head-on.
Escavalier had perfectly demonstrated the meaning of offensive defense.
"Heliolisk, don't stop. Maintain your distance and keep using Aura Sphere!"
Clemont wasn't the slightest bit shaken by Wikstrom and Escavalier's response.
It was almost as though he had anticipated this outcome from the very beginning.
"Heli!"
Heliolisk answered crisply and followed its Trainer's orders without hesitation.
It continued running around the battlefield while simultaneously charging another Aura Sphere.
Once again, it slipped into the blind spot behind Escavalier.
This time, Heliolisk didn't even need Clemont to remind it.
With its own battle awareness and judgment, it immediately launched the Aura Sphere.
"Whoosh—!"
Yet Escavalier had already successfully defended against the previous attack.
Now that the exact same technique was being used a second time, it was naturally difficult for it to cause any meaningful damage.
"Fury Attack!"
Just as before, Wikstrom calmly ordered Escavalier to intercept.
"Swish! Swish!"
Escavalier thrust its two lances forward with lightning speed.
"Bang!"
The Aura Sphere exploded after being pierced.
"Clang!"
Escavalier immediately withdrew its lances and crossed them before its body, minimizing the damage from the resulting blast.
The same scene played out again.
And again.
And again.
The spectators outside gradually became confused.
Why did Clemont keep ordering Heliolisk to use the same attack when it was clearly being neutralized every time?
Wasn't he simply wasting Heliolisk's energy?
Yet at the floor-to-ceiling window of the waiting room at the back of the arena, Ash's lips slowly curled into a knowing smile.
"Heliolisk is Electric/Normal, while Escavalier is Bug/Steel. A Fire-type move would deal four times the normal damage, while a Fighting-type move would deal double damage."
"Clemont's Heliolisk does know Fire Punch, but charging straight into close-range combat with Fire Punch would be far too risky. Using Aura Sphere as a ranged attack is much safer."
"And although Escavalier keeps piercing the Aura Sphere with its two lances and intercepting it before it reaches its body, the explosion is happening at extremely close range."
"Since Fighting-type attacks are super effective against Steel, there's no way Escavalier is taking absolutely no damage."
Ash's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Clemont isn't actually trying to defeat Escavalier with these attacks."
"Instead, he's deliberately choosing Aura Sphere despite its high energy consumption."
"He's trying to mislead his opponent—taking advantage of the opponent's instinct to counterattack in order to make Escavalier expend its own stamina while gradually wearing down its HP."
Ash's battle experience was extremely extensive.
Moreover, he had the system to inspect the data of both Pokémon. He had also previously borrowed Clemont's Heliolisk when helping Pikachu learn Parabolic Charge, so he knew Heliolisk's abilities and moves extremely well.
But compared with Heliolisk itself, what surprised Ash most was Clemont as a Trainer.
His ability to read his opponent's psychology—
And manipulate it—
Was remarkably precise.
"Heliolisk, don't stop! Keep using Aura Sphere!"
"Escavalier, Fury Attack!"
"…"
"Aura Sphere!"
"…"
"Aura Sphere!"
"…"
Clemont continuously ordered Heliolisk to fire Aura Sphere after Aura Sphere.
On the other side, Wikstrom simply had Escavalier passively defend, piercing each incoming Aura Sphere with its lances before blocking the resulting explosion.
Boom after boom rang across the battlefield.
The spectators watched as the two sides seemingly fell into an endless cycle.
Yet what they failed to notice was the faint smile at the corner of Clemont's mouth.
As time passed, that smile gradually became more pronounced.
He had been waiting for this moment.
"Heliolisk, that's enough."
After unleashing more than ten consecutive waves of Aura Sphere attacks, Clemont finally raised his hand.
"Stop attacking."
Heliolisk immediately ceased its assault.
The battlefield suddenly fell quiet.
And at that moment, Clemont's expression revealed a confidence that hadn't been there before.
His strategy had already accomplished what he wanted.