"You made the correct decision by keeping Heliolisk at a safe distance and having it move around while using Aura Sphere for ranged attacks."
"It's obvious that you've also identified Escavalier's greatest weakness: its speed."
"However, the prerequisite for this tactic to succeed is that Heliolisk's attacks must be capable of dealing enough effective damage to Escavalier."
"Although Aura Sphere has a type advantage against Escavalier, and repeatedly using it has indeed inflicted damage, the amount is ultimately limited. Meanwhile, your Heliolisk has been constantly repositioning itself while unleashing fierce attacks, so its stamina consumption has been enormous."
"Right now, does your Heliolisk still have enough strength left to attack?"
Wikstrom looked at the panting Heliolisk on the opposite side of the battlefield before raising his head and asking Clemont.
"Heliolisk has already consumed too much stamina, and its condition is far worse than it was before."
"Even though my Escavalier is slower than Heliolisk, once we launch our counterattack, I doubt your Heliolisk will have enough strength left to defend itself."
Wikstrom wore a confident smile, as though he had already seen through everything.
However, when the cameraman focused on Clemont and his face appeared on the giant screen, both Wikstrom and the spectators discovered something unexpected.
There was no panic whatsoever on Clemont's face despite having his strategy seemingly exposed.
Instead, he looked completely composed, wearing a confident smile that was just as calm and assured as Wikstrom's.
"Mr. Wikstrom, are you really so certain that my Heliolisk has no strength left to fight back?"
Clemont countered with a question.
"Oh? Could it be...?"
Hearing Clemont's tone and seeing that smile on his face, Wikstrom suddenly thought of something.
Clemont did not keep him guessing. He raised a hand and pushed up the metal-rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, while the confident smile on his face became completely undisguised.
"Heliolisk, use Parabolic Charge!!"
Clemont swung his arm and shouted with the imposing presence of a Gym Leader.
"Chaaat~!"
Heliolisk's umbrella-like neck membrane suddenly spread wide. With its arms raised, it let out a high-pitched cry as chaotic bolts of electricity erupted from its body.
One bolt after another shot outward from Heliolisk, while Escavalier attempted to defend itself.
But the attack covered the entire battlefield!
There was nowhere to hide from the chaotic, 360-degree barrage.
Even Escavalier's twin lances, sharp enough to pierce almost anything, found it difficult to defend against every single bolt.
"Escavalier, use Swords Dance!!"
Remembering how Swords Dance had previously allowed Escavalier to defend against Heliolisk's Thunderbolt, Wikstrom immediately decided to use the same trick again.
"Vrrrmmmm...!"
"Chrrr...!"
Spreading both arms, Escavalier swung its steel lances as its body began spinning rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a violently rotating steel gyroscope.
However, this time, Wikstrom had made the wrong judgment.
Although Parabolic Charge was also an attacking move, the principle behind its damage was similar to the Grass-type draining moves.
It extracted stamina from the opponent and converted that stolen energy into recovery for the user.
The damage dealt to the opponent came from the stamina being drained, rather than from the explosive destructive force of lightning like Thunderbolt.
Compared with Thunderbolt's violent and explosive lightning, the electricity released by Parabolic Charge was far weaker and more dispersed.
When each bolt landed on Escavalier, it was not shredded apart by the spinning steel lances.
Instead, the lightning clung to Escavalier's body like melted hot plastic.
No matter how violently Escavalier spun, it could not shake the electricity loose.
And all the while, its stamina continued to drain.
The situation on the battlefield unfolded exactly as described.
The sticky electricity landed on Escavalier's body. Rather than being deflected and torn apart by its twin lances, the lightning seemed to grow suction cups, clinging tightly to Escavalier while continuously siphoning away its strength.
Fortunately, Parabolic Charge was not a continuously draining move like the traditional draining techniques.
After rapidly extracting a portion of Escavalier's stamina, the lightning attached to its body suddenly tore itself away, almost like a syringe being violently pulled out.
"Chrrraaa!!"
As the stolen energy left its body along with the lightning, Escavalier's strength rapidly disappeared.
Severe pain spread throughout its entire body, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of weakness, causing Escavalier to let out a miserable cry.
"Chrrraaa!!"
As the stolen energy left its body along with the lightning, Escavalier's strength rapidly disappeared.
Severe pain spread throughout its entire body, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of weakness, causing Escavalier to let out a miserable cry.
"Chaaat!!"
The energy that had been stolen from Escavalier flowed back into Heliolisk through the strands of lightning.
The stamina Heliolisk had consumed during its repeated Aura Sphere attacks was instantly replenished.
"Parabolic Charge... A move that combines damage and recovery into one."
"I didn't expect your Heliolisk to actually know such a move."
"You deliberately kept it hidden until now. You were planning to trade stamina with my Escavalier, weren't you?"
Wikstrom had taken a hit, but rather than becoming angry, he looked at Clemont with undisguised appreciation.
"I thought I had already seen through your strategy, but it turns out I was the one who fell into your trap."
"Very good. Very good indeed~"
"Haha, thank you for the compliment, Elite Four Wikstrom."
"But now, my Heliolisk can stay at a safe distance and continuously use Aura Sphere to wear down Escavalier."
"When Heliolisk's stamina becomes too depleted, it can use Parabolic Charge to recover."
"Right now, we've already established a complete and effective tactical loop."
"Your previous strategy of having Escavalier wait defensively for an opportunity to counterattack is no longer effective."
"The initiative and the pace of the battle are now in our hands."
"So, Elite Four Wikstrom, how do you plan to break out of this situation?"
Clemont pushed up his glasses again, and the moment he finished speaking, he immediately gave Heliolisk another command.
"Heliolisk, start running! Continue firing consecutive Aura Spheres!"
"Haha... Yes, that's true."
"The battle has already fallen completely into your rhythm."
"From here on, I have to find a way to break your rhythm."
"Otherwise, even if I ultimately win this battle, I'll still consider it a loss."
Wikstrom shook his head helplessly.
"Chaaat!!"
"Escavalier, dodge it, then use consecutive Agility to pursue it~!"
Seeing Heliolisk once again begin running around while firing Aura Spheres, Wikstrom no longer hesitated.
He immediately issued his countermeasure.
"Chrrr~!"
Escavalier's movement speed was indeed extremely slow.
However, its ability to turn, maneuver forward and backward, and make short-range movements had undergone intensive training.
As another Aura Sphere came roaring toward it, Escavalier did not thrust its lance forward to explode it like before.
Instead, it simply shifted its body and cleanly dodged the attack.
"BOOM!!"
The Aura Sphere exploded behind it.
But Escavalier, the embodiment of a true man, did not even bother looking back at the explosion.
Its eyes remained firmly locked onto the rapidly moving Heliolisk.
At the same time, it activated Agility, steadily increasing its movement speed.
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T/N:
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