"Escavalier, use 'Lunge'!!"
The moment Wikstrom finished speaking, Escavalier's two lances lightly clanged against each other.
In the next instant, as though they were lightsabers wielded by Jedi Knights in Star Wars, the move 'Lunge' was unleashed. Escavalier's two lances instantly transformed into enormous laser spears—and not just any spears, but spears that were a full forty meters long.
Escavalier's speed had never been enough to catch Heliolisk. Even after repeatedly using 'Agility' to raise its speed, it still could not close the distance.
Now that it had also been paralyzed by Heliolisk's 'Thunder Wave', Escavalier had completely fallen into a disadvantageous position.
Although Clemont knew that Wikstrom was one of the Elite Four of the Kalos League and that Escavalier was one of his trump-card Pokémon, meaning it certainly was not as easy to deal with as he imagined, he had already prepared himself for the possibility of being suppressed and beaten for the rest of the battle.
What Clemont had never expected was that Wikstrom's method of breaking through his tactical advantage and launching a counterattack would be this.
The Steel-type attack 'Lunge' had actually been applied directly to Escavalier's two lances, causing the roughly 1.5-meter weapons to instantly stretch five or six times their original length.
Escavalier still could not catch Heliolisk even at this speed, but now it didn't need to chase it anymore.
No matter how quickly Heliolisk moved around the battlefield, it could not simply leave the arena. As long as it remained inside the battle area, it would always be within Escavalier's attack range.
"Escavalier—"
Seeing Clemont momentarily frozen in surprise, Wikstrom, who had already gotten serious and was preparing to counterattack, immediately reminded his Pokémon to strike.
"Boom!!"
Escavalier raised one of its elongated lances and swung it.
Heliolisk, which was far away, was directly smacked into the air.
"Heliolisk, use 'Flash', then rush in and use 'Fire Punch'!"
After being sent flying, Clemont quickly recovered. His thoughts raced, and he rapidly came up with a countermeasure.
There was no doubt that Clemont's reaction was both fast and clever.
The reason he had previously refused to let Heliolisk rush into close combat was because Escavalier's melee ability was simply too powerful. Allowing Heliolisk to fight it at close range would have been far too risky, which was why Clemont had chosen to wear Escavalier down from a distance with 'Aura Sphere'.
Now, however, Escavalier had used 'Lunge' to extend its two lances, effectively dragging around a pair of forty-meter-long greatswords that could easily strike Heliolisk even from a distance.
But once the lances became that long, attacking targets directly in front of Escavalier became much more difficult.
Therefore, having Heliolisk rush into close combat now and deal damage with 'Fire Punch' was an extremely wise decision.
Unfortunately, Clemont had still underestimated Wikstrom.
And he had also underestimated just how proficient Escavalier was with 'Lunge'.
"Chaa—!"
Following its Trainer's command, Heliolisk spread the umbrella-like membrane around its neck and released a dazzling flash bomb.
Escavalier's vision was temporarily blinded.
Immediately afterward, Heliolisk burst forward with incredible agility.
Fiery red Fire-type energy rapidly gathered around its fist, soon forming a blazing fist wrapped in scorching flames.
Escavalier was a Bug- and Steel-type Pokémon, making it four times weak to Fire.
If Heliolisk landed this 'Fire Punch', Escavalier, whose strength was being deliberately suppressed, would likely suffer a devastating blow.
However, the moment Heliolisk charged forward with its flaming fist raised, Wikstrom immediately issued his own command.
"Escavalier, shorten the lances, then use 'Rage Powder'!!"
"Cha~!"
Escavalier responded.
Its enormous lances instantly shrank back down.
Then, gripping both weapons, Escavalier charged directly toward Heliolisk and unleashed the Fighting-type move 'Rage Powder'!
"This is bad!!"
Clemont had never expected Escavalier to have such incredible control over 'Lunge'.
Its lances could actually be extended and then shortened again!
"Bang bang bang bang…"
Before Clemont and Heliolisk could react, Escavalier's attack had already landed.
With its shortened lances, Escavalier unleashed 'Rage Powder'. Amid a rapid series of clanging impacts, Heliolisk was beaten black and blue in the blink of an eye.
Earlier, during the speed chase, Escavalier had been using its weakness—its speed—to attack Heliolisk's greatest strength.
Now that Heliolisk had voluntarily rushed into close combat, the tables had turned.
It was Heliolisk that was using its weakness to challenge Escavalier's greatest strength.
"Heliolisk, use 'Wild Charge' to knock it away!"
Heliolisk had fallen into a disadvantageous position, and Clemont's expression became considerably more solemn than before.
"A head-on clash?"
Wikstrom's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Your Heliolisk can't beat my Escavalier in that kind of contest."
"Escavalier, use 'Giga Impact'!!"
Wikstrom immediately issued his command.
"Shatter—!"
On one side was Heliolisk, enveloped in crackling lightning as it unleashed 'Wild Charge'.
On the other was Escavalier, whose entire body was wrapped in a violent surge of blue-violet energy as it unleashed 'Giga Impact'.
The two Pokémon collided violently in midair.
In the end, Escavalier's 'Giga Impact' possessed greater destructive power. Moreover, Escavalier was a Pokémon with exceptionally high Attack and Defense.
Heliolisk, on the other hand, was a Pokémon focused primarily on Special Attack.
At this moment, it had once again chosen to use its weakness against its opponent's strength.
The two Pokémon collided in midair while unleashing their respective attacks.
The stalemate lasted less than a second.
Heliolisk was defeated.
It was blasted backward through the air.
"Heliolisk…!!"
"Escavalier, use 'Giga Impact'!"
"…"
"Escavalier, use 'Rage Powder'!"
"…"
"Escavalier, use 'Drill Run'!"
"Boom~!"
"Chaaat!!"
Wikstrom and Escavalier had officially begun their counterattack.
With a single move—'Lunge', which allowed Escavalier's two lances to extend and retract at will—they had directly shattered the tactical loop Clemont had worked so hard to construct.
Whether through baiting or forcing the opponent into a particular choice, Clemont's later decision to have Heliolisk rush in close and attempt to break through Escavalier from the melee range had actually played straight into Wikstrom and Escavalier's hands.
Clemont had never anticipated that Escavalier could shorten its lances after extending them.
Thus, Heliolisk had practically thrown itself into a spider's web.
Getting caught was easy.
Escaping was another matter entirely.
Once Heliolisk entered close combat—the very domain in which Escavalier excelled—Wikstrom had no intention of allowing it to escape easily.
Escavalier pursued it relentlessly.
After several rounds of brutal close-quarters exchanges, Heliolisk was quickly battered into critical condition.
Earlier, Heliolisk had repeatedly attacked with 'Aura Sphere', which dealt double damage to Escavalier, and 'Fire Punch', which dealt four times damage.
Now, after being beaten into the red, Heliolisk finally got to experience what it felt like to be on the receiving end of type disadvantage.
The battle had completely changed.
Clemont's carefully constructed tactical advantage had been broken.
And the moment Wikstrom found the opening, Escavalier transformed that single opening into an overwhelming counterattack.
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals