Erika's lead was Ninetales. Its ability was [Drought]. As soon as it appeared, the ability activated. The Sun instantly blanketed the field, and a scorching heat filled the air.
Shidou's lead was the rock-steady Wobbuffet.
[A Sun team! The streamer's Wobbuffet is toast!]
[Ninetales has high Sp. Atk. Under Drought, Fire moves deal double damage. A single Flamethrower or Overheat will delete it!]
[Streamer, say something! How are you going to handle this??]
Shidou remained silent. The online simulation was a real-time battle; commands needed to be precise. If he missed a window, the opponent could chain commands.
Erika, the Celadon Gym Leader, loved Grass Pokémon but was also well-versed in others. She knew Wobbuffet's gimmick—it usually used Mirror Coat or Counter to reflect damage. Therefore, she decided not to attack blindly but to set up first. She would use absolute power to deliver a one-hit KO, giving Wobbuffet no chance to reflect.
Erika: "Ninetales, use Nasty Plot!"
On the field, a cunning glint flashed in Ninetales' eyes, and its Special Attack skyrocketed.
However, Shidou seemed to have anticipated this. His lips curled. "Wobbuffet, use Encore!"
"Wobbuffet~~~"
On the field, Wobbuffet clapped its hands clumsily. Immediately, a strange regulatory power enveloped Ninetales.
[Huh???]
[What move is that?]
[Encore: Compels the target to keep using its last move for the next 3 turns.]
[He's stopping the setup? No... he's forcing it to keep setting up?!]
[For the next three turns, Ninetales will keep using Nasty Plot. Its Sp. Atk is gonna hit 13,000 points!!?]
Setup is setup, but Ninetales was now clearly unable to use any offensive skills. This gave Shidou's team a massive opening.
Erika was stunned. She instantly realized the opponent's intent. She had to switch Ninetales out immediately, or it would keep using Nasty Plot and become uncontrollable. She hurriedly shouted:
"Ninetales, come back!"
However, the moment Erika tried to switch, Wobbuffet's ability activated—
SHADOW TAG!!!
An invisible force of shadows bound Ninetales. The red light from Erika's Pokéball hit Ninetales and was directly deflected.
[Holy shit, holy shit! What's happening?]
[Is this Wobbuffet's Shadow Tag?]
[It's over! Ninetales can't leave!]
[Explanation: Shadow Tag prevents the opponent from switching out or fleeing. Wild Pokémon can't use Teleport. Only Pokémon with Run Away or holding a Smoke Ball can ignore it. But in a trainer battle, you're stuck.]
[Thanks, Science-bro.]
[Genius. Using Encore to lock the setup and Shadow Tag to lock the switch. Is this Wobbuffet a demon?!]
[Kricketune Man, what the hell are you planning!!]
Shadow Tag completely pinned Ninetales to the spot. It couldn't budge. Moreover, Ninetales was now forced to use Nasty Plot for three consecutive turns!!
Shidou looked at the locked-down Ninetales—whose Special Attack was now world-ending yet useless—and the inevitable panic of the opposing trainer. He gave a "calculated" smile and operated his controls rapidly.
"Wobbuffet, come back!"
The Shadow Tag effect vanished as Wobbuffet left the field. However, Ninetales was still bound by the [Encore] effect. It would still be forced to use Nasty Plot next turn.
"Go, Garchomp!"
Shidou's voice rang out almost simultaneously.
A flash of white light, and Garchomp took the stage.
Erika saw the switch and her mind raced:
"He withdrew Wobbuffet and sent in Garchomp. My Ninetales is stuck using Nasty Plot. Even with max Sp. Atk, it's too fragile. I have to switch to save it, or one Earthquake will delete Ninetales instantly!"
Based on this prediction, Erika made her move. She shouted: "Ninetales, come back!"
Erika quickly recalled the helpless Ninetales and sent out Leafeon, which theoretically resisted Ground-type moves.
However, the moment Leafeon landed lightly on the grass, Shidou's command had already been issued. "Garchomp, use Fire Blast!"
What?!
Fire Blast?!
Erika and the entire audience were stunned.
On the field, Garchomp did not stomp the ground for an Earthquake as expected. Instead, it took a deep breath and spat out a massive, violent, "大"-shaped blast of flames from its mouth.
Under the Sun's boost, the flame's power reached terrifying levels, becoming increasingly scorched and wild!
BOOM!!!!
The massive fire character slammed brutally into the newly switched-in Leafeon before it could even react!
It was super effective!
Leafeon didn't even have time to whimper before being instantly swallowed by the terrifying Sun-boosted Fire move. It fainted on the spot!
The entire audience was in shock!
After a brief pause, the chat erupted like a volcano:
[HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!! Fire Blast?!]
[Garchomp, you're not right in the head! Aren't you a physical attacker? Why are you using special moves?!]
[He used the Sun against her! Kricketune Man predicted the switch into the Grass-type Leafeon to block Earthquake!]
[GOD TIER!!! That prediction! That dirty strategy!]
[Streamer, you knew she would switch, didn't you?! Shadow Tag was a bait; forcing the switch was the real goal!]
[Is this a Special Attacker Garchomp? Did you know she was a Sun team and customized the move pool beforehand??]
The facts were exactly as the chat suspected. That was Shidou's plan.
He had deduced it was a Sun team from the ID and the Ninetales lead. Sending in Wobbuffet to force the setup and lock movement, then withdrawing to break Shadow Tag—all of it was a setup for the next move:
Predicting the switch.
Shidou was certain Erika would switch to a Grass-type to resist the expected Earthquake. So, he decisively had Garchomp use Fire Blast, which deals explosive damage in the Sun. It worked perfectly!
Garchomp excels at Physical Attack, but its Special Attack isn't weak either. Leafeon is exceptionally fragile on the special side; it had no chance of tanking a Sun-boosted Fire Blast.
Erika: "I'm tilting hard!!"
Inside the Celadon Gym, Erika looked at the fainted Leafeon on her screen and covered her mouth, her eyes full of disbelief. "So powerful... is this really just a placement match? Every single step was a trap..."
Erika felt dizzy. This game was too hard. But she couldn't retreat now. She took a deep breath, calmed her nerves, and sent out her second Pokémon.
"I'm counting on you, Venusaur!"