Chapter 293: Dylan, You Can't Fight Like This!

"If I remember correctly, Whimsicott's damage output isn't very high,"

Professor Kukui muttered to himself, weighing his options.

"Incineroar, Parting Shot."

Kukui decided it was time to withdraw his ace. He wouldn't have used it to quickly handle Amoonguss earlier if he had any other choice.

Incineroar barked out a stream of trash talk at Whimsicott, but the little fluffball kept its bright, mischievous smile—only narrowing its eyes slightly.

A faint glow surrounded Whimsicott as its attack and special attack were lowered.

Meanwhile, Incineroar retreated into its Poké Ball.

"Braviary!"

Kukui sent out his second pick.

As soon as it appeared, Braviary dropped heavily onto the field—still sound asleep.

"Huh? Trying to stall out sleep turns with a low-damage opponent?"

Dylan tilted his head slightly.

"Professor Kukui, that might not be the best idea."

He smiled as he said it.

In truth, keeping Incineroar in would've been smarter—because Whimsicott's Prankster ability wouldn't work on a Dark-type like Incineroar.

But maybe Kukui hadn't faced a "serious" Whimsicott before.

After all, battles in Alola tended to be much more "normal."

Plus, it was true—Whimsicott's offense wasn't exactly terrifying.

So using it to stall Braviary awake made some sense.

"Not necessarily," Kukui grinned. "Braviary isn't totally helpless."

"Moonblast."

Dylan didn't argue further—he simply gave his command.

Whimsicott raised its tiny arms. A ghostly, shimmering moon appeared overhead, scattering cold silvery light into a single glowing sphere.

Fairy-type move: Moonblast!

The energy orb shot toward the sleeping Braviary.

"Sleep Talk!"

Braviary stirred, a faint white glow surrounding its claws—Tearful Look, an ineffective choice.

Because it was using Sleep Talk, Braviary charged straight forward, unable to dodge.

The Moonblast hit squarely.

Boom!

Braviary grunted in pain but remained asleep on the ground.

Still, Whimsicott's special attack was middling at best, and thanks to Parting Shot, it had been weakened further.

Overall, it wasn't devastating damage—plus Braviary didn't have great special defense.

"Again. Moonblast."

Dylan ordered another.

Whimsicott launched another glowing orb at Braviary.

"Sleep Talk!" Kukui called.

Braviary staggered up again, its beak glowing—it used Zen Headbutt!

The powerful psychic charge blew apart the incoming Moonblast in a burst of light.

Braviary's eyes snapped open with a sharp cry.

It was awake!

"Yes!" Kukui beamed. Finally!

"Not good. Braviary's awake," Itto frowned.

Although Braviary had been hit a few times, he didn't look seriously injured.

"Don't worry, Dad. Now the fun really starts," Lillie said with a bright grin.

She knew what was coming next.

Kukui thought waking Braviary had changed the game, but… not quite.

On the field—

"Let's go, Braviary!" Kukui called, full of energy.

Braviary answered with a proud screech, locking its sharp gaze onto the little fluffball still bouncing lightly.

A tiny cotton creature daring to show off in front of the great eagle!?

"Braviary, Aerial Ace!"

The eagle shot forward with a flap of its powerful wings.

"Tailwind."

Whimsicott lifted its arms, summoning a strong gust that wrapped behind it—boosting its speed.

"That Tailwind formed really fast… Prankster ability?" Kukui's eyes narrowed.

Yeah, there was no way a normal Tailwind would be that quick.

Braviary dived, slicing through the air—five meters, three meters, one meter!

"Dodge."

At the last second, Whimsicott sprang lightly upward, evading the Aerial Ace with perfect timing.

"Stun Spore."

Still smiling mischievously, Whimsicott fluttered its arms—sprinkling bright yellow powder.

"Braviary!!" Kukui gasped.

The powder coated Braviary before it could escape.

It flinched violently, body freezing up mid-flap.

Thud!

Braviary dropped flat on the field, paralyzed.

"…Huh?"

Itto and Amelia both gawked.

Wake up from sleep only to get paralyzed immediately!?

Dylan, you can't fight like this!!

Where's the fun in battle!?

Kukui's face darkened again, fighting the urge to scream internally.

Sleep at least gave some hope of waking up.

Paralysis?

Your speed tanks, you get randomly frozen stiff—you're basically at your opponent's mercy.

"Leech Seed."

Dylan remained as sunny and composed as ever—his bright, gentle smile never wavering.

Whimsicott hurled green seeds that immediately took root around Braviary, vines sprouting and latching onto it.

Tiny green sparks drifted from Braviary into Whimsicott's body.

"Braviary! Break free!" Kukui urged.

No way would they give up—they were warriors!

Braviary struggled, eventually breaking free from the worst of the vines.

Still, its movements were sluggish.

"Moonblast."

Whimsicott floated higher, another radiant moon forming above its head.

Braviary tried to dodge—but between paralysis and lingering vines, it was too slow.

Boom!

Another explosion rocked the field, slamming Braviary hard.

Kukui's hands clenched.

He looked from the battered Braviary to the still-smirking Whimsicott—and shivered.

How was this considered cute!?

Where was the cuteness Dylan had spoken of!?

"Braviary! Take to the skies!" Kukui shouted, refusing to quit.

Braviary flapped its wings, lifting into the air despite the paralysis.

"Such admirable willpower," Dylan nodded approvingly.

"But let's send you off properly. Moonblast."

Another sphere of moonlight hurtled toward Braviary.

"Brave Bird!" Kukui yelled.

"Break through it!!"

Braviary let out a battle cry, red flames of Brave Bird igniting around it.

If it could just pull off Brave Bird, it could crush the Moonblast and maybe even take Whimsicott down!

But just as the flames peaked—

A spark jumped along Braviary's feathers.

Its body froze.

It was paralyzed.

Completely stiff.

Boom!

The Moonblast smashed into Braviary, the light exploding across its frozen body.

Braviary fell from the sky like a stone, crashing heavily to the ground.

"Braviary is unable to battle. Whimsicott wins," Leaf announced crisply.

"See, Dad, I told you it didn't matter if Braviary woke up," Lillie said sweetly.

Itto could only click his tongue, watching Whimsicott drift lazily back down.

Holy crap.

Braviary never even touched it.

It just got totally dismantled by that fluffy little demon.

Honestly? Respect.

Still, no way Kukui was having fun.

Dylan's battling style… hadn't changed one bit.

Back then against Zinnia, and now—if anything, it was even more shameless.

Itto glanced sideways at Kukui.

Sure enough, the professor's face was dark again, his smile completely gone.

"Professor, my Whimsicott is a lot harder to deal with than Amoonguss. You can't be careless," Dylan said kindly.

"I think I get it now," Kukui forced a stiff smile.

He loved battling—that's why he even moonlighted as the Masked Royal in Battle Royale.

But… not like this.

Still, Kukui was Kukui.

He quickly refocused.

Whimsicott floated smugly in the air, speed boosted by Tailwind, immune to being touched.

Incineroar wouldn't be affected by Prankster moves, sure, but that didn't mean actually hitting it would be easy.

"Come on out, Magnezone!"

Kukui tossed another Poké Ball.

A metallic hum echoed through the field as a shiny silver disc-shaped Pokémon appeared, three magnets spinning slowly.

It was Magnezone—Magneton's final evolution!

Good choice.

Electric-types can't be paralyzed.

Steel-types can't be poisoned.

Even though Electric attacks weren't super effective against Whimsicott, Magnezone wasn't limited to just Electric moves.

Its overwhelming special attack and natural resistance would turn the tide.

"Magnezone, huh?" Dylan chuckled softly.

He could guess Kukui's strategy.

Still, it wasn't a big deal.

Whimsicott wasn't like Amoonguss.

It knew U-turn.

Whenever things got tricky, it could always bail.