Chapter 782 - The Sky Started to Rain

Pokémon: Starmie (Light Teal)

Gender: Genderless

Level: 49

Type: Water / Psychic

Ability: Illuminate

Held Item: None

Egg Moves: None

Basic Moves: Tackle, Harden, Water Gun, Rapid Spin, Recover, Psybeam, Swift, Bubble Beam, Camouflage, Gyro Ball, Brine, Minimize, Mirror Coat, Power Gem, Confuse Ray, Psychic, Hydro Pump, Flash

Learnt Moves: Telekinesis, Icy Wind, Water Pulse, Trick

TM Moves: Take Down, Zen Headbutt, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Scald, Gyro Ball, Surf

Wallace's Starmie is relatively weak compared to his other Pokémon. However, Starmie also knows the move Camouflage. Wallace had learned something from Aoki's previous battle against Florges and intended to develop Starmie's Camouflage further, but due to time constraints, this strategy wasn't polished enough for the Sinnoh League. Still, Wallace believed that in the future, Starmie would become a key defensive asset for his team. If used effectively, Camouflage could make Starmie a formidable support Pokémon.

Good friends outside the battlefield, fierce opponents within it. Neither trainer showed any hesitation.

"Swampert, Mud Bomb!" Aoki struck first.

"Block it with Rapid Spin!" Wallace countered.

In the desert terrain, the Ground-type Swampert held a slight advantage. Scooping up a handful of mud from the sand, it hurled the projectile toward Starmie with tremendous force. Starmie spun rapidly in midair, cloaking itself in Psychic energy while maintaining its rotation speed. The Mud Bomb shattered harmlessly against the spinning barrier.

"Starmie, keep going—use Gyro Ball!"

After deflecting the mud, Starmie accelerated its spin and shot toward Swampert like a high-speed top.

"Intercept it, Swampert! Hammer Arm!" Aoki commanded.

Starmie's rotation was already enhanced by Rapid Spin, and now, with Gyro Ball amplifying its speed, the two moves combined into a devastating assault—one Wallace had trained extensively.

Boom!

The impact sent tremors through the battlefield. Swampert, though powerful, was slower, and Starmie's enhanced speed allowed it to strike multiple times before Swampert could react.

Aoki frowned. The issue wasn't just Swampert's sluggishness—there was a slight delay in command execution, a gap between trainer and Pokémon.

Now, in the quarterfinals, Aoki no longer held back. Wallace already knew of his Psychic abilities, and holding back would be disrespectful.

Psychic power—Telepathy activated!

A blue glow flickered in Aoki's eyes as his mind linked directly with Swampert's. The audience gasped as the cameras zoomed in, broadcasting the phenomenon on the big screen.

"Aoki's a Psychic?!"

Had his previous opponents simply not been strong enough to force him to use this ability?

Caitlin, watching from the Kanto trainers' private booth, bit her lip, her expression unreadable.

But Wallace, standing across from Aoki, only smiled.

"Finally using your Psychic powers… Let's see how much you've grown, Aoki."

Starmie repeated its strategy, spinning even faster under Psychic enhancement. Though not heavy, its speed and agility allowed it to strike repeatedly, wearing Swampert down.

Aoki's Psychic energy pulsed. No words were spoken—the battle was now fought through Telepathy.

Starmie attacked again, but this time, Swampert reacted faster. Two fresh wounds marked its body, yet it showed no sign of pain, its gaze locked onto the spinning Starmie.

Now!

As Starmie lunged once more, Swampert's fist finally connected—Earth Hammer Arm!

The impact sent Starmie crashing into the sand like a meteor.

Wallace's expression tightened. Telepathy had sharpened Aoki's synergy with his Pokémon to frightening levels.

"Starmie, Brine!" he shouted.

Swampert's fist descended again, muscles coiled with Fighting and Ground energy—but just before impact, a pressurized jet of water erupted from Starmie's core.

Brine—a super-effective strike on Swampert's wounds!

BOOM!

The ground quaked as dust billowed. Starmie was embedded deep in the sand, but its Brine had scorched Swampert's injuries.

"SWAMP!!!"

Even Swampert, renowned for its endurance, roared in agony.

Aoki's eyes blazed blue. Swampert clenched its fists, veins bulging, and brought them down in another Earthquake-powered Hammer Arm.

"Starmie, Protect!" Wallace ordered.

At this range, the attack would be devastating—Protect was the only option.

Swampert's strike collided with the shimmering barrier, the force dispersing harmlessly. Starmie seized the opening.

"Psychic, rapid-fire!"

Starmie's Psychic energy flared, dispelling the surrounding sand as a barrage of mental shockwaves tore toward Swampert. At point-blank range, evasion was impossible.

But Swampert didn't try to dodge.

Earthquake Hammer Arm—relentless assault!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three consecutive blows landed as Starmie retaliated with Psychic.

The result?

A double knockout.

Both Swampert and Starmie collapsed simultaneously.

Aoki's face was flushed—the mental feedback from Starmie's Psychic had strained him. Fortunately, the attack wasn't directed at him, and his intermediate-level Psychic resilience minimized the damage.

Both trainers recalled their Pokémon and sent out their next fighters.

Drapion vs. Gyarados!

Wallace's Gyarados dwarfed even the mightiest of its species, but Drapion's agility and Cross Poison allowed it to exploit Gyarados's size, toppling the beast in a textbook "small vs. large" battle.

Yet before falling, Gyarados unleashed one last move—Rain Dance!

As Gyarados fainted, the skies darkened, and a light drizzle began to fall.