Pokémon: Wings Of Shadow

On the battlefield.

While Jangmo-o was running around, trying to avoid the possible Hypnosis. Gastly in the air began to condense small Shadow Balls.

The formation of the small Shadow Balls took two seconds, and under normal circumstances, this time is enough for Rylan to direct Jangmo-o to jump into the air and use Dragon Tail to disrupt and strike.

If the cycle of Shadow Ball followed by Dragon Tail continued, it would not just be a matter of who exhausts their stamina first.

Even a single slip-up from Gastly could result in a devastating blow.

Shiro aimed to break this possible cycle and pull Rylan and Jangmo-o into his rhythm.

"Jangmo-o! Dodge!" Rylan, upon seeing the Shadow Balls in front of Gastly again, immediately realized that his opponent had a strong bond with his Pokémon.

They had developed their own battle rhythm, one that no longer relied solely on verbal commands.

However, Jangmo-o hadn't reacted quickly enough, thinking that Gastly was still about to use Hypnosis.

In the heat of its rapid run, before it could even look up, several fast-moving Shadow Balls exploded on its body one after another.

"Jangmo-ooo!"

The Pokémon cried out in pain as several golden scales shattered from the impact. The shock left it shaking its head in pain. Though it took several hits, it was still standing strong.

Shiro, meanwhile, was closely monitoring Jangmo-o's condition.

To him, it was like a boss fight in a souls-like game—his attacks felt like mere scratches, but one mistake could instantly result in defeat.

He needed to stay highly focused and avoid any errors.

His opponent could make countless mistakes, but one slip-up from him or Gastly would be their downfall.

"Gastly! Hypnosis!" After this round of attacks, Shiro called for Hypnosis for the second time.

He swung his arm with force and opened his clenched fist.

Gastly, quick to catch on to the gesture, began preparing Hypnosis.

But Rylan hesitated. After being tricked once, he was no longer sure whether Shiro's command was real. All he knew was that Gastly was likely alternating between Hypnosis and Shadow Ball.

Continuing to rely on Dragon Tail would put his Pokémon in serious danger.

Gastly's Hypnosis had a strong chance of landing midair, and if Jangmo-o were to fall asleep before hitting the ground, the follow-up Shadow Balls would likely take it down.

Even with good physical endurance, Jangmo-o couldn't take that much punishment.

In comparison, it was safer to continue dodging rather than attacking.

"Jangmo-o! Don't attack!" Rylan ordered, prompting the Pokémon to speed up and dodge.

From above, Gastly released the slow-moving pink wave for Hypnosis, but it was far too slow to hit the agile Jangmo-o opposite.

"This is the safest move!" several onlookers praised.

"After taking a Shadow Ball once, Jangmo-o is now watching out for both Hypnosis and Shadow Ball while dodging. At this point, Gastly's chances of landing another Shadow Ball have significantly dropped. Besides..."

The trainer speaking suddenly paused, prompting the others around him to urge him on. "Besides what?"

"Besides, Gastly's trainer, this Shiro guy—he can't afford to trade blows with Rylan's Jangmo-o in midair. If he wants to win, he has to avoid any direct exchanges up there as much as possible. So, really, his only viable move is Hypnosis..."

Amid the murmurs of the spectators, the clash within the barrier carried on.

"Jangmo-o! Dragon Tail!" Rylan immediately issued the command after Jangmo-o dodged the slow-moving Hypnosis.

He was now going for a direct confrontation, this was the best way to defeat the slippery opponent in front of him.

Shiro narrowed his eyes, giving the next order.

"Gastly! Acid Spray!"

Gastly, a Ghost/Poison-type Pokémon, had not been particularly trained in Poison-type moves, but like any other Pokémon of its kind, it knew basic Poison-type moves.

Acid Spray and Shadow Ball were the only two offensive moves available to this Gastly.

And Acid Spray, which involved spitting a glob of toxic slime from its mouth, was significantly faster to launch compared to Shadow Ball.

"Jaangg!"

As Jangmo-o was still about a few meters away from it, Gastly quickly spat out a blob of toxic green slime.

In mid-air and unable to gain leverage, Jangmo-o widened its eyes and flailed helplessly as the slimy mass covered it completely.

The attack rhythm of the Dragon-type Pokémon was completely disrupted.

Though the slime itself didn't do much damage, and the faint poison didn't affect Jangmo-o's body, the Acid Spray left it disgusted.

After hitting the ground, it hurriedly shook its head to shake off the slime.

"Jangmo-o! Use Protect!" Rylan shouted urgently.

Faced with Gastly and Shiro's seamless coordination, he felt a deep sense of helplessness.

The command reached Jangmo-o's ears, snapping it out of its disgusted state, and instinctively, it used the move.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The barrage of Shadow Balls fired from the air continuously slammed into the barrier, creating a series of booming sounds and ripples.

A few seconds later, the green barrier shattered, and Jangmo-o, still shaken, refocused its attention on the annoying opponent above.

"Jang-mooh!"

Jangmo-o yelled at Gastly, its sturdy hooves seemed ready to charge and kick Gastly in the face.

It wanted the timid opponent to face it head-on!

"Gaaa-stlyy!"

But Gastly in the air only twirled lazily, sticking out its tongue and making a mocking sound.

"Jaangh!"

Jangmo-o was furious, itching to jump up and beat Gastly senseless if it could fly.

"Hmph, Gastly, Hypnosis!" Shiro wasn't interested in their verbal sparring. Quickly achieving victory was his top priority.

But Rylan, who had been waiting for this moment, seized the opportunity.

He barked, "Jangmo-o! Dragon Tail, go up and defeat it!"

Rylan was betting—betting that Shiro's command was actually for Shadow Ball.

In a situation where he would be forced into a passive position no matter what, Rylan had to wait for Shiro to issue the first command, then make his decision.

He was confident that no one would avoid advancing in such a close victory. After the two Pokémon's verbal exchange, Gastly's trainer was likely to go on the offensive with Shadow Ball!

And that would be the perfect time for Jangmo-o to jump in and land a decisive blow!

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