Norman and Alex quickly ran to their Pokémon, each holding Hyper Potions. After both had healed their Pokémon and recalled them to their Poké Balls, the match resumed.

The referee signaled Alex and Norman to send out their next Pokémon simultaneously.

Scizor and Slaking appeared in the stadium at the same time.

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Pokémon: Scizor

LV: 57

Type: Bug / Steel

Abilities: Technician

Gender: Male

Potential: Shallow Diamond (0%)

Moves:

- Leer, Quick Attack, Focus Energy [E], Double Team, Feint, Fury Cutter, Wing Attack, Agility [E], Slash, Razor Wind, Iron Defense, X-Scissor [E], Night Slash, Bullet punch, Double Hit, Iron Head, Brick Break [E],

- (Perfect Talent) Roost [M], (Perfect Talent) Metal Claw [M],

- (TM) Protect [E], (TM) Swords Dance [M], (TM) Toxic, (TM) Thief, (TM) Facade, (TM) Giga Impact [E], (TM) U-turn [E], (TM) Sandstorm [M], (TM) Substitute, (TM) Safeguard, (TM) Light Screen, (TM) Return, (TM) Aerial Ace [E], (TM) Acrobatics,

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Pokémon: Slaking

LV: 59

Type: Normal

Ability: Truant

Gender: Male

Potential: Deep Gold (34%)

Moves:

- Scratch, Yawn [M], Encore [E], Slack Off [M], Feint Attack, Amnesia [M], Slash, Chip Away, Counter [E], Swagger, Flail, Fling, Punishment,

- (Innate Talent) Return [M], (Innate Talent) Aerial Ace [M], (Innate Talent) Rock Tomb [M]

- (TM) Protect [M], (TM) Facade [M], (TM) Shadow Claw [M], (TM) Substitute, (TM) Brick Break [E], (TM) Earthquake [M], (TM) Bulk Up [E],

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Alex saw that Slaking was not only level 59, which was supposed to be Norman's highest-level Pokémon, but also had 10 moves at the Master Rank.

He hadn't expected Norman's Pokémon to have so many moves at the Master Rank.

Furthermore, moves like Aerial Ace, Earthquake, Slack Off, and Bulk Up make his original plan impossible for Scizor.

Scizor's Sandstorm is one of Alex's best tactics, and its not usability here will make this match much harder for him.

"3, 2, 1, GO!"

After the referee started the match, both trainers immediately began giving their first instructions.

"A3"

"Yawn"

Slaking and Scizor began preparing their moves as they moved. Slaking moved towards Scizor, and Scizor moved away from him.

Scizor finished a little faster and immediately used Swords Dance. Afterward, he immediately began preparing a new move.

Slaking finished almost immediately afterwards and he used Yawn, which hit Scizor.

Scizor suddenly felt an increasing drowsiness that grew stronger and stronger over the next few seconds.

Alex, who saw this, wore a serious expression. He had a bad feeling when he realized Scizor was about to fall asleep.

This match wasn't going as well as he had expected.

Norman smiled as he said, "Aerial Ace."

Slaking, who normally couldn't prepare moves for more than a few seconds due to his innate ability, Truant, began preparing his next move almost immediately.

Alex looked shocked when he saw how short Slaking's Truant time was. It was less than half the time required for a Master Rank move.

Norman, the Gym Leader, had managed to significantly shorten Slaking's "Truant" ability through particularly intensive training.

Alex was surprised because he knew nothing about it. He had only checked the levels of Norman's Pokémon and knew nothing else about Norman as a trainer.

Norman smiled when he saw Alex's shocked expression. "Young man, although you are a very talented trainer, isn't it a bit arrogant to think you can beat me without any effort? Although I don't have much talent in real-time Pokémon battles, I do have talent in Pokémon training."

He then said in a serious tone, "Young man, the fact that my Slaking's Truant ability is so short due to my years of training is relatively well-known in Hoenn, so you should know that as long as you take a little time before the match to read up on me."

"I watched your match against Lt. Surge and Erika, so I didn't expect you to..."

Alex recovered and started ignoring Norman when he wouldn't stop talking. Luckily, this distraction coincided with Scizor finishing his move. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Scizor used Metal Claw on Slaking, who tried to dodge but couldn't.

Slaking was hit and lost about a quarter of his HP.

What was even worse than this mediocre damage was that Scizor started to fall asleep after this move.

Alex realized his situation was now dire, and he couldn't think of a plan to turn things around for a moment.

Norman suddenly said, "Aim for Slaking's head."

Slaking used Aerial Ace and hit Scizor, who was asleep on the ground, in the head with this move.

A critical hit.

Scizor woke up immediately from this massive hit and realized what a terrible state he was in. He lost about two-thirds of his HP from that hit and was in terrible shape.

Alex telepathically said, "Swords Dance. Don't give up, Scizor. I have a plan."

Scizor began preparing Swords Dance as Alex use his time and told him his plan.

Norman smiled as he said, "Aerial Ace. Slaking, end this fight."

Slaking quickly suppressed "Truant" and began preparing a move.

Scizor used Swords Dance and boosted his power once more. He then immediately began preparing a new move, maintaining a 20-meter distance from Slaking.

Slaking finished and used Aerial Ace, which flew towards Scizor like a guided missile.

Scizor immediately used Quick Attack, but instead of using it against Slaking, he moved 2 meters behind Slaking at a ridiculously fast speed with the help of this move.

Aerial Ace tried to hit Scizor but wasn't fast enough, so it began following him like a guided missile, traveling at only half the speed of Scizor.

Scizor ran past Slaking, who was currently affected by his Truant ability, and stopped directly behind him.

AerialAce flew directly towards Slaking, and Alex, who thought his plan had worked, saw something incredible.

Aerial Ace suddenly stopped flying straight as soon as it was one meter away from Slaking and abruptly launched upwards. Then it flew directly towards Scizor again, who was now hittable in a straight line.

Scizor, who was also caught off guard and was preparing a Swords Dance, was hit and fell unconscious to the ground.

When Alex saw the strange movement of Aerial Ace—a move he himself used often—he couldn't help but feel completely bewildered.

He knew that under normal circumstances, the attack wouldn't suddenly change direction just because the user stood between it and its target.

'What's going on today?'

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