Chapter Sixty-Three: The Ever-Changing Situation, the Champion's Dominance!

"Although the Ice-type restrains Dragons, Psychic-types are countered by Dark-types. Ferocious Direwarg! Charge in and use Bite!" Seizing the moment as the Frostbound Golem landed awkwardly, Su Yi gave another command.

A guttural howl answered. The Direwarg lumbered forward on its powerful limbs, barreling ahead like a tank.

"So, you've found a way to break through my field already?" Leon was unsurprised. Watching the Direwarg's aggressive approach, he calmly issued his order: "Frostbound Golem, Swaying Dance!"

"Ku~"

As the Direwarg thundered up close, the Frostbound Golem, heeding its trainer, began to sway lazily, launching into a dizzying dance.

"What?!" Su Yi was momentarily stunned, then recalled that this move could cause confusion.

This Frostbound Golem, in addition to the Dragon-countering Freeze-Dry, also wielded Hail to manipulate weather. Not only that, it had the Swaying Dance to inflict status ailments. As for its last move, Su Yi dared not even guess—such a balanced and targeted set!

The Direwarg, charging straight at the Frostbound Golem, had no chance to dodge. Sure enough, as it watched the swaying figure, a strange force invaded its mind. Its limbs tangled, tripping itself, and it lashed out in a dazed frenzy.

Meanwhile, the Frostbound Golem resumed its leisurely stance, continuing its tap dance undisturbed.

The outstanding qualities of the Pokémon, combined with the champion's calm mind and superb command, instantly stripped the Direwarg of all advantage.

"As expected of a champion."

With hail falling overhead and his Pokémon confused, faced with an opponent that perfectly countered him, Su Yi found himself at a clear disadvantage.

"Hang in there, Meow!" Lu Cao called out in encouragement.

"Come back, Direwarg, have a good rest." Su Yi recalled the Direwarg, preparing to send in another companion.

"Return, Frostbound Golem. Well done." Unexpectedly, Leon also withdrew his Frostbound Golem.

"Now, it's your turn!" they both declared in unison.

Both sides sent out new Pokémon.

"Intellion!" The familiar, agent-like figure of Galar's pure Water-type starter—Intellion—took the field with elegant poise.

"Screechawk!" Su Yi sent out his own Pokémon.

"We meet again, Intellion," Su Yi said with a smile.

"Intellion," the Pokémon nodded, a confident smile playing on its lips.

"Your Pokémon has used Rock- and Flying-type moves before; its type should be one of those, no?" Leon grinned. He'd gathered intelligence from watching Screechawk's previous battle with Centiskorch.

Su Yi remained silent.

If Screechawk was Flying-type, Intellion's Ice Beam would counter it; if it was Rock-type, Intellion's Sniper would work. Leon had deduced it all. What he didn't know was that Screechawk was also a Dragon-type—Water attacks were halved, but Ice was four times as effective. If Leon figured that out, he'd have him cornered again.

Screechawk shook itself, clearly uncomfortable in the hailstorm.

"Intellion, open with Sniper!" Leon commanded.

"Intellion!" With a finger-gun gesture, Intellion fired a powerful jet of water.

"Dodge as you close in!" Su Yi ordered.

Screechawk stretched its long legs, weaving left and right under the watery barrage, nimbly advancing.

"Seal off its path with Ice Beam!" Leon switched tactics instantly.

Intellion swept its hand; a beam of freezing energy arced across the ground, forming a slick, frozen barrier right before Screechawk, halting its advance.

"Stone Slam!"

Screechawk rapidly gathered energy, forming a stone, and leapt high, soaring over the ice to strike at Intellion.

"Shatter it!" Leon commanded decisively.

Intellion aimed swiftly; the piercing water shot shattered the stone in an instant. Screechawk squawked in alarm, landing empty-handed beside Intellion.

"Dual Gun Mode!"

Intellion pointed with its other hand, water bullets firing like sniper shots.

"Take the hit and counter with Stone Slam—improvise!" Su Yi punched the air.

Screechawk ignored the sniper shots, digging rapidly. A rock formed, infused with energy drawn from the grass, glowing with a verdant hue.

The water shot grazed Screechawk, leaving only a shallow scratch—far from a serious wound.

"Not very effective? So it's not a Rock-type—just resistant to Water, then?" Leon was surprised.

"Stone Slam!" Su Yi shouted.

At such close range, Intellion had nowhere to escape. The grass-powered Stone Slam struck its slender body heavily, forcing a cry of pain and sending it stumbling back.

"So the move's type changed? Improvised from the environment—must be an ability, like Nature Power, adapting to terrain or field conditions," Leon reasoned quickly, arriving at the correct conclusion.

"What happened?" Hop, watching the shift in momentum, asked in confusion.

Sonia naturally explained, coming to much the same conclusion as Leon had.

"A move that can change type—amazing!" Hop exclaimed in wonder.

Seeing the tide turn again, Marnie found herself drawn into the battle's ever-shifting dynamics.

"Well done!" Su Yi encouraged.

Screechawk's highly terrain-dependent ability finally found its moment—such opportunities were rare, since only a field advantage could bring out its full effect.

"Impressive offensive tactics," Leon observed. "But now I've confirmed it—this Screechawk isn't Rock-type. So, what about Flying? Intellion, Ice Beam!"

"Intellion!" The Pokémon fired Ice Beam. Screechawk could only dodge, forced back and giving Intellion clear firing space.

Su Yi could only admire Leon's championship caliber. With the opponent's typing unknown, Leon probed and deduced step by step, steadily regaining the upper hand.

"Screechawk, improvise again—hold the stone and look for a chance to charge in!" Su Yi urged.

"Screechawk!" The Pokémon grabbed the grass-charged rock and dashed forward.

"Intellion, U-turn!" Leon ordered coolly.

Intellion leapt nimbly, Bug-type energy propelling it as it shattered the grass-powered Stone Slam, then zipped back into its Poké Ball. With a pop, the Frostbound Golem reappeared, right in front of Screechawk.

"Freeze-Dry!" Leon called.

"Oh no! Screechawk, dodge!" Su Yi shouted in alarm.

"Kururu!" The Frostbound Golem swung its icy staff, and a wave of frigid air struck Screechawk at point-blank range—far too close to dodge.

The super-effective hit engulfed Screechawk in frost. It shrieked and staggered backward, its body instantly coated in ice, panting heavily.