The backup plan that Xia Huanao spoke of was essentially to put all the pressure on himself and Mu Zhishui. This was because Xia Huanao was quite confident that the two of them could secure at least one point. If that were the case, then as long as they didn't lose too badly in the earlier rounds, there wouldn't be much pressure.
Therefore, even if all five preceding matches ended in a one-for-one draw, Xia Huanao would have found it acceptable. At worst, the final score would be one to zero. But who could have known that they would actually go for one-for-one exchanges? To use a self-destruct move to take out one opponent was one thing, but if any of them failed, it would be troublesome.
Thinking this, Xia Huanao couldn't help but look at the back of Su Xiao Jiu, who was currently standing on the field. "She wouldn't go for a one-for-one exchange on me too, would she? That would be slightly harder to accept. But knowing Su Xiao Jiu's personality, I've never actually seen her use a mutually destructive, one-for-one tactic."
As he was speaking, the match began. Man Ying sent out a Gyarados to counter Su Xiao Jiu's Ninetales. Xia Huanao's expression instantly changed from merely worried to somewhat despairing. "Gyarados completely counters Ninetales. This makes even an extreme one-for-one exchange quite troublesome."
Mu Zhishui looked at Xia Huanao's expression and said, "You say that, but surely you've already prepared a different strategy for him. I saw you talking to Su Xiao Jiu earlier."
Xia Huanao nodded. "Yes, I did give Su Xiao Jiu some advice. I suggested she equip Ninetales with a tactical 'Roar' move. The idea was for her to immediately use 'Roar' to switch Pokémon if she encountered an unfavorable situation right at the start of the battle. This would allow her to fully utilize the rules and gain a certain advantage. See, it's working out now."
As expected, at the start of the battle, Su Xiao Jiu immediately used 'Roar' to force the Gyarados off the field, bringing in a Butterfree. Bug and Flying type, this was immediately countered by Ninetales.
The moment Butterfree appeared, Su Xiao Jiu launched an attack. "Ninetales, use Flame Charge!"
Ninetales's body was engulfed in flames, and its four legs sped across the ground, charging towards the Butterfree opposite. While Ninetales wasn't a Pokémon that specialized in physical attacks, a hit from this move would be enough for Butterfree to handle.
Originally, the development of the match shouldn't have gone awry. But unexpectedly, this opponent from Man Ying, who had also been "persecuted" by Xia Huanao's battle philosophy, directly issued a command. "Butterfree, use Whirlwind!"
In Man Ying's stands, Feng and Mei nodded. "As expected, teammates of Xia Huanao. Their methods are all the same as Xia Huanao's. However, we've thoroughly researched this. I doubt Xia Huanao would have anticipated this move."
Whirlwind, like Roar, could forcibly end the ongoing battle, compelling the opponent to send out their next Pokémon. Ninetales's charge was halted midway, and Su Xiao Jiu had to switch out her next Pokémon.
Su Xiao Jiu, holding another Poké Ball at her waist, decisively threw it. "Go, Ninetales!"
Two Ninetales? While trainers did have such tricks, those familiar with Ninetales knew that it had two forms.
The Pokémon sent out by Su Xiao Jiu to replace the Ninetales was none other than an Alolan Ninetales, an Ice type.
"This unlucky fellow. Fire Ninetales is hard to deal with, is Ice Ninetales easy to handle? It's still a type disadvantage. Although both are switching skills, I generally don't recommend these luck-based moves. U-turn and Flip Turn are much more useful."
Seeing that Su Xiao Jiu had sent out an Alolan Ice Ninetales, the Man Ying team member's expression instantly turned grim. But with the situation as it was, he could only choose to have his Butterfree engage either the Fire Ninetales or the Ice Ninetales.
"Butterfree, use U-turn!"
Butterfree's shadow flashed through the air. Ninetales only felt a blur in front of its eyes as Butterfree was replaced by another Pokémon.
The on-field match went through several transformations, shifting from a Fire Ninetales battling a Gyarados to an Ice Ninetales facing a Magcargo.
Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui exchanged glances and chuckled helplessly. Mu Zhishui teased Xia Huanao, "Who would have thought your true successor is from Man Ying? You've really mastered this Pokémon switching technique. And you were right earlier, they did use U-turn."
Xia Huanao glanced at Feng and Mei from afar. "No need to guess, it must have been Feng researching me. What a bother."
Chu Xiao Die nodded. "There's no other way. This is the bond between friends. But I have a question. Why didn't Man Ying's team member switch directly to Magcargo, but instead had Butterfree use Whirlwind once?"
Xia Huanao stroked his chin and thought for a moment before explaining, "Man Ying probably thought that if they switched to Magcargo, it would be a battle starting from an equal footing. Whether it's Magcargo or Fire Ninetales, there are many variables in their full combat potential. However, if they brought out Butterfree, they could observe Su Xiao Jiu's tactical reserves and then pick a Pokémon that's easier to deal with for the battle."
Chu Xiao Die immediately understood. "I see. They could also use Butterfree to wear down the opponent's HP, but since Su Xiao Jiu has two Ninetales, that tactic would be pointless, right? Because they were afraid Butterfree would be taken out by Ice Ninetales, they directly used U-turn?"
"Yes. If they continued to use Whirlwind, it would just be an endless cycle of Ice and Fire Ninetales switching in and out. But this would then require the referee to intervene. Starting from the elimination rounds, the matches are broadcast live, and some strategic construction can be incorporated to boost ratings. But a drawn-out process of switching back and forth would completely kill viewership."
Although Xia Huanao was speaking the truth, what he didn't realize was that the refereeing team was already considering how to change the rules. During the group stages, Xia Huanao had exploited a loophole by essentially having more Pokémon than the opponent. However, after discussions, the refereeing team considered it a display of strategic brilliance, and since it was only a two-on-one situation, they turned a blind eye. Xia Huanao hadn't used this tactic again later, so it was dropped. But today, it was three-on-two, completely lacking in watchability.
The head referees were discussing how to amend the rules, but the on-field referee, not having received any instructions from the head referees, let the two continue their battle.
"Magcargo, use Smokescreen." Man Ying's team member initiated the attack first.
Magcargo raised its head and spewed a fierce blaze from its mouth, burning towards the Ice Ninetales. Su Xiao Jiu quickly took countermeasures. "Ninetales, use Hail!"
Ninetales also raised its head, its tail fanning out. A gust of cold wind swept through the battlefield. A fierce hailstorm covered the arena, and Ninetales hid within the hail.
"Generally speaking, I think the Snow Cloak ability is much better than the Drizzle ability. After all, trading one move slot for a 20% evasion boost isn't a bad deal. Although you have to set up Hail first, with Ninetales's natural speed, it shouldn't be a problem."
That was true. With an Ice Ninetales's Speed stat of 109, it could easily outspeed a Magcargo with a base Speed of only 30.
As Xia Huanao and the others were analyzing, the situation on the field began to develop unfavorably for the Ice Ninetales.
In response to Ninetales's Hail, Magcargo unleashed a Sandstorm, directly dispelling Ninetales's Hail and breaking its Snow Cloak ability. When it came to weather-setting moves, the one that sets the weather later generally has an advantage. Su Xiao Jiu no longer lingered on the weather and directly commanded Ninetales to engage Magcargo in close combat.
The Man Ying team member saw this scene and was slightly bewildered. "You want to engage in close combat with my Magcargo, which has the Flame Body ability? Isn't this a bit too much of a death wish?"
"Magcargo, use Smokescreen to block its movement!"
Fierce flames intercepted between Magcargo and the Ice Ninetales. Su Xiao Jiu commanded Ice Ninetales to use Protect to withstand Magcargo's Smokescreen, and then continued its charge forward.
The distance between the two sides narrowed rapidly. As they were about to collide, Magcargo raised its head and opened its mouth, about to use Smokescreen again. However, Ice Ninetales's movement was clearly faster. A chilling aura surged around Ice Ninetales, condensing a large amount of ice crystals around Magcargo. Magcargo rigidly collapsed.
After confirming its move had hit, Ice Ninetales turned around and returned to Su Xiao Jiu's side with elegant steps.
The result left the entire audience in disbelief. Only a few moves were used, and Magcargo was gone? What happened to its resistance to Ice-type moves? The battle that had been built up for so long ended so quickly?
In the stands nearby, Yu Longdu turned to Xia Huanao and said, "This should be the relatively rare Sheer Cold, right? I didn't expect her to have something like that."
Xia Huanao scratched his head. "How should I put it, I don't know about this. Although she borrowed a TM from me before, I really didn't expect her to use such a tactic. But it's good! This way, it's one to zero. However, I must state that this wasn't learned from me. She probably learned it from Princess Zhuo Lei of Milan."
On the battlefield, Su Xiao Jiu had already recalled her Pokémon and returned to the Ming Long Kingdom's stands. Next up would be Chu Xiao Die and Yu Longdu entering the arena as a team. Xia Huanao clenched his right fist and cheered them on, "Good luck, try your best not to cause me any trouble."
As Chu Xiao Die and Yu Longdu prepared to enter the arena, Xia Huanao suddenly felt a gaze directed at him. Following the feeling, he saw Feng staring at him. Xia Huanao smiled, and their gazes seemed to engage in a silent conversation:
"The first match was Self-Destruct, the second was Sheer Cold. You've been quite fond of instant-kill moves lately. Are you planning similar tactics for the next matches?"
"What do you think? It doesn't matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice. What specific tactics I've arranged for them, you'll know after the battle, won't you?"
The third match between the two sides was imminent.