After successfully blocking Pikachu's Thunderbolt, Torkoal immediately launched a counterattack. A giant pale-white flaming character burst from its mouth and shot rapidly toward Pikachu.
At that moment, Pikachu was hovering less than half a meter above the ground using Magnet Rise. Seeing the attack coming, he instantly dropped back to the ground. Enduring the scorching heat beneath his feet, he used the tremendous traction of the terrain and his explosive speed to leave behind an afterimage, while his real body darted behind a nearby stone pillar.
In the end, Torkoal's Blast Burn only struck the afterimage Pikachu had left behind, blasting a small crater into the ground.
"What a nimble little mouse. Don't give him a chance to breathe. He's behind the second rock pillar on your left. Use Flamethrower."
Seeing Pikachu evade the attack so effortlessly, Flannery's grandfather Mr. Moore twitched slightly, but remained calm and continued directing Torkoal's assault.
From his perspective, time was on their side.
Pikachu was already drenched in sweat from the heat. Before long, dehydration would begin setting in, reducing his speed. Once that happened, Torkoal would have no trouble landing its attacks.
For now, however, hitting Pikachu was nearly impossible.
Pikachu's exceptional mobility gave him incredible evasive ability. As long as his stamina remained sufficient, his agility wouldn't decline.
Following Mr. Moore's instructions, Torkoal continued relentlessly bombarding Pikachu. Several sturdy stone pillars were melted by the intense flames, steadily reducing the number of places Pikachu could use as cover.
Of course, Pikachu wasn't merely running away.
During the exchange, he repeatedly counterattacked with Thunderbolt, Electro Ball, Thunder Shock, and other Electric-type moves. The battle went back and forth between the two sides.
Whenever Pikachu unleashed one of his powerful Electric attacks, Torkoal faithfully followed the defensive method Mr. Moore had taught him. By acting as a lightning rod and grounding the electricity through his body, he neutralized nearly all of Pikachu's attacks.
Eventually, left with no other choice, Sato had Pikachu attempt close combat using Thunder Headbutt, hoping to decide the match head-on.
But when Mr. Moore wasn't intentionally holding back, his command ability was truly formidable.
He immediately instructed Torkoal to use Iron Defense followed by Rapid Spin, forcing a direct collision.
Although Pikachu successfully landed the hit, Torkoal relied on its hardened shell and powerful rotational force to violently rebound him away. Pikachu was then nearly struck by a follow-up Flamethrower.
At this point, Pikachu was panting heavily.
Because of severe dehydration, he was already showing signs of heatstroke. Although he hadn't suffered much direct damage, defeat was drawing near.
Torkoal, on the other hand, possessed heat resistance that far surpassed that of the thick-furred Pikachu. Furthermore, it had spent most of the battle standing in place and responding to attacks, conserving its energy.
Its stamina remained abundant.
Aside from a few scorch marks left by Pikachu's Electric attacks, it was still in excellent condition.
"This Torkoal keeps planting its limbs into the ground and turning itself into a lightning rod, channeling most of Pikachu's electricity into the earth. And if we attack at close range, it uses Iron Defense combined with Rapid Spin to knock us away."
"Damn it. How do we break through this..."
"Wait... maybe I can try that."
As Sato watched Torkoal once again block Pikachu's Thunderbolt using the same tactic, anxiety began to build.
Then his eyes drifted to the ground beneath Torkoal's feet and to the memory of how it had blocked Pikachu's Thunder Headbutt earlier.
A spark of inspiration suddenly flashed through his mind.
"Go, Pikachu! One more time! Use Thunder Headbutt!"
He immediately shouted the command.
Hearing Sato's order, Pikachu violently shook his head to clear his fatigue and forced himself to focus.
Then he charged again.
Powerful electricity surged across his entire body, stimulating his muscles and dramatically increasing his speed.
A metallic silver sheen covered most of his head.
In the next moment, Pikachu transformed into a silver streak and charged ferociously toward Torkoal.
"Hahaha! It's useless!"
"That combination move of Volt Tackle and Iron Head is certainly powerful, but it still can't break through my Torkoal's defense."
"Torkoal, use Iron Defense Spin and knock him away!"
Seeing Pikachu's approach, Mr. Moore burst into laughter.
Even so, he didn't dare underestimate the attack and immediately ordered Torkoal to defend itself.
Upon hearing the command, Torkoal instantly withdrew its entire body into its shell.
The shell became coated in a metallic sheen and began spinning at high speed.
The arrow was already on the string.
There was no turning back.
Seeing Torkoal transform once again into a rapidly spinning silver top, Pikachu felt his forehead ache slightly.
It was too late to stop now.
All he could do was grit his teeth and charge forward.
Just before impact, Sato's telepathic voice echoed in Pikachu's mind.
"See that gap between Torkoal's body and the ground? That's your target."
"Use all your strength and flip that old turtle into the air."
The reason was simple.
To use Rapid Spin effectively, Torkoal had to lift its shell slightly off the ground to reduce friction.
The moment it did that, it could no longer remain grounded and therefore couldn't continue acting as a lightning rod.
The problem was that Mr. Moore had trained Torkoal too well.
To avoid being baited, he always waited until Pikachu had fully committed to Thunder Headbutt before using Iron Defense and Rapid Spin, ensuring Pikachu couldn't cancel the attack midway.
But this also confirmed that Sato's idea would work.
This time, Thunder Headbutt wasn't meant to damage Torkoal.
It was meant to launch it into the air.
And the tiny gap between Torkoal and the ground was the key.
Pikachu didn't fully understand the reasoning, but he trusted Sato completely.
Fixing his eyes on that narrow opening beneath the spinning silver shell, he charged forward with everything he had.
The result was dramatic.
Once again, Pikachu was violently blasted away by the spinning silver top that Torkoal had become.
But this time, Torkoal was sent flying as well.
And not just a little. The spinning turtle shot high into the air.
"What?!"
Mr. Moore's expression changed drastically as he watched Torkoal spinning uncontrollably hundreds of degrees through the sky.
"Now!"
"Use Thunder!"
Seeing the opportunity he had been waiting for finally arrive, Sato immediately ordered an attack.
Having stabilized himself in midair with Magnet Rise, Pikachu heard the command.
"Pika... CHUUUU!!!"
Although his head was still spinning from the collision, he instantly snapped back to attention.
Looking at Torkoal tumbling helplessly through the air, a mischievous grin appeared on his face.
A thick black bolt of lightning erupted from his body.
"Quick! Use Protect!"
Mr. Moore shouted in alarm.
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
Torkoal had already become dizzy from using Rapid Spin. After being launched skyward by Pikachu, it was now tumbling endlessly through the air.
Inside its shell, Torkoal was completely disoriented.
The world spun around him.
He felt as though he was about to vomit up everything he had eaten for lunch.
By the time he finally reacted, Pikachu's Thunder had already arrived.
A blinding flash engulfed everyone's vision.
Then, from the heavens, a colossal black thunderbolt descended with overwhelming force.
It struck Torkoal directly and smashed him violently back into the ground.