Elekid's sudden punch didn't actually hurt Sandshrew, but the force of the blow sent the little Pokémon tumbling several meters back, curling into a tight ball as it rolled away.
On the other side, Magby sidestepped Pikachu's charge. Its rounded muzzle opened like the barrel of a cannon, and several jets of flame burst forth toward Pikachu.
The sparks launched from its mouth looked just like fiery bullets shot from a heavy sniper rifle!
Although different Pokémon might share similar base stats, their body structures made their moves differ drastically in real power. For example, take Blaziken and Emboar. In the games, Emboar's Attack base stat is three points higher than Blaziken's. Theoretically, Emboar's maximum physical attack should surpass Blaziken's.But in reality, Blaziken's leg strength is far greater, while Emboar's power lies in his muscular arms.
Magby didn't have an ability like "Mega Launcher," yet the flames it released from its mouth still gained extra force — its destructive power more concentrated and focused.
Several bursts of fire struck Pikachu squarely, making it stagger before crashing face-first into the grass.
"Pika—!"
"Pikachu, are you okay?!" Harry shouted anxiously when he heard his partner's cry of pain.
Thankfully, Pikachu wasn't down yet. It shook itself hard, stood up again, and turned to glare fiercely at Magby.
"Pika, pika!"
Harry let out a sigh of relief.
"Now's not the time to relax, is it?" said Charles coolly. Though he was the Gym Leader of the Guardian Badge Gym, he wasn't one to just stand and wait for challengers to attack.
"Elekid, use Screech!"
He gave a sharp order. Elekid grinned wickedly, baring its sharp teeth before letting out a shrill, piercing sound that stabbed into everyone's ears.
"Zzzhhh—!"
The high-pitched screech made Harry, Ron, and their Pokémon wince in agony, clutching their ears as their faces twisted with pain.
In that moment, none of them could move properly.
Seizing the opening, Magby dashed toward Pikachu.
"Use Smog."
A purple, foul-smelling cloud rushed straight into Pikachu's face. The poisonous gas invaded its body instantly, and Pikachu's expression turned a sickly shade of violet.
"Pika—!" Pikachu screamed, its face contorting in pain.
—Poisoned!
Harry clenched his fists helplessly. There was nothing he could do now but fight back — and not just that, but return the favor in kind.
"Pikachu, use Shock Wave!"
A twisting bolt of electricity shot out toward Magby.
But Magby had already pulled back during the brief instant Pikachu was writhing in pain. This kite-fighting tactic — attacking and retreating swiftly — was something Charles made sure all his Pokémon mastered.
Magby clearly knew this strategy well. It was, simply put, a natural-born trickster.
By contrast, Elekid found such tactics distasteful. After another screech, it rubbed its fists together eagerly, spinning its arms to build up electricity. Sparks crackled across its body — but since its opponent was the Ground-type Sandshrew, the move was completely ineffective.
This could easily turn into a disadvantage, but Charles didn't plan to switch opponents.
"Elekid, use Quick Attack!"
If Electric moves wouldn't work, then he'd go with a Normal-type attack instead.
Elekid burst forward as a streak of white light, slamming toward Sandshrew. Watching from the sidelines, Hermione grew worried. That earlier Screech had greatly lowered both Pikachu and Sandshrew's defenses — Quick Attack might not have a high base power, but under these conditions, it could still do serious damage.
"Roundy, use Defense Curl!" Ron reacted instantly. The moment Elekid charged, he already had a counter in mind. He didn't really understand what Screech's effect was, but he knew what his own Pokémon could do.
First, Defense Curl!
Sandshrew curled into a ball again and took Elekid's hit head-on, getting knocked away and rolling across the field.
But that was exactly what Ron wanted.
"Now, use Rollout!"
Defense Curl combined with Rollout — not only did it boost Sandshrew's defense again, but it also doubled Rollout's base power from 30 to 60!
A Rock-type move with that kind of power would definitely hurt if it hit Elekid squarely.
And unlike the games, in this world Rollout didn't reset if it missed; as long as Sandshrew kept spinning, its power would continue to build.In other words, if Elekid didn't stop Sandshrew right now, that attack would become unstoppable.
"Elekid, stop it!"
After a brief thought, Charles decided to take the direct approach before things spiraled out of control. A 60-power Rock move — Elekid could take one if it had to.
Elekid charged forward without hesitation!It loved this kind of head-on fight. With both of its muscular arms sparking, it braced itself and pushed against the rolling Sandshrew head-on.
Thud!
The collision was fierce. The high-speed Sandshrew did manage to hurt Elekid, but Elekid succeeded in halting its momentum.
The spinning Sandshrew continued to rotate even as Elekid held it down, carving deep grooves into the grassy field beneath them.
Eventually, its rotation slowed — and then stopped altogether, trapped firmly in Elekid's grasp.
The clash had drawn quite a crowd of wild Pokémon, who watched curiously from afar, too nervous to get close. They were just there to spectate.
Meanwhile, Harry's side pressed on. Though Pikachu was poisoned, its stamina hadn't dropped too much yet. The toxin flared up now and then, making it grimace in pain.
"Pikachu, use Spark!"
"Evade it and use Flame Wheel!"
Magby leapt backward gracefully, dodging the electrical strike, and then spun forward wreathed in blazing fire, charging at Pikachu like a fiery wheel.
Flame chased lightning — and the wheel of fire was about to crush Pikachu beneath it when Harry couldn't bear to watch any longer. He snatched up his Poké Ball and recalled Pikachu, making Magby's attack hit nothing but grass.
"Return, Pikachu!"
And in Pikachu's place, he sent out Houndour.
The black-furred Pokémon emerged with a proud howl, its voice echoing through the battlefield, raising its fighting spirit.
Now, two Fire-type Pokémon stood face to face.
(End of Chapter)