"Pika~!"
On Ash's side of the battlefield, Pikachu slapped its cheeks, sparks crackling from its electric pouches as thin arcs of electricity wrapped around its tiny paws.
Watching Hitmonchan sprint toward it at full speed, Pikachu's cute face curved into a distinctly scheming smile.
"Crackle—!"
With a sharp flick of its paw, the thin electric current instantly stretched and transformed into an electric lasso, snapping forward and wrapping tightly around Hitmonchan's legs.
Electric-type moves were lightning-fast, and Hitmonchan—already in full sprint—was charging head-on. From the audience's perspective, it almost looked as if Hitmonchan had run straight into Pikachu's Thunder Wave.
BANG!!
The moment its legs were bound by the paralyzing electricity, Hitmonchan's body convulsed violently. Like someone struck by a seizure, it stumbled hard and crashed flat onto the ground.
"Hitmonchan—!!"
Seeing this, Harlan shouted in disbelief.
After the first round, when Ash had recalled Pidgeotto, Harlan had secretly rejoiced. This time, he had gone all out from the start, determined to seize the initiative and overwhelm Ash in one swift blow.
But instead of catching Ash off guard—
He was the one who paid the price.
"Pikachu, use ThunderShock!"
Ash ignored Harlan's stunned expression. Once in battle mode, he never wasted a single opening.
"Pika—Pika!"
Pikachu didn't even bother repositioning. Standing firmly in place, it fired a bolt of electricity straight at the fallen Hitmonchan.
"Crackle—!"
A golden streak of lightning tore through the air.
This was no longer the weak ThunderShock of a Pichu.
After evolving into its so-called "final form," Pikachu's electric pouches had drastically improved—its charging capacity, storage, and control over electricity all enhanced.
The same basic ThunderShock that once looked barely thicker than a baby's arm was now visibly far more powerful.
In the blink of an eye, the lightning slammed into Hitmonchan.
"Hitmonchan, dodge it!!"
Harlan yelled desperately from across the field.
But Hitmonchan was already paralyzed by Thunder Wave and sprawled on the ground. Against Pikachu's lightning-fast attack, dodging was impossible.
BOOM—!
"Chan—!!"
Struck head-on, Hitmonchan's body jerked violently. Even after the electricity faded, its muscles continued twitching uncontrollably.
Paralysis wasn't always a guaranteed hard-control effect—but right now, Hitmonchan was practically a motionless training dummy.
Ash showed no mercy.
"Pikachu, don't stop—keep using ThunderShock!*"
"Pika—! (≧▽≦)"
With ThunderShock mastered to Perfect proficiency, Pikachu unleashed it as if there were no charge-up time at all—instant after instant.
"Hitmonchan, get up! Dodge!!"
"..."
"…!"
Because the move had no cooldown and required no buildup, Pikachu kept firing relentlessly.
Though ThunderShock was a basic Electric-type move, Hitmonchan never once managed to stand up. Every time it tried to push itself off the ground, another blast slammed it back down.
For the first time in real combat, high move proficiency revealed its terrifying, overwhelming dominance.
"Damn it!!"
Watching his Pokémon beaten without even getting close, Harlan was so furious he nearly jumped in place.
"Hitmonchan, stop defending! If he wants ranged combat, then we'll give it to him!"
"You've got long-range special moves too!"
"Hitmonchan—use Vacuum Wave!"
With bloodshot eyes, Harlan roared the command.
"Chan—!!"
Even as electricity crackled across its body, Hitmonchan gritted its teeth and pushed forward. For a Fighting-type, its endurance was indeed impressive.
It dropped its crossed arms, slammed its left palm into the ground, clenched its right hand into a fist, and began rotating its arm like an engine piston.
A pale blue aura materialized from thin air, wrapping around its fist and arm. As it continued swinging, the compressed air intensified, growing denser and stronger.
Aside from Aura Sphere, Focus Blast had once been the only true special-attack move available to Fighting-types.
But after Vacuum Wave was developed, this modest base-40 power move quickly became a must-learn early-game skill.
Unfortunately, Hitmonchan's control over Vacuum Wave was poor. It was burning far too much stamina just to maintain it.
"Crackle—!"
BANG!!
Another lightning strike slammed into Hitmonchan mid-charge.
"Hitmonchan—hold on! Fire Vacuum Wave!!"
Harlan screamed.
"Chan—!!"
Electricity surged through its body, stiffening its muscles before melting them into weakness—but Hitmonchan endured. Even after taking another ThunderShock, the Vacuum Wave didn't dissipate. The pale-blue aura still clung stubbornly to its arm.
"CHAN!!"
With a roar, Hitmonchan hurled its fist forward. The compressed air burst out like a cannon blast, roaring toward Pikachu.
Ash treated this first counterattack with full respect.
"Pikachu—use Agility to dodge, then finish it with Electro Ball!"
The instant the air blast flew, Ash's command followed.
"Pika—!"
Pikachu twisted sideways and shot forward. Agility activated, its body growing lighter, faster—its speed skyrocketing.
BOOM—!
The spot where Pikachu had stood was obliterated, a long trench carved into the battlefield by the air column.
Pikachu didn't even flinch.
With Agility boosting its speed, it dashed around the field like a seasoned hunter, calmly waiting for the perfect opening.
Patience—right now—was everything.
"Hitmonchan, get up! Hurry!!"
Seeing Pikachu stop its barrage, Harlan's face lit up with hope.
"Crackle—!"
"Chan—!!"
But just as Hitmonchan braced its arms against the ground and struggled to rise, golden sparks suddenly burst from its knee joints.
Its legs gave out.
Hitmonchan collapsed back onto the floor with a heavy thud.
Seeing this, both Ash and Pikachu's eyes lit up simultaneously.
The paralysis—
Had triggered again.
And the end was finally in sight.
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T/N:
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