As the ace Pokémon of a genius Trainer like Ash—a professional Pokémon Trainer who raised his Pokémon with battle as their ultimate goal—Pikachu's combat instincts and battle literacy were far beyond what outsiders could imagine.
At the same time, the tacit understanding between it and Ash was something ordinary people could never hope to comprehend.
Pop—
Drip...
Drip...
The misty sphere of water vapor burst apart as Rain Dance took effect. Moments later, a gentle drizzle began falling over the battlefield.
Rain Dance was a non-damaging support move. As an Electric-type Pokémon, Pikachu was barely affected by this level of rainfall.
Unless the rain continued long enough to soften and muddy the battlefield, causing it to become slippery and affecting Pikachu's footing while running, the weather would have virtually no negative impact on it.
On the contrary, Rain Dance provided Pikachu with enormous advantages.
Under rainy conditions, Thunder became a guaranteed hit with tracking capabilities. Once its opponent's body was drenched and entered a conductive state, the power of Pikachu's Electric-type attacks would also increase substantially.
More importantly, today's opponent was a Ground- and Rock-type Rhyperior.
Under rainy conditions, much like how ordinary Pokémon suffered under Sandstorms or Hail, Rhyperior would continue to suffer adverse effects from the weather.
Furthermore, Water-type attacks dealt quadruple damage against Ground- and Rock-types. Combined with the rain-enhanced battlefield, the disadvantages facing Rhyperior were anything but insignificant.
One could say that although Ash had merely ordered Pikachu to use a support move, Rain Dance's amplification of his own side's advantages while simultaneously weakening and damaging his opponent was no less effective than retaliating with a devastating offensive technique.
"ROOOARRR!!"
As the rain continued to fall from the heavens, Rhyperior immediately revealed an uncomfortable and irritable expression. Moreover, as the rainfall gradually intensified, that discomfort quickly developed into genuine pain.
Mr. Morkel naturally noticed this change as well.
For the first time since the battle began, the confidence that had filled him beforehand began to waver. He felt an invisible pressure emanating from Ash—a silent yet suffocating sense of domination.
"So this is what they've been talking about—the terrifying battlefield dominance Ash possesses..."
"It's truly frightening."
Mr. Morkel couldn't help but sigh inwardly as anxiety appeared upon his face.
However, there was no time left for him to continue lamenting the situation.
Before the battle began, he had declared how much he looked forward to fighting Ash. If he and Rhyperior ended up losing to nothing more than a single Rain Dance, he didn't need to imagine what would happen next—he would undoubtedly become the laughingstock of the Kanto Trainer community.
Ash, however, paid no attention whatsoever to what Mr. Morkel was thinking.
Seeing that his opponent had neither used Sunny Day nor any other weather move to counteract Rain Dance, Ash immediately issued another command without the slightest hesitation.
"Pikachu, use Surf!"
With a sweeping motion of his hand, Ash ordered Pikachu to unleash the move that posed the greatest threat imaginable to Rhyperior.
"Pika~!"
Without any hesitation, Pikachu leapt high into the air. Instantly, a small wave materialized beneath its feet.
Splash...
SPLASHHH...
ROOOOAR!!
The sound of rushing water grew louder and louder as the tiny wave rapidly expanded into a towering tsunami before surging toward Rhyperior with the force of an avalanche.
PI—
KA—
CHUUUUUUUUUUU—!!!
RUMBLEEEEE!!!
CRASHHHHHHHHH!!!
"..."
"..."
Staring at the towering tidal wave that had suddenly appeared upon the battlefield, cold sweat immediately formed across Mr. Morkel's forehead, while the corner of his eye twitched uncontrollably.
Pikachu learning Surf was shocking enough already.
Although he had privately consulted the Pokédex before and discovered that Pikachu could indeed learn the Water-type move Surf, there was still one thing he couldn't accept.
A Pikachu surfing better than Water-type Pokémon?!
What kind of absurdity was this?!
If someone told him that this mountain-sized tidal wave had been created by a Wailord's Surf, he would believe it immediately.
But saying that it came from a Pikachu?
This was simply absurdity opening the door for absurdity—it was absurdity all the way home!
However, as he watched Pikachu ride the massive wave toward him, Mr. Morkel didn't dare waste even a single second.
Given Rhyperior's quadruple weakness to Water, if it were struck head-on by this Surf, it would most likely be defeated in a single blow.
"Rhyperior! Quickly use Rock Tomb in front of yourself and stop Surf!!"
Mr. Morkel shouted loudly, unable to completely conceal the slight tremor in his voice.
"ROOOARRR!!"
Receiving its Trainer's command, Rhyperior immediately roared and slammed both of its massive arms into the ground. Towering stone walls rose before it, forming an enormous rock barrier designed to withstand the incoming tidal wave.
At this moment, as it stared at the colossal wave beneath Pikachu's feet, Rhyperior was genuinely terrified.
Even the steadily falling rain from the heavens had completely left its mind.
Compared to the tsunami Pikachu was commanding, the current rainfall was practically insignificant.
"ROOOOAR!!!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Faced with overwhelming fear and a desperate lack of security, Rhyperior unleashed Rock Tomb without holding anything back. One could almost believe it was attempting to construct an ocean dam capable of stopping the sea itself.
KABOOOOOOM!!!
The gigantic wave finally arrived.
With an earth-shattering collision, enormous waves crashed against the stone barrier, sending white sprays soaring into the sky.
Several loosely packed rocks were immediately swept away by the raging water, tumbling across the battlefield and splashing muddy water in every direction.
However, the majority of the massive stone wall remained firmly standing.
Although portions of the tidal wave managed to spill over the barrier and completely drenched Rhyperior's body, the stone barricade had ultimately succeeded in intercepting Pikachu's Surf.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail on Rock Tomb!"
Ash's command rang out once again.
"Pika~!"
With Surf having been stopped by the towering stone wall, the gigantic wave dispersed. Having lost its foothold, Pikachu began descending gracefully through the air.
Before it could touch the ground, however, Ash's next order had already reached its ears.
Pikachu immediately adjusted its posture midair. Borrowing the momentum of its descent, it performed a beautiful somersault as its spring-like zigzag tail instantly transformed into gleaming steel.
Then, carrying all of its falling momentum, Pikachu brought its Iron Tail crashing down with the force of splitting a mountain in two.
KABOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A deafening explosion resounded across the battlefield.
It truly was a case of one thing naturally countering another.
The stone wall that had remained standing even after enduring the full force of Surf immediately collapsed the moment Pikachu's Iron Tail smashed into it.
Rocks exploded in every direction as the towering barrier was reduced to rubble in an instant.