"Since our opponents have so generously given us such a wonderful opportunity..." Ash smiled as he raised his hand and pointed toward the battlefield. "Fearow, it's time to show them what we're truly capable of!"
"Use Double Team, followed by Sky Attack!!"
With Fearow having completed all of its self-enhancements and seeing the growing fear and impatience on Mr. Morkel's face, Ash finally ordered his ace bird Pokémon to launch its attack.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As its body flashed repeatedly across the sky, an enormous flock of Fearow suddenly filled the air above the battlefield.
Double Team was one of Fearow's core techniques. Its proficiency had long ago reached the Grandmaster level. The moment the move was unleashed, the number of clones instantly exceeded a thousand.
"SKREEEE!"
"SKREEEE!"
"..."
"..."
The sight of the countless Fearow filling the skies stunned not only Mr. Morkel and Tauros, but also every spectator in attendance.
This was the first time anyone had ever witnessed a Double Team technique on such a terrifying scale.
Double Team consumed an enormous amount of stamina. In terms of energy expenditure alone, it was categorized as an Advanced-level move.
Yet despite its immense cost, it was merely a supportive technique that dealt no damage whatsoever. Furthermore, the clones traditionally possessed an obvious weakness—they cast no shadows.
For that reason, very few Trainers devoted significant time to mastering Double Team. Even a Pokémon capable of creating fifteen to thirty clones in a single use was already considered exceedingly rare.
As for Fearow?
One use of Double Team was enough to fill the entire battlefield's skies. More than a thousand clones blotted out the heavens, creating a visual spectacle so overwhelming that words simply couldn't do it justice.
Even more terrifying was the fact that every single clone appeared astonishingly lifelike. There wasn't the slightest flaw to expose the original.
And as for the so-called weakness of having no shadow...
Who in the world could possibly identify which Fearow lacked a shadow when over a thousand of them covered the skies like a dark storm cloud?
The sunlight and even the stadium's overhead lights had been completely obscured.
Without light, where would the shadows come from?
"Gasp!"
"Holy—!"
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"...!!"
"...!!"
Whether it was the fans watching live within the stadium or the countless viewers tuning in online, everyone was rendered speechless by the unbelievable scene unfolding before their eyes.
And before they could even recover from their shock, something even more astounding happened.
SKREEEEE!!
SKREEEEE!!
"..."
"..."
The countless Fearow suddenly cried out in unison, their piercing screeches capable of splitting mountains and piercing the clouds.
Then, with a synchronized turn of their bodies, every single Fearow became enveloped in blazing golden-red flames.
The ordinarily plain-feathered Fearow had transformed into something almost divine, radiating brilliance reminiscent of Moltres or Ho-Oh itself.
If locating the real Fearow among the countless clones had already been impossible before, then now, bathed in dazzling golden flames bright enough to sting the eyes and draw tears, distinguishing the original from the illusions was utterly hopeless.
And at this point, Mr. Morkel no longer had the luxury of trying.
Because the countless Fearow performing Sky Attack had already begun diving toward Tauros.
Cold sweat instantly soaked his forehead and back.
Whether it was because of the scorching heat emanating from what looked like a heavenly calamity descending from above or because of the overwhelming pressure brought by facing an army of flaming Fearow, even he couldn't tell anymore.
But one thing was certain—this was not the time to stand there dumbfounded like the spectators admiring an epic movie scene.
"Tauros, use Thunderbolt!!" Mr. Morkel hurriedly shouted.
"MOOOO!"
"ROOOAR!"
Receiving its Trainer's command, Tauros let out a thunderous bellow.
This was the first genuine clash between both sides since the beginning of the battle.
Although the thousands of flaming Fearow descending from the skies were enough to make anyone tremble in fear, Tauros had continuously boosted itself with Work Up. Those enhancements had increased not only its offensive capabilities but also its confidence and fighting spirit.
At this moment, Tauros was burning with an overwhelming desire to fight.
CRACKLE—BOOOOM!!
As the countless Fearow dove from the heavens, brilliant lightning erupted around Tauros' horns before shooting skyward in a violent blast of Thunderbolt.
Tauros might have been brave.
Unfortunately, reality quickly dealt it a merciless blow.
Had the countless Fearow filling the skies all been real, Thunderbolt might have accomplished something. Given electricity's ability to spread across nearby targets, perhaps a great number of Fearow would have been struck down simultaneously.
Sadly for Tauros...
Among the thousands of Fearow overhead, only one was real.
Every other Fearow was nothing more than an illusion.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Tauros' Thunderbolt struck only a single clone, which burst apart into smoke before disappearing into nothingness.
Meanwhile, the remaining Fearow—and the original hidden among them—continued descending like flaming meteors.
BOOOOOOM!!
The countless Sky Attacks crashing down created an overwhelming visual spectacle. However, most of those impacts were merely Double Team clones shattering harmlessly upon striking the ground.
There was only a single genuine impact.
And that sound belonged to Fearow's true body slamming violently into Tauros.
"..."
"Tauros!!"
Upon hearing nothing but the sounds of shattered clones and Fearow's devastating collision—without even hearing Tauros cry out in pain—Mr. Morkel anxiously called out.
"SKREEE!"
Before the smoke from the tremendous explosion had completely dispersed, Fearow's true body had already withdrawn in a single fluid motion, flapping its wings as it ascended gracefully back into the sky.
Rather than continuing its assault, Fearow simply hovered above the battlefield and gently flapped its wings.
The resulting gusts accelerated the dispersal of the smoke, allowing Mr. Morkel, the referee, and the audience to finally see what had happened.
And when they did—
Everyone fell silent.
The battlefield looked as though it had been struck by a falling meteor. A massive crater measuring nearly two meters in diameter had appeared where Tauros once stood.
At the bottom of that crater lay Tauros.
Its once fierce eyes had become spiraling swirls, its massive body completely motionless.
It had been defeated instantly.
"HOLY—!!"
"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!"
"Ash's Fearow actually one-shotted a Gym-level Tauros at full health with a single attack! What kind of absurd damage is that?!"
"..."
"..."
Witnessing Fearow instantly defeat Tauros in a single blow, the entire stadium erupted into shocked cries of disbelief.
No one had expected that a fully buffed Fearow—its Speed, Critical Hit rate, and damage output all pushed to their absolute limits—would possess such terrifying destructive power.
One strike.
One Sky Attack.
And a full-health Gym-level Tauros had fallen.
Fearow had shown everyone present exactly what it meant to be an apex predator of the skies.