"Magmar, even if the flame power is evenly matched, you still have the Fire-type ultimate move. Use Fire Blast!" Blaine commanded.
The Magmar on the stone pillar immediately used Fire Blast upon hearing the command. Cross-shaped scorching flames shot from Magmar's mouth, rapidly approaching Charizard's direction.
"Charizard, use Dragon Claw to block the attack!" Ash commanded, recalling the scene from last night's training when the Dragon Scale Charizard easily blocked flames with Dragon Claw.
Obviously Charizard understood Ash's intention. Its extended claws were covered in emerald light, using Dragon Claw to block the incoming Fire Blast and using the momentum to throw it skyward.
"Now's the chance, use Skull Bash!"
Noticing the opening created by Charizard throwing the Fire Blast, Blaine decisively ordered Magmar to attack.
Before Charizard could react, it was hit by Magmar's Skull Bash. The impact force even knocked Charizard's entire body against the stone pillar. Fortunately, it flapped its wings in time to steady itself, otherwise it would have been soaked in the high-temperature lava.
Taking advantage of the terrain with sunlight, Charizard seized the opportunity when Magmar squinted its eyes, using Dragon Claw at close range to hit Magmar's body. But Magmar wasn't to be outdone, using Fire Punch to engage in close combat with Charizard.
Magmar hadn't expected today's Charizard to have changed so much, actually being able to compete with itself on equal terms, when yesterday it had seemed so frail.
"The sweat and blood I've shed is far more than you can imagine!"
Charizard roared, forcefully pushing Magmar away, then flapped its massive wings to use Air Slash. Sharp wind blades mercilessly hit Magmar's body, dealing considerable damage.
But the experienced Magmar chose not to fight a bitter battle, instead using momentum to leap behind Charizard, grabbing Charizard's body and trying to forcibly drag it into the lava.
"Fly quickly, Charizard! If you get dragged into the lava, you can't match Magmar!"
Ash said anxiously, getting so excited he nearly jumped into the arena. Fortunately, Pikachu at his feet kept tugging at Ash's pants, trying to calm him down.
But Ash's anxious shouting had no effect. The careless Charizard was still forcibly dragged into the lava by Magmar.
Seeing this scene, Ash angrily questioned Blaine across the field, shouting: "Pushing Charizard into the lava is completely against the rules!"
"I explained from the beginning that this battle arena is the entire volcano crater. Using the volcano crater's characteristics is also a type of strategy!" Blaine calmly explained, telling Ash not to be so impatient lest he lose his composure.
"Charizard..."
Ash nervously looked toward the boiling lava, worried about Charizard's safety.
Just as Ash was hanging his head in sadness, he noticed Misty and Brock behind him excitedly calling out to him, telling him to observe the battle beneath the lava.
The Charizard that had been under the lava suddenly appeared, flapping its massive wings and bringing the Magmar behind it up into the sky.
"Good, spin yourself like that to make Magmar dizzy!" Ash commanded.
The Charizard flying in the sky rapidly spun its body, making the Magmar on its back dizzy.
Seeing this scene, Ash proudly looked at Blaine, "If using the arena's special features is a type of strategy, then the sky above this volcano crater is also part of the arena!"
"Charizard, use Seismic Toss now!"
Charizard roared, began spinning in place like a ball to increase impact force, and finally, when Magmar was completely defenseless, decisively threw Magmar down from the sky.
The Magmar in the sky plummeted down, and under the influence of gravity, its entire body crashed into the lava below, splashing up waves of lava like ocean waves.
Just as Charizard flew back to the arena, preparing to welcome the joy of victory, the Magmar that had fallen into the lava reappeared, gave Charizard a contemptuous smile, and then collapsed with swirling eyes.
"Excellent battle, Ash!" Blaine praised. "You are now fully qualified to take the Volcano Badge from me!"
The next day
After successfully obtaining the Volcano Badge from Blaine, Red accompanied Ash's trio for a good time touring Cinnabar Island, which was quite enjoyable, but the result of this fun was inevitably oversleeping.
"Don't leave us behind!" "Wait!" "Wait for that ship!"
At Cinnabar Island's port, Ash's trio was desperately running, trying to stop the ferry that was about to leave, while Red leisurely strolled behind them, accustomed to watching the scene of Ash's trio rushing about.
The anxious trio even forgot to ask Red to use Teleport, though partly this was due to Red's deliberate oversight.
"I told you not to play so late, but you still wouldn't listen," Red complained, his gaze involuntarily glancing toward the seaside.
'That Wartortle should also appear now, right?'
As Ash's trio passed the beach, a Wartortle with a panicked expression suddenly ran out from hiding and collided with Ash.
"BANG!"
Ash being knocked down was only a minor scrape, but the Wartortle as a Pokémon nearly fainted, still spinning in place in a confused state.
"Are you okay? Sorry about that," Misty said apologetically.
"How rare, isn't this a Wartortle?" Brock said in surprise, not expecting to encounter a wild Wartortle here.
"War... Wartortle?!"
The fallen Ash excitedly turned around, eagerly taking out his Pokédex to analyze Wartortle's data. "Wartortle, the Turtle Pokémon, the evolved form of Squirtle. Its tail covered with long fur is considered a symbol of longevity."
The awakened Wartortle ignored the trio's curiosity, anxiously gesturing at Pikachu to try to explain what had happened, but the confused Pikachu couldn't understand what Wartortle meant.
Fortunately, the clever Pikachu looked at the Poké Balls on Ash's waist, jumped up slightly, and tapped Ash's Poké Ball with its small hand, releasing Squirtle.
The newly appeared Squirtle warmly greeted Wartortle upon seeing it, being naturally more affectionate toward its own species.
Upon seeing Squirtle, Wartortle excitedly explained the situation to Squirtle. After hearing Wartortle's account, Squirtle was also shocked for a moment, understanding the severity of the situation.
"What are they saying?" Ash asked puzzledly.
"Wartortle is telling Squirtle about something serious that happened on the island where they live."
At this time, Red slowly approached, explaining to the confused trio.
After understanding the severity of the situation, Squirtle took out its former sunglasses from its shell and put them on its face.
"Those are the Squirtle Squad's sunglasses!" Ash said in surprise.
"It's still wearing them," Brock complained.
After nodding to each other, Squirtle and Wartortle immediately jumped into the water, heading to the distant Turtle Island to rescue their fellow tribe members in trouble.
"Ash, let's hurry over too!"
With that, Red threw the Poké Ball in his hand, releasing his Blood-Red Gyarados.
Under the astonished gazes of Ash's trio, Red leaped onto the Blood-Red Gyarados's head, instructing it to head toward the distant Turtle Island.
Seeing Red had already set off, Misty quickly sent out her own Water-type Pokémon, dragging a boat with Ash's trio to keep up.