As soon as the words fell, a white light suddenly appeared in front of Pikachu, followed by Dratini using Dragon Breath. The blue dragon breath struck in front of Pikachu, neutralizing the impact force of Pikachu's Quick Attack and knocking Pikachu's small body backward.
Pikachu cautiously looked up at Dratini's towering 2-meter height. Thanks to Professor Oak's careful nurturing, Dratini's development had been exceptionally good.
Due to the obvious size difference, Dratini's tall body even blocked the moonlight from reaching Pikachu, leaving only pitch darkness surrounding it.
But sitting and waiting for defeat wasn't Pikachu's style. After realizing Red's purpose, Pikachu immediately launched an offensive, using Agility to close in on Dratini's position, then swinging its silver-glowing Iron Tail forcefully toward Dratini.
"Use Dragon Tail!"
Emerald energy covered Dratini's tail as it used Dragon Tail, competing in strength with Pikachu's Iron Tail. In moments, it sent the small Pikachu flying, smoothly following up with Dragon Breath. Blue dragon breath shot from Dratini's mouth, striking directly toward Pikachu.
"Pika pika!"
Seeing this, Pikachu immediately used Thunderbolt, releasing its electrical current to neutralize the Dragon Breath's power.
The two moves collided violently, exploding moments later and scattering stones around them, briefly obscuring Dratini's vision.
Seeing this opportunity, Pikachu immediately used Quick Attack, striking Dratini's body with lightning speed.
"Mini!"
Dratini angrily looked at Pikachu clinging to its body, unleashing its power and using its tail to whip up a tornado, intending to draw Pikachu into it, then swinging Dragon Tail toward Pikachu's direction.
"Pika pika!"
Pikachu wouldn't just sit there and take it. It immediately used Iron Tail to counter, but rather than attacking Dratini, Pikachu struck the ground to launch itself into the air, escaping the tornado's binding and avoiding the Dragon Tail's damage.
Then, under Dratini's shocked gaze, Pikachu released high-voltage current from its body, using Thunderbolt to hit Dratini directly.
"Mini!"
Dratini cried out in pain. Although as a Dragon-type Pokémon, Dratini could resist half the damage from Electric-type moves, Pikachu's current still caused Dratini considerable harm.
The angry Dratini turned and used close-range Dragon Breath, hitting Pikachu's body. The impact force even embedded Pikachu into the wall, unable to break free.
The furious Dratini completely unleashed its ancient dragon authority. The overwhelming pressure it released made even Pikachu tremble involuntarily.
Dratini's ancient dragon authority made the surroundings gradually quiet. Wild Pokémon that had been wandering nearby fled in panic at this moment.
But Pikachu didn't give up struggling. Gritting its teeth, it broke free from the wall, wiped the dust from the corner of its mouth, and looked at Dratini ahead with determined eyes.
"Pikachu, I'm very interested in your talent and strength. Become my companion and serve as the vanguard of my team!" Red extended his right hand, inviting Pikachu.
As Ash's twin brother, Red had long harbored the desire to capture a Pikachu. He just hadn't encountered a suitable one until now. He hadn't expected to fulfill this wish today.
Honestly, Red didn't want to miss this exceptionally talented and fiercely independent Pikachu. This Pikachu was very much to Red's liking.
After hearing Red's invitation, Pikachu snorted disdainfully, showing contempt. A Pokémon like Pikachu that loved freedom and independence would never easily agree to Red's request.
Unless Red could fulfill its wish and redeem the deepest regret in its heart, this was Pikachu's persistent inner conflict.
Pikachu could never forget that rainy day when it had been so heartless as to abandon its twin brother for survival...
Whenever it dreamed of that scene, Pikachu would wake up in nightmare-like terror, looking at the desolate scenery around it with only remorse and unease in its heart.
"It's hard to imagine your birthplace is Viridian Forest. After all, that's mostly home to Bug and Flying-type Pokémon, not favorable for an Electric Mouse like you to survive. I'm very interested in your past," Red said.
As soon as he finished speaking, Red discovered that the Pikachu before him was actually shedding tears of regret, covering its face and crying painfully with a face full of remorse.
Seeing this scene, Red rarely showed a flustered expression and quickly released his Viridian Power to soothe Pikachu's inner unease.
"Pika pika..."
After receiving the healing of Viridian Power, Pikachu visibly relaxed, touching its chest and shaking its head wordlessly.
Red's gaze stopped Dratini, which wanted to continue battling. What Pikachu needed now was companionship, not just venting through battle.
This action by Red made Pikachu regard him more highly, feeling that Red was different from the ordinary Pokémon trainers who came here.
Most trainers would definitely engage in capture battles out of good intentions when encountering it, but they were all easily defeated by Pikachu, becoming part of Pikachu's battle experience.
After a moment, having regulated its emotional state, Pikachu actively requested Red to continue the previous battle between itself and Dratini.
This time, Pikachu chose not to hold back. Electrical current coiled around the tip of its tail, forming a sphere. It was using Electro Ball.
Electro Ball's power depends on the user's speed. The greater the ratio between the user's speed and the target's speed, the more powerful the move becomes.
"Dratini, use Dragon Tail!"
Blindly dodging would only further increase Electro Ball's power, so Red simply commanded Dratini to attack actively, using Dragon Tail's power to absorb the electrical damage.
Dratini swung its tail forcefully, smashing the Electro Ball into a nearby trash can, causing quite an explosion.
"This Electro Ball's power... It seems my guess was correct. This guy really isn't an ordinary Pikachu."
As if to verify Red's speculation, Pikachu unleashean amazingng electrical current, covering its entire body with it, then transformed into a yellow lightning bolt charging toward Dratini's direction.
"It's actually Volt Tackle. What a nice little guy," Red said with slight excitement.
Volt Tackle was an exclusive move belonging to the Pikachu line, but not all Pikachu could master this ultimate technique.
The fact that this Pikachu could use Volt Tackle was enough to demonstrate its powerful talent.
"Dratini, use Dragon Pulse!" Red commanded.
Upon hearing Red's command, Dratini immediately opened its mouth and created a shockwave. The shockwave transformed into a blue giant dragon that struck toward Pikachu, colliding with the high-voltage current-covered Pikachu.