Chapter 280: Red VS Gary, The Sixth Round Unfolds
Indigo League - Main Stadium - Sixth Round
"Good morning, everyone! I'll be commentating this match as well, since I'm personally looking forward to the showdown between Lord Red and contestant Gary!"
The current time was the pre-match warm-up period, allowing both contestants to adjust their mental states before battle. Yet even so, the audience seats were nearly full. Everyone eagerly anticipated today's match, arriving at the crack of dawn just to claim front-row spots and get the best view possible.
Why such excitement? Because today's matches featured the Pallet Town civil war: battles among the four rookie Trainers from Pallet Town. How could spectators not get excited? Most of the audience had even stocked up on drinks and popcorn specifically for the upcoming battles.
"Alright, the warm-up period has ended! Now let's give a warm round of applause to welcome both contestants!" the announcer proclaimed.
As soon as he finished speaking, Red and Gary emerged simultaneously from their respective entrance tunnels under countless expectant gazes. They took their positions on the red and green platforms, staring directly at each other. Red could see fighting spirit blazing in Gary's eyes.
"I've been waiting for today's match for so long!" Gary said excitedly, unable to calm his occasionally trembling hands. To prepare for today's battle, Gary had made thorough preparations since yesterday. He'd barely slept, nearly spending the whole night awake.
"Let's have a match with no regrets, Gary," Red responded, stroking the Poké Balls at his waist.
"This is the Main Stadium sixth-round match! On one side, Lord Red from Pallet Town! On the other hand, contestant Gary, also from Pallet Town! What kind of spectacular battle will these two Trainers from the same hometown deliver? Let's find out!" the announcer explained.
After the announcer finished, the audience erupted with excitement, raising their hands high and holding up fan signs to cheer for their supported contestants, Red or Gary. Though Red's fan club occupied over half the stadium...
"Both sides may use six Pokémon! Whichever side's Pokémon all lose battle capability, the first loses! During the match, Pokémon may be switched freely! There is no time limit! The sixth-round official match begins now!"
The bell rang sharply. Red and Gary simultaneously threw their Poké Balls, releasing their Pokémon.
"Go, Pikachu!"
"I'm counting on you, Scyther!"
Two flashes of white light revealed Pikachu and Scyther appearing on the battlefield. Unlike Pikachu's confidence, Scyther immediately regarded the opposing Pikachu with cautious eyes. With abundant battle experience, Scyther instantly recognized this Pikachu's exceptional strength, completely different from roadside weaklings.
Seeing Red send out Pikachu as his lead, Gary's expression grew wary. After all, his Scyther was doubly weak to Electric types. He'd need to be extremely careful.
"Pika pika!" Seeing his elder brother enter battle, Ash's Pikachu immediately grew excited on Ash's shoulder, waving both hands to cheer for his sibling. In Ash's Pikachu's view, Gary's Scyther absolutely couldn't defeat his big brother.
"Pikachu's rarely this excited," Misty teased.
"Well, it's his big brother's battle," Professor Oak said calmly. "This is a good opportunity for Pikachu to learn some battle experience."
While Ash's group chatted, Red's Pikachu and Scyther's battle had already begun.
"Scyther, use Quick Attack!"
"Quick Attack," Red and Gary commanded simultaneously.
But to Gary's surprise, Red's Pikachu's figure vanished instantly from its original position, as if it had never been there, leaving only an afterimage that momentarily stunned Scyther.
Before Gary and Scyther could recover from their shock, Red's Pikachu suddenly appeared before Scyther, using its body to slam heavily into the Bug-type. The impact force made Scyther involuntarily step backward. Fortunately, Scyther managed to stab its scythes into the ground, buffering itself to avoid the embarrassment of falling.
"How is that possible?!" Gary said in confusion.
"My Pikachu's speed surpasses Scyther's," Red said calmly, indirectly indicating that Gary couldn't defeat Red's Pikachu through speed alone. Upon hearing this, Red's Pikachu proudly puffed out its chest, hands on its hips, regarding Scyther with an arrogant gaze. Scyther felt quite irritated, but couldn't defeat the Pikachu before it.
"In that case, Scyther, use Double Team!" Gary decisively commanded, wanting to use Double Team's interference effect to let Scyther close in on Pikachu and unleash a Fury Cutter offensive.
Following Gary's instruction, Scyther leveraged its high speed to move rapidly across the battlefield. In moments, it created countless copies, interfering with Red and his Pikachu's attention.
"Gary, these little tricks can't fool me," Red said calmly, shaking his head with apparent regret before suddenly changing his tone to command his Pikachu.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail to leap into the air, then aim Discharge at all the Scyther!"
"As expected from Red with his exceptional battle talent. Every command is strategically targeted," Professor Oak sighed, once again amazed by Red's terrifying combat instincts.
"Discharge? What's the difference between that and Thunderbolt?" Ash asked, confused.
Seeing Ash's puzzled expression, Leaf patiently explained, "Unlike Thunderbolt, which targets single opponents, Discharge is an area-of-effect move that can hit all of Scyther's copies simultaneously."
Just as Leaf explained, on the battlefield, Pikachu swung its silver-glowing tail, using Iron Tail to strike the ground. The impact force briefly launched it into the air, overlooking the Scyther below that were ready to attack.
Sorry, but your strategy is worthless in my eyes!
Red's Pikachu immediately released high-voltage electricity from its body, transforming it into countless lightning serpents striking toward every Scyther's location.
"This is bad! Scyther, quickly use Agility to dodge!" Seeing the unfavorable situation, Gary anxiously commanded, urging Scyther to leave its position immediately.
But clearly, Gary's warning came too late. Just as Scyther attempted to use Agility to evade, it discovered the lightning serpents had already closed in, giving it no reaction time whatsoever.
Finally, under Scyther's horrified gaze, the high-voltage current transformed into lightning serpents and instantly struck Scyther's body, making it tremble uncontrollably. Electrical burn marks gradually appeared on its body from the high-voltage assault.