Imagine a Level 100 Caterpie fighting a Level 100 Rayquaza.
There is no doubt about the outcome. The winner will definitely be the Rayquaza.
Why? Because of Species Strength.
Rayquaza is a Peak Tier 2 Legend, a creature that governs the skies.
Caterpie is... a bug.
Even if they are at the same experience level, the gap in their biological "hardware" is insurmountable.
The current battle was similar, though not as extreme.
Zapdos was a "Sub-Legendary".
Lugia was a "High-Tier Legendary".
Lugia stabilized Zapdos in every stat.
Furthermore, this Zapdos had no exclusive signature moves yet, whereas Lugia possessed the devastating Aeroblast.
"Screech~!!!"
Zapdos let out a belligerent cry and struck first. Being warlike, he didn't hold back and launched a standard electric attack.
Thunderbolt!
A thick column of yellow lightning shot across the arena.
"Giaaa!"
Silver didn't dodge. He flapped his wings and backhanded the air, unleashing a wave of invisible psychic energy.
Extrasensory!
BOOM!
The lightning collided with the psychic distortion, resulting in a massive explosion of sparks and mental force.
"Not bad," Sam commented faintly.
"After advancing, Zapdos's attack has become much fiercer."
"That's right!"
Cynthia raised her chin, her face glowing with pride.
"Since catching Zapdos, I have been training him every day. It's very effective!"
She looked adorable, a mix of a young girl showing off a good grade and a mature Champion displaying her power.
I think Sam boasted quickly. "Amazing."
"Hehe~" Cynthia beamed, straightening her back. She shouted to the field, "Zapdos! Keep going! You can do it!"
"Graaah!!"
Encouraged by his trainer, Zapdos let the electricity converge on his long, sharp beak.
He flapped his short wings, turning his body into a living drill.
Discharge + Drill Peck!
It was a combination move. The electricity paralyzed the air while the rotating beak pierced through the resistance.
It also boosted Zapdos's speed.
Whoosh!
Zapdos struck like orange lightning, slamming into Silver before the young sea god could react.
Bang!
"Looo!!"
Silver was thrown back more than ten meters, skidding through the air. Arcs of static electricity clung to his silver feathers.
"Beautiful, Zapdos!"
Cynthia was inexplicably excited. She looked arrogantly at Ash, Brock, and Dawn on the sidelines.
'See that? You all predicted Sam's Lugia would win! How about that! Be amazed by my Zapdos!'
Ash: "Whoa... that's amazing!"
Brock: "The two skills were perfectly connected. That power is no joke!" Dawn: "What a powerful move!"
Unlike the surprised trio, Red remained taciturn.
He watched silently, knowing the battle had only just begun.
"Amazing," Sam said, patting Cynthia's hand.
"As expected of my wife."
Cynthia sat back down, leaning against Sam with a smug expression.
"Of course it's amazing. I am the Champion of Sinnoh. It's very likely my Zapdos will defeat your Silver and become the first Pokémon to beat you~."
"Yes, yes," Sam smiled, hugging the arrogant girl.
"My baby Cynthia is the most powerful."
But on the battlefield, the atmosphere had changed.
"Screech!!"
After the successful blow, Zapdos became even more arrogant.
He stomped his feet, shrieking provocatively.
Silver, who had taken the combo hit, narrowed his eyes.
He brushed the sparks off his wings.
He had just been repelled by a "Wild Chicken."
A flightless bird that ran on the ground had dared to hit him, the Prince of the Sea?
And that shriek... to Silver's ears, it sounded like blatant mockery.
'It's just a wild chicken that recently evolved,' Silver thought, his gaze turning cold.
'How dare you act tough in front of me? If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't understand what a Tier 2 Legend really is.'
"GIAAA!!!!"
Silver let out a melodious, high-pitched cry that vibrated in everyone's chests.
The momentum shifted instantly.
Dark clouds burst open above! A hurricane swept through the courtyard.
Thunder roared in response to the Sea God's anger.
Silver gathered terrifying amounts of wind and psychic energy in his mouth.
The air pressure dropped so low that it became hard to breathe.
He opened his mouth and spat out a beam of pure white compressed air.
The Exclusive Skill of the Lugia Clan! The move that could pulverize bedrock!
Aeroblast!
"Screech?!"
Zapdos felt the terrifying energy lock onto him and immediately lost his arrogance.
He pumped his thick legs, running fast, trying to dodge the incoming beam of destruction.
Unfortunately, he found that Silver had completely locked onto his bio-signature.
The beam curved slightly, following him.
Without any choice, Zapdos stopped.
He flared his wings, condensing all his energy into a green barrier.
Protect!
He tried to tank the hit.
BOOM!!
Silver's Aeroblast slammed into the shield.
The terrifying attack made the earth tremble. The sonic boom spread through Celestic Town, shattering nearby windows.
The energy blast pulverized the gravel on the battlefield into fine powder, creating a massive dust cloud.
The Ash trio sat with their mouths open, stunned by the apocalyptic power.
Even Cynthia looked shocked.
When the smoke cleared...
A massive crater had appeared in the battlefield.
And at the bottom of the pit lay Zapdos.
The shield had shattered instantly. Zapdos had lost consciousness, his eyes swirling.
Even using Protect, he was unable to resist the raw power of a Lugia's signature move.
"Looo..."
Silver hovered high in the air, looking down at the fallen Zapdos.
He let out a soft, melodious cry.
His haughty posture seemed to say:
'Little chicken. Let this be a lesson. Lie down for Grandpa.'
Sam's mouth curled into a slight smile.
This result was exactly what he expected.
Between a Pokémon with an Exclusive Skill (Signature Move) and one without... even if they had similar ranks, the gap in combat effectiveness is absolute.
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