Chapter 212: Sunny Day Teams, I Know a Little
By: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
The center of Cinnabar Volcano's interior.
Ash and the other two were standing on a reddish-brown rock platform. Through the cracks in the rock beneath their feet, they could clearly see what lay below.
"Gurgle gurgle."
Magma!
It was scorching Magma, constantly bubbling, less than five meters away from them!
"This is the location of my new Cinnabar Gym!"
Blaine spread his arms as if embracing his surroundings, a hint of madness in his expression.
A battle arena atop volcanic Magma—nothing could be more fitting for a Fire-type Gym!
This was the very center of the Volcano's crater. Below was scorching, flowing Magma, while above was a naturally formed rock platform. Blaine had taken the opportunity to artificially modify these reddish-brown rocks.
He had transformed the center into a massive Battle Arena, even painting the standard white lines used for official battles on its surface.
Surrounding the Arena were countless footholds of rubble, large and small. A slight misstep could send one plunging directly into the Inferno below.
There was also a small path connecting to the Cave route they had come from, which was the only way out of this Volcano.
Of course, one could also exit through the circular crater opening overhead; a flight of just over thirty meters would do it.
"Is this really a dormant volcano?"
Ash carefully gripped the floor, leaning over the edge of the rock layer to look at the flowing, bubbling volcanic Magma below. The rising steam blasted him in the face.
He always had a feeling the Magma could erupt at any moment.
"Don't worry, the experts have all said this place is safe. As long as you remember the forbidden words, 'it won't *' and 'a small ***,' you'll be fine."
Blaine reassured them again.
He considered himself half an expert—in the field of biology, granted—but experts had to stick together.
"Here's a piece of Trivia I just learned: our experts in Pewter City only study rocks. They've never even seen a Volcano."
Brock suddenly interjected with a smirk that didn't reach his eyes.
He was now thoroughly convinced the Volcano was going to erupt.
"Fine?"
"It would indeed be fine. Just be more careful in the next life."
Soon, Ash and Blaine stood at opposite ends of the volcanic Magma Arena, facing each other from a distance.
Although the environment was perilous, the thick, scorching Aura underfoot and all around truly stirred a Trainer's Battle Intent, making one's Bloodline surge. Right now, Ash's entire body felt like it was burning, Battle Intensity running rampant. He almost wanted to turn around and jump into the Magma for a few laps just to cool down.
"Cinnabar Gym battle rules: each person will send out three Pokémon. When all three of one side's Pokémon are Unable to Battle, the other side wins! As for a Referee, there's no need for one."
Blaine said.
After all, being Unable to Battle is a fact anyone with eyes can see. There's no need for a Referee at all.
He had always felt that in a Pokémon Battle, a Referee was a meaningless existence.
"No. While it's true a Referee is pretty damn useless, a Trainer's Battle needs to have a sense of ceremony!"
Bearing a Rock-Solid Will, Brock walked between the two and took it upon himself to act as Referee. With a solemn and profound expression, he gestured to both of them, signaling that they could release their Pokémon.
"Besides, this will be your last time battling here. Please cherish it!"
Blaine: "?"
Though utterly bewildered, he didn't dwell on it. Seeing Ash's blood-boiling excitement, his hand paused briefly at his waist before moving to a different Poké Ball.
*I'll be a little more serious this time...*
In the Kanto Region, no old man is a pushover.
"Let the Flame burn everything!!"
Blaine let out a low shout and fiercely threw a Poké Ball. A red light flashed, revealing a golden, beast-like fox Pokémon. It had a well-proportioned body covered in smooth, golden fur, and its appearance exuded a noble and mysterious air. A pair of ruby-red pupils sized up Ash, showing a human-like expression.
The most peculiar feature was the nine fluffy, golden tails growing from the golden fox's back, swaying gently with great elegance and beauty.
"Pokedex Beep. Ninetales, the Fox Pokémon. Legend says each of its tails possesses a unique Ability. It is highly intelligent and has a long lifespan, capable of living for over a thousand years."
The Pokedex prompted.
The moment it finished, a beam of golden light shot down vertically from the Volcano crater above, enveloping the entire Arena. It was as if the sun itself had descended, bathing everything in sunlight.
The current field is under intense sunlight.
"Pokedex Beep. This is Ninetales's Ability: Drought. Upon entering the battle, it can change the field conditions to Sunny Day."
The Pokedex helpfully reminded him.
The corner of Blaine's mouth lifted slightly. He owned two Ninetales: one with the common Flash Fire Ability, and another with the extremely rare Drought Ability. Sending this one out first meant he was getting serious.
"Sunny Day teams, I know a little."
"Weather, huh?"
Ash was no fledgling chick battling for the first time. After a brief moment of surprise, he quickly regained his composure and threw out his own Poké Ball.
"You have a thousand-year-old fox, so I have a ten-thousand-year-old turtle! I choose you!"
"Wartortle!"
A red light flashed, revealing one of Ash's key players, Wartortle.
"Water-type has an advantage over your Fire-type! This battle is in the bag for me!"
Ash felt completely confident and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Oh, is that so."
Blaine replied with a smile of his own. The Battle Intent of both Trainers had reached its peak.
"Cinnabar Gym Challenge Match, let the battle begin!"
As Brock signaled the start, Ash and Blaine both let out a low shout, launching their attacks simultaneously.
"Ninetales, use Flamethrower!"
"Wartortle, use Water Gun!"
Ninetales raised its head and spat out a crimson Pillar of Fire. Under the brilliant sunlight, the Flame's Power surged even higher, its heat waves scorching.
"Warto-tle!!"
Wartortle, not the least bit intimidated, also opened its mouth and shot out a jet of blue water, which collided head-on with the Flame.
"Ssss..."
As the water stream and Flame met, a massive cloud of white steam erupted, spreading out and enveloping the two Pokémon.
However, the Flamethrower's Power was clearly superior. After a stalemate of less than a second, it pushed back the Water Gun and continued surging toward its source, Wartortle.
Flamethrower and Water Gun are by no means equal Moves. With the added boost from the Sunny Day weather, even with Type Effectiveness, the effect wasn't significant.
The fierce Flame was already right in front of it. Even with its Type Resistance, Wartortle didn't dare take the hit directly. It immediately stopped spraying water and dodged with a roll to the side, barely managing to evade the blast of Flame.
"So strong..."
Profuse Sweat dripped from Ash's forehead, it was unclear if it was due to the intensity of the Battle or the heat of the environment.
"A difference in Level can sometimes be more important than Type Effectiveness, you know."
Blaine gave a light chuckle. In terms of Level alone, although this Wartortle's wasn't low, it was still a bit lacking compared to his Ninetales with its Hidden Ability.
"Then try this Move! Ninetales, use Confuse Ray!"
"Niiiine~"
Ninetales's ruby-like eyes glimmered, and it actually condensed a bizarre Light Cluster shimmering with White Light in front of itself, tossing it toward the still-rolling Wartortle.
The moment the Light Cluster touched its target, it shattered, turning into a fine powder that settled on Wartortle.
"Wartortle..."
In the next second, Wartortle's eyes became glazed over. Its body swayed as it stood on the Ground, and a ring of tiny Zapdos circled around its bare head...
Wartortle had fallen into a state of Confusion.
(end of chapter)