Chapter 218: This Pikachu, in Its Entire Life, Is Inferior to None!
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
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Finally, due to gravity, Pikachu's body began to fall.
Ash had a flash of inspiration and commanded:
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail to plant yourself on the ground!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu understood and flipped its body over. This time, its tail, glinting with a steely edge, was pointed straight down, plunging directly into the Scorching Sands.
*Sizzle—*
Not long after it was inserted, a plume of white smoke rose from where the Iron Tail made contact with the hot sand, as if it were being seared.
Scorching Sands, though a Ground-type move, carried a strong Fire Type affinity, which was Super Effective against the Steel Type.
Finally, after being continuously seared for half a minute, Pikachu's rigid, engorged tail finally went limp, returning to its original state as its four limbs landed on the scorching sands.
"Pika, Pika..."
The moment it landed, a scorching sensation shot up from its paws, as if it were standing on a high-temperature iron plate. Pikachu couldn't help but hop on the spot, clutching one of its legs.
It hadn't hopped for half a second before its other leg could no longer bear the high temperature. Pikachu then hugged its other leg and started hopping.
It kept switching legs.
*Tap tap tap...*
An Electric Mouse Pokémon began to hop relentlessly on the hot sand, frantically switching its feet like a flea.
The helpless action, while deserving of pity and sympathy, also had a sense of comical slapstick, making it quite amusing.
"Boom!!"
A wave of fiery air suddenly erupted from Pikachu's body, enveloping it.
Pikachu entered a Burn Status.
"What? This move has a chance to Burn, too?" Ash's pupils shrank as he spoke in disbelief.
"Pokedex Beep. Scorching Sands, a move originating from the Galar Region. It is a Ground-type move, but its high-temperature sand has a chance to inflict a Burn Status on anyone who touches it."
The Pokedex provided a timely reminder.
Before Ash could act, Rapidash finally attacked. Although its Speed had been lowered again to a normal level by Electro Web, it was still fast. In just a few breaths, it charged in front of Pikachu.
The hooves on its feet allowed it to completely ignore the high temperature of the scorching sands.
"Thwack!" "Thwack!"
Rapidash turned its body, its hind hooves lashing out in two consecutive kicks, aimed directly at Pikachu's head and sending it flying.
Double Kick!
"Pika!"
But being launched off the ground again was actually a good thing for Pikachu. It could finally get a reprieve from the hot sand. Forcibly enduring the Double Kick, it steadied its body in Mid-air.
The move Scorching Sands was truly disgusting. Ignoring its additional effects, just having all four limbs on a high-temperature plate made it impossible to concentrate properly on the Battle.
Since it was already in a Burn Status, Pikachu didn't hesitate. It raised a small, chubby paw straight towards the Sky above the Volcano. Suspended in Mid-air, it looked down from a commanding position.
This posture looked as if it were trying to commune with heavenly fire, to summon the Divine Thunder of the Nine Heavens upon itself.
"Whoa, it's that move from Brother Red!"
"Lightning Qilin!?"
Brock and Misty were shocked, instantly recognizing Pikachu's starting pose.
Back then, that round-faced Pikachu had assumed this very pose when facing an Elite Four-level Arbok. It had summoned thousands of divine thunderbolts, the terrifying natural Lightning even transforming into a Thunder Kirin that delivered a One-Hit KO to that powerful Arbok!
Unconsciously, the two had been influenced by Ash and no longer called him the respectful "Senior Red," but the more intimate, albeit slightly cringey, "Brother Red."
"Pika!"
In Mid-air, Pikachu finally completed its technique. With a grim expression, it slowly pressed its arm down.
*Plop.*
The next second, a ball of purple light formed in its palm, bubbling as if it were extremely toxic. It smashed directly into Rapidash's face.
Toxic!
The corner of Pikachu's mouth curled up. Surprised?
This Pikachu is just that mischievous and unpredictable!
Caught off guard, Rapidash took the purple light to its face. When the light dissipated, its noble, pale-yellow face was already stained with a dark purple hue, its expression pained.
Rapidash entered a Poisoned Status.
Blaine: "..."
This Electric Mouse is a Poison mouse too?
With one side Poisoned and the other Burned, it was clear this battle would not be a long one. The outcome would be decided soon.
"Rapidash, Flame Charge!" Blaine commanded his attack.
Ash, not to be outdone, shouted back head-on:
"Pikachu, we'll use Quick Attack! As long as you're fast enough, the sand beneath you won't be able to catch up!"
Pikachu: "?"
Though it didn't quite understand the profound logic, faced with the crimson figure charging towards it, Pikachu still shrouded its body in a white light and landed back on the scorching sands, running across it at high speed.
*Sizzle—*
It frowned. Its Speed had dropped considerably.
The temperature of the sand was too high; no matter how fast it ran, Pikachu couldn't fully concentrate.
In his panic, Ash noticed the hooves on Rapidash's feet, and a spark of insight suddenly struck him.
"Pikachu, concentrate Lightning on the soles of your feet!"
Pikachu understood. While running with Quick Attack, it drew several streams of electric current from its red Electric Sacs, guiding them slowly downwards.
*Zzzzzt—*
The situation suddenly took an incredible turn. The electric current formed four blurry light clusters under Pikachu's paws, maintaining a gap between them and the hot sand on the ground.
Pikachu's Speed instantly skyrocketed by thirty percent, returning to its peak. Its body became a white phantom, dashing across the hot sand, leaving sparks and lightning in its wake. It was as if a lightning special effect had been added, looking incredibly cool.
"Pokedex Beep. Pikachu has mastered a new move: Magnet Rise."
The Pokedex suddenly announced.
This was a technique of electricity manipulation, and also a move.
Magnet Rise, a move unique to Steel Type and Electric Type Pokémon, could apply an electromagnetic buff to oneself, allowing for a slight hover in Mid-air and completely ignoring Ground Type Attacks.
Some had even developed the Magnet Rise move to its Ultimate State, allowing a Pokémon to fly freely in the Sky without wings!
Of course, Pokémon like Magnemite, whose Body Structure inherently included the effects of Magnet Rise and could already fly freely, were an exception.
"Clang!"
Under the effect of Magnet Rise, Pikachu finally ignored the hot sand beneath its feet completely and clashed head-on with Rapidash!
"Pika..." But the Burn Status greatly weakened Pikachu's Physical Power. After a three-second stalemate, it was violently sent flying into Mid-air by Flame Charge.
"It's over! Rapidash, use Fire Spin!"
Blaine roared. In Mid-air, Pikachu couldn't dodge; it was just a sandbag waiting to be sniped.
"Hyaaah!"
Rapidash tossed its head back and spat out a swirling Pillar of Fire, shooting it straight at Pikachu.
*Zzzzzzt.*
The faint sound of an electric current was heard.
A golden light suddenly shone from the soles of Pikachu's feet, as if it had stepped on something solid. Its body suddenly bounced away, miraculously changing its position in Mid-air to avoid the attack.
Pikachu circled around the direct hit from Fire Spin and, defying gravity, its small body shot out again, darting toward Rapidash's back.
"CLANG!!"
Pikachu flipped over, its tail already gleaming with a cold metallic light, and smashed it heavily onto Rapidash's back. The sound of a bone cracking rang out, as if Rapidash's back had been broken on the spot.
Iron Tail!!
The waist is a common weak spot for most beast-like Pokémon.
"Wheeeeze—"
Feeling the terrifyingly immense force on its lower back, Rapidash could finally hold on no longer. Its long legs buckled, and its body crashed onto the scorching sands. Its eyes spun, and it lost consciousness.
Pikachu, however, stood atop Rapidash's body, its Fighting Spirit soaring. The fiery mane on Rapidash's body now seemed to be burning for Pikachu instead.
This wasn't the first one it had ridden, nor would it be the last...
This Pikachu, in its entire life, is inferior to none!
"The second battle is over! Rapidash is Unable to Battle! The winner is Pikachu!"
Brock announced in a timely manner.
(end of chapter)