Chapter 221: Inferno vs. Fire Blast!
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander
"Charmeleon!"
The Charmeleon, viciously thrown by a Seismic Toss, hadn't lost its ability to fight. Instead, its gaze focused, and it stabilized itself in mid-air. As it fell, it pushed off the ground with both hands to launch itself up, tumbling through the air several times to dissipate the force before landing back on the battle arena.
But its expression was not as carefree as its movements.
"Whoa~ Such agile movements."
Blaine couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
To show off such skill as a Charmeleon... he was rather curious if, after this Charmeleon evolved and was saddled with a Charizard's big belly, it could still perform several consecutive somersaults like this.
"This Magmar..."
On the other side, Ash and Charmeleon clearly didn't share the relaxed expressions of Blaine and his Magmar; both wore grave expressions, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Magma Armor?
He had already copied this master technique, but the move required a significant amount of time. The body needed to be tempered in the lava of a volcano for a long period; it wasn't something he could just copy and paste to use right now.
Its fire power was insufficient, and it was at a disadvantage in close combat. Ash's pupils shrank. He had no other options left.
"Charmeleon, use Inferno!"
This was the strongest move Charmeleon could use at its current stage!
"Aaargh!!"
Charmeleon nodded. It roared and began gathering energy where it stood. Its breathing grew deep, and its crimson skin started to turn a deeper, more profound red. Even the surrounding air sizzled into white vapor upon contact with its skin. Under the light of the Sunny Day, the scorching heat waves from the volcano crater intensified, as if something terrifying was about to erupt from within its body.
"Inferno, is it? Magmar, block it!"
Blaine didn't order it to attack and interrupt, instead having Magmar assume a defensive stance on the spot.
He knew of the move Inferno. It was a major fire-type move with truly immense power, but it also had many drawbacks: it required time to charge, and its accuracy wasn't high.
He was somewhat shocked that a Charmeleon could master a major move like Inferno at its current stage.
But at this moment, he had no intention of moving forward to interrupt, nor did he intend to dodge.
This was a matter of pride for Fire-type Pokémon and their trainers. Against a fire attack, he believed Magmar could block it, so he would not have it dodge!
Soon, the charge was complete. Charmeleon's skin began to glow with a deep red light. A terrifying wave of flame erupted from its body, spreading out in all directions. It surged across the entire battle arena, covering every inch of land and surrounding Magmar.
The dark red flames burned ceaselessly, and above them billowed unsettling black smoke. The entire Cinnabar Battle Arena seemed to have been plunged into a real inferno, with flames and black smoke raging to the heavens!
"BOOM! BOOM!!"
The flames of Inferno contracted, converging on the Magmar at the center to devour it.
"Grawr!!"
Surrounded by the fire of Inferno, Magmar's expression was fearless. After condensing a layer of Magma Armor around its body, it faced the deep red flames head-on.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!"
The flames burned wildly, like a ravenous beast pouncing on Magmar again and again, incinerating everything!
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!"
Flames and black smoke shot skyward. The air pulsed with a shockwave, and the fire erupted into a supremely violent explosion. The surrounding rocky ground shattered, creating countless chasms and fissures!
Everyone shielded their eyes and stumbled back several steps. Only Blaine and Ash, standing at the very front, didn't retreat even half a step, their eyes fixed on the battlefield.
"Did we win?!"
Soon, the flames of Inferno and the black smoke cleared away. A red and yellow Fire Pokémon still stood there. It slowly lowered its defensive posture, its eyes sharp.
Magmar still had fighting power, and there weren't even any obvious wounds on its body.
"Even an Inferno that powerful wasn't effective?"
"Even with a resistance to fire, there's no way it could take that without a scratch, right?"
In the back, Brock and Misty's faces changed drastically.
Even Ash and Charmeleon on the battlefield subconsciously took half a step back, utterly shocked.
*Drip.*
Suddenly, a drop of dark brown, viscous liquid dripped from Magmar's face, corroding and burning a small black pit into the rocky ground.
*Drip. Drip. Drip.*
Scalding magma continuously dripped from the surface of Magmar's body, burning the ground all around it to black charcoal.
Inferno wasn't ineffective; it had stripped away the layer of Magma Armor from Magmar's body!
"Since this is turn-based, it's our turn to attack now," Blaine thought, inwardly startled. The power of that Inferno had exceeded his expectations. His expression immediately darkened, and he swiped his thumb through the air.
"Magmar, use Fire Blast!"
"Grawrr!!"
Magmar took a deep breath, inhaling even the residual sparks and hot air lingering in the air. Then, it opened its mouth and condensed a ball of scorching flame energy in front of it. The terrifyingly high temperature burned the air, causing everything around the energy ball to blur.
With a loud roar, the ball of flame shot out. It trembled and transformed in mid-air, becoming a giant, star-shaped character made of fire that hurtled toward Charmeleon.
Its power was terrifying. Without even touching the ground, it shattered and crushed the rocky ground in its path, carving out a long trench.
Fire Blast, the ultimate Fire-type move!
"Dodge, quick—"
"Aargh!"
Ash had just started to give the order when he was cut off by Charmeleon's roar. Its eyes, burning with fire, glanced back at Ash for a moment before turning to face the incoming Fire Blast, its expression fearless.
"Charmeleon..."
Ash froze for a second. Dodging was undoubtedly the best option in this situation. He knew that although Fire Blast had terrifying power, it also had a fatal flaw: its accuracy wasn't high. With Charmeleon's agility, it could definitely avoid it without taking any damage.
"The pride of a Fire-type?"
"Is it to answer Magmar's action of facing Inferno head-on earlier..."
The expressions of the two in the back also became incredibly profound.
This counter-strategy was undoubtedly foolish, but it was also the one most befitting a battle of fire.
Face the flames head-on!
At this thought, Ash's hesitation completely vanished. The corner of his mouth curled into a spirited smile, and his eyes instantly became brighter and more brilliant than ever before. At this moment, winning or losing no longer mattered. He just wanted to let Charmeleon do what it wanted to do!
"Charmeleon, do what you want! Block that Fire Blast!"
Ash no longer tried to stop it; instead, he stood firmly behind it.
"Aaargh!!"
Charmeleon roared repeatedly at the sky. Its body seemed somewhat small compared to the roaring Fire Blast before it, but it planted its feet firmly, its gaze resolute. It raised its claws toward the terrifying flames, crossing them in front of its body for protection.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!"
Its claws made contact with the Fire Blast. An immense and terrifying force descended upon it, causing Charmeleon's face to pale instantly as its shoulders slumped several inches!
The searing heat and shockwave from the Fire Blast pressed down so hard that Charmeleon's head and neck were nearly twisted, forcing them to bend to one side. Its hind legs carved a fissure in the ground as its body was forced backward...
(end of chapter)