"Whoosh!"
Surging waves churned on the field, directly submerging Raichu within them. The water washed out, crashing against the wall outside the field, and then slowly receded.
Ma Zhishi's half-body was drenched, but he didn't care in the slightest. More than himself being soaked by Surf, he wanted to know how in the world Pikachu could use Surf?!
This is too heaven-defying! What kind of move is it for Pikachu to know Surf? Even most Water-type Pokémon can't learn this move, can they?
As an Electric-type Pokémon, how did you create such surging waves? Do you have enough Water-type energy?
Moreover, the water current felt strange to him. When the water washed over half of his body, Ma Zhishi could feel a slight numbness in his lower body, as if he had touched an electric current.
Was there an electric current contained within this water flow?
"H-how is that possible?!"
"Impossible! I must be hallucinating! A Pikachu using Surf? And the power of this Surf is so immense!"
The two staff members cried out in disbelief, their faces looking as if they had seen a ghost.
They were also Trainers, and they had been with Ma Zhishi for a long time, having witnessed at least eighty or even a hundred battles, but they had never seen or even heard of a Pikachu that could use Surf!
A Pikachu creating waves dozens of times larger than its own body—is this Pikachu even legal?
Not to mention Ma Zhishi and his group, even Xiao Xia and Xiao Gang, who had been with Ash day and night, were stunned.
Good heavens, before, after putting on a hat, it learned a move whose speed was comparable to Extreme Speed, and it was even a move of its own type, and it seemed to have a high probability of hitting a vital point (in reality, it was a guaranteed hit on a vital point).
Now it's even more outrageous; it even knows Surf! And it seems that this is also a move that can only be learned and used by wearing a hat.
What is that hat of yours? A Technical Machine? Why can you learn so many absurd moves just by wearing a hat?!
"When did Pikachu learn this move?" Xiao Xia swallowed, subconsciously asking Xiao Gang.
Xiao Gang shook his head blankly and replied, "If I knew, I wouldn't be as shocked as you are—"
This time, it was another move from Ash and Pikachu's secret training. They knew that Ash usually woke up about two hours earlier than them every morning to train, and this move was most likely learned during that time.
The previous moves and Pikachu's improvements were all secretly learned and improved during that period.
But the problem is, you can't possibly learn a new move every time during that period, can you? Is that some golden two-hour morning? Is it that easy to learn new moves?
And every time you learn a new move, you don't use it in daily life, only bringing it out when fighting in a Gym. What does this mean?
Are you secretly hiding things from them?!
So who exactly did Ash learn from to always keep a trick up his sleeve?! Professor Oak?
On the field, Ash curved his lips into a smile, saying with a hint of sarcasm, "How about it, Uncle Ma Zhishi? Do you still think my Pikachu is just a baby?"
Ma Zhishi:
Heh heh, if this counts as a baby, then his Raichu is at most a child slightly stronger than a baby, and one that might not even be able to defeat this baby.
Ma Zhishi felt something was off when Pikachu first attacked. That Pikachu seemed to have leaped from the advanced level to the Superior level. This level span was not small, but he still didn't pay much attention to it.
Leaving aside whether he misjudged, even if Pikachu was truly Superior, what then? His Raichu was a professional beginner!
It was a whole major tier below Pikachu!
A Superior Pikachu was indeed rare, but in front of him, it was nothing but a weakling—that's what he originally thought.
But when the battle truly began, it wasn't like that at all. The weakling seemed to have become himself.
Throughout the entire battle, Raichu couldn't counterattack. Now it had taken two of the opponent's moves and was sprawled on the ground. The Surf move just now was no weaker in power than if a Water-type Pokémon of the same stage had used it.
What kind of monster is this?!
"Little boy, I admit I might have underestimated you a bit, but the gap between levels cannot be compensated for by some opportunistic tricks. I was careless just now, but are you ready to face defeat next?" Ma Zhishi clenched his fists, making a 'crack, crack' sound, and the expression on his face became serious.
It was clear that he seemed to be getting serious, and Raichu also stood up from the ground. Although the previous move caused some damage to him, the fat on his body was not just for show.
"Go, Raichu, let the opponent see your electric power, use Thunderbolt!"
"Rai—Rai—" Raichu, upon receiving the command, no longer suppressed the anger in his heart. He transformed his anger into a desire to attack, and the electricity within his body began to condense!
However, just as Thunderbolt filled his entire body, he suddenly felt his energy flow being blocked, and his whole body had a paralyzing sensation that prevented him from moving!
Paralyzed? Why would he, a dignified Electric-type Pokémon, feel paralyzed? Could it be that the Electric-type move just now caused him to feel paralyzed? Don't joke around! He's an Electric-type Pokémon!
"Paralyzed? Good opportunity, Pikachu, use Nasty Plot!" Ash originally wanted Pikachu to use Electric Acceleration to dodge, but upon seeing the opponent Raichu's movements, he instantly realized the opponent was paralyzed!
Torrential Surf, infusing electric energy into the waves. When it hits the opponent, there's a certain chance of causing paralysis!
This Water-type move, because it was infused with electric energy, could cause a paralyzing effect. Although Electric-type Pokémon can be immune to paralysis caused by Electric-type moves, Torrential Surf is a Water-type move!
The electric energy, enhanced by the water flow, ultimately caused a paralyzing effect on Raichu, and this time, it was lucky enough to trigger the immobility of paralysis, as could be seen from Raichu's struggling expression.
Therefore, Ash did not miss this good opportunity and directly had Pikachu power up!
Power-up moves are powerful means that can turn the tide of a battle and potentially directly sweep an opponent's team of Pokémon. So, Ash had previously purchased a Nasty Plot Technical Machine from the store.
Then, through verbal instruction, he first learned Nasty Plot himself, and then taught Pikachu how to use Nasty Plot.
It is said that in high-end shopping malls, there is an item that allows Pokémon to learn new moves in a very short time, called a Technical Machine.
If a Pokémon has the aptitude to learn that move, a Technical Machine can allow the Pokémon to learn the move within a day.
And Ash could also use Aura Fusion to teach the moves he knew to his Pokémon, and it was the kind that ignored learning conditions, as long as their tacit agreement allowed for Aura Fusion, he could teach them!
So, the current Ash is a human Technical Machine!
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu tilted its head, its thoughts flowing, and its body faintly emitted a golden light.
Nasty Plot was used, greatly increasing Special Attack!
"Go, use Electric Acceleration!"
"Pikachu Pika!!" Pikachu's figure instantly vanished from its original spot as before. The next second, it appeared in front of Raichu, then fiercely slammed into Raichu, who was still paralyzed!
"Rai Rai!" Raichu was once again sent tumbling across the ground. The main damage he received was the physical damage caused by Pikachu's sudden accelerated Tackle. The Electric-type damage attached to Electric Acceleration, on the other hand, didn't cause much significant harm to Raichu.
Moreover, Electric Acceleration's Tackle would also put Raichu in a knocked-over state. With this situation, plus Raichu's paralysis, Ash could then have Pikachu use that move that required a bit of time to execute.
"Press the advantage, Pikachu, use Torrential Surf!" Ash waved his hand, commanding again.
At this moment, Ma Zhishi's face was beyond ugly. Not only did he not touch Pikachu once throughout the entire battle, but he was also continuously suppressed by Pikachu unilaterally.
Damn it, are you the professional level or am I the professional level?!
Why is Raichu being suppressed when the levels are so far apart? Is this reasonable?
"Raichu, Protect!!" Ma Zhishi shouted this sentence with a cracking voice. He could only hope that Raichu could use Protect to block Pikachu's continuous attacks, and then counterattack when the opportunity arose.
If it continued to be attacked like this, no matter how tough Raichu was, it would still fall down!
Raichu struggled to get up from the ground, but the next second, a deep blue wave entered his vision. The rolling tide, carrying powerful gusts of wind and impact, rushed towards him. Raichu had a premonition that if he was hit by this, he would definitely be severely injured!
"Rai Rai!!" Raichu let out a mighty roar, and finally, a verdant green barrier appeared in front of him.
The surging tide crashed against the barrier but failed to break it.
Protect, one of the highest priority defensive moves. Even if paralyzed, as long as the paralysis doesn't trigger, the energy within the body will still form a barrier in front of him at the fastest speed.
The first time Protect failed, partly because Ma Zhishi shouted too slowly, and partly because Raichu was dazed by the water.
Who would have thought that his devolved form could use such a large-scale Water-type move? This was a move that even he couldn't use!
No… it should be said that it's impossible for the Pikachu Family to use such a move! The guy he's battling this time is definitely an anomaly!
However, by the time Raichu thought this and reacted, it was already too late. Not only was he hit by Torrential Surf, but he was also paralyzed by the electric energy contained within it.
Then, to make matters worse, the paralysis status was triggered, allowing Pikachu to use Nasty Plot to power itself up.
Now the situation had completely shifted to Pikachu's side. All he could do was use Protect at this moment to block the opponent's Surf, and then look for an opportunity to counterattack!
The surging tide slowly receded, and the barrier in front of Raichu also disappeared, but along with it, Pikachu's figure also vanished!
"Where is he?!" Ma Zhishi's eyes widened, but he didn't see Pikachu's figure after the waves.
When using Torrential Surf, Pikachu was riding the waves, but after the waves submerged Raichu, Pikachu's figure also disappeared into the waves.
Now the water flow had slowly disappeared, and only a small puddle of slowly receding water remained on the field, but Pikachu's figure was nowhere to be seen.
Wait… slowly receding water?
Ma Zhishi suddenly jolted, then his gaze focused on a spot in front of Raichu, and his face instantly changed dramatically!
"Raichu, jump up quickly!"
"Rai?" Raichu was puzzled, but still chose to obey Ma Zhishi's command. However, being paralyzed and already slow in movement, he had just made a jumping motion when a crack appeared in the ground beneath him!
"Bang!" Pikachu burst out of the ground!
Its small fist, imbued with Ground-type power, fiercely struck Raichu's chin.
Raichu was already about to jump upwards, and this punch also helped him successfully launch upwards!
Ma Zhishi's face was incredibly grim at this moment. Sure enough, just as he had guessed, Pikachu had burrowed underground!
Vermilion City Gym also had a fairly complete drainage system, but the water flow caused by Pikachu's two consecutive Surfs was simply too much. Therefore, for a short period, there was a shallow puddle of water across the entire battleground.
However, just now, that water flow began to recede in the middle of the field, and combined with Pikachu's disappearance, Ma Zhishi quickly realized: not on the field, not in the sky, then it must be underground!
But his reaction was still a beat too slow. In the end, Pikachu emerged from the ground and punched Raichu, causing massive damage!
That was Dig, a Ground-type move, which has a type advantage against Electric-types!
What kind of monster is this Pikachu? It knows too many moves!
Surf, Dig—are these non-native moves that easy to learn?
The only good news was that Pikachu used Nasty Plot just now, not a move that increases physical attack. If it had increased physical attack, Raichu would definitely be finished by now.
Is this really a Pikachu? Why does it know so many moves?
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!!" At this moment, Raichu was in mid-air, with no place to gain leverage. This Thunderbolt… was a guaranteed hit!
"Raichu, we'll use Thunderbolt too!" Ma Zhishi reacted even faster this time. He directly had Raichu use the same move to clash head-on with Pikachu!
Under the influence of paralysis, Raichu's Thunderbolt came out a little later. Two golden electric flashes collided in the air, and for a moment, electricity shot in all directions. Waves of shock scattered, completely blowing away all the remaining water on the ground!
Xiao Xia and Xiao Gang used their hands to block the scattered water droplets in front of them, their eyes fixed on the two Electric-type Pokémon colliding on the field.
A professional-level Pokémon and an advanced-level Pokémon using the same move to clash, with the former even being the latter's evolution. Logically speaking, the former's move should be able to overwhelm the latter. Even with Nasty Plot, Pikachu's electric power should be no match for Raichu's, but now the two sides are in a stalemate!
This is Ash, this is Ash's Pikachu!
The two sides were in a stalemate on the field, but slowly, Pikachu's electric glow gradually suppressed Raichu's electric glow.
Ma Zhishi's pupils constricted, his eyes filled with disbelief: "How is this possible!! Why?!"
When completely dominating the opponent in terms of level and form, using the same move but being suppressed by the opponent in return—is there any justice in this world? Is there any law? This is truly insane!!
"Press him down, Pikachu!" At Ash's loud shout, Pikachu's Thunderbolt became even more dazzling. Raichu, who was barely able to resist, finally couldn't hold on. Thunderbolt was scattered by Pikachu, and he himself was hit by Thunderbolt in mid-air, emitting a dazzling golden light all over his body, while also letting out a scream.
A moment later, Pikachu stopped Thunderbolt, and Raichu fell heavily to the ground from the air, lying motionless.
Although Electric-type moves had a weak effect on Raichu, this was Thunderbolt enhanced by Nasty Plot. Furthermore, Raichu had previously been hit by two Electric Accelerations and one Torrential Surf, plus the last Dig. With all the damage stacked up, it would be a miracle if Raichu could still stand up.