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Erika's temper was actually quite good, but Ash's fighting style truly disgusted her as an experienced Gym Leader.
That's right, it was disgust. Erika couldn't think of any other word to describe that fighting style besides 'disgusting'.
Hypnosis, Dream Eater, Skill Swap, Teleport... these moves were one more sickening than the last, making Erika feel like she had strength but nowhere to use it.
The final loss was incredibly frustrating!
Erika wanted to fully unleash the pent-up frustration in this third round, so she chose to use one of her main Pokémon, Venusaur!
This Venusaur was the weakest of her main Pokémon, but it was still Professional Level, early stage.
The gap between Professional Level and Elite Level was not small. The reason Ash was able to defeat Raichu with an Elite Level Pikachu back then was, on one hand, because Pikachu's Partner Form boost was simply too exaggerated, and those Partner moves were one more broken than the last.
On the other hand, Lt Surge's Raichu was poorly trained, with all its stats being bottom-tier.
But Erika's Venusaur was different. Ash glanced at its data, and it was basically all B-rank. Although it didn't have A-rank stats, B-rank stats were already very good for a Pokémon.
E-rank meant it was either poorly trained or not trained at all, D-rank was considered relatively poor, C-rank was normal, and B-rank was already considered excellent.
As for A-rank, just the potential alone would block a large number of Pokémon, and the effort put into raising a Pokémon to A-rank, as well as the meticulousness required, was much harder than B-rank. Don't think that because Ash has so many Pokémon with A-rank stats, this level is easy to achieve.
In reality, people who can train a Pokémon's stats to A-rank are few and far between. It is precisely because of this that Pokémon with A-rank stats possess the ability to fight above their level.
For example, Kirlia, whose overall stats are close to S-rank, can even bridge the gap between tiers, fighting an Advanced Peak Pokémon and an Elite Mid-level Pokémon to a draw, and eventually winning.
So B-rank is already the highest-tier same-level stat that ordinary Pokémon can achieve, which also proves how well Erika's Venusaur has been trained.
This was not an opponent Ash could easily defeat by fighting above his level!
So when Ash saw Venusaur, he was completely dismayed. Isn't this bullying a newcomer?! Don't you believe I'll call Gengar over?!
"Why aren't you saying anything? I can let you have three moves first, you know~ Don't say I'm bullying you." Erika was also afraid of scaring Ash away directly, and besides, she was the one who broke her word first. Even if she gave Ash the Gym Badge regardless of the outcome, such behavior was still a bit unethical.
After all, Ash wasn't without Pokémon that could contend with her. If she had said in advance that she would use Professional Level Pokémon to battle Ash, Ash would probably have had Gengar ready in his team at any time.
So this time, for both emotional and logical reasons, she was in the wrong. She also made a concession, offering to let Ash make three moves first before she took action.
Ash took a deep breath and nodded: "It's a deal. You let me have three moves, and I won't ask you for the badge if you win. We'll just count it as a normal win or loss. If I lose, I'll challenge you again next time."
Giving a Gym Badge directly, the old Ash might have accepted, but the current him would not.
If you win, you win. If you lose, you lose. There is no such thing as fairness in the world. Others have been traveling, training, and training Pokémon longer than you, and are stronger than you. Why can't they use their main Pokémon?
Suppressing a Pokémon's strength to the same level as the challenger is the greatest unfairness to a Gym Leader.
So Ash also stated directly that if he won, he would take the badge. If he lost, then he lost, and he would challenge again next time, rather than agreeing to accept the badge from the opponent.
As for the three moves the opponent was giving... that could only be said that the opponent broke the agreement first. After all, they agreed to fight at Elite difficulty, but then it was temporarily changed to Professional Level. So what's wrong with giving three moves?
Hearing this, Erika was also a little surprised. She didn't expect Ash to be so unyielding, not even wanting a free badge.
After all, most people who challenge a Gym do it for the badge, but Ash seemed to not just be after the badge.
"Alright, let's begin. I promise I won't retaliate."
"Bana!" Venusaur stomped the ground and provoked the already shaky Gardevoir on the field.
Gardevoir looked up at Venusaur but didn't respond. It was already difficult for her to just stand, but since Ash hadn't recalled her, it meant Ash still had some strategy.
"Gardevoir, can you still hold on?"
"Sana..." Gardevoir nodded.
"Then I'll ask you one last time, use Sunny Day!"
Erika's expression froze. This Gardevoir knew too many moves, even Sunny Day?
Not actively using Sunny Day against Venusaur meant that Ash intended to use a Fire-type Pokémon next, as Sunny Day genuinely boosts Fire-type damage.
However, her Venusaur's ability was the hidden ability Chlorophyll, which meant Sunny Day would boost Venusaur just as much. This was not only setting the stage for Ash's Pokémon but also for Venusaur.
"Sana!" Gardevoir squeezed the last bit of strength from her body, condensing it into a small sun, and then tossed it into the sky.
The energy-formed small sun hung above the Gym, and the entire field became bright again.
"Reflect, Light Screen!" Besides the weather, the other moves that could benefit the next Pokémon were the dual screens.
The dual screens would not disappear when the Pokémon left the field; they would protect all allied Pokémon on the field until their duration ended.
After Gardevoir put up two screens, she had no strength left. Ash took out a Poké Ball and recalled Gardevoir: "Thank you for your hard work, little one... No, you're not a little one anymore. You've grown into a mature and charming female Pokémon. Thanks, Gardevoir."
Ash placed the Poké Ball on his waist, then took out the next Poké Ball.
"For the second one... I choose you, Charmeleon!"
"Roar!!"
With a flash of light, the magnificent Charmeleon appeared on the field, letting out a deafening roar.
Ash's second Pokémon, and currently his strongest Pokémon besides Pikachu and Gardevoir, Charmeleon!
Upon seeing Charmeleon, Erika's face showed an 'as expected' expression. The second Pokémon was, as anticipated, a Fire-type.
As for its strength, she couldn't tell yet because they hadn't battled, but she presumed it wouldn't be very high.
After all, a Pokémon's form often represents its strength. This Charmeleon hasn't even reached its final form, so how strong could it be?
Pokémon that only increase their strength without evolving are generally a minority among minorities, unless they are those that require an ite to evolve.
"Is this one of your trump cards?"
"No... This is my true trump card!" Ash said, a deep blue light appearing on his body. A strange power linked him and Charmeleon together—Aura Fusion!
With Charmeleon's current level of bond with him, the former could already accept more power, and due to the weight vest and the rainbow wing, Charmeleon's physical stats were much stronger than its actual level.
With both combined, Charmeleon's actual strength should be comparable to Elite High-level, almost a full tier increase!
A move that Ash called a trump card certainly wouldn't be simple.
Although there was still a gap between the current Charmeleon and Venusaur, this gap was definitely not insurmountable.
However, even with Charmeleon's physical stats, it couldn't sustain this state for too long, as this was an overloaded increase in its own power.
Now they were not only facing a strong enemy but also racing against time. The accumulation of various unfavorable factors, however, ignited a burning flame of fighting spirit in Charmeleon.
The blue light on Ash's body was noticed by Erika, but she didn't know what it was. The only information she had was that after the blue light appeared on Ash, Charmeleon's Aura seemed to become stronger.
Is this a Trainer's boosting method for Pokémon?
Rumor had it that Ash was a special ability user no less capable than Sabrina. It seemed this rumor was also true... What the hell, how could a Trainer who debuted just over a month ago be this strong? It's completely outrageous!
"It looks a bit different. Let me see what kind of strength your Charmeleon truly possesses. Venusaur, Vine Whip!"
Four thick Vine Whips extended from Venusaur's body and lashed out towards Charmeleon.
Ash slowly closed his eyes, and the power of Aura extended from Charmeleon's body to its surroundings.
Charmeleon instantly felt that even without looking, the opponent's attack trajectory would appear in its mind.
This wasn't their first time using Aura Fusion, but it was their first time using it in battle. Normally, they would only practice it to see how much their strength could be boosted.
So Charmeleon was experiencing the magic of Aura Fusion for the first time. Not only did the opponent's attacks appear in its mind, but they also seemed to be in slow motion.
The Vine Whips, which were originally as swift as a gale, now seemed to have their speed slowed down tenfold.
Charmeleon charged out fiercely, its figure darting and weaving across the field, dodging all the Vine Whips with its agile movements.
This scene made Erika freeze, a bewildered expression on her pretty face.
This level... Advanced Peak? But these movements don't look like Advanced Level at all; at least Elite Mid-level or higher. What is this, can battle power and level differ so much?
While Erika was stunned, Charmeleon had already reached Venusaur's front. However, at this moment, two more Vine Whips extended from Venusaur's body!
This Venusaur could use six Vine Whips at once, and it had been holding back at first!
Facing this unexpected attack, Erika initially thought it would definitely hit, but Charmeleon arched backward, its body almost touching the ground, dodging the Vine Whip at extremely close range.
"What kind of reaction speed is that?!"
"Fire Punch!"
Erika was shocked, and Ash was counterattacking!
Charmeleon, with its body arched almost parallel to the ground, clenched its claws. Searing flames burned on its fist, then it slammed upwards fiercely!
"Bang!"
Fire Punch directly severed the two incoming Vine Whips, and the remaining flames traveled along the Vine Whips, scorching towards Venusaur.
"Use Razor Leaf to cut the Vine Whips!" Upon seeing this, Erika had no time to marvel at Charmeleon's reaction speed and astonishing flexibility. She quickly had Venusaur use Razor Leaf to cut off the burning Vine Whips.
Two sharp leaves spun out, instantly severing the flames, but at the same time, Charmeleon had already closed in on Venusaur.
"Fire Punch."
It was still a flame-burning punch, fiercely striking Venusaur's head. This punch—was super effective!
"Bang!!"
The massive Venusaur was directly knocked back more than ten meters, its heels already touching the barrier.
Erika's expression became solemn, and there was no longer any hint of underestimation in her heart.
This Charmeleon's level wasn't high, and its form wasn't its final form, but its strength was unbelievably fierce!
"Venusaur, use Energy Ball!"
Venusaur endured the pain in its head and began to condense an Energy Ball in front of it. In an instant, a vibrant green Energy Ball formed before it, then fiercely blasted towards Charmeleon.
Under the boost of Sunny Day, Venusaur's attack speed was twice as fast as usual, and coupled with its much higher level than Charmeleon, theoretically, this move should be impossible to dodge.
However, Charmeleon, with foresight, sidestepped to the side, dodging the Energy Ball by a hair's breadth.
The Energy Ball hit the ground behind it, blasting a large hole in the ground.
Erika's beautiful eyes almost popped out. It could dodge even that? He must be cheating!
"Fire Punch!"
"Don't you know any other moves besides Fire Punch?!"
Hearing the words "Fire Punch" again, Erika finally couldn't hold back.
Fire Punch, Fire Punch, still Fire Punch!
Since Charmeleon entered the battle, it hadn't used any move other than Fire Punch.
And most importantly, Charmeleon's dodging movements were simply not like a normal Pokémon. It seemed to have a premonition of all attacks, always dodging Venusaur's attacks by a hair's breadth.
This made Venusaur unable to exert its full strength at all, making the fight even more frustrating than before!
This was the main reason Erika lost her composure.
Charmeleon had now reached Venusaur's front, and its flame-burning fist once again slammed into Venusaur's head.
"I don't believe it... Venusaur, endure it and use Solar Beam!"
"Bang!"
Fire Punch once again hit Venusaur in the same spot on its head. The power of the flames spread throughout Venusaur's body, causing intense pain, but it still endured it, and energy rapidly accumulated in the flower on its back.
Under the shining of Sunny Day, Solar Beam completed its charging in an instant, then aimed at Charmeleon at point-blank range and burst forth fiercely!!!