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The evolved Infernape had a perpetually burning flame on its head. Its body was primarily reddish-brown, with white fur on its head, chest, calves, and feet, and golden, swirling scales on its shoulders, chest, back of its hands, and knees, giving it an incredibly majestic appearance.
Compared to Monferno's appearance, Infernape was less mischievous and more composed, with a stronger physique.
After evolving, all traces of burns on Monferno's body had disappeared. While this didn't mean all the damage caused by Magmortar earlier was gone, it was certain that Infernape's condition was much better than before.
Moreover, the intense flames that had constantly erupted from Monferno's body were now invisible on Infernape. The audience could only see the flame on Infernape's head, flowing like long hair.
This was not because Infernape's Super Blazefire Ability had disappeared, but because the flame had transformed into the power for its evolution, completely integrating into its body and remaining hidden.
Previously, the flames on Monferno looked mighty, but they would rapidly drain Monferno's stamina. Even activating Blaze Ability at fifty percent stamina was absolutely fatal for Monferno.
Now that it had evolved into Infernape, the power of Blaze Ability still existed, but Infernape had fully reabsorbed it into its body, only to burst forth when needed. This would greatly reduce the power Infernape needed to expend.
Compared to its pre-evolution state, Infernape's energy control had significantly improved, coupled with a leap in its own strength, advancing from Superior Junior to Superior Senior, directly elevating two stages.
Coupled with Ash's Aura and its own Super Blazefire Ability, Infernape finally had some capital to go head-to-head with Magmortar!
"It evolved? So what? That meager stamina gained from evolution will be depleted in the blink of an eye. Your defeat remains unchanged."
Monferno's evolution surprised Paul slightly.
Evolving in desperate situations, achieving breakthroughs against impossible odds, seemed to be Ash's signature move, and Chimchar was always the protagonist.
However, the current situation was different from the previous one. Chimchar had evolved into Monferno with ample stamina before, which was why it won that battle.
But now, even if Infernape recovered a bit of stamina due to evolution, it was still just that. What's the difference between falling after one hit and falling after two hits?
The outcome would not change due to Monferno's evolution.
"Magmortar, Fire Blast." Paul changed his attack strategy, choosing to use the powerful Fire-type move, Fire Blast. This was a special attack move, with slightly less power than Flare Blitz, and slower release and attack speed.
However, the advantage was that it had no side effects. Flare Blitz was a move that harmed the enemy by a thousand and oneself by three hundred, while Fire Blast did not have such a drawback.
Magmortar aimed its two cannons at Infernape, and intense flames accumulated within the barrels. The next second, an unparalleled blaze erupted from the cannons, the flames from both barrels combining to form a single, massive inferno.
The flame formed the character 'big' (big) and pressed down fiercely towards Infernape.
"Infernape... Flare Blitz!"
"What?!" Ash's command once again surprised and shocked Paul.
With Infernape's current stamina, using Flare Blitz was no different from courting death!
Even if this Flare Blitz hit Magmortar and caused damage, it would absolutely not defeat Magmortar. On the contrary, Infernape itself would suffer recoil damage from Flare Blitz, ultimately leading to the complete loss of its remaining stamina.
So, for Infernape, this was a situation where, regardless of success, it would lose its ability to battle.
But in reality, this approach was indeed the most suitable for the current situation. Infernape had very little stamina left, so it might as well use its strongest move for a final gamble. Even if it lost its ability to battle, it could still inflict considerable damage on the opponent.
For Infernape's current state, it was definitely the way to maximize its stamina utilization, but this method... didn't suit Ash.
If Paul were to make such a choice, it would be perfectly normal. Squeezing out every last bit of value from a Pokémon to prepare for the next battle, that was Paul's battle style.
As for the Pokémon's feelings or thoughts, those weren't important; only victory mattered. If they lost, everything would be over. Therefore, Paul was someone who would use any means necessary within the rules.
Ash, however, was the complete opposite of Paul. Even if he knew a method was the best, if it would cause harm to a Pokémon or hurt its feelings, Ash would not do it.
Having Infernape, whose stamina had dropped to rock bottom and had considerable injuries, use Flare Blitz simply didn't align with Ash's style, which was why Paul was so surprised.
But no matter what, Ash's command had been given. Infernape's body quickly began to burn with intense flames, covering its entire body in a very short time, and the flames also changed from crimson to azure.
Azure flames!
"Blue flames? This is a color change that can only occur when the flame's temperature reaches an extremely high level! Ash's Infernape's strength has actually improved to this extent after evolving?! However, Flare Blitz is a move that harms the enemy by a thousand and oneself by three hundred. Even if Infernape hits the opponent, can it withstand the recoil damage from Flare Blitz?!"
Infernape's unexpected evolution caused the Commentator to momentarily freeze, but his professional demeanor quickly brought him back to continue his commentary.
Although Infernape's evolution was very surprising, his view was the same as Paul's: evolution alone couldn't completely turn the tide of the battle. Not to mention Infernape using a move like Flare Blitz; after using it, Magmortar wouldn't even need to attack, Infernape would already have collapsed.
The scorching flames, in the shape of a large character, pressed down on Infernape. Infernape, burning with azure flames all over its body, stomped its foot fiercely, and its body shot up like a launched firework.
Although Fire Blast was already very fast, Infernape's movements, boosted by Flare Blitz, were clearly faster. Fire Blast almost grazed Infernape's toes.
After dodging Fire Blast, Infernape placed its hands on its waist in mid-air, its body charging down like an exploding cannonball. The azure flames dragged a dazzling tail through the air, and in the blink of an eye, Infernape arrived in front of Magmortar.
"Use Fire Punch!" Even if Infernape was one hundred percent unlikely to withstand the recoil damage from Flare Blitz, Paul couldn't just stand by and watch Magmortar get hit by the opponent's Flare Blitz.
The opponent falling was their business, but if Magmortar lost a lot of stamina because of this, then he would be the one at a disadvantage.
Crimson flames burned on Magmortar's cannons; rather than Fire Punch, it was more like Fire Cannon.
Infernape's body plunged down like a meteor, and Magmortar's fist met it.
"Boom!"
Amidst the deafening explosion, crimson and azure flames instantly collided and merged, transforming into a sweeping storm of heat that engulfed the entire arena. The surging heat wave, like an invisible giant hand, instantly slapped towards the audience seats.
Even with a barrier blocking the spreading shockwave, the audience in the front rows could still vaguely feel a warmth transmitting through the protective shield.
In the arena, the flame shockwave exploded from the point of impact, and the ground cracked in response, with fine lines spreading like a spiderweb. The air was filled with a choking smell of charring, and thick smoke unfolded in the center of the arena.
Paul's face remained as calm as a placid sea, as if the match on the field had nothing to do with him. Unless something particularly shocked him, Paul usually maintained a poker face.
On the other side, Ash clenched his fists, a hint of pain on his face.
The dust in the arena slowly dissipated. Magmortar still maintained a punching posture, while Infernape had already passed through Magmortar and was behind it. The flames burning on its body had disappeared, and there were still some electrical currents flowing around its body.
That was the damage caused by the recoil effect of Flare Blitz, manifesting as electrical currents.
"Thud!" Infernape knelt on the ground, then leaned forward and completely fell, seemingly having lost its ability to battle. Magmortar, with a cold expression, turned around, as if the Flare Blitz just now had caused it no harm.
"Still couldn't do it... The strength gap between them is ultimately too large. If Infernape had another month..." Brock sighed, his words tinged with regret for Ash.
Ash had always been a player who created miracles, but this time, miracles didn't seem to be on Ash's side. When Monferno evolved into Infernape, even knowing it was a lost cause, many still felt that Ash might create another miracle, including Brock and the others.
After all, Ash had created miracles more than once or twice.
But with Infernape's fall, it also proved that Ash's myth of creating miracles ended here. Of course, this doesn't negate the brilliant performance of Ash and Infernape in this match, but everyone was still a little disappointed, because he was Ash!
"Infernape has lost the bat—"
"Hoo..." Just as the referee was about to announce the result, a faint sound echoed from the arena. This time, even Paul, who was usually as calm as an ancient well, changed his expression.
It took a Fire Punch, plus the recoil damage from Flare Blitz, and it can still stand up? What a joke?!
"That's right, this little difficulty can't defeat us! As long as we have the will to fight, we won't fall here! Stand up, Infernape!" Ash's hunched body suddenly straightened and he shouted loudly.
Infernape pushed itself up with its hands on the floor, slowly standing up. Finally, it stood on two feet, its determined eyes fixed on Magmortar. In its gaze, the words 'unwilling to lose' were clearly written.
He stood up!
Perhaps because the outcome was too shocking, Paul and Magmortar didn't take the opportunity to attack Infernape for a moment. Magmortar's eyes were also filled with disbelief.
He seemed to vaguely understand why Paul had expectations for Chimchar. Leaving aside power and talent, in terms of willpower, Infernape was almost unmatched.
With this willpower, Infernape could succeed in anything, it was just a matter of time. At least if the situation were reversed, Magmortar believed he could not stand up again like Infernape.
"Whoa oh oh oh oh!" As Infernape stood up, deafening cheers erupted throughout the arena, but Brock and the others' expressions still weren't good, because even if Infernape stood up, the situation hadn't changed due to its rising.
Infernape's stamina was still at the level of a candle in the wind, even worse than before. It was truly a candle in the wind, a state where it felt like a single breath could make it fall.
Now, Ash's only choice seemed to be to recall Infernape to prevent it from losing its ability to battle.
If Infernape rested in its Poké Ball, it might recover some battle capability and have a chance to appear later.
But would Ash and Infernape be willing?
This battle was not only Infernape's fight to prove itself, but also a showdown between his and Paul's main Fire-type Pokémon. Betting on the dignity of Fire-type Pokémon, Infernape would certainly not back down.
As expected, just as Brock and the others had guessed, neither Ash nor Infernape had any intention of retreating.
Infernape's eyes revealed a fiery gaze completely contrary to its physical condition; it didn't think it would lose.
"That's the spirit, Infernape! Use Flare Blitz again!" Ash's face lit up with joy, and then he chose to have Infernape use Flare Blitz again!
Now, let alone Paul, even the Elite Four were completely bewildered. In Infernape's condition, let alone Flare Blitz, whether it could even use Ember was a question. The recoil damage from Flare Blitz didn't even need to be discussed, because the premise of enduring recoil damage was being able to use Flare Blitz!
With your stamina, why are you using Flare Blitz? Because you're loud?
"Boom!" Blazing flames burned on Infernape, and azure flames rose, making the entire arena fall silent.
You actually used it!
No, are you really a candle in the wind state?!