The energy transformed into a small sun hanging above the Gym, and the entire arena brightened once again.
"Reflect, Light Screen!" Besides the weather, the skill that could aid the next Pokemon was the Double Wall.
The Double Wall wouldn't disappear when the Pokemon left the field; it would protect all allied Pokemon on the field until time ran out.
After Gardevoir set up the two walls, it was out of strength. Ash took out a Pokeball, retrieving Gardevoir: "You did great, little... No, you're no longer the little one, but a mature and charming lady now. Thanks, Gardevoir."
Ash placed the Pokeball at his waist, then took out the next Pokeball.
"The second one... it's decided, Charmeleon!!"
"Roar!!"
With a flash of light, the mighty Charmeleon appeared on the field, letting out a deafening roar.
Ash's second Pokemon, besides Pikachu and Gardevoir, was his strongest—Charmeleon!
Upon seeing Charmeleon, Erika had a 'just as expected' expression; of course, the second Pokemon was of the Fire Type.
As for its strength, it's hard to tell since there hasn't been a battle yet, but it presumably isn't too high.
After all, a Pokemon's form often represents its strength. This Charmeleon hasn't even reached its final form; how strong could it be?
In the world, Pokemon that enhance strength without evolving are generally a minority, unless they require an Evolution Stone to evolve.
"Is this one of your trump cards?"
"No... this is my real trump card!" Ash said as a brilliant blue light emerged from his body, linking him to Charmeleon with a mysterious force—Aura Fusion!
With their current bond, Charmeleon could already accept more power, and due to the Assault Vest and Rainbow Wing, its physical strength far exceeded its actual level.
Adding everything together, Charmeleon's actual strength should match that of the Elite Advanced Level, almost a whole tier higher!
A move Ash could call his trump card, of course, wouldn't be simple.
Though there's still a gap between Charmeleon and Venusaur, this gap is definitely not insurmountable.
Even with Charmeleon's enhanced physique, it couldn't maintain this state for too long, as it was an overload of increasing power.
Not only are they facing a strong opponent now, but they're also racing against time. All these adverse factors only fired up Charmeleon's fighting spirit.
The blue glow on Ash's body caught Erika's attention, but she didn't know what it was. The only information she could gather was that after the blue glow appeared on Ash, Charmeleon's aura seemed to grow even stronger.
Is this how a Trainer enhances their Pokemon?
Rumor had it that Ash was a Special Ability User no less powerful than Sabrina, and this rumor seemed true... Incredible, a Trainer debuting for only a month, how could he be this strong? This is wild!
"Seems like something's different; let's see what your Charmeleon is capable of, Venusaur, Vine Whip!"
Four thick vines extended from Venusaur, swinging toward Charmeleon.
Ash closed his eyes slowly as Aura's power spread from Charmeleon to the surroundings.
Charmeleon instantly sensed the situation, visualizing the opponent's attack trajectory in his mind without even opening his eyes.
This wasn't their first time using Aura Fusion, but it was the first use in battle, typically only practiced to check the extent of strength augmentation.
For the first time, Charmeleon felt the magic of Aura Fusion, seeing the opponent's attack in his mind, moving as if in slow motion.
What should have been vines as swift as a hurricane now seemed ten times slower.
Charmeleon charged out, weaving agilely on the field, dodging all the vines with precision.
Erika was stunned, confusion on her pretty face.
This level... Advanced Peak? But those moves don't look like an Advanced Level, more like at least Elite Intermediate and above. Can power and level really differ so much?
During Erika's moment of shock, Charmeleon had already closed in on Venusaur, but right then, two more vines extended from Venusaur!
This Venusaur could actually use six vines at once, hiding its true power at the start!
Faced with the surprise attack, Erika thought it would definitely hit, but Charmeleon leaned back, body almost glued to the ground, dodging the vines at close range.
"What kind of reaction speed is this?!"
"Fire Punch!"
While Erika was in shock, Ash counterattacked!
Charmeleon, almost lying flat against the ground, clenched his claw, with scorching flames on his fist, then struck fiercely upward!
Bang!
Fire Punch sliced through the two flying vines, with remaining flames burning along the vines toward Venusaur.
"Use Razor Leaf to sever the vines!" Seeing this, Erika had no time to dwell on Charmeleon's reaction speed and incredible flexibility, quickly commanding Venusaur to use Razor Leaf to slice the burning vines.
Two sharp blades whirled out, instantly slicing the flames, but at that moment, Charmeleon had already approached Venusaur.
"Fire Punch."
Once again wielding a blazing fist, Charmeleon struck Venusaur's head, with devastating effectiveness!
Bang!!
The giant Venusaur was knocked back several meters, its heels touching the barrier behind.
Erika's expression turned serious, discarding any trace of underestimation.
This Charmeleon's level isn't high, and its form isn't the final form, but its strength is shockingly ferocious!
"Venusaur, Energy Ball!"
Venusaur, enduring the pain in its head, started forming an Energy Ball in front of it. In an instant, a verdant Energy Ball formed and hurled at Charmeleon.
Under the bask of Sunny Day, Venusaur's move execution doubled in speed, and plus its higher level compared to Charmeleon, theoretically, this move would've been unavoidable.
Yet Charmeleon somehow sidestepped as if seeing the future, narrowly dodging the Energy Ball.
The Energy Ball struck the ground behind Charmeleon, blasting a huge hole.
Erika's eyes widened in disbelief that it could be dodged. That was some kind of cheat!
"Fire Punch!"
"Is Fire Punch the only move you know?!!"
Upon hearing "Fire Punch" yet again, Erika couldn't hold it in anymore.
Fire Punch, Fire Punch, and more Fire Punch!
Since Charmeleon appeared, it had used no move other than Fire Punch.
What's more astonishing is Charmeleon's dodges seemed beyond a normal Pokemon's capability, as though predicting and narrowly dodging every single attack from Venusaur.
This left Venusaur unable to unleash its full power, creating even more frustration than before!
This was the primary reason Erika felt overrun.
Charmeleon had reached Venusaur again, with its fiery fist once more striking toward Venusaur's head.
"I don't believe this... Venusaur, brace for it and use Solar Beam!"
Bang!
Once again, Fire Punch landed on the same spot on Venusaur's head; the fiery force surged through its whole body, causing unbearable pain, yet it endured, with energy rapidly gathering in its flower bud.
In the glow of Sunny Day, Solar Beam instantly charged, aimed point-blank at Charmeleon, and burst forth!