If Pikachu is delayed again with that skill Arbok used to build up power just now, it can only fall in battle due to lack of physical strength.
Therefore, it must be settled in one move with the most powerful attack.
"Deciding the winner? It seems your Pikachu can't hold on any longer," Koga said, his vigilance already heightened.
Pikachu might concentrate all its power into this one move; if he can block it, then he wins. If not, well, there's no more to say.
In theory, as long as he defends now, regardless of what move the opponent uses, he can win as long as he protects himself.
But he is an Elite!
Even as a substitute, he's still an Elite!
Facing a newbie Trainer who debuted two months ago, and even using a Pokemon at the mid-Elite level, relying on defense to win would disgrace him, even in victory!
Now that this is being broadcast live to the whole league, he absolutely can't take on a defensive posture.
Since the opponent will put all their power into the next move, he must do the same.
He doesn't believe that Arbok will lose to Pikachu in a head-to-head attack!
"Pikachu, Pika Papow!!" Ash commanded with a sweep of his hand, issuing Pikachu's final move.
Pika Papow? Koga was momentarily stunned when he heard the name of this move.
After Zippy Zap and the move called Floaty Fall, there's another four-character move name. These are names he hasn't heard before... Could Ash have created all these moves himself?
The first two moves increased Pikachu's speed to the maximum, and the power seems unusual. Even after Arbok increased its defense, it was still heavily impacted, as if Pikachu ignored Arbok's boosted defense.
The latter move allowed Pikachu to float briefly in the air and change direction, effectively allowing it to fly.
So what is the effect of this move?
Countless thoughts whirled in Koga's mind, but in less than a second, he directly commanded, "Arbok, use Gunk Shot!"
No matter what move the opponent is using, just use the most powerful move and clash head-to-head with them!
Even if it's a move like Zippy Zap that boosts speed, if the opponent dares to charge, Koga is tenfold confident that Gunk Shot will hit.
Do you really think having speed and quick reflexes lets you do as you please?
As for conventional move collisions, his Arbok is even less worried; mid-Elite versus Professional Junior Level, I'm supposed to avoid his edge? That's a joke!
Pikachu erupted with dazzling golden lightning, electric lances shooting toward the sky. The sky was also covered by a defensive barrier, but under Pikachu's lightning eruption, the barrier seemed as flimsy as paper, shattered instantly!
Lightning struck the sky, and the next instant, dark clouds filled the sky, with flashes of golden lightning flickering within.
Koga squinted his eyes; this move is quite similar to the Electric Type ultimate move Thunder, seemingly using its own lightning to harness the power of the heavens for a bolt strike.
No wonder it's said to determine the winner; it seems very powerful indeed, but so what?
Arbok opened its gaping mouth, and the purple gleam inside became so intense it was almost black!
"Go, Arbok, finish it!" Koga ordered coldly, and Arbok released the toxin power accumulated to the limit in that instant!
The black, sludge-like toxic power shot out forcefully, targeting Pikachu on the ground.
"Pika—chu!!" Pikachu leaped fiercely into the air, and with its shout, a golden thunderbolt crashed down from the sky!
The target of the lightning was not Arbok, but Pikachu!
"Crash!" The golden thunderbolt struck Pikachu, filling it with a dense electric force. At this moment, Ash clenched his fist, his gaze becoming razor-sharp, his spirit and Pikachu's completely aligned.
Must win! Absolutely must win!
The desire to win peaked, and Pika Papow's power on Pikachu reached an extreme!
Golden lightning with a hint of black erupted from Pikachu!
A thick thunderbolt and the gunk shot collided mid-air!
"Boom!!"
As soon as the moves collided, a terrifying force erupted from the center of the arena, instantly covering the surrounding barrier with countless cracks!
Koga widened his eyes, his face filled with disbelief.
This barrier can even block attacks at the Gym Peak, and now it was cracked all over just by the aftershock of the first collision!
It's known that the shockwaves from move collisions don't just occur once; if there's another collision...
"Thud!"
"Crack!!"
The shockwave expanded again, impacting the surrounding barrier, producing a clear sound as it shattered completely under everyone's watch!
The staff, Aya, Misty, and Brock were momentarily stunned, then turned to run without hesitation.
With no barrier to hold it back, the Gym might just be demolished!
"Bang!"
The shockwave expanded a third time but didn't impact the Gym and Misty or anyone else. Instead, a blue barrier blocked it.
Koga was momentarily stunned, quickly looking at Ash's position, only to find that Ash's eyes were fixed on the site of their attack clash, completely unaware of his surroundings.
'Wasn't that Ash? Then who?'
On the other side, Misty and Brock, who had only run halfway, turned back and saw a brand new barrier, knowing Ash's power, they realized it must have been Ash's work.
But Ash now seemed very focused on dealing with the battle; how could he be distracted to create a barrier to protect people around him?
At the moment, the clash on the field grew more intense! Black-golden thunder and the dark gunk shot remained at a stalemate, each side pushing and retreating, whoever relented first would lose.
'Don't lose to him Pikachu, trust the bond between us. The strength of Pika Papow depends on our emotions, so theoretically this move's power can be infinite, because there's no limit to our bond, overwhelm him!!'
"Pika… Pikachu!!!"
Ash's shout echoed in Pikachu's heart, and Pikachu's expression, already at its limit, focused sharply, then with a shout, new power erupted again!
The black-golden thunder, unstoppable, shattered the dark energy competing against it, and under Arbok's horrified snake eyes, the lightning completely engulfed Arbok!
Lightning struck skyward from Arbok's position, piercing right through the sky!
Several seconds later, the lightning dispersed from the field, Pikachu fell weakly to the ground from mid-air.
On the opposite side, Arbok had turned completely black all over, just like a piece of charred coal, looking ten times worse than Pikachu's state!
All the spectators, including those watching the broadcast, looked dumbfounded.
Again... won?
Newbie Trainer defeated an Elite substitute's Pokemon again? And it's even their main Pokemon!
This really isn't just acting or throwing the fight?
But who could act to this degree? Even if it was acting, it's become real, that last clash had no holding back, both sides had unleashed far beyond their limits, all for the victory in this battle.
Pikachu ultimately held the edge, though now it's also too weak to move easily, compared to the charred thing opposite, its condition is much better.
Most importantly, Pikachu hasn't lost consciousness, which means it hasn't lost battle capability, so the victory of this second round belongs to Pikachu.