The white light on Voltorb's body was growing stronger, a clear sign that Explosion was about to be unleashed.
A close-range explosion of Voltorb could still be partially blocked by Pikachu's current strength at the last moment.
But if the remaining Voltorbs gathered around them and exploded simultaneously, the power would definitely be more than just the sum of a few explosions.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt, blast these Voltorbs away!"
"Pika!"
Golden electric light erupted from Pikachu's cheeks, with thunderous energy bursting out and splitting into powerful currents in mid-air, directly hitting the Voltorbs rolling towards them.
Crackle—!!
The Thunderbolt hit several of the front Voltorbs, the massive energy impact preventing any further approach as the spherical bodies were forcibly sent flying.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One by one, golden currents fell; the original advancing Voltorbs rapidly decreased. However, there were still five that closed in, their bodies almost reaching the limit of brightness.
Ash quickly judged that Thunderbolt couldn't disperse the remaining Voltorbs individually in time.
"Pikachu, use electric net for defense!"
"Pika! Pika Pika Chu!"
Golden current quickly gathered at Pikachu's tail tip, which it sharply flung forward as its body spun.
Crackle!!
The golden lightning rapidly spread into a vast electric net in mid-air, encompassing the remaining five Voltorbs now close up.
In the next instant, the white light on all of the Voltorbs burst fully.
Boom—!!!
Several explosions simultaneously erupted into a massive fireball!!
The violent shockwave threw the electric net and surrounding rubble outward, causing the Moonview Arena nearby to tremble fiercely.
Pikachu was hit first, blown away by the explosion's aftermath.
"Pika!"
Ash and Cynthia were also struck head-on by the oncoming blast.
As Ash lost balance, he immediately grabbed Cynthia behind him, turned his body, and took the brunt of the fall on his back.
Bam!
Once they landed, they skidded back several meters, Ash's clothes scraping against the rough rocky ground until the impact gradually weakened and they finally stopped.
"Sister, are you okay?"
Ash promptly helped Cynthia up.
"I'm fine, how about you?"
"Not bad, though I'll probably have to change clothes again when we get back."
Ash touched his back; his clothes were quite torn from the rocky ground but fortunately, he suffered no obvious injuries.
"Pika! Pika Pi!"
A disgruntled growl came from the side, as Pikachu jumped off a pile of rubble, visibly annoyed, dusting off the dirt.
Why doesn't anyone ask Teacher Dapi?
We were all blasted away together!
Seeing Pikachu still energetic enough to complain, Ash's remaining worries instantly vanished.
"With all the battles you've been through, Pikachu, this shock was surely nothing for you!"
Pikachu: "..."
What kind of preferential treatment is this?
Ash didn't tease him further, promptly straightened up and locked his eyes onto the still shining gigantic Electrode at the center of Moonview Arena.
"Those Voltorbs definitely weren't coincidental; so many couldn't have just randomly fallen from the sky and then rush all at once to explode."
"I think so too."
Cynthia brushed off the sand and quickly re-evaluated the situation.
"Melli hadn't genuinely faced the rampaging Electrode before, so it's not surprising to be unaware of this attack method."
"From the previous events, when we approach, Electrode triggers changes in the arena with Growl, then Voltorbs fall from above, usually around ten at a time."
"The real trouble is that after landing, these Voltorbs actively approach to explode. If too many explode at once, the cumulative force becomes extremely dangerous."
Previously, just five Voltorbs exploded within the electric net, and the aftermath had already sent Ash, Cynthia, and Pikachu flying. If all ten Voltorbs successfully approached, the result would be even more extreme.
Furthermore, no one knows if Electrode's next roar will summon another batch of Voltorbs.
Cynthia observed the increasingly fractured rocky ground due to repeated explosions and quickly made up her mind.
"We must not continue to slowly wear down the Electrode; allowing these Voltorbs to keep exploding, not to mention how long we can withstand, might demolish the entire Moonview Arena."
"So we must swiftly incapacitate Electrode before another batch of Voltorbs appears."
Ash nodded.
In other words, to quickly end the battle… a fatal blow!
We must not allow this rampaging King to continue summoning massive Voltorbs to explode in a chain.
Only by rendering Electrode incapable of further attacks can they safely use the Power of Viridian for genuine pacification.