With a precise Hydro Pump from Wartortle slamming into Nidorino, the referee's flag fell heavily. "Nidorino is unable to battle! Wartortle wins! Therefore, the victor is Ash from Pallet Town!"
The second round on the Rock Field concluded with Ash's total victory.
enthusiastic applause broke out in the stands as the audience gave their approval for Ash's superb commanding and Wartortle's tenacious performance.
"Hard work, Wartortle." Ash gently stroked the Poké Ball. "Next, we need to prepare for the third round."
Due to the consecutive battles, the Pokémon had consumed a great deal of stamina. Ash decided to head to the Pokémon Center for treatment. However, when he arrived, he found the center already crowded with trainers who had just finished their matches.
"Looks like we'll have to wait at least an hour," Brock said, looking at the long lines.
Just then, a strange woman dressed in a nurse's uniform approached them. "Trainers, we have set up a temporary recovery station nearby. There's no need to wait in line. Why not come and take a look?"
Ash's Aura Power immediately detected an anomaly. This "nurse" gave off a familiar aurait was Team Rocket in disguise!
He nodded, maintaining a composed expression. "Sure, it just so happens our Pokémon need emergency recovery."
On the way to the "temporary recovery station," Ash secretly signaled Misty and Brock. The two immediately understood and prepared themselves for any sudden developments.
The so-called "recovery station" was actually a trap disguised as a medical tent. Inside were several modified treatment machines, and Jessie and James were pretending to operate the equipment.
"Please place your Poké Balls here," Jessie said, trying her best to imitate Nurse Joy's gentle tone.
Ash suddenly laughed. "Team Rocket, your acting is still as terrible as ever."
"What?!" The trio was shocked.
Ash sat down comfortably. "I recognized you long ago. But this works out; I actually do need to rest for a while. Waiting in line at the real Pokémon Center takes too much time."
Team Rocket looked at each other, completely blindsided by this turn of events. Ash actually closed his eyes and began to rest, acting as if he didn't care about their presence at all.
"Since you've seen through us, we won't be polite!" Jessie tore off her disguise in a fit of rage. "Hand over all your Pokémon!"
Ash didn't even open his eyes. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt."
A golden light flashed, and Team Rocket experienced that familiar feeling of flying through the sky once again. "This feels bad!"
After solving that little interlude, Ash finally waited until the real Pokémon Center finished the treatments. As he waited, he studied the upcoming schedule.
"The third match is on the Ice Field. The opponent is a trainer named Pete Pebbleman," Ash said, looking through the data. "Supposedly, he specializes in Ice and Water type Pokémon."
Misty looked worried. "The Ice Field is very disadvantageous for us, especially for Kingler and Pikachu."
"That is exactly the test," Ash said with a smile. "Besides, I plan to let a new partner take the stage."
The next day, the Ice Field was covered in a thick layer of ice, and the surrounding temperature was significantly lower than the other fields. Pete Pebbleman's first Pokémon was Cloyster; it attached itself firmly to the ice, its shell tightly shut, ready to receive any attack.
"Kingler, I choose you!" Ash sent out the partner that had only recently evolved.
Cloyster unleashed an Icicle Spear attack, firing a dense barrage of ice thorns at Kingler.
Ash commanded calmly, "Use Crabhammer to smash the Icicle Spears, then get close!"
Kingler waved its massive pincers, shattering the ice spears one by one. However, moving on the ice was extremely difficult, and several of its attacks were dodged by Cloyster.
"Cloyster, use Shell Smash!" Pete ordered.
Cloyster's shell suddenly opened, and its speed and power surged instantly. This was followed by an Icicle Crash that knocked Kingler back several steps.
"Kingler, don't give up!" Ash encouraged. "Remember the techniques we learned during special training!"
Kingler suddenly changed tactics, slamming its pincers into the ice to create a massive amount of ice debris. Under the cover of the ice mist, it rapidly approached Cloyster and landed a precise Crabhammer on a vital spot.
"Cloyster is unable to battle!"
Pete Pebbleman's second Pokémon was Arcanine. Facing a Fire type opponent, Ash decisively switched to Pikachu.
"Arcanine, use Flamethrower!"
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack to dodge!"
Pikachu slid flexibly across the ice, cleverly using the environmental advantage. A Thunderbolt hit its mark, but Arcanine managed to endure thanks to its tenacious stamina.
"Now, Flare Blitz!" Pete shouted loudly.
Arcanine was engulfed in flames as it charged toward Pikachu with staggering speed. Ash remained calm in the face of danger. "Pikachu, jump into the air and use Iron Tail!"
Pikachu leaped into the sky, its tail gleaming with a metallic luster as it collided violently with Arcanine. The two forces exploded above the ice, and in the end, Arcanine was the first to fall.
Now it was time for Pete Pebbleman's final Pokémon. He sent out Dewgong, while Ash made a decision that surprised the entire arenahe sent out his Red Gyarados!
When this uniquely colored behemoth appeared on the Ice Field, the audience fell into a pin-drop silence. The roar emitted by the Red Gyarados was so powerful that the ice itself trembled.
"This... what kind of Pokémon is this?" Pete was clearly intimidated. After a moment of daze, he recognized it. "This... this is a Gyarados???"
"Gyarados, use Dragon Rage!" Ash commanded.
The Red Gyarados spat a scorching dragon's breath from its mouth, instantly melting a portion of the ice on the field. Dewgong attempted to counter with Ice Beam, but under the pressure of Gyarados, the move's power was greatly diminished.
Finally, a powerful Hydro Pump ended the match.
Ash once again won the Ice Field victory with a perfect three-to-zero record.
In another two or three chapters, I'll be encountering Ritchie. For me, the difficult part might be describing the matches after the Round of 16. After all, there isn't much to use as a reference; I'll have to think it over...
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