Rushing out of the smoke, Arbok opened its mouth. Its fangs suddenly elongated, emitting a dark purple glow, giving off a chilling sensation, and lunged directly at Pikachu.
"Use Electro Ball!!"
Ash didn't panic. Seeing Arbok charge forward with its mouth open, he immediately signaled Pikachu.
"Pika~~~chu-pi!!"
Pikachu immediately jumped backward. Arbok also pursued. Lightning energy erupted from Pikachu's tail, then condensed into a golden lightning energy ball. With a sudden flick of its tail, the energy ball was launched directly.
"Whoosh!!"
"Bang!!!!"
Arbok rushed forward, just opening its mouth to bite. Pikachu, however, aimed its attack at Arbok's mouth. Just as Arbok bit down, the energy ball directly hit Arbok's mouth, instantly causing an astonishing explosion.
Arbok's upper body was flung backward by the explosion, smoke still rising from its mouth. Pikachu also landed on the ground behind it, having taken a direct hit from an electric attack. Had it been any other trainer, they would have long since been defeated.
However, 160 Athena was no ordinary trainer, and Arbok's level was also quite high. After retreating, Arbok shook its head and quickly recovered. Seeing this, Ash continued his attack.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!!"
"Pika! Pika-pika-pika!!!"
Pikachu immediately dashed forward, a silver flash erupting from its body, its speed escalating. Arbok's speed wasn't slow, but compared to Pikachu's, there was a world of difference. Dodging wasn't so easy.
After several exchanges, Athena also felt Ash's persistence and began to take him seriously.
"Arbok, use Dig!!"
Seeing Pikachu rush forward quickly, Athena reacted swiftly. Arbok, hearing her command, plunged its head directly into the ground with a "thud," breaking through the earth and quickly burrowing underground.
Pikachu rushed over from above, missing Arbok. Arbok also took the opportunity to hide underground, concealing itself. Just then, the ground beneath Pikachu's feet suddenly cracked open.
Arbok swiftly launched an attack. Pikachu reacted quickly, leaping backward at high speed. However, Athena's reaction was also not slow.
"Arbok, don't let it escape, use Bind!!"
Arbok burst out, but Pikachu dodged it. However, at Athena's command, Arbok quickly pursued, swinging its tail and charging forward to coil its slender body around Pikachu, then immediately increasing its strength to tightly bind Pikachu.
"Pika!!!"
As Arbok exerted force, a tight straining sound rang out. Pikachu's body was tightly bound by Arbok, and with Arbok's strength, Pikachu let out distressed cries.
"Little brother, your Pikachu can't escape now!" Athena said to Ash, a smile on her face.
"Is that so? It's you who can't escape!" Ash subtly adjusted his cap. Pikachu was caught, but Ash showed no concern, instead revealing a sly smile.
"What?"
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!!"
"Arbok, dodge quickly!" Hearing Ash's voice, Athena also realized something was wrong and quickly shouted.
Arbok immediately acted upon hearing the command, quickly releasing Pikachu. But even with a quick reaction, at such close range, Arbok couldn't dodge the burst of lightning energy, which directly struck it.
Arbok let out a cry of pain, its body falling and smashing onto the ground. At the same time, Pikachu also fell from the air, slightly panting. Ash looked at the fallen Arbok and pressed his advantage.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!!"
Pikachu responded with a cry and charged out again. Electric arcs still flickered around its body. Arbok slowly stood up. Ash frowned slightly, As expected of an executive's Pokémon, it's not so easily defeated.
"Use Dig!" Athena also frowned. She hadn't encountered such a difficult opponent in a long time, and he was just a boy.
Arbok, hearing the command, once again used Dig, burrowing underground to dodge Pikachu's Quick Attack. This time, Ash did not give Athena another chance to attack.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!!"
"Pika! Pi~~~~ka!!!"
Pikachu, upon hearing the command, suddenly stopped its movement, then leaped high into the air. Its tail emitted a metallic sheen, and its body rotated downwards from above.
"Bang!! Boom, boom!!!"
It struck the ground with a heavy impact, and astonishing power erupted. The surrounding ground cracked, and the force of the collision beneath the ground sent shattered rocks flying into the air. Arbok's figure was also shaken out of the ground along with the flying rocks.
"What!!" Athena looked at this scene in surprise. She hadn't expected such a method to counter the Dig move.
"Pikachu, Electro Ball!" Ash seized the opportunity and launched a powerful attack. Upon hearing the command, Pikachu's tail glow faded, and lightning energy condensed. The moment Arbok was shaken out.
"Pika~~~chu-pi!!!"
"Bang, boom!!!!"
The Electro Ball was launched, hitting the flying Arbok. The lightning exploded, and fire and electricity completely engulfed Arbok. Pikachu also fell from the air, panting slightly, its four limbs on the ground.
Within the smoke, Arbok's figure also fell simultaneously, scorched black, and panting with smoke rising from its body. It slowly opened its eyes, trembling as it supported its body, gradually standing up.
"Hiss!!!"
However, before it could fully stand, it closed its eyes again and collapsed. Its snake tongue flickered, and its eyes rolled.
"Arbok!!" Athena looked at this scene in surprise, unable to believe that she had been defeated by an unknown young man.
Her subordinates around her were equally surprised; General Athena had actually been defeated! They all looked at the young man before them as if he were a monster, while Ash's expression remained calm. Athena looked at the calm Ash, took out a Poké Ball, and recalled Arbok.
"It seems I underestimated you. However, even though you won, I still can't let you leave. I'm sorry, little brother, but don't blame me for being despicable!" Athena recalled Arbok, but it was clear, as Misty and the others had thought, that she had no intention of letting them go.
And upon hearing this, the surrounding subordinates all took out their Poké Balls and stepped forward, surrounding Ash.
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