"Crobat, use Toxic on Pikachu!!" Keizawa shouted urgently.
Watching Pikachu ride the wave forward, he was genuinely shocked. He had never expected a Pikachu to master a Water-type move like Surf.
His original plan had been flawless—Electric-type attacks wouldn't affect Onix due to its Ground typing, so Onix would trap Pikachu with Sand Tomb while Crobat quickly eliminated the weaker Happiny. After that, both Pokémon would focus-fire Pikachu together.
But everything had collapsed because of a single move—Surf.
Now, he had no choice but to adjust on the fly and target Pikachu directly.
If Pikachu landed even one or two more Surf attacks, Onix would go down—and they would be the first to lose a Pokémon. That was unacceptable.
"Wooooosh—!!"
"SHREE—!!"
On the battlefield, Pikachu surged forward atop the roaring wave, carrying Happiny. Its target was clear—the towering Onix ahead.
Above them, Crobat screeched anxiously. Upon receiving the command, it immediately shifted its focus from Happiny to Pikachu.
With a sharp cry, it fired a blob of dark-purple, corrosive poison—no bigger than a jujube fruit—like a sniper bullet straight at Pikachu.
If that hit…
Badly poisoned, Pikachu's low HP wouldn't last more than a few turns.
Clarissa didn't fully understand Pikachu's true strength. Seeing Crobat switch targets, panic flashed across her face—but in the next moment, her expression hardened with resolve.
"Happiny! Cancel Minimize—return to normal size and block the attack!!"
"Fu-da!!"
Without hesitation, Happiny canceled its Minimize. Its body rapidly returned to normal size.
Pikachu was small—too small. Before, Happiny's reduced size had left Pikachu fully exposed.
But now—
Held up in Pikachu's arms, Happiny became a shield.
"Splsh—!"
Crobat had aimed perfectly for Pikachu—but now its attack slammed directly into Happiny instead.
A patch of dark poison spread across its soft, pink body.
"Fu-da!!"
Happiny cried out in pain as the poison seeped in.
"Happiny…!!" Clarissa's heart clenched, her mind momentarily blank.
Ash frowned—but he knew this was the opportunity they had created.
He couldn't hesitate.
"Pikachu—Surf! Hit Onix!"
"BOOM—!!"
Pikachu steeled itself, suppressing any concern, and drove the wave forward.
The attack came too fast.
One moment, Onix was expanding its Sand Tomb… the next, a massive wave slammed into it.
Caught off guard, it couldn't dodge.
Despite its rock-solid body, sky-high physical defense, and immunity to Electric attacks—none of it mattered.
Rock/Ground typing meant a fourfold weakness to Water.
And with its poor special defense—
Against Surf, Onix was utterly fragile.
"ROOOAR!!"
The massive serpent was knocked off its feet, crashing down as it howled in pain.
But on the other side—
Happiny was in critical condition.
The poison had already spread throughout its body. Its face twisted in agony, its stamina nearing collapse.
Ash had no way to heal it directly.
All he could do—
Was end this as quickly as possible.
"Pikachu—another Surf!!"
"Crobat—use Cross Poison! Finish Happiny!!"
"Onix—use Dragon Breath to intercept the wave!!"
"Happiny—use Heal Pulse on yourself! Hold on!!"
The second round of attacks exploded across the battlefield.
"WOOOOOSH—!!"
Pikachu summoned another wave, charging once more toward Onix.
"ROAR—!!"
This time, Onix fought back, unleashing Dragon Breath to weaken the incoming Surf, trying to break through the attack head-on.
Above, Crobat swooped sharply.
"SHREE—!!"
Its wings crossed, releasing a purple X-shaped slash—Cross Poison—aimed straight at Happiny.
The situation was clear.
As long as Happiny stood, Crobat couldn't safely target Pikachu.
So—
It had to go.
Clarissa understood this too.
Happiny couldn't contribute offensively in this high-level fight.
So instead—
It became a shield.
A shield to protect Pikachu.
"Fu-da…"
Heal Pulse activated, its HP climbing slightly above the danger line.
But it wasn't enough.
"BAM!!"
"BAM!!"
Two Cross Poison strikes landed in succession.
Happiny trembled, barely holding on.
"Stay strong, Happiny!!" Clarissa cried out desperately.
"FU-DAAAA!!"
That shout—
Finally broke through.
At the very brink of collapse, Happiny let out a sharp, determined cry.
"SHIIIING—!!"
In that instant—
A brilliant white light erupted from its body.
Like a small sun, it shone dazzlingly bright.
Its form began to expand—
Grow—
Transform.
Before the stunned eyes of both trainers and the entire audience—
The tiny Happiny evolved.
Into—
Chansey.
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