Despite being at a disadvantage, Keizawa was no rookie. As a seasoned professional trainer who had spent years battling in urban arenas, his combat instincts and experience were razor-sharp. The moment he realized the unfavorable situation, he didn't hesitate—he chose to strike first.
"Crobat, use Air Slash!"
"Cro-bat—!"
High above the battlefield, Crobat's four wings beat at incredible speed. Instantly, sharp, dagger-like blades of compressed air rained down toward Pikachu below.
Compared to the Poison-type move Cross Poison, Air Slash was faster—perfect for a sudden ambush. That was exactly what Keizawa had counted on.
But Pikachu was faster.
Without even waiting for Ash's command, Pikachu reacted on instinct. Its body flashed in a burst of speed as it used Quick Attack, darting forward in a sudden acceleration.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Crobat's attacks all missed, slicing into the ground and leaving behind a chaotic pattern of deep gouges and pits.
Keizawa's opening assault had been effortlessly neutralized.
Only then did Ash calmly issue his first command.
"Pikachu, use Wish!"
As an Electric-type Pokémon, Pikachu excelled in speed and explosive power—but that came at a cost. High-speed bursts and powerful attacks drained its stamina rapidly.
To compensate for this weakness, Ash had carefully constructed Pikachu's skill set to include recovery moves.
Two, to be precise:
Wish and Parabolic Charge.
Wish was a pure healing move. Although it activated with a one-turn delay, its recovery power was immense—restoring up to half of Pikachu's maximum stamina in a single burst.
Parabolic Charge, on the other hand, combined offense and recovery. Much like Grass-type draining moves, it converted 50% of the damage dealt into healing. Its advantage was instant recovery, but it required a successful hit and its healing output could fluctuate.
Each had its strengths. Together, they formed a perfectly balanced recovery system.
"Pika—! (^o^)/"
After dodging Crobat's attack with Quick Attack, Pikachu skidded to a sudden halt. It clasped its tiny paws together in a prayer-like gesture.
When it opened them again, a faint, miniature starry sky shimmered above its head. A brilliant shooting star streaked across it.
And then…
Nothing happened.
At least, not immediately.
But Keizawa's expression darkened instantly.
As a professional trainer, he knew exactly what Wish meant.
Right now, the battlefield had narrowed to a one-on-one—his Crobat versus Ash's Pikachu.
His original plan had been simple: use Crobat's superior flight speed and echolocation to maintain distance, continuously harassing Pikachu in a hit-and-run "kiting" strategy. Electric-types weren't known for their stamina—eventually, Pikachu would wear down.
But now?
That plan had collapsed before it even began.
Pikachu could heal.
And worse—Crobat itself didn't have exceptional endurance either. If this turned into a war of attrition, it was anyone's guess who would collapse first.
Before Keizawa could adjust his strategy—
"Pikachu, use Rain Dance!"
Ash didn't give him time to think.
"Pika~!"
Pikachu rubbed its little paws together, forming a pale, misty orb—like rolling a tiny dumpling—before tossing it high into the sky.
Pop—!
The orb burst like a bubble.
Immediately, the released energy began gathering moisture from the surrounding air. In moments, dark clouds formed overhead, and a light drizzle began to fall across the battlefield.
"…Not good!!"
Keizawa snapped out of his thoughts, his face changing drastically.
At this point, there was no way he couldn't see through Ash's strategy.
If Ash had sent out a Water-type Pokémon, using Rain Dance would simply make sense—boosting its power and limiting Crobat's mobility.
But this was Pikachu.
An Electric-type.
There was only one reason for this setup.
"He's going to use rain to guarantee Thunder hits—!"
Keizawa's heart sank.
There was no way Ash would teach Pikachu Surf and Wish, yet not teach it Thunder.
The rain intensified.
Drip… drip… drip…
"Pikachu—now! Use Thunder!"
Keizawa had guessed correctly.
The moment the rain began to fall steadily, Ash revealed his hidden fangs.
"Pika—CHUUUU!!"
Pikachu cried out, its red cheek pouches sparking violently. A thick bolt of electricity shot upward into the storm clouds.
The sight alone drained the color from Keizawa's face. Cold sweat beaded across his forehead.
But he didn't freeze.
"Crobat, use Quick Guard!"
He immediately ordered Crobat to use the only defensive move it had recently learned—though it was still far from mastered.
RUMBLE—!
KRAAAACK—!!!
Almost the instant the command was given, thunder roared within the clouds. A massive bolt of blue lightning—thick as a thigh—locked onto Crobat and came crashing down.
At the last moment, Crobat crossed its wings in front of its body, mimicking a human defensive stance.
Whether it would be enough… was another question.
"Chi—!!"
Struck directly by the thunderbolt, Crobat's deep-purple body turned charred black as it fell from the sky.
"Crobat!!"
Keizawa shouted in panic.
But—
"Pikachu, use Electroweb."
Ash's voice was cold and decisive.
As Crobat fell, its wings were still twitching—it hadn't completely lost the ability to fight. And Keizawa hadn't recalled it yet.
Ash showed no mercy.
"Pika!"
Pikachu flipped mid-air, its tail crackling as several basketball-sized electric orbs formed at its tip.
Then—
Crackle—!
The orbs exploded mid-flight, transforming into a massive electric net that spread wide and ensnared Crobat completely.
The struggling bat Pokémon was instantly trapped, bound tightly within the glowing web of electricity.
Victory was already within reach.
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