"Big Brother Ash, look! Scyther!"
Molly quickly clamped her hands over her mouth. Her earlier scream had attracted a swarm of Beedrill, and she didn't want to startle these Scythers.
"There it is! A Scyther! The fourth-slot power hitter is taking the field!"
Molly was holding her breath, but voices suddenly drifted from the other side of the thicket.
"A heavyweight opponent has appeared!" It was Casey's voice, sounding incredibly high-spirited. "First pitch, use our fastest and strongest fastball to show them who's boss!"
"Go, Razor Leaf!"
Ash crept forward with Molly and saw Casey directing her Chikorita to use Razor Leaf against a Scyther on the outskirts of the group.
This Scyther was relatively small, and its gaze wasn't particularly sharp, which explained why it was on the fringes of the colony. Even so, it was not an opponent that the current Casey and Chikorita could handle.
What's more, it was obvious that Chikorita was in terrible condition.
The Razor Leaf hit the Scyther squarely, but Grass type moves were not very effective against it.
Regardless, Casey was ecstatic. "Great job, Chikorita!"
She failed to notice that her Pokémon was panting heavily. Unlike Ash, who had taken a direct route, Casey had been battling her way through the park. She had even been having Chikorita Tackle tree trunks to lure out bug type Pokémon.
Angered by the attack, the Scyther crossed its twin scythes and lunged at Chikorita.
Seeing this, Casey shouted, "Chikorita, don't be afraid! If you're scared, you've already lost!"
Exhausted and weak, Chikorita was sent flying by the Scyther's strike. Bug type attacks were super effective against it, after all.
"Chikorita, keep going! That's only one out! Show them your fighting spirit!" Hearing Casey's words, Chikorita forced itself back to its feet.
"Second pitch! Aim for the center of the strike zone! Razor Leaf!"
This second Razor Leaf lacked both power and precision. The Scyther swung its blades, swatting every leaf aside and even deflecting them back at Chikorita.
"It's a line drive back to the pitcher! Dodge it!" Casey cried out in alarm.
But Chikorita no longer had the energy to move. It was struck by its own Razor Leaf and tumbled backward.
"Big Brother Ash, that Chikorita is so tired," Molly whispered from the side.
Indeed. Even Molly could see the truth, yet Casey remained oblivious.
Chikorita happened to land not far from Ash. He walked over and gently picked the little Pokémon up. "That's enough."
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu's electric shock easily overwhelmed that Scyther, leaving it "crispy on the outside and tender on the inside" as it retreated into the colony.
Ignoring the fallen Scyther, Ash carried Chikorita over to Casey.
"Ash, what are you doing?" Casey snapped, glaring at him, clearly unhappy that her battle had been interrupted.
Ash had grown quite a bit recently. He used to be half a head shorter than Misty, but now they were nearly the same height. Casey had to crane her neck just to look him in the eye.
Ash reached out and poked her forehead with a finger. "Take a good look at Chikorita's condition!"
He placed Chikorita back into Casey's arms. Throughout the journey, Casey had forced Chikorita to walk beside her just so she could start a battle at any moment. Now that she was actually holding it, she finally felt the truth.
"Chikorita, why are you panting so hard? You're shaking!"
Ash didn't stick around to see what lesson Casey might learn. He turned around, Molly once again on his back.
"Standard procedure: beat the small one, and the big one shows up!"
Ash gave a confident smile and headed deeper into the forest with Pikachu.
Sure enough, three massive Scythers were heading their way from that direction.
When the two sides met, even the girl who had once ridden Entei felt a chill and gripped Ash's hair tightly.
The Scyther in the middle stood a full 1.8 meters tall. Its physique was incredibly robust, and its twin blades shimmered with a cold, lethal light. Even the two companions flanking it had formidable presences. Standing together, the three Scythers felt like a sharp, cutting wind blowing toward them.
Undeterred, Ash pointed his Sport Ball at the leader in the center. "Scyther, let's have a capture battle!"
"Pika!" Pikachu's cheeks crackled with electricity, his fighting spirit soaring.
The Scyther actually accepted the challenge. It turned to bark a few cries to its companions, then stepped forward, raising its blades toward Ash and Pikachu.
"Go for it, Pikachu!" Molly rested her chin on Ash's head, settling into a comfortable position to watch the show.
Facing a Bug and Flying type like Scyther, Pikachu held the type advantage. Moreover, while Scyther's blade-like wings allowed for flight, they were rarely seen actually soaring in the air.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
Following the command, Pikachu appeared in front of Scyther in a blur.
The Scyther's reflexes were incredibly sharp; it crossed its blades in an instant, blocking Pikachu's momentum.
What followed was a barrage of attacks like a torrential rain. This Scyther possessed terrifying combat instincts, seizing every opening to launch thunderous, high-speed strikes.
"Iron Tail!"
Pikachu's tail, glowing with a metallic sheen, clashed against Scyther's blades. The force of the impact sent Pikachu sailing into the air.
As Scyther prepared to pursue, Ash's next command was delivered instantly.
"Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu was now a true super-warrior, reliable in both long-range and close-quarters combat.
Scyther managed to dodge the surging bolt of lightning. After another brief clash, Pikachu landed gracefully, ready for the next round.
"Not bad at all!" Ash was beyond satisfied with this Scyther.
It would surely become a powerful Red Flash!
"Pikachu, keep going!" Molly cheered from Ash's head, her excitement palpable.
Just as the cheer faded, Scyther's form suddenly vanished from sight.
"Agility!"
Ash's brow furrowed, and a blue light shimmered around him. "Pikachu, on your left! Iron Tail!"
Pikachu didn't hesitate for a second. Almost by instinct, he swung his Iron Tail to his left.
Clang!
The sound of metal hitting metal rang out. Scyther's silhouette flickered as it was forced to a halt, its other long blade already swinging toward Pikachu's body.
But Pikachu only had one tail.
"Thunderbolt!"
After being knocked back, Pikachu bounced off the ground. Before Scyther could even react, the lightning had already arrived!
"Go, Sport Ball!"
The Sport Ball seemed exceptionally effective against bug types, pulling the Scyther inside and snapping shut instantly.
"Yay! We caught Scyther!" Molly cheered, stealing the spotlight from Ash and Pikachu's own celebration.
Capturing the leader of the Scyther colony was more than enough to secure Ash's victory in the Bug-Catching Contest. Not only did he get to keep the Scyther, but he also won a six-month supply of cheese.
Cheese made from Miltank milk was a premium delicacy, making it the perfect snack for Molly.
Pikachu: 230/255
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