Chapter 330: Chapter 12: The Powerful Propulsion Device
"Blastoise!" Cissy's expression turned serious as she faced Ash's Blastoise. She remembered its remarkable performance during the Indigo Plateau Conference. It was no ordinary Blastoise—its power and abilities had been finely honed.
Cissy clenched her fists with determination. "In terms of raw strength, my Blastoise may be slightly inferior, but when it comes to Surf Racing, my Blastoise won't lose! We've trained for this every single day for years."
The two trainers mounted their respective Blastoises, positioning themselves at the starting line near the shore. Cissy's younger brother, stood ready as the referee.
"Are you prepared?" Cissy asked, balancing effortlessly on Blastoise's back. Her confident stance spoke volumes about her expertise in such races.
"Yeah," Ash replied, adjusting his footing on his Blastoise's shell. Unlike Cissy, his stance was stiff and unpolished.
This was his first time standing on Blastoise in this way, but his confidence in his Pokémon didn't waver.
"But no problem!" Ash grinned, knowing his Blastoise would rise to the challenge.
Ada raised the flare gun, his voice ringing out clearly. "Ready... set..." A loud bang signalled the start. "Go!"
At the crack of the flare, both Blastoises lunged forward, their powerful legs and streamlined shells cutting through the waves.
—---
Cissy's Blastoise surged ahead immediately. Years of training had made the pair almost inseparable in their rhythm. Cissy remained steady, her balance unaffected by the sudden burst of speed.
Ash, however, wobbled slightly as his Blastoise accelerated. He quickly adjusted, steadying himself. Realizing Cissy had taken the lead, he issued a command. "Blastoise, let's pick up the pace!"
Understanding Ash's determination, his Blastoise responded with an extra burst of speed, rapidly closing the gap.
Cissy glanced back, her expression growing serious. "This is their first Surf Race, yet their synchronization is already this good?" she thought.
"Blastoise, faster!" she called out, prompting her Pokémon to increase its speed at the 200-meter mark.
"Blastoiseeee!" Blastoise bellowed as its legs churned harder, generating larger waves as it pushed forward.
Ash wasn't about to let her take the lead. "Blastoise, don't hold back!" he urged.
—----
The two trainers and their Pokémon soon hit the 300-meter mark, with Cissy maintaining a slim five-meter lead. However, the distance was shrinking fast.
Cissy's confidence began to waver. "How is this possible? This is their first time doing this, yet they're keeping up with us. I can't afford to slow down now."
She evaluated her Blastoise's stamina and decided to take the inside line. "Blastoise, sprint!" she commanded.
Her Blastoise responded with another burst of energy, angling toward the buoy. Cissy's strategy was clear—cut Ash off by reaching the turn first.
Ash, unable to take the inside route, had to swing wide around the buoy. As a result, Cissy gained a small but critical lead as they exited the turn, maintaining a five-meter advantage.
—---
"We're almost at the finish line! Blastoise, keep pushing!" Cissy yelled, urging her Pokémon to maintain its speed.
Ash remained calm, observing the situation carefully. "Blastoise, it's time to use our special technique," he said, his tone confident.
Blastoise responded with a low growl, ready to execute their secret move.
"Let's show them the Powerful Propulsion Device!" Ash shouted, grinning. The technique was inspired by a racing strategy he had seen in the Four-Wheel Drive Brothers anime—a clever use of Hydro Pump to maximize speed.
—---
"Blastoise, adjust direction and activate Hydro Pump!" Ash commanded.
"Blastoiseee!" Blastoise slowed momentarily, turning its body so that its cannons faced backward.
"What's he doing?" Cissy muttered, glancing back. She gasped as realization dawned on her.
"Hydro Pump, full power!" Ash shouted.
With a deafening roar, Blastoise fired twin jets of water from its cannons. The powerful streams struck the ocean's surface, creating immense thrust. The counterforce launched Blastoise forward at incredible speed.
The move caught everyone off guard. The audience watching from the battle hall erupted in cheers and gasps of amazement.
"That's brilliant!" Tracey exclaimed from the shore.
Misty nodded, her eyes wide. "I've never seen a Hydro Pump used like that before!"
Within seconds, Ash and Blastoise surged past Cissy and her Blastoise, widening the gap with every meter.
Cissy gritted her teeth, urging her Blastoise to push harder, but it was no use. Ash's innovative technique had given him an insurmountable advantage.
Blastoise crossed the finish line and barreled onto the sandy beach, its momentum finally slowing as the friction of the shore took effect.
Cissy's Blastoise arrived moments later, its trainer dismounting gracefully. Cissy approached Ash with a mix of emotions—disappointment, admiration, and respect.
"I lost," she admitted, extending her hand to Ash. "That Hydro Pump technique was incredible!"
Ash shook her hand with a smile. "It's called the Powerful Propulsion Device. Blastoise and I have been working on it for a while."
Cissy pulled out a pink shell-shaped badge and handed it to Ash. "You've earned this. That move was both creative and effective—something I've never seen before."
Ash accepted the badge, grinning. "Thanks! Blastoise worked really hard for this."
Cissy smiled, nodding. "The name may be unusual, but the technique is undeniably powerful. You've earned my respect, Ash."
With that, Ash added the Coral-Eye Badge to his collection, ready for the challenges ahead.
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