บท 304: Chapter 304: Midfield
Arcanine couldn't see Blastoise's attack. After activating Extreme Speed, it focused solely on evasion, darting around the field to avoid being caught by Blastoise.
While it was stalling for time and waiting for the water wall to dissipate, Blastoise's Hydro Pump had already been unleashed, heading straight for Arcanine without its knowledge.
Arcanine was sprinting forward when a sharp pain suddenly struck its right side. The next moment, an immense force sent it flying.
The Hydro Pump was devastatingly powerful, the sheer impact lifting Arcanine off the ground and propelling it nearly ten meters backward.
The water wall formed by Water Pulse had just vanished when Gary witnessed the entire scene.
The Hydro Pump finally lost its momentum, but Arcanine continued to tumble another ten meters before crashing to the ground.
It skidded to a stop, leaving deep marks in the battlefield dirt.
"Arcanine!" Gary shouted, his expression grim. He hadn't anticipated that Ash and Blastoise could execute such a devastating manoeuvre.
This lapse in judgement had left Arcanine vulnerable, and it was a mistake Gary knew he had to own.
Arcanine lay on the ground, struggling to stand. Its stamina was nearly depleted after taking the full brunt of Hydro Pump. It tried to rise, but its movements were painfully slow.
"Water Gun!" Ash gave no room for recovery, immediately instructing Blastoise to press the advantage.
Blastoise unleashed a concentrated stream of water from its mouth, shooting it at high speed toward Arcanine.
"Get up and dodge, Arcanine!" Gary called out desperately. It was too late to recall Arcanine, so he had no choice but to command it to evade.
Arcanine managed to push itself upright, trembling with the effort. It lunged forward in an attempt to escape the attack, but its movements were sluggish. The Water Gun struck its hind leg with precision.
Though the attack wasn't enough to knock Arcanine out entirely, the damage to its hind leg caused it to collapse in pain. It panted heavily, unable to muster the strength to stand again.
"Arcanine, use Flamethrower!" Gary ordered, refusing to give up. He wanted Arcanine to make one last stand, hoping to chip away at Blastoise's energy.
Arcanine opened its mouth, fire-type energy flickering weakly as it struggled to gather strength for the attack.
But Ash was one step ahead. "Blastoise, finish it with a Water Gun!"
Before Arcanine could unleash its Flamethrower, the high-speed Water Gun struck it directly. The flames in its mouth flickered and died out, and its eyes dulled before it slumped to the ground unconscious.
"Arcanine is unable to battle! Blastoise wins!" the referee announced.
"Arcanine has been defeated! That's Gary's second Pokémon down!" the commentator exclaimed.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Though the earlier three-stage combo had been spectacular, the audience was quickly drawn back into the intense battle unfolding on the field.
Gary exhaled deeply as he recalled Arcanine into its Poké Ball. The match wasn't going as planned, and he needed to rethink his strategy.
He had two options: send out a fresh Pokémon or rely on Umbreon, who still had some stamina left.
Each choice carried risks. A fresh Pokémon could defeat Blastoise but might lose significant stamina in the process.
Alternatively, Umbreon could enter the battle and potentially restore its strength using Moonlight, preserving the rest of Gary's team for later.
The clock was ticking, and Gary quickly made his decision. He threw out a Poké Ball. "Umbreon, I'm counting on you!"
Umbreon emerged onto the field, its steely eyes locking onto Blastoise. The battle resumed, and the two Pokémon clashed fiercely.
Gary successfully found an opportunity for Umbreon to use Moonlight, recovering some stamina, but Ash's relentless tactics with Blastoise began to wear him down again.
"Dark Pulse!" Gary saw an opening and commanded Umbreon to attack, hoping to turn the tide.
"Head-on! Use a Hydro Pump!" Ash countered without hesitation.
The two moves collided mid-air, creating a powerful shockwave that rippled across the battlefield. For a moment, the attacks were evenly matched, locked in a stalemate.
However, Blastoise's Hydro Pump proved stronger. Gradually, it overpowered the Dark Pulse, pushing the dark energy back toward Umbreon.
"Umbreon, hold on!" Gary called, but the difference in power was clear. Blastoise's attack surged forward, striking Umbreon head-on.
The impact sent Umbreon flying backward, past Gary, and out of the battlefield. When the water subsided, Umbreon lay unconscious on the ground.
"Umbreon is unable to battle! Blastoise wins! With Gary down three Pokémon, we'll now take an intermission," the referee announced.
"Gary had a strong start, but Ash has turned the tables with three consecutive wins!" the commentator said, echoing the crowd's sentiments.
Gary returned Umbreon to its Poké Ball, taking a seat on the sidelines to regroup. Though the situation looked grim, he knew he still had three fresh Pokémon ready to fight.
He glanced at Ash, who appeared confident. Gary knew that if he could capitalise on Pidgeot's weakened state and avoid Blastoise's devastating tactics, he still had a chance.
"It's not over yet," Gary muttered to himself, determination gleaming in his eyes. "I just need to uncover Ash's hidden strategies and turn this around."
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