Chapter:36

40+ Chapters Available in Patreon.

Ash's real objective had already been achieved. In the previous exchange, Poliwhirl stood little chance of winning, but Ash's tactics had effectively minimized the damage it took from Frogadier's Hydro Pump.

"Yo-bo~"

Poliwhirl stood up with difficulty, shaking off the effects of its fall. Despite the reduced damage from Hydro Pump, taking the attack three times, coupled with the shock of falling from the sky, had taken a toll. Yet, Poliwhirl's resilience shone through—it was still standing and ready to fight, even though its body was battered and bruised.

On the other hand, Frogadier looked almost unscathed, aside from a few minor injuries from the earlier skirmish. The outcome of the battle seemed all but decided.

"Ash, your Poliwhirl is on its last legs. If you can't beat me in this next round, you'll lose. Use whatever tactics you have left," Satoshi said, his tone firm but cautious.

He didn't relax. Ash wasn't the type to give up easily. If he hadn't spotted Poliwhirl's Body Slam from the air earlier, Frogadier could have been taken out in a single decisive blow.

The truth was, Satoshi's ability to counter Ash's strategy stemmed from his experience and knowledge from his previous life. Many other Trainers wouldn't have seen through such a maneuver, and Ash's unpredictability could have easily given him the upper hand.

Ash, however, didn't press an immediate attack. Instead, he turned to Satoshi and began speaking calmly.

"Chenxi, you're incredibly strong—not just in terms of Pokémon strength but in your battle awareness. Honestly, you're the first true rival I've ever faced."

Satoshi was slightly taken aback by the sudden praise, but he listened carefully.

"When I'm not strong enough, I rely on creative tactics to surprise my opponents. Gary, on the other hand, uses raw strength to overwhelm and crush his rivals. Maybe that's why we don't get along."

Ash pressed his hat down as he spoke, his voice calm but his eyes burning with determination.

"But you… You're stronger than Gary and more strategic than me. It's like you have the best of both worlds. That's why I want to battle you, even if it's just one-on-one. To challenge someone like you is what drives me forward."

Satoshi was surprised. He hadn't expected such thoughtful words from Ash, who was usually so impulsive.

It was clear now that Ash wasn't just a hot-blooded Trainer—there was more depth to him than met the eye. It was no wonder he became one of the leaders of the Pokédex owners.

"So, Ash, what exactly are you trying to say right now?" Satoshi asked, still unsure of Ash's intent.

For a moment, he wondered if Ash was about to pull a Gary move and say, "Chenxi, I don't want Poliwhirl anymore," before whipping out a Water Stone to evolve it.

"Well… actually, I was just trying to buy some time," Ash admitted sheepishly, his composed demeanor crumbling into embarrassment.

Satoshi: "..."

"Alright, enough talk! Let's wrap this up with one final round!" Ash declared with renewed energy, his fighting spirit undiminished despite the odds stacked against him.

"Yo-bo!"

Poliwhirl roared in agreement, its spirit matching its Trainer's. Though its body was scarred and weakened, its determination burned brighter than ever.

Satoshi, however, wasn't fooled. He noticed Poliwhirl's slightly improved condition and realized what Ash had been doing.

"So all that talking was just to buy time for Poliwhirl to recover," Satoshi thought, narrowing his eyes. He shot Ash a deadpan look, but Ash either didn't notice or pretended not to.

"Forget it. No matter what tricks you pull, I'm going to beat you, Ash!" Satoshi resolved.

"Frogadier, end this with Hydro Pump!"

"Poliwhirl, use everything you've got! Freezing Beam!"

Both Pokémon launched their attacks with full force, their energy colliding in a spectacular clash. For a moment, the two moves seemed evenly matched. Poliwhirl pushed itself to its absolute limit, pouring every ounce of strength into the beam.

But it wasn't enough. The power disparity between the two Pokémon became evident as Frogadier's Hydro Pump broke through Poliwhirl's Freezing Beam, overwhelming it completely.

Poliwhirl took the full force of the attack and was sent flying backward. It crashed to the ground, struggling to rise. For a brief moment, it wobbled on its feet, attempting to fight on, but its injuries were too severe.

With a final groan, Poliwhirl collapsed, completely exhausted and unable to continue.

The winner was clear.

"Ding! Frogadier gained experience. Charmeleon gained experience."

"Ding! You defeated Ash and received: Silver Crown ×2, [Charcoal], Skill Machine [Dragon Pulse]."

End of Chapter.

Update Schedule: 7 Chapter/week.

Every 300 Power Stones+1 (5 ⭐ Review)

= 1 Chapter+1Chapter

By voting with [power stones], you can easily get double the number of chapters