Chapter 211: Tenacious Wartortle

"Ninetales, Fire Spin!"

Blaine snapped his fingers, his eyes gleaming with confidence as Ninetales prepared to unleash its move. He had already envisioned the moment—Wartortle trapped in a swirling inferno, struggling to escape as the flames consumed the battlefield.

A surge of Fire-type energy condensed rapidly, and with a mighty cry, Ninetales unleashed a spiraling column of fire! The flames surged forward, twisting like a raging tornado, heading straight for Wartortle.

There was no way to dodge.

Ash's eyes widened in alarm. He knew that Wartortle, despite its agility, wasn't fast enough to escape Fire Spin's massive range.

His grip tightened on the edge of the platform. There was only one option.

"Wartortle, Hydro Pump!"

"Caami!" Wartortle cried, planting its feet firmly on the platform as it began charging Water-type energy.

But there was a problem—Hydro Pump took time to gather power. And in this intense heat, condensation was forming slower than usual.

The Fire Spin closed the distance, growing larger, twisting violently, its scorching heat warping the air around it.

Ten meters left…

The sweat dripped from Ash's forehead. "Come on, Wartortle… just a little more!"

And then—

BOOM!

A powerful Hydro Pump burst from Wartortle's mouth, the force of the water forming a thick, high-pressure column that shot directly toward the flames!

But instead of aiming at the entire vortex, Wartortle had a plan.

"Attack the base!" Ash commanded.

Wartortle understood perfectly. Instead of trying to counter Fire Spin's massive spread, it targeted the source—its weakest point!

The moment the Hydro Pump struck the base of the swirling flames, a powerful reaction erupted!

SZZZZHHHH!

Water and fire collided, sending a massive cloud of steam billowing across the battlefield. The entire arena was momentarily shrouded in mist, obscuring the view.

Misty and Brock, watching from the sidelines, gasped.

"He did it!" Misty cheered, gripping the railing.

Brock nodded, impressed. "Ash figured out Fire Spin's biggest weakness—the wider it spreads, the weaker the core. By aiming at the base, Wartortle broke the attack before it could trap him."

As the steam began to clear, Wartortle stood its ground, panting slightly but unscathed.

Ash exhaled in relief. That was close. If Wartortle had been caught inside that inferno, the continuous burn damage would have made the battle even harder.

But Blaine… just laughed.

"Hah! You really are something else, kid!" The Cinnabar Gym Leader adjusted his sunglasses, a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

"Not bad, not bad! Most challengers panic when caught in Fire Spin… but you figured out a way to counter it immediately."

His expression darkened slightly. "But let's see just how long you can keep resisting!"

A New Challenge: Fire Blast!

"Alright, Ninetales—Fire Blast!"

Ash's heart skipped a beat.

Fire Blast?!

That wasn't just any Fire-type move—it was one of the strongest Fire-type attacks in existence!

Misty's eyes widened in shock. "No way… Is Blaine really going all out already?!"

"Ninetales must be incredibly strong if it can use Fire Blast like this…" Brock muttered, his fists clenched.

Ninetales stepped forward, its fiery red eyes glowing intensely. The air around it crackled with heat as a massive surge of Fire-type energy began building in its mouth.

WHOOSH!

With a mighty cry, Ninetales fired a condensed fireball straight into the air.

And then—

BOOM!

The fireball exploded mid-air, expanding into the shape of a massive, burning kanji (大) symbol!

The entire battlefield was bathed in an eerie red-orange glow, as the scorching flames roared toward Wartortle like an unstoppable force.

Ash's mind raced. Hydro Pump worked against Fire Spin, but this was completely different.

Fire Blast was faster, stronger, and far more concentrated.

Hydro Pump alone wouldn't be enough.

And dodging?

Impossible.

"I have to weaken it first!"

Ash clenched his fists. "Wartortle, Hydro Pump—then use Rapid Spin!"

Wartortle didn't hesitate.

It blasted another high-pressure Hydro Pump, this time aiming directly at the center of the approaching Fire Blast.

The two forces collided head-on—

BOOM!

But unlike Fire Spin, Fire Blast was too strong to be fully extinguished!

Though part of the flames were weakened, the remaining energy still surged forward, threatening to engulf Wartortle!

That's when Wartortle began spinning.

"Now! Rapid Spin!"

Wartortle tucked into its shell and spun rapidly, the force of the spin sending jets of water spraying outward!

The moment Fire Blast made contact, Wartortle's spinning body deflected the remaining flames, dispersing them into harmless embers.

WHOOOOSH!

The attack dissipated.

And when Wartortle finally stopped spinning, it stood proudly, completely unharmed.

A Moment of Silence… Then Applause!

For a brief second, there was silence.

And then—

Blaine grinned.

"HAHAHAHAHA!" His laughter echoed through the underground battlefield.

"Now this is what I call a battle!" He pushed his sunglasses higher up the bridge of his nose, still chuckling.

"Using Rapid Spin to deflect Fire Blast… That was some quick thinking, kid."

Ash wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Phew… That was way too close."

Misty let out a sigh of relief. "I thought for sure Wartortle was done for!"

Brock smirked. "Ash figured out how to neutralize the attack at the last second. That's what makes him different from most trainers."

Blaine crossed his arms. "Alright then, Ash. You've earned my respect so far, but…"

His expression turned serious.

"This battle is far from over!"

The heat of the battlefield intensified.

With both trainers fired up, the battle was just getting started!