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Pikachu borrowed the momentum of the sliding ice to propel himself forward, using Iron Tail's power to launch himself toward Pete's Vaporeon.
"Use Acid Armor!" Seeing this, Pete reacted quickly.
Upon hearing the command, Vaporeon's body liquefied once more. As Pikachu's Iron Tail swung toward it, the moment of impact, Vaporeon's entire form suddenly collapsed into water.
Iron Tail passed harmlessly through the liquefied Pokémon. Vaporeon transformed into a puddle and spread across the ice surface.
"Vaporeon used Acid Armor to cleverly avoid Pikachu's attack!"
The announcer exclaimed at the skillful maneuver. The defensive play was indeed impressive.
"Hmph! Even if you can adapt to the field, it's useless!" After watching his Pokémon evade the attack, Pete silently congratulated himself on his quick reaction.
"Really?" However, at that moment, Ash's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Having just witnessed Vaporeon's liquefying technique, Ash had already formulated his counter-strategy. He'd anticipated that Vaporeon would use this move to avoid attacks.
But after using Acid Armor, Vaporeon's entire body became water—and ice itself could conduct electricity. Liquefying on an ice field was tantamount to self-destruction.
"Oh no! Vaporeon, get away!" After hearing Ash's command, Pete's expression changed dramatically.
"It's too late—Vaporeon has nowhere to hide!"
"Pika... CHU!"
Pikachu leaped high into the air, shocking electrical energy crackling across his body. The power of Thunderbolt discharged directly from above. Faced with such an attack, Vaporeon had no means of escape.
Boom!
Thunder and lightning continuously bombarded the ice surface. The powerful electrical energy spread outward, striking everything in the surrounding area. Vaporeon had nowhere to run and was struck instantly by the devastating shock.
"Vaporeon!"
With a pained cry, Vaporeon's body gradually materialized within the electrical current. Then the area exploded repeatedly, filling the air with thick smoke.
Pikachu descended from the sky and landed gracefully on the ice. As the smoke gradually dispersed, deep craters caused by Thunderbolt's impact appeared across the frozen battlefield.
As the smoke cleared completely, Vaporeon lay in one of the pits, its body charred and unconscious in the ice hole.
"Vaporeon is unable to battle! That Thunderbolt was incredibly effective!"
The announcer's voice rang out immediately. On the large screen, one of the indicator lights beneath Pete's portrait went dark.
Pete frowned when he saw this, clenching his fists. After a moment's consideration, he retrieved his Poké Ball and recalled Vaporeon.
"Player Ash has taken the lead! What Pokémon will player Pete send out next to turn the tide?"
Since the preliminary rounds only allowed three Pokémon per trainer—unlike the finals—falling behind by one meant significant pressure.
After Pete recalled his Poké Ball, he quickly selected his second one.
"Go, Cloyster!"
Pete threw his second Poké Ball. Soon his next Pokémon materialized on the field—a large purple shell with a prominent eye-like pattern.
When the shell opened, it revealed the inner pearl-like sphere and sharp spikes, along with a rather peculiar-looking face.
"Oh! Contestant Pete's second Pokémon is Cloyster!"
The announcer sounded somewhat confused seeing Pete send out Cloyster, because Cloyster also excelled in icy battle conditions.
However, Cloyster was both an Ice-type and Water-type Pokémon, meaning it was still vulnerable to Pikachu's Electric attacks. Moreover, unlike Vaporeon's agility, Cloyster wasn't very mobile due to its large, heavy shell. Facing Pikachu's speed could leave it helpless.
Looking at Pete's expression, Ash could understand his dilemma. He probably had limited options and sent out Cloyster as his best available choice.
Without knowing what Pokémon your opponent would use in advance, trainers could only make educated guesses.
Mistakes in prediction or misjudging an opponent's strength could cause deviations from your original battle plan.
If Vaporeon had managed to defeat Pikachu initially, bringing out Cloyster afterward would have been fine. But having lost the first round to Pikachu, Pete now had no choice but to use Cloyster.
"Cloyster, use Aurora Beam!"
Pete wasted no time launching his attack. Clearly, he didn't want to give Pikachu the first strike.
"Pikachu, get back on the ice!"
Ash quickly called out his counter. Hearing the command, Pikachu swiftly jumped onto another ice chunk and used his tail to push off.
Once again utilizing the ice blocks to glide rapidly across the field, Pikachu began dodging. Cloyster launched its attack—a colorful aurora gleamed from the spike atop its shell before firing forward.
Pikachu continuously weaved between the beams of light, using the sliding ice to evade quickly. However, Cloyster's attacks came in rapid succession—it was clearly well-practiced at this stationary bombardment strategy.
"Jump off the ice rock!" Ash shouted to Pikachu.
After hearing the command, Pikachu steered his ice platform behind one of the large ice formations, then slid forward directly.
Whoosh!
When approaching the ice rock, Pikachu's tail suddenly exerted tremendous force. Pikachu launched himself directly onto the ice formation, his entire body flying through the air like a surfer catching a wave.
"Zippy Zap!"
Airborne, Pikachu separated from the ice beneath him. The moment he began descending, electrical arcs suddenly erupted across his body. He swooped downward through the air like a golden meteor, his speed absolutely incredible.
"What kind of move is that?!"
Pete had never seen a technique like Zippy Zap before. Not only him—the entire audience, including the announcer, was witnessing this move for the first time.
"So fast! Player Ash's Pikachu just used a unique move we've never seen before!" the announcer exclaimed in amazement.
Pikachu descended from the sky at such blistering speed that the sparks trailing him could barely be tracked by the naked eye. Pete could only react hastily.
"Cloyster, use Withdraw!"
After hearing the command, Cloyster quickly sealed its shell tight. A burst of light immediately emanated from the closed shell, indicating that Cloyster's defensive capabilities were rapidly increasing.
Boom!
Pikachu plummeted from above, and Zippy Zap struck Cloyster's shell directly, triggering a powerful explosion instantly. Smoke billowed outward as everyone watched the scene with bated breath, waiting to see the result of the clash.