"Arcanine, get out of there—now!"
Blue flames roared into the tunnel, and in the same instant, Ash's eyes flared with Aura. His vision sharpened, the world slowing just enough for him to guide his partner. With a blur of motion, Arcanine burst from another point on the battlefield just as the tunnel erupted.
BOOM!!!
Flames exploded skyward, geysers of fire blasting from the earth. The hole Arcanine had dug became a pillar of burning blue, proof of how narrowly he had escaped.
"Ninetales is a Fire-type too. If I use Ash Accumulation here, it'll only backfire. Blaine definitely knows that…" Ash exhaled in relief, though his mind kept racing.
He was right. Blaine had long since studied every notable Trainer and their unique skills. Whenever the heirs of great families or promising challengers appeared, Blaine ensured he understood their strengths before they even reached his Gym.
Ash frowned. I didn't expect my Aura to be influenced by emotions this much… Even if it grants clarity, it has its limits. I'll need to study this later.
The glow in his eyes shifted, intensifying—his Aura perception evolving to a higher state.
Cynthia's eyes widened. "Ash… he's getting serious."
"Serious? Don't tell me he was holding back until now?" Lorelei muttered in disbelief. She knew Ash's strength was already comparable to the greatest of Champions. To think he still had reserves left to call upon—it sounded absurd.
"It's not that he was holding back," Cynthia explained calmly. "Ash's Aura perception has levels. When he enters this state, his insight sharpens drastically—he can even see through some Pokémon techniques before they're fully unleashed."
Lorelei still looked doubtful, but she couldn't deny the shift in atmosphere.
"Arcanine—Fireball!" Ash commanded.
With a deep roar, Arcanine spat out a massive fireball, its size dwarfing even Fire Blast. The blazing sphere hurtled toward Ninetales.
Blaine narrowed his eyes. "Impressive, but the speed is lacking. Ninetales, dodge."
Ninetales leapt gracefully aside. Blaine shook his head. "For all the grandeur, this so-called original technique is riddled with flaws."
"Is that so?" Ash's lips curved into a faint smile.
Just as Ninetales cleared the fireball, Arcanine flashed forward, hidden in its shadow, and slammed bodily into Blaine's Pokémon. The collision sent Ninetales skidding back across the battlefield.
"What—!?" Blaine's eyes widened. "When did it get that close?"
"The fireball isn't about speed," Ash explained coolly, his hands tucked in his pockets. His Aura vision kept him calm, calculating. "Its size blocks the opponent's line of sight. The moment Ninetales dodged, Arcanine was already on her."
Realization dawned. The oversized fireball wasn't meant to hit—it was meant to conceal.
"Grrrhh!"
Ninetales cried out, clearly shaken. Even a Champion's partner had limits, and the clash had drained her further. Between the earlier Psychic exertion and now this blow, her stamina had dropped to half.
Meanwhile, Arcanine, bolstered by the Eight Gates technique, still burned with energy. His movements blurred as he darted around the arena, using blinding Quick Attacks in every direction.
"Uhh–Ohhh–Ohhh!"
His speed left only afterimages. Ninetales spun, eyes darting, but she couldn't lock onto his position.
Cynthia narrowed her gaze. "In this situation, Blaine's best option is to switch out Ninetales…"
It was a pity this was a Gym battle. Unlike standard matches, the Gym Leader couldn't switch out Pokémon—only the challenger had that privilege once per battle.
"Ninetales, Double Team—then use Calm Mind!"
Seeing Arcanine's speed become overwhelming, Blaine acted quickly, hoping the illusions would buy Ninetales time to restore her depleted mental energy.
"Useless. My Arcanine's sense of smell is unrivaled. Arcanine, Fire Blast!" Ash's voice rang with confidence.
Even without scent, Ash's Aura vision could easily pierce through Double Team's illusions. With both Aura and instinct working together, the deception crumbled. This was payback for the tricks Blaine had pulled earlier.
Blaine's pupils contracted sharply. Not good! But it was already too late.
The impact earlier had left Arcanine and Ninetales close to one another. And with Ninetales locked in the stillness of Calm Mind, she couldn't move in time.
A blazing kanji-shaped inferno exploded point-blank.
"AAOOOHHH!"
The elegant fox cried out, her beautiful golden fur singed and tangled, her body staggering under the devastating strike. She had already suffered from earlier blows and mental exertion—it was a miracle she could still stand.
Blaine let out a long breath, then gave a wry smile. "So be it… Ninetales, if we're going down, we'll go down fighting. Use… Overheat!"
At once, Ninetales' body erupted in a crimson glow, flames gathering wildly. A burning sphere of immense destructive power swelled in her maw—the Fire-type's ultimate gambit.
The crowd fell silent. Even Cynthia and Lorelei leaned forward, tension tightening the air.
This was it: a clash that could decide the entire battle.
...
TN:
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