The blazing flames burned on the field, fierce eyes appeared in Monferno's eyes, and as Super Blaze was activated, Monferno's rationality began to gradually be devoured.
Although Monferno managed to control that power with Ash's help the first time it activated Super Blaze, Monferno would still go berserk later when it actively harnessed the power of Super Blaze.
When physical strength drops below fifty percent, Monferno can choose to actively trigger Super Blaze. Although this power is usable when strength is halved, the difficulty of controlling it increases exponentially for some unknown reason.
Even with Ash's help, the probability of controlling that power is only fifty-fifty, while passively triggered Super Blaze, when Monferno's physical strength drops to thirty percent, is relatively easy to control.
The boy and the monkey kept trying after that, and finally concluded that triggering Super Blaze at fifty percent has a fifty percent chance to control it, while in the other half, Ash can't awaken Monferno at all, and Monferno rampages until his strength drains completely, then returns to normal.
And after his strength drops to thirty percent, they have a more than ninety percent chance to control the power of Fierce Fire, needing only Monferno to elevate his strength one more level to likely reach one hundred percent.
The reason Monferno can control Super Blaze is because of Ash's presence; Ash can inject power through Aura Fusion, retaining Monferno's rationality.
As Monferno's power grows, Ash can infuse stronger power; therefore, as long as Monferno's level rises, Ash can ensure Monferno's clarity even if Super Blaze is triggered at fifty percent strength.
However, this is only a temporary solution, as in the future Monferno will definitely need to control this power himself, but in the Quartz Conference, being able to use Super Blaze like this is already fortunate, much better than being unable to use it.
Monferno's capital to challenge beyond his level, aside from Ash's Aura Power, hinges on this Super Blaze.
Facing Gym-level opponents, Ash's Aura Power alone is insufficient to meet that intensity, so Monferno must quickly trigger Super Blaze.
Just now, even though it was merely grazed by Flare Blitz, Monferno's strength still dropped below half, meeting the basic conditions needed to trigger Super Blaze, but Monferno himself felt fear within.
On one side, this isn't practice; it's a real battle. If he goes berserk during it facing Gym-level opponents, it won't be something his uncontrollable rage and lack of rationality can resolve.
On the other hand, the opponent is Paul; Monferno wants to prove himself in front of Paul and does not want to be embarrassed, hence is even more fearful of triggering Fierce Fire.
But once Ash's encouraging words rang out, Monferno felt everything else was unimportant; trusting Ash and himself, showing the utmost strength, leaving no regrets.
He wants to prove himself in front of Paul - though that's just a secondary goal - the main goal should be helping Ash win this battle!
"Roar!!" Ferocious flames coiled around Monferno, forming a vortex of fire enveloping Monferno inside. The heat of this flame was just slightly lower than Magmortar's Flare Blitz.
"Finally used it? Is this the capital of your pride in challenging beyond levels? Let me see to what extent this power can really be unleashed." Face indifferent to Super Blaze, Paul's expression remained coldly indifferent, as it was long expected Ash would use this power.
Without this power, Ash wouldn't have the confidence to let Monferno stand on the finals stage, but Paul still believes that even if this power is unleashed, Monferno is insufficiently qualified to be on this stage now.
The future is his, but now... it is not.
"Magmortar, Flamethrower." Paul still started with Flamethrower to probe; the blazing fire burst from Magmortar's twin barrels engulfing Monferno's figure.
Now Monferno's eyes still flashed with ferocity and struggle, obviously not entirely controlling this power yet. But the opponent's attack had arrived. If hit by the twin Flamethrowers, Monferno's chance to activate Fierce Fire would be completely wasted.
Activating Super Blaze voluntarily is to preserve more strength to utilize this power, but if struck by the opponent's attack upon activating it, and fatally diminishing physical strength instead, wouldn't that defeat the purpose?
In the split second before Flamethrower hit, Monferno's rampage finally vanished, meanwhile, a sharp light flashed in his eyes—Detect!
The twin flames like before crossed Monferno's body, ultimately colliding behind him, exploding.
Paul finally understood this move was what Bellsprout used against Ash in the fourth preliminary match.
This move, rather than a Pokemon move, was more akin to human martial arts, operating on the principle of four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds, named—Tai Chi.