After a brief silence, the live stream chat exploded with comments flooding the screen.
"Was that move Magikarp just used really 'Tackle'? With that kind of power, you could tell me it was 'Take Down' and I'd believe it!"
"And Magikarp's reaction speed was insane too. After the first attack failed, it immediately launched a second assault without giving its opponent any breathing room.
Meanwhile, Goldeen just stood there looking like the lights are on but nobody's home."
"Doesn't everyone say Magikarp is the weakest, most useless Pokémon? So why does it feel like the streamer's Magikarp looks absolutely brutal in battle? Are you sure it's not a Gyarados wearing a Magikarp costume?"
"The Magikarp species is weak, but the streamer's raised this one exceptionally well. Its stats are way above the species average. The streamer might actually win the Cascade Badge."
...
Watching the constant stream of comments, Caster just smiled without saying a word.
Tackle was a basic move while Take Down was an advanced technique with vastly different power levels.
But Magikarp's Tackle had reached the master level, which to some extent made up for the move's lower tier, creating an impressive display when executed.
Moreover, Magikarp had consumed an 'X Attack,' strengthening its offensive power, so naturally it didn't fear Goldeen.
Besides, Lily's Goldeen was obviously bred for appearance, with vibrant colors but lacking battle training (all flash, no substance).
So Caster wasn't surprised by this outcome.
By the pool's edge.
Defeated, Lily recalled her Goldeen and left the field dejectedly. "Big sis, second sis, I lost!"
"It's okay! Leave it to me now!"
After patting Lily's shoulder reassuringly, eldest sister Daisy stepped up to the command position. "Go, Seel!"
The Poké Ball opened, and a Seel with a bump on its head, upward-curving teeth on either side of its mouth, tongue sticking out, and a tail split in two at the end jumped into the water, looking adorably clumsy.
"Seel, use Aurora Beam!"
This time, Daisy launched the offensive first.
"Hawo~"
Seel nodded and released a multicolored beam from the horn on its head.
Wherever the rainbow beam passed, the clear pool water froze solid, turning into ice.
"Magikarp, swim and dodge it!"
Caster responded calmly.
Like Goldeen, this Seel clearly lacked training too. Aurora Beam's power was mediocre and its speed was slow.
With Magikarp's speed and reflexes, it would be extremely hard to hit.
"Karu~"
Magikarp swam rapidly through the pool, moving so fast that the water behind it formed a vacuum trail.
"Why is this Magikarp so fast? When it swims through the water, it's practically leaving afterimages."
The three Cerulean Sisters were shocked.
Strong attack power was one thing, but this speed too?
Seel tried to chase but couldn't keep up at all!
Hearing this, Caster chuckled inwardly. "My Magikarp has the same speed stat as the pseudo-legendary Dragonite.
What makes you think your Seel is in any position to compete with me on speed?"
(/n: dragonite speed is 80)
Not to mention Magikarp's 'Splash' skill was also at the master level, providing an extremely strong boost to swimming. It would be weird if it wasn't fast.
But soon, Caster couldn't laugh anymore.
Because as Seel kept using Aurora Beam, although Magikarp wasn't getting hit, the pool water kept freezing, making Magikarp's maneuvering space increasingly smaller.
With the field becoming restricted, Magikarp's speed advantage was rapidly disappearing.
"Little guy, you can't escape from big sister's grasp."
Daisy licked her lips smugly. "Time is running out for your Magikarp!"
Caster glanced at Seel. Although both it and its trainer thought victory was in the bag, the Pokémon was inevitably starting to pant.
"But Seel's stamina is also running low."
The corner of Caster's mouth curved up slightly.
In the real world, Pokémon not only lose stamina when injured, but also when using moves.
This could be compared to Ash's Snorlax battling Blackthorn Gym Leader Clair's Kingdra. Even though Kingdra was the attacker and never took damage, prolonged battle still left it gasping for breath.
By now, Seel had used Aurora Beam no less than seven or eight times. Not only was its stamina more than half depleted, but the move's power had clearly weakened considerably.
For Magikarp and Caster, this was both a crisis and an opportunity!
"Magikarp!"
Seeing the moment was ripe, Caster shouted, "Head straight into the Aurora Beam and use Tackle at maximum power!"
"Karu~"
Magikarp's eyes focused. Its tail thrashed wildly as its red body shot forward like an arrow toward the nearby Seel.
"Hawo~"
Seeing this, Seel got excited and quickly aimed its Aurora Beam at the charging Magikarp.
Whoosh!
As the Aurora Beam enveloped it, Magikarp immediately felt a bone-chilling cold that seemed intent on freezing it solid. The surrounding water also showed faint signs of crystallizing.
However, compared to the beginning, Seel's beam had noticeably thinned and its brilliance had dimmed considerably. Its power had dropped significantly.
"Karu~"
Magikarp's gaze remained resolute. It pushed forward through the beam relentlessly, allowing ice crystals to form on its body surface while refusing to retreat.
Before long, Magikarp was frozen into a large ice ball.
"We did it!"
Daisy was overjoyed.
But the next second, the three Cerulean Sisters' smiles froze.
Although Magikarp was frozen solid, because it had been moving so fast before, the massive ice ball continued forward by sheer momentum.
Meanwhile, Seel's stamina had truly hit its limit. Even dodging had become difficult.
BOOM!
Unable to evade, Seel was struck hard by the ice ball containing Magikarp.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
After the violent collision, the ice ball began to shatter and Magikarp broke free.
As for Seel, its eyes were spinning in circles, completely unable to battle.
"Wait, what? Did I see that right? Magikarp just got a double kill!"
"Oh my god! How can a Magikarp be this strong? That was so cool!"
"It's not just Magikarp. The streamer's timing for that attack was brilliant. A moment earlier, and Aurora Beam's full power would've frozen Magikarp completely immobile.
A moment later, and most of the pool would've been frozen over. Magikarp wouldn't even be able to swim properly and would've been caught like a fish in a barrel."
"Streamer is awesome! Magikarp is the best!"
"Holy crap! Is the streamer actually going to win the badge today? Is that guy who said he was here to mooch food and drinks still around?"
...
In the live stream, massive amounts of comments flooded the screen.
The viewers who'd come in earlier to watch the spectacle had unknowingly changed their attitudes.
They no longer dared to look down on Caster and Magikarp.
If Caster actually won the badge, that would be legendary.
And they would all be witnesses!
But after the initial shock, viewers began worrying about Magikarp's condition.
Taking a direct hit from Aurora Beam and even getting frozen, Magikarp's stamina had dropped to rock bottom.
If not for its physical condition far exceeding its species norm, it would've already lost.
Even so, Magikarp was already gasping heavily.
"Karu~"
Still, Magikarp's fighting spirit was strong, with flames seemingly burning fiercely in its eyes.
I'm taking all three of you down!!!
"I lost too!"
By the pool, Daisy stepped down from the command position dejectedly, passing the baton to second sister Violet.
"Now it's my turn!"
Violet stepped forward confidently, grinning. "That little guy is really strong. But we won't lose too badly, after all, his Magikarp's stamina is already hanging by a thread..."
Violet confidently threw a Poké Ball. "Come out, Staryu!"
Red light flashed, and a golden-brown, star-shaped Pokémon appeared.
"Hanging by a thread?"
Caster couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "You actually dare say that? Talk about not knowing your limits!"
"Staryu, don't give Magikarp any time to breathe."
Violet waved her hand dramatically. "Use Rapid Spin to break through the ice and charge in!"
Both Staryu and Magikarp were in the water, but because of Seel's earlier Aurora Beam, large chunks of ice were floating in the pool, separating the two Pokémon.
So if Staryu wanted to attack, it first had to get past the ice barrier.
"Hya~"
Staryu's body began spinning rapidly, its hard form like a sharp blade. Ice chunks turned to fragments wherever it passed, unstoppable all the way.
Caster narrowed his eyes, quietly watching Staryu approach closer and closer, seemingly oblivious.
And before him, Magikarp closed its eyes as if resigned to its fate.
"What's going on with Fish Guy? The enemy's practically at his doorstep and he's not reacting at all? Is he just giving up on the battle?"
"After a one-versus-two with stamina at rock bottom, facing a fresh Staryu at full health and condition, what good would actively responding do anyway? Do you have a way to break this deadlock?"
"Exactly! Old Fish and Magikarp making it this far already exceeded everyone's expectations. We can't demand that Magikarp sweep all three, can we?"
"In this battle, Old Fish and Magikarp performed admirably. Even in defeat, they've earned glory!"
...
Almost everyone believed Caster and Magikarp were doomed. The only difference was some thought they should do something while others thought they'd already done enough.
But when Staryu crossed all obstacles and reached Magikarp, Caster suddenly moved, shouting abruptly, "Flail!"
"Karu~"
The moment the words fell, Magikarp, which had been quietly accumulating strength with its eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open.
Its brow furrowed in fury as it rose up like a madman, violent and wild, attacking in a frenzy.
The moment Staryu got close, it was sent flying by Magikarp's terrifying power barrage. Not only was its body launched out of the water, it slammed hard into the ceiling of the facility, embedding itself deep within.
As for its eyes, they'd long since been spinning in circles.
Staryu, instant KO!!!
As for the venue and live stream, there was complete silence.
Neither the three Cerulean Sisters nor the stream viewers expected that Caster and Magikarp had been hiding 'Flail' up their sleeve, using it at the critical moment to turn defeat into victory.
Magikarp had gone godlike!
It had completed a one-versus-three sweep!
And in a Gym battle, no less.
This might not be unprecedented, but it was absolutely a first in history.