Chapter 147: Chapter 147: The Brewing Storm
Water sprayed through the air, yet Charizard deftly evaded it.
During its earlier battle against Infernape, Charizard had successfully used Dragon Dance, increasing its speed by one stage. This newfound agility allowed it to dodge Blastoise's attack and execute a second Dragon Dance.
"Blastoise, use Water Pulse!"
Lynch's command rang out as Blastoise aimed its cannons at the airborne Charizard, unleashing a barrage of water projectiles.
Lynch's strategy was straightforward: force Charizard into a defensive stance, wearing it down.
After two intense battles, Charizard's stamina was already below half. Even if Blastoise's attacks didn't directly hit, they could gradually sap its remaining energy.
"Charizard, use Heat Wave, then follow with Dragon Rush!"
A searing heatwave swept down from above, obliterating the Water Pulse projectiles.
Charizard's body became enveloped in draconic energy, transforming into a brilliant blue dragon. With wings spread wide, it dove down from the heavens.
"Blastoise, counter with Hydro Pump!"
Lynch, a seasoned Pokémon trainer and examiner, was no stranger to Pokémon like this Blastoise.
Upon hearing Lynch's command, Blastoise surrounded itself with humid air as water streams materialized around it. The twin cannons on its back shot powerful torrents skyward, merging with the surrounding water into a massive geyser that engulfed Charizard in an instant.
Charizard's health began plummeting rapidly, dropping below one-third.
The Blaze ability activated, causing flames to erupt fiercely around Charizard as its inner strength surged.
"Charizard, carve a path through the water with Heat Wave and break free!" Ron's voice reached Charizard, inspiring it to action.
With a powerful beat of its wings, Charizard unleashed an intensified Heat Wave, its power boosted by Blaze. The blazing winds tore through the water currents, dissipating them instantly.
Charizard emerged from the cascading torrent, its determination unwavering.
"Charizard, use Flamethrower to clear the way, then charge with Wing Attack!"
With Blaze enhancing its moves, Flamethrower's base power shot up to 165, surpassing even that of Hyper Beam.
"Blastoise, counter with Hydro Pump again!"
Water and fire clashed violently, creating thick steam that obscured Blastoise's vision.
Though their levels were comparable, Blaze gave Charizard a significant edge. But Ron knew the trade-off: with Charizard's health so low, even a minor mistake could cost them the battle.
Time was not on Charizard's side. If Ron didn't act swiftly, Charizard would collapse from exhaustion.
The intense flames evaporated the water, and the diminished Flamethrower struck Blastoise directly.
Charizard followed up with a glowing Wing Attack, colliding against Blastoise's sturdy shell.
"Charizard, turn and attack with Dragon Claw and Shadow Claw!"
As Charizard landed, it spun swiftly and lunged at the reeling Blastoise.
"Blastoise, use Flash Cannon to block!"
Blastoise struggled to stabilize itself in mid-air, its cannons glowing as energy charged. But it was too slow.
Charizard's Dragon Claw raked across Blastoise's face, interrupting its attack, followed immediately by a Shadow Claw.
"Blastoise, retreat into your shell!"
At Lynch's command, Blastoise withdrew into its shell, boosting its defense.
"Charizard, roast that shell with Flamethrower, then take Blastoise into the air and throw it!"
With Blastoise's heightened defenses, Ron knew brute force wouldn't suffice. The only way was to force Blastoise out of its shell and strike decisively.
Charizard gripped Blastoise tightly with its claws, flames pouring from its mouth as its wings carried them skyward.
Lynch watched intently, unsure how to counter.
At the apex of its flight, Charizard hurled Blastoise toward the ground.
"Blastoise, counterattack with Hydro Pump!"
As Blastoise plummeted, it unleashed a powerful Hydro Pump toward Charizard.
"This ends now! Charizard, use Flare Blitz combined with Blast Burn!"
In an instant, the sky turned into an inferno, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
Who could have imagined that a simple evaluation battle would escalate to this spectacle?
The flames consumed Blastoise's Hydro Pump, engulfing it entirely.
Exhausted, Charizard finally fell from the sky, completely drained.
Ron swiftly recalled it to its Poké Ball to prevent further injury.
The blazing field simmered down after a moment, revealing Blastoise, battered but still standing.
"What a shame," Ron said, sighing. "Alright, my second Pokémon, let's go!"
As the light from Ron's Poké Ball faded, an Electabuzz appeared on the battlefield.
Lynch sighed in relief. At least Ron hadn't managed to sweep him with one Pokémon.
But he knew the outcome was inevitable. Electabuzz swiftly finished off the weakened Blastoise with ease.
"So this is the evaluation exam? It wasn't that hard," Ron remarked, holding the badge Lynch had awarded him. His words sparked a mix of admiration and indignation from the onlookers.
As Ron left the Pokémon Center, he was stopped by a young man.
"Hello, my name is Dunn Wade."
Taking a moment to observe the Dunn Wade standing before him, Ron noticed that the outwardly cheerful demeanor of Dunn could easily win over people's goodwill. However, Ron couldn't shake the feeling that there was something insincere about him.
Especially given the information conveyed by Kirlia, Ron's suspicions were only further confirmed.
"What do you want?"
Seeing through the man's character, Ron spoke in a noticeably colder tone.
"It's like this. I know of you, Ron. With your strength and performance, it's clear you're aiming to participate in the Indigo League by earning Gym Badges."
"That's why I want to buy your Qualification Badge. Rest assured, the price will definitely satisfy you. And since Qualification Badges aren't bound to a specific trainer, there won't be any issues with the transaction."
Putting on what he thought was a friendly smile, Dunn Wade directly revealed his intentions.
"I'm sorry, but I refuse."
Without a second thought, Ron flatly rejected him.
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