Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

It felt every cell in its body burning, shouting, and cheering!

"Gaaah—!!!"

The roar of the Charizard pierced through the clamor of the battlefield.

Its eyes, which were already full of fighting spirit, now shone even brighter, as if two clusters of real blue flames were burning in its pupils.

Facing the Blazing Roaring Tiger, which was far larger and stronger than itself, it did not back down in the slightest, but instead took the initiative to charge!

"Foolish! You have no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation! Incineroar, Hell Thrust!" Cross grinned maliciously, commanding Incineroar's claws, which were wrapped in dark Dark-type energy, to pierce Charmeleon's heart.

In this regard.

Ash just stared at Cross... and vaguely saw a black shadow on Cross.

of course.

The fighting nearby did not stop because of the two's standoff.

Faced with the Blazing Roaring Tiger's Hell Thrust, Charmeleon's actions changed.

It did not choose to engage in a firefight with jets of flame, nor did it rely on speed to evade.

Guided by Ash's synchronized aura perception, which incorporates the essence of fighting, its body seemed to possess its own combat intelligence.

In a synchronized state, waveguides can move at high speed and sense each other.

Charmeleon doesn't need to use its own eyes to see; the information it receives from Ash tells it about the bigger picture.

Just like playing a game from a third-person perspective.

A scene quite similar to this is the Six Paths of Pain in Naruto... the six puppets share a common field of vision.

Just as the Charmeleon's claws were about to strike, it made a tiny, precise sidestep, like a matador dodging a bull, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow.

At the same time, it delivered a swift chop with its right claw, striking the inside of the arm joint of the Fiery Roaring Tiger as it swung its arm!

At the Battle Arena, Ash and Charmeleon received a significant power boost.

The most typical example is learning how to use [basic attacks].

Unlike in games where only skills are used, real-world Pokémon battles often involve [normal attacks].

This is even more pronounced in terms of fighting skills.

Interrupting the opponent's skills with basic attacks that have shorter wind-up times, consume less resources, and are less burdensome... is one of the essential basic skills to learn in fighting games.

Compared to normal attacks, Pokémon's moves are indeed much more powerful, but they also consume a lot of resources.

"Oh!"

A muffled thud was followed by a painful groan from the Blazing Roaring Tiger.

That wasn't the burning of flames, but a penetrating impact.

It was as if a hidden force had directly penetrated its muscles and bones, causing its entire arm to go numb instantly, and its attack to come to an abrupt halt.

This is also one of the drawbacks of biological Pokémon... physical conditioned reflexes.

That said, biological Pokémon do have many drawbacks compared to inorganic Pokémon.

This is a factor that may not seem significant in normal times, but it has a huge impact when a real fight breaks out.

For example, whether or not one needs to breathe... This is an adaptation to extreme environments.

"What?!" Cross's pupils contracted.

This is not how Pokémon battles are as he understands them at all!

There are no dazzling skill-based clashes, only the most primitive and dangerous close-quarters combat.

Although his Blazing Roaring Tiger looks ferocious and powerful, it is not actually good at fighting.

They simply rely on their stronger physique and more powerful skills to overpower their opponents.

This is very useful in most Pokémon battles where players like to unleash powerful attacks.

However, once they encounter an opponent who prefers high-precision control... they will be completely outmaneuvered.

The fighting style has completely changed.

The occasional bursts of flame seemed more like a distraction or a feint.

The real killer move is the fighting technique that is integrated into every move and every stance.

Charmeleon is like a true fighter, with agile and varied movements, sometimes flitting like a butterfly among flowers, and sometimes as solid as a rock.

It uses its relatively small size to constantly cut into the blind spots of the Blazing Roaring Tiger's attacks.

...This is the problem inherent in close-quarters combat.

...Just like many strong men can't scratch their own backs.

...one's actions can be restricted by one's own body.

"Gah!" A kick imbued with the power of aura swept across the ankle of the Fiery Roaring Tiger's supporting leg.

The Fiery Roaring Tiger staggered.

"Roar!" It angrily waved its other paw, trying to grab the slippery opponent.

Charmeleon then ducked down and used the "Iron Lean" move that Ash had learned from Ash and practiced at the dojo.

The shoulder, imbued with the full force and energy of the body, slammed into the Blazing Roaring Tiger's waist and ribs like a battering ram.

"Boom!"

The heavy impact made my teeth ache.

The Blazing Roaring Tiger was forced to retreat repeatedly, its face showing pain and disbelief.

Its pride in its strength and defense seems to have lost its purpose in the face of such skillful fighting techniques.

It can withstand the damage from fire, but this kind of impact that directly affects the inside of the body causes its internal organs to churn violently.

"impossible!"

"Fiery Roaring Tiger, what are you doing!"

"Use explosive flames!"

"Burn it to ashes!"

Cross roared in exasperation.

He couldn't accept that his carefully nurtured final evolution was at a disadvantage against the Charizard he had abandoned.

The Blazing Roaring Tiger roared, attempting to gather powerful fire energy.

But Charmeleon didn't give it that chance!

With Ash's synchronized waveguide perception, Incineroar's body movements and muscle exertion are clearly visible.

Ash's instincts told him what Incineroar's next move would be.

Unlike those with superpowers who can foresee the future.

Predicting combat is a summary based on experience.

"Now!" Ash shouted in his heart.

Charmeleon understood immediately.

It poured all the waveguides and power within its body, as well as its resolute will to bid farewell to the past and prove itself, into this attack!

Instead of engaging in long-range beam strikes, it charged in again like a streak of crimson lightning.

Just before the Incineroar's explosive burst was about to take shape, Charmeleon unleashed its ultimate attack, which it had practiced for a long time and which combined fighting power with its own unique characteristics.

It leaped up suddenly, its body spinning rapidly in the air.

That tail, now engulfed in raging flames, was no longer just decoration; it had transformed into the most terrifying weapon!

Flame Charge?

Iron Tail?

I think so.

This is not just the power of fire!

The tail tore through the air, and the whistling sound it created contained a highly compressed and condensed waveguide!

"boom--!!!"

The burning tail cleaved like a battle axe into the Fiery Roaring Tiger's jaw.

This is one of the most vulnerable parts of a biological structure.

An uppercut, if it lands, can often be a fatal blow.

The chin is connected to the nerves in the head. The upward impact of this punch will directly shake the brain, easily causing dizziness, loss of balance, or even falling to the ground.

The same applies to biological Pokémon.

The penetrating damage caused by the fighting technique bursts out instantly!

The blazing roar of the tiger was abruptly interrupted as it was about to explode.

The massive body was sent flying upwards by this strike that gathered all its power.

Then it crashed heavily to the ground, splashing up a lot of mud and dust.

The Fiery Roaring Tiger struggled to get up.

But the excruciating pain in its jaw and the chaotic energy within its body made its limbs weak, and it collapsed back down several times without any power.

All he could do was let out painful sobs, his eyes filled with resentment and confusion.

It, the Blazing Roaring Tiger, lost.

It lost because of the very technique it once looked down upon.

Its pride in pure power lost in a head-on clash with skill.

"Gaaah...Gaaah!" Charizard landed on the ground, its body trembling slightly from exhaustion and depletion of energy.

It was panting heavily, and the flames on its body had dimmed considerably.

But Charmeleon still stood stubbornly, head held high, letting out a roar that was full of exhaustion but also of immense pride and exhilaration!

It did it!

It defeated this powerful enemy that had oppressed it countless times and symbolized its wretched past!

It helped Charmeleon resolve the knot in its heart.

Now it even has a sense of clarity.

"No...impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Cross was struck dumb, his eyes wide with shock.

He pointed at the Fiery Roaring Tiger lying on the ground and began to hurl insults in a fit of rage:

"waste!"

"Useless things!"

"Stand up!"

"You are the final evolved form!"

"How can we lose to a little lizard that hasn't even finished evolving!"

"Stand up!"

However, no matter how much he roared, the Blazing Roaring Tiger could only let out a weak groan.

Charmeleon's final strike, a fusion of aura and fighting essence, caused not only superficial damage but also a precise attack on brain function.

Concussions are difficult to recover from in a short period of time.

Unless they have no brains at all.

For example, Muk is completely immune to concussions.

Muddy: What is a brain?

Stinky Mud: I don't know.