"Interesting. This should count as Ash and Gary's very first Pokémon battle. I'll just watch from here and see what kind of foundation they have. Although Lotad has the type advantage, Poliwag isn't made of clay either. Its chances of winning are still pretty good."
Watching the battle unfold before him, Sato's eyes were filled with anticipation.
Both Poliwag and Lotad had been personally raised by him. He knew exactly what they were capable of. On the surface, Lotad clearly held the advantage in both typing and moves, but in reality, Poliwag possessed strengths that could completely offset those disadvantages.
Now it all depended on whether Ash could realize that.
Of course, that also depended on whether Gary would give Ash the opportunity.
...…...
Pokémon: Poliwag
Level: 28
Type: Water
Ability: Swift Swim
Gender: Male
Held Item: Everstone
Known Moves:Water Sport, Water Gun, Hypnosis, Bubble, Double Slap, Rain Dance, Body Slam, Bubble Beam, Mud Shot
Egg Moves:Bubble Beam, Mind Reader
Tutor Moves:Surf, Whirlpool, Dive, Waterfall, Icy Wind, Double Team
TM Moves:Protect, Hidden Power (Steel)
...…...
Pokémon: Lotad
Level: 28
Type: Water / Grass
Ability: Rain Dish
Gender: Female
Held Item: Everstone
Level-up Moves:Astonish, Growl, Absorb, Bubble, Nature Gift, Mist, Mega Drain, Bubble Beam, Nature Power, Rain Dance
Egg Moves:Leech Seed, Razor Leaf
Tutor Moves:Surf, Whirlpool, Dive, Waterfall, Icy Wind
TM Moves:Protect, Hidden Power (Ice)
...…...
Both Poliwag and Lotad strictly followed Sato's training.
Although they were now being commanded by two little kids, they still carried out Ash's and Gary's orders without hesitation.
Besides, the two had always been rivals and neither was willing to admit defeat.
The moment the battle began, both went all out.
A high-speed stream of water shot from Poliwag's mouth while a barrage of spinning leaves, slicing through the air with sharp whistles, flew from Lotad.
The two attacks collided head-on.
Neither side gained the upper hand.
Poliwag's Water Gun blasted apart many of the spinning leaves before striking Lotad, knocking her backward several steps.
At the same time, several leaves from Lotad's Razor Leaf curved around the water stream and flew directly toward Poliwag.
Although Poliwag desperately tried to dodge, one leaf still struck him, causing him to stagger backward several paces.
"Go, Poliwag! Jump into the stream and use Surf!"
Ash was still the same Ash who loved attacking far more than defending.
He didn't even consider the disadvantage of the type matchup and immediately ordered Poliwag to charge in with Surf.
Sato's Poliwag was naturally a combative Pokémon.
It had never been afraid even when facing Bagon head-on during training, so there was even less reason to fear Lotad.
Ash's command suited Poliwag perfectly.
Without the slightest hesitation, he leaped into the deep stream ahead.
Following the water-control techniques Swampert had once taught him, Poliwag quickly stirred the surrounding water, creating a small tidal wave centered around himself that rushed straight toward the riverbank.
Carrying the surging wave with him, Poliwag swept toward Lotad.
Instantly, the area where Lotad stood was flooded.
Because of her slow movement speed, she was swept into the current after taking only a few steps.
However...
Like a lotus leaf floating upon the water, Lotad calmly drifted atop the waves.
No matter how violent the current became, she floated effortlessly, using softness to overcome force and completely neutralizing Poliwag's Surf.
"Hah, you're too naïve, Ash. A tiny wave like that won't affect Lotad at all."
"Lotad, Poliwag should be within your attack range now. Use Mega Drain!"
Seeing this, Gary smugly mocked Ash.
As soon as the distance between Poliwag and Lotad shrank to less than five meters, he immediately ordered Lotad to attack.
Mega Drain wasn't a contact move, but its range was limited.
Once an opponent entered its effective range, the user could simply absorb the target's vitality and convert it into its own strength.
Receiving Gary's command, Lotad's eyes glowed green. At the same time, Poliwag's body also lit up with a green aura.
The next moment, Poliwag cried out in pain.
Countless emerald-green particles poured from his body before rapidly flowing into Lotad.
"Don't lose, Poliwag! Charge in and use Double Slap!"
Even now, retreating and defending never crossed Ash's mind.
Instead, he chose offense as defense and immediately ordered Poliwag to attack.
While suffering under Mega Drain, Poliwag's entire body ached.
Already frustrated, he gritted his teeth against the pain and charged straight at Lotad the moment he heard Ash's command.
"Darn it! Lotad, use Icy Wind!"
Seeing Ash recklessly sending Poliwag charging forward, Gary's expression immediately darkened.
However, he also knew Lotad's weakness—her short legs.
She simply couldn't outrun Poliwag. The only option was to meet the attack head-on.
It had to be said—
Ash's battle instincts were frightening.
At only eight years old, he had never consciously realized that Mega Drain had a limited range.
He simply felt that charging forward gave Poliwag the best chance to win.
So, without hesitation...
...he ordered him to charge.
And somehow… he had made exactly the right choice.
At the same time, Gary had handed him that opportunity.
He relied too heavily on textbook knowledge while overlooking his own lack of understanding of Lotad.
After all, Lotad was still Sato's Pokémon.
Gary hadn't raised her himself.
Having only been partners for a short time, he had no real understanding of how proficient she was with each of her moves.
He simply assumed every move would perform exactly as expected.
Lotad did know Icy Wind… but she had only recently learned it. At her current level of mastery, all she could produce was a weak chilly breeze.
Against Water-type Poliwag, it barely did anything.
It wasn't even enough to slow him down.
Thus, Gary's plan to weaken Poliwag's speed with Icy Wind so Lotad could dodge completely failed.
Poliwag successfully rushed up to Lotad.
Then, swinging the tail he had always been extremely skilled at using, he unleashed Double Slap.
To make matters worse for Lotad, fueled by anger, Poliwag achieved the maximum five-hit combo.
The furious barrage left Lotad badly injured, her face swollen and bruised from the repeated strikes.
"How... how did this happen?! Lotad, hurry and use Mega Drain to recover!"
Gary had never expected Lotad's Icy Wind to be so underwhelming.
Seeing she was on the verge of defeat, he anxiously shouted.
"Keep it up, Poliwag! Use Body Slam!"
Having succeeded once with his all-out offensive approach, Ash's confidence soared. He immediately ordered Poliwag to press the attack.
Lotad did manage to use Mega Drain on Poliwag one more time.
But Poliwag simply clenched his teeth, endured the draining attack, and charged straight through it.
He leaped high into the air...
Then came crashing down onto Lotad with the full force of Body Slam.
When the dust settled, Lotad lay motionless on the ground. She had lost the ability to battle.
However...
The final outcome caught everyone by surprise.
Before Ash even had time to celebrate his victory, Poliwag—who had been standing only a moment earlier—collapsed as well.
He, too, had lost the ability to battle.
Clearly, the damage inflicted by Lotad's Mega Drain had been substantial. In the final exchange, Poliwag had exhausted the very last of his strength.