Chapter 276: Defeating Sundae, Fifth Round Victory
Garchomp released scorching flames with tremendous force, the superheated jet meeting Red's Snorlax's incoming Ice Beam in a spectacular collision. The two opposing energies clashed violently, melting through each other's power and instantly creating thick, vision-obscuring steam that blanketed the entire battlefield. The dense mist swirled and churned across the arena, reducing visibility to mere meters.
Observing this development, the clever Garchomp immediately dove directly into the obscuring mist, its movements becoming completely invisible to Snorlax below. The Dragon-type's strategic positioning within the mist seemed calculated—if it could hide its location effectively, perhaps surprise tactics might overcome the overwhelming strength disparity.
"Snorlax, listen carefully to Garchomp's breathing patterns and jump up to use Ice Punch," Red commanded suddenly, his voice cutting through the stadium with surprising clarity.
The unexpected instruction visibly startled Garchomp, which was lurking within the concealing mist.
"What?!" Sundae exclaimed in genuine shock, her mind struggling to process Red's peculiar command.
Jump? Can Snorlax possibly jump? Sundae's internal thoughts raced with skepticism. The massive, heavyset Pokémon wasn't known for exceptional vertical mobility or agility.
Yet the face-slapping moment arrived swiftly, proving her doubts unfounded.
Before the assembled spectators' amazed eyes, Snorlax suddenly straightened its massive limbs and performed deliberate warmup exercises, its expression transforming with surprising intensity. The creature's eyes blazed with renewed determination as it stepped forward with unexpected youthful fervor, charging directly toward Garchomp's concealed location within the dense steam.
The earth itself trembled violently beneath Snorlax's advancing footsteps. Upon reaching the precise position, Snorlax gazed upward with obvious excitement, tensed every muscle within its substantial thigh structure, and launched itself skyward with shocking force. The creature's massive frame defied apparent physical limitations, miraculously achieving genuine vertical ascent before diving directly into the mist, where Garchomp remained hidden.
"Garchomp, quickly use Outrage!" Sundae commanded desperately, completely unable to reconcile Snorlax's bulky physiology with such extraordinary jumping capability.
"Textbook knowledge cannot encompass reality's full complexity. After all, Pokémon represent miraculous creatures possessing remarkable individual differences," Red observed with characteristic leisure, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply with the chaos unfolding.
The collision detonated within the clouds—a brilliant blue dragon figure suddenly materialized as Garchomp unleashed Outrage. The two Pokémon clashed briefly, their combined energies creating a spectacular light show visible even through the obscuring steam. Yet Garchomp's expression betrayed obvious strain and desperation.
Unable to achieve sustained flight without consistent wing motion, Snorlax deployed its astonishing raw power with devastating efficiency. The Normal-type forcibly drove Garchomp—even while enveloped in Outrage's protective dragon energy—downward through the clouds toward the ground below with overwhelming force.
The impact when Garchomp struck the battlefield proved absolutely catastrophic. The Dragon-type crashed with devastating violence, its body immediately enveloped in rapidly forming ice crystals from the lingering cold air. Garchomp trembled involuntarily, its consciousness wavering from the quadruple super-effective damage Ice Punch inflicted. Such a devastating type matchup—especially originating from something as unexpected as Snorlax—left the creature in genuine distress and visible psychological shock.
But Snorlax's offensive assault hadn't concluded. Under Red's slightly curious observation, the massive creature's entire body dropped downward with the force of gravity. Snorlax extended its thick right leg deliberately, preparing to execute its full-power High Horsepower enhancement with gravity's additional force crushing down upon the struggling Garchomp below.
Every spectator's breath caught simultaneously. The referee conducting the match had already fled to safety, recognizing that Snorlax's falling High Horsepower could obliterate him completely. The announcing commentator stood frozen in absolute terror, their broadcasting capabilities completely overwhelmed by shock.
"What should we do?" Misty and Brock simultaneously whispered, their mouths involuntarily trembling as they recognized the unprecedented severity of the situation.
"What's wrong with everyone suddenly getting so nervous?" Ash asked, genuinely puzzled, his perception completely missing the incident's catastrophic implications.
"Ash, imagine what terrifying devastation Red's Snorlax could unleash, deploying full-power High Horsepower from considerable height," Professor Oak explained with characteristic leisurely tone.
"Pika!" Pikachu on Ash's shoulder immediately became agitated, its entire body tensing as it desperately urged everyone toward safety.
After absorbing Professor Oak's clarification, Ash's mind went completely blank, unable to mentally process the situation's true implications.
Everyone else similarly stared at the descending Snorlax in absolute shock, suddenly comprehending that if the creature genuinely executed such devastating force without restraint, the entire main stadium structure might completely collapse under the impact force.
The entire assembly hall descended into panic. Spectators throughout the venue began anxiously rising from their seats, some even resorting to silent prayers—a desperate attempt to invoke divine intervention against the approaching catastrophe.
"Seems I overdid my provocative statement," Red murmured with obvious self-awareness.
"Why is everyone panicking so unnecessarily? Do you honestly believe Red would permit something like this to actually happen?" Leaf said with obvious exasperation, completely unable to understand everyone's excessive nervousness.
"That's correct, Ash. Don't you understand Red's fundamental personality by now?" Gary agreed, his tone equally dismissive of the collective anxiety.
"I was merely joking with you all anyway," Professor Oak teased sheepishly, not truly anticipating that everyone would take his ominous speculation so literally.
"Quickly return, Garchomp!" Seeing her Pokémon severely injured and unconscious, Sundae desperately withdrew her Poké Ball, recalling the injured creature.
Through absolutely perfect timing, the instant Garchomp vanished into its Poké Ball, Snorlax struck the ground above. Yet Red, his eyes immediately glowing brilliant azure, deployed raw Psychic power to offset and absorb the majority of Snorlax's High Horsepower impact force. This remarkable intervention successfully prevented the complete structural collapse of the Indigo Stadium.
Even with Red's extraordinary intervention, the battlefield displayed a massive spider-web-patterned crater of impossible depth, seemingly bottomless—a vivid testament to Snorlax's absolutely terrifying offensive capability.
Just as everyone anticipated the match's mandatory interruption, a genuine miracle occurred. Red, demonstrating masterful Psychic control beyond normal human capability, miraculously restored the sunken battlefield to its original condition. This extraordinary display of power left the assembled spectators completely awestruck.
"I'm counting on you, Golem!" After brief contemplation, Sundae finally threw her last remaining Poké Ball, releasing her final reserve Pokémon.
Obviously, Golem's strength proved insufficient to counter Snorlax's overwhelming assault adequately.
"Snorlax, use Heavy Slam," Red commanded after allowing brief recovery time.
Snorlax stretched its powerful limbs and immediately charged at Golem, executing Heavy Slam's devastating collision strike.
"Golem, simultaneously use Heavy Slam," Sundae said with obvious reluctance, commanding her final Pokémon simultaneously.
The resulting collision detonated at the battlefield's center. Before the assembled spectators' anticipating gazes, Golem's entire body rocketed backward, losing its earlier momentum completely. The double-damage Heavy Slam made Golem scream in anguish, making Sundae feel genuine despair at her critical mistake.
"Hammer Arm," Red commanded, seizing the advantage immediately.
Snorlax charged before the staggered Golem, raising its white light-radiating massive fist and slamming it with concentrated force into Golem's exposed body.
"Golem!" Sundae cried anxiously.
Under her desperate gaze, Golem was finally struck by Snorlax's Hammer Arm, knocked backward toward the battlefield's edge.
"Golem is unable to battle!" the referee announced.
"Final count on you, Garchomp!" Sundae forcefully threw her premier ball, sending out Garchomp again despite its remaining energy reserves being dangerously depleted.
Though Sundae recognized she couldn't ultimately defeat Red, she and Garchomp still harbored desperate hope—perhaps they might at least knock down Red's Snorlax before falling completely.
"Garchomp, use Outrage as our final offensive!" Sundae deployed her ultimate trump card, commanding Garchomp's remaining Outrage power.
Garchomp released a ferocious roar, its eyes turning blood red instantly. White rough breath faintly emanated from the creature's mouth as its muscles instantly bulged with power. After gathering its remaining strength, Garchomp forcefully charged before Snorlax, preparing its final fierce assault.
"Heavy Slam," Red replied simply.
Snorlax showed absolutely no hesitation, charging with all its strength toward the raging Garchomp, confronting the creature's desperate final assault with its overwhelming physical mass.
Garchomp continuously swung both claws, launching fierce attacks across Snorlax's body, yet clearly without meaningful suppressive effect. Instead, the attacks only seemed to further infuriate the massive Normal-type.
"Snorlax, use Ice Punch to cool down the raging Garchomp," Red commanded leisurely.
Under Garchomp's terrified gaze, Snorlax's cold air-emanating right fist struck directly into the Dragon-type's body, instantly freezing it into an immobile ice sculpture.
"Garchomp is unable to battle! Therefore, the winner of this fifth-round match is Lord Red from Pallet Town!" the referee announced with obvious relief that the match had finally concluded.