Double evolution!!!
[Whoa! Did we just see both sides evolve mid-battle?!]
[So sick! Charmander and Machop evolved at the clutch moment—double buffs colliding, who comes out on top!]
For many viewers, it was the first time seeing this, and heartfelt messages filled the chat.
"Raaaar!"
From within the flames came a roar.
Machop's muscles swelled like an inflating balloon, its whole body bursting with blinding evolutionary light that walled off the fire!
Its thick forearms crossed into an X and cleaved the searing wave apart.
The view ahead snapped wide open—standing there before it was a freshly evolved Charmeleon.
Compared to the earlier orange-yellow body, Charmeleon was now deep red, its gaze much harder.
It kept the flamethrower going, trying to drive the newly evolved Machoke back.
"Raaaar!"
Locking on, Machoke—its evolved frame like a tank—plowed straight through the sea of fire toward Charmeleon!
"Charmeleon! Hold steady—keep the Flamethrower up!"
Ash's shout pierced the blaze.
At his voice, Charmeleon's eyes set with iron resolve; the flame in its throat flipped to a cyan-white, wrapping Machoke entirely!
"Raaaar~!"
Machoke poured on power, holding the Flamethrower at bay.
BOOM!
Bursting through, its whole body glowed red-hot; sparks skittered off its skin.
Burned!
Seeing this, a faint smile tugged at Grey's lips. "Brick Break."
"Oraaaa!!!"
The sting of burn felt like it ignited Machoke's fighting spirit.
Its muscles cinched in the firelight to the absolute limit, veins bulging like coiled dragons—its aura even more terrifying than at full health!
[Ability: Guts]
[Effect: When afflicted by a status condition, Attack rises by 50%, and the usual burn-induced halving of Attack is ignored.]
The broken part of this ability is ignoring burn's Attack-halving!
Right now, bathed in Flamethrower, Machoke's Attack was monstrous. With Brick Break, its might rivaled Charmeleon in full Blaze!
It raised a hand and chopped down, the air shrieking as the cyan-white column split clean in two!
Charmeleon's slit pupils contracted hard; its claws burst into explosive fire on instinct.
It cut off the breath in a snap, muscles also tightening to the max, and met the strike head-on with burning claw-blades!
KRA-KOOM!!!
At the instant of impact, a shockwave of flame and Fighting power cratered the ground for ten meters around!
For a heartbeat they held even, twin auras locked in place.
Then Charmeleon's forearms began to tremble out of its control.
Even with Blaze, the power gap started to show.
Right then, Ash caught the sparks crackling between Charmeleon's teeth—and as if remembering something, he shouted, "Charmeleon! Don't quit—use Fire Fang!"
"Chaaaaar!"
Charmeleon tore its jaws wide; cyan-white fire wrapped its fangs.
Ignoring the pressure grinding down its guard, it lunged for Machoke's neck with a do-or-die bite, its blazing tusks etching fire-scars through the air!
If it couldn't win in other ways, then it would do what it did best—burn Machoke to ash!
"Raaaar!"
Muscle after knotted muscle swelled across Machoke's frame as it tried to lock Charmeleon in place by brute force.
But Charmeleon dropped its guard entirely and poured everything into the attack.
At full burst, it even forced Machoke back half a step!
"Low Sweep!"
At the split-second the fangs were about to find the throat, Grey's command landed.
Machoke dumped its force and dropped, a thick leg sweeping sideways to slam Charmeleon's unprotected knee!
THUD!
Charmeleon crashed down, a ring of dust leaping from the floor.
Its tail flame withered at impact, shrinking from a sky-high blaze to a candle in the wind.
It struggled to rise, but the damage to its leg from Low Sweep kept its forelimbs from pushing up…
"Raaaar." (Can you stand?)
Machoke stepped in and half-squatted, peering at Charmeleon.
"Chaa…" (I… can still keep—)
Before it could finish, its strength ran out.
Defeated, but not disgraced.
"Charmeleon!"
Ash rushed in and caught it, shaking it gently, trying to rouse it.
"Ash—feed it this."
Grey tossed over a Sitrus Berry, which landed squarely in Ash's palm.
A fainted Pokémon can't eat on its own, but if a Trainer feeds it, there's still some effect.
"Thanks!"
Ash bowed his head and pushed the Sitrus into Charmeleon's mouth.
One berry down, and Charmeleon's condition clearly improved.
Only…
Cradled in Ash's arms, Charmeleon glanced up—and reflexively started to open its mouth.
"Charmeleon, Ash treats you well."
Grey spoke up.
Charmeleon's movement stalled; it turned to look at Grey's faint, not-quite-a-smile.
"Your aura told me what you were thinking. I don't know why you've come to think that way—but Ash is a Trainer who treats his Pokémon well. I think you know that too."
Grey came closer, running a hand over Machoke's iron-hard muscles, eyes moving between Ash and Charmeleon.
"Charr…"
Charmeleon closed its mouth at that, a muffled, unhappy rumble rising from its throat.
It felt like getting caught mid-misdeed—guilty and seen through.
"Think back on the past. The roughest stretch should be behind you now… right?"
Grey smiled, and a friendly aura rippled out.
"Gym Leader Grey… Charmeleon…"
Ash ducked his eyes and scratched his head. "What are you two talking about?"
Clearly, he hadn't followed a word.
"Nothing much. A little mental tune-up."
"Also—keep a closer eye on Charmeleon's moods. You two should find a time to talk, just the two of you."
Grey offered the advice with a smile, then added, "Alright. Next round starts now."
In the stands, Brock and Misty whispered.
"Something's off with Charmeleon…"
Brock watched it return to its ball and recalled the way it moved right after eating the Sitrus. A thought clicked into place.
"Yeah… it seemed kind of irritable after evolving. Did its temperament change?"
Misty pressed her palms to her thighs; she had her own read on Charmeleon's behavior.
"That Charmander wasn't… a rescue, was it? I don't love labels, but this would track with the hot-blooded temper Fire-types can show."
"It looked pretty obedient as a Charmander—then after evolving it felt 'stronger' and stopped putting its current Trainer in its eyes."
Bumiao took a sip of iced cola and tossed the thought out casually.
"Hiss…"
Misty and Brock traded a look, shock in their eyes.
It… kind of sounded right!
"Pikachu—I choose you!"
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