Whoosh!
Flame Charge missed.
Before the fiery mass could hit it, Pikachu transformed into a streak of light, darting out and covering dozens of meters in just a few steps.
"Awoo~"
Arcanine was still chasing relentlessly from behind, trying to catch the rat.
But Agility is a boosting move that significantly increases a pokémon's speed, and its speed-boosting efficiency is a notch higher than Flame Charge.
As time passed, Arcanine found it increasingly difficult to keep up the pursuit.
Can't catch up!
Simply can't catch up!
Seeing that he couldn't catch up, Gary's mind raced, and he immediately devised a strategy to break the enemy: "Arcanine, use Fire Spin to restrict Pikachu's movement range!"
"Awoo~"
Letting out a howl, Arcanine spat out a thin stream of fire from its mouth.
But this flame was quite spirited; after swirling a few times in the air, it formed a shape resembling a mosquito coil, effectively restricting the entire battlefield.
"Pika~"
Pikachu, which had been running happily, immediately slammed on the brakes.
Because if it kept running, it would crash into the flames.
Moreover, the temperature of these flames was exceptionally high. Even from a distance, Pikachu's cheeks flushed red.
"It's over, it's over! Pikachu is trapped; now it's like catching a turtle in a jar.
97
"Still, this Pikachu has managed to fight Arcanine to this point, so even in defeat, it has brought honor."
"True, true! This Pikachu is quite well-trained. No wonder it caught my wife Iono's eye; it really has some skills."
Seeing Pikachu surrounded, the viewers in Iono's livestream shook their heads.
But Adrian's livestream was completely unfazed because they knew Adrian's Pikachu knew Surf, so they were happily watching.
"Arcanine seems to have quite a temper? Pikachu, quickly use Surf to cool that Arcanine down!"
"No rush! Let's play with it a bit longer!"
Unaware of this, Gary, seeing Pikachu's movement restricted, immediately shouted, "It's over! Arcanine, use Fire Blast!"
Boom!
A terrifying "big"-shaped flame formed in Arcanine's mouth and swiftly shot towards the Pikachu trapped by the fire ring. The scorching heat noticeably raised the temperature within dozens of meters.
But unexpectedly, facing the attack of this powerful Fire-type move, Adrian didn't give any further instructions. Instead, he allowed the terrifying flame to get closer and closer to Pikachu.
"Hiss~ What is that idiot Streamer doing? Hurry up and use Surf!"
"Adrian, why are you dropping the ball at a critical moment?"
"If that Fire Blast hits, it's no joke!"
In Adrian's livestream, all sorts of self-proclaimed pokémon Masters roared in anger, truly wishing they could replace Adrian.
Do you even know how to play pokémon battles?
Boom!
Pikachu was engulfed by the flames, and both the scene and the livestream fell into silence.
"Was Pikachu really hit?"
In front of the screen, Iono blinked, her heart filled with doubt.
Iono had watched all of Adrian's battle videos and had some understanding of his fighting style.
When Adrian is quiet, he's definitely up to something!
This was the most genuine thought in her heart at that moment.
Across the clearing, Gary instinctively sensed something was off.
It was too smooth!
Even if Pikachu couldn't block the Fire Blast, it should at least use a move to resist or put up a symbolic fight, right?
But now, there was nothing!
Whoosh!
Before long, the flames dissipated, leaving the ground scorched black.
But to everyone's surprise, there was no sign of Pikachu on the charred ground. Instead, there was a small hole.
"Oh no!!!"
Gary realized something was wrong, but it was already too late.
The next moment, the ground beneath Arcanine's belly suddenly burst open.
Pikachu was seen holding up its paws, glowing with yellow light—the color of Ground-type energy.
Boom!
Both palms struck Arcanine squarely in the abdomen, sending its massive body flying through the air.
Ground-type move: Dig!
This was a TM Adrian had obtained when he caught Krabby, which he later used entirely on Pikachu, raising Dig from nothing directly to the 'Mastery' level.
Whether in terms of move power or proficiency, Dig was above Fake Out. Plus, being a Ground-type move, it was super effective against the Fire-type Arcanine, resulting in a remarkably impressive effect.
Mid-air, Arcanine showed a pained expression, letting out a whimpering cry, like a stray dog.
"Now, Electro Ball!"
Adrian pressed the advantage to expand his gains.
"Pika~"
The electric current within Pikachu's body began gathering at its tail, quickly forming a spherical energy mass crackling with arcs of electricity, which swiftly shot towards the airborne Arcanine.
Boom!
Electro Ball hit, instantly making Arcanine's smooth fur rough and bristling like steel needles.
By the time it landed, its eyes were already spinning in circles, clearly having lost the ability to battle.
Both the scene and the livestream fell silent.
What seemed like a major crisis for Adrian and Pikachu had reversed in the blink of an eye, instead causing Gary and the previously dominant Arcanine to suffer a direct defeat.
It took a long while before the netizens in the livestream gradually started posting comments.
"The Streamer's Pikachu actually knows Dig? Its move repertoire is really broad!"
"True, true! Although Pikachu can learn Dig, not many Pikachus truly master it. As for Raichu, having evolved once and possessing greater strength, mastering it is relatively easier."
"So, was this the Streamer's plan? Although Pikachu also knows Surf, Surf is an area-of-effect move. Engaging head-on is too conspicuous, and even if it blocks, it would invite new attacks from Arcanine. But with Dig, it can achieve a surprise effect."
Taking advantage of the battle's interlude, the rotom phone thoughtfully flew to Adrian's side, carefully selecting a few comments for him to read.
Adrian looked utterly justified, chuckling as he said, "Although Pikachu is an Electric Mouse, an Electric Mouse is still a mouse. Isn't it only logical that it can Dig holes?!"
In the livestream, everyone was left speechless.
"You did well, Arcanine!"
After the shock, Gary recalled Arcanine.
Although the first battle, which he thought was a sure win, unexpectedly ended in defeat, Gary's eyes burned with fighting spirit. He shouted from afar, "Adrian, your strength is indeed formidable. It's only by battling Trainers like you that it's interesting and that I can grow!"
"So next, I'm going all out too!"
With that, Gary took out another Poké Ball and threw it with force: "Go, Nidoking!"
Boom!
The heavyweight pokémon Nidoking appeared, seemingly causing the ground to tremble.
Compared to before, Gary's Nidoking had an even more imposing aura, clearly having grown and become stronger than before.
"Nidoking, Earthquake!"
Without any probing, Gary chose to start with a big move right away.
Going all out was his greatest acknowledgment of Adrian.
Meanwhile, on a high platform not far from the clearing, a stunning woman with red hair walked over.
She wore a red inner layer and a blue outer jacket, revealing her fair neck, which led down to a substantial burden.
Below was a 0L miniskirt, showcasing a pair of fair, super-long legs. She also wore black low heels that made a "click-clack" sound as she walked.
A devilish figure and an angelic face seemed to materialize at that moment.
—
Most Fatal, she was also wearing a pair of metal-framed glasses!
The buffs were practically maxed out!
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