Is Your Swellow Even Legal?

It was as if Ash's words held some kind of magic.

The instant his voice fell, Armarouge reacted to the surprise "Shadow Ball," instinctively twisting aside and narrowly evading the attack that would have been devastatingly effective against it.

To Ash and Armarouge—

Skeledirge was currently at +1 Special Attack after "Torch Song," and Armarouge's own defenses had been lowered by "Armor Cannon."

If it got hit, there would be no coming back from that.

Before Armarouge could steady itself, Ash's next command arrived.

"Charge in! Flare Blitz!"

The plume-like flames atop Armarouge's head suddenly swelled, engulfing its entire body. In an instant, it transformed into a blazing fireball and charged at Skeledirge.

At the same time, it accelerated further and further. The flames rubbed against the air, producing a deep, organ-like rumble that filled the surroundings with scorching heat.

The next instant, Armarouge crashed into Skeledirge in a blaze of fire!

"Close combat!?"

May cried out from the stands.

Even as a Coordinator who was not particularly skilled at battling, she knew from traveling with Ash that Armarouge was a Pokémon better suited for ranged attacks.

—Why was Ash making an Armarouge like that fight Skeledirge up close?

Takeshi, beside her, saw what she was most concerned about and helplessly spread his hands. "Can't be helped. That's just Ash's battle style."

Whether a Pokémon was good at close combat or suited for swift offense, Ash always prioritized attacking. He rarely chose to wear his opponents down from a distance.

As far as Takeshi knew, even after Ash had trained with Brother Luo Mu for a while, Brother Luo Mu had not been able to correct that battle habit of his.

Likewise, Zhen Si, who had come to understand Ash better through their journey in the Hoenn Region, knew perfectly