Blazing Eruption! Blaze Activates!

"Come back, Staraptor! Pikachu, I choose you!"

Ash had no time to mourn Staraptor's defeat. His Starter Pokémon, Pikachu, took the field at once.

"Pika!" (Ash, I'll win!)

With that, Pikachu sprang onto the battlefield.

"Staraptor took a lot of damage in that last fight. He was only hanging on through sheer willpower."

"I'd better recall him and send out a fresh Pokémon!"

"Thanks for the effort, Staraptor! Electrike, I'm counting on you!"

Bai Shi took out a Poké Ball and recalled the battered Staraptor, then sent out Electrike.

With his Lightning Rod Ability, Electrike could shut down almost all of Pikachu's Electric-type moves.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Ash clearly had no idea what Bai Shi was planning.

At his command, Pikachu's cheeks sparked, releasing a powerful surge of yellow electricity.

"Electrike, use Charge!"

A smile tugged at Bai Shi's lips as he gave the order.

Electrike neither dodged nor flinched. He let Pikachu's Thunderbolt strike him.

Not only did it leave him unharmed, but he looked delighted.

As he absorbed the electricity, he used Charge.

"What?"

Seeing Electrike completely unhurt, Ash cried out in surprise.

Even if Electrike was an Electric-type Pokémon like Pikachu, he shouldn't have been completely immune to Electric-type moves.

"Ash, my Electrike has Lightning Rod."

"Electric-type moves like Thunderbolt don't work on him!"

"Electrike, give him a taste of his own medicine! Use Shock Wave!"

Bai Shi offered a quick explanation. As soon as Electrike finished charging, he ordered a counterattack.

Boosted by Charge, Electrike unleashed a ferocious current of blue electricity.

It looked even more powerful than Pikachu's Thunderbolt.

Caught off guard, Pikachu took a direct hit from Shock Wave.

Even as an Electric-type Pokémon, he still took some damage.

"If Thunderbolt doesn't work, let's try this!"

"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"

Ash changed tactics and