"Charizard, use Flare Blitz again!" Although Dragon Rage had failed to hurt Scizor, it had given Charizard an opening. At Aji's command, blue flames enveloped Charizard once more, and with a beat of its wings, it charged straight at Scizor.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Neither Pokémon stopped after a single attack this time. They collided again and again, setting off a series of small explosions in midair. But after their fourth collision, as they broke apart, Scizor's expression suddenly twisted in pain. Flames erupted across its body—it had been burned.
"It worked!" Aji clenched his fist, a flash of delight crossing his face before he swiftly ordered a follow-up attack. "Now, Charizard! Seismic Toss!"
"Roar!" Charizard was already panting, but it let out a mighty roar to rally itself and swiftly closed in on Scizor as the flames on its body faded. It locked both hands around its opponent, ready to unleash Seismic Toss.
"He really was trying to inflict a status condition on Scizor?! He's certainly willing to take risks. Another one or two attacks, and even without the damage from Brick Break, the recoil alone would have almost been enough to knock Charizard out!" Liu Qing had considered Aji's strategy, but he was willing to gamble too. Aji wanted to burn Scizor, while he wanted to seize that same opportunity to knock Charizard out outright. Aji seemed to have had better luck, but that did not mean Liu Qing would give up resisting. Seeing Charizard begin circling in place with Scizor in its grasp, his eyes hardened, and he quickly shouted, "Scizor, Swords Dance!"
At Liu Qing's command, Scizor immediately opened its tightly shut eyes, its gaze sharp, and rapidly beat its wings. It could not interrupt Charizard's Seismic Toss right away, but it managed to alter their trajectory,