Battle in Progress: Semifinals (3)

"Arcanine, Fire Blast!"

At Liu Qing's command, Arcanine opened its mouth and unleashed a jet of flame. It engulfed Empoleon in midair, forming a giant star-shaped blaze, and Empoleon immediately screamed in pain.

"Empoleon, hang in there! Hydro Pump!" Only an instant passed between Empoleon being bitten and getting struck by Fire Blast. Reggie only reacted once the flames hit, shouting anxiously.

Within the flames, Empoleon seemed encouraged by Reggie's command. It quickly gathered energy and fired a spiraling column of water, which turned into countless wisps of steam the instant it met Fire Blast.

"This is bad! Empoleon, hurry, use Whirlpool and stand on top of it!" As soon as the mist spread, Reggie realized something was wrong and hastily shouted. Empoleon immediately spat out a huge whirlpool, then stood atop it, keeping a close watch on its surroundings.

"Arcanine, Flamethrower Flame Wheel!" Liu Qing gave the command once Arcanine picked up Empoleon's scent.

At Liu Qing's command, Arcanine breathed out a stream of fire, then used Flame Wheel and leaped into it. It became a blue-white wheel of flame roughly three meters across and charged straight at Empoleon.

Boom! No one could make out exactly what happened within the mist, but the explosion made it clear that Arcanine had hit Empoleon. The resulting shock wave dispersed the mist, revealing Empoleon sprawled on the ground, unable to battle, with severe burns covering much of its body.

"Empoleon!" Even from where he stood, Reggie could feel the tremendous heat radiating from Empoleon. He cried out in distress.

"Empoleon is unable to battle!" The referee gave Arcanine an odd look, then lowered his flag to announce the verdict.

"Come back, Empoleon." Reggie silently recalled Empoleon, then looked at Liu Qing. "That must have been your Flamethrower Flame Wheel combination. I never imagined it had become so powerful."

"I'm sorry I injured your Empoleon so badly." Liu Qing had also felt the heat radiating from Empoleon and knew he might have gone too far. Uneasy, he apologized.

"It's all right. Accidents happen in battles. Your Arcanine is impressive, but I won't give up that easily." Reggie tossed out a Poké Ball. "Ninetales, take the field again!"

With a flash of white light, Ninetales appeared on the field once more. Facing Arcanine, it immediately spread its nine tails and took a battle stance.

"Arcanine, Bulldoze!" Ninetales also had Flash Fire, so Arcanine's Fire-type moves would be useless. Reggie had probably sent Ninetales out precisely because he realized how powerful Arcanine's Fire-type moves were.

"Ninetales, Extrasensory!" Seeing Arcanine raise its forelegs high at Liu Qing's command, Reggie quickly gave his order.

"Nine..." Ninetales cried out, firing a multicolored ring of light from its red eyes. It crossed half the field in an instant, rushing toward Arcanine.

But just before Extrasensory could seize Arcanine, Arcanine slammed down onto the ground. A huge wave of dust surged across the field, striking Ninetales head-on and twisting its face in pain.

"Ninetales, hold on! Grab it!" Seeing Ninetales about to release Extrasensory, Reggie shouted. Opportunities were always there, but one had to seize them. If Ninetales pushed just a little harder, Extrasensory would catch Arcanine.

"Nine..." Despite its agony, Ninetales spread its nine tails sharply at Reggie's shout, an eerie red light shining from its eyes. Extrasensory's multicolored ring instantly enveloped Arcanine, lifting it into the air and pulling it toward Ninetales.

"Arcanine, break free, now!" Liu Qing had not expected this Ninetales to endure so much. Even after taking a supereffective Bulldoze, it had maintained Extrasensory and caught Arcanine. Surprised, he watched Arcanine being dragged closer and closer to Ninetales and hurriedly shouted.

"Arcanine!" At Liu Qing's command, Arcanine struggled harder, making Extrasensory waver. But Ninetales's nine tails began thrashing wildly behind it, and the red light in its eyes intensified. In an instant, it pinned Arcanine so tightly that Arcanine could not even roar.

This is bad. How does this Ninetales have such powerful psychic strength? No, it's the tails. Ninetales's tails possess mysterious powers. Reggie has already developed their flexibility—has he also unlocked the ability to enhance psychic power? Seeing the tails behind Ninetales glowing a brilliant pale yellow, Liu Qing was startled and recalled its extraordinary qualities. Unlocking even one of the powers in a Ninetales's tails was an incredible blessing, yet Reggie had managed to develop two. No, perhaps there was a third: charm. This Ninetales's Attract was absurdly powerful too.

"Ninetales, wrap it up and use Attract!" Just then, Reggie calmly issued his command.

Oh no! By now, Ninetales had pulled Arcanine right in front of it and wrapped five tails around its neck, limbs, and waist. Then its eyes blazed red, the light forming a heart that flew into Arcanine's head. Arcanine immediately stopped struggling, its eyes turning into hearts as it gazed infatuatedly at Ninetales.

"There it is again! In the first match, Ninetales used this move to defeat Liu Qing's Scizor. Now Arcanine has fallen victim to it too! Will it end up unable to battle, just like Scizor?" the commentator announced loudly. The audience erupted into enthusiastic cheers. This Ninetales was simply incredible—powerful, bewitching, and more. Everyone found themselves applauding it.

"Great! Now Liu Qing's going to lose a Pokémon too!" Paul said excitedly. Watching Reggie lose three Pokémon in a row had been a major blow to him.

On the other side, Liu Yuan watched the battle tensely, worry written all over his face.

"Ninetales, Dark Pulse!" On the field, Reggie smiled faintly when he saw Arcanine become infatuated and ordered an attack.

"Nine..." Ninetales gave a soft cry, gathered a pulse of dark energy in front of its mouth, and engulfed Arcanine in it.

"Ar...canine..." Suddenly, Arcanine's heart-shaped eyes returned to normal, regaining their clarity. Enduring Dark Pulse, it let out a low growl of pain.

"It snapped out of it!" Arcanine's pained cry filled Liu Qing with delight, and he shouted, "Arcanine, Thunder Fang!"

"Ninetales, more power!" Seeing Arcanine regain its senses, Reggie inwardly regretted the lost opportunity. As Arcanine prepared to use Thunder Fang, he immediately gave another order. Ninetales increased its output, and Dark Pulse swelled wider, pinning Arcanine down again before it could unleash Thunder Fang.

"Roar!" Suddenly, Arcanine let out a thunderous roar. Golden electricity coated its teeth, crackling loudly as it lowered its head and sank its fangs into Ninetales's tail.

Boom! Electric-type energy instantly surged into Ninetales's tail and exploded. In pain, Ninetales instinctively withdrew its tails, flinging Arcanine away.

Oh no!

As Ninetales withdrew its tails, those words suddenly flashed through Reggie's mind.

Sure enough, Liu Qing seized the opening and immediately shouted, "Arcanine, Bulldoze!"

"Roar!" Flung through the air, Arcanine roared, adjusted its body, and slammed down onto the ground with all four paws. The force surging across the ground struck Ninetales again, contorting its face in pain as it let out a series of anguished cries.

"Thunder Fang!"

At Liu Qing's command, Arcanine pushed off the ground the moment it finished using Bulldoze and raced toward Ninetales like the wind. By the time it reached Ninetales, it had already gathered the energy for Thunder Fang in its mouth. It bit into Ninetales's neck, sending Electric-type energy coursing through its entire body. After a bout of convulsions, Ninetales passed out.

From being flung away to landing with Bulldoze, then immediately charging Ninetales while gathering energy for Thunder Fang, Arcanine had executed everything in one seamless sequence. By the time Reggie reacted, Ninetales was already unable to battle. After a moment of stunned silence, the audience caught up and burst into thunderous applause.

"Ninetales is unable to battle!" the referee declared.

"Come back, Ninetales. You did very well." Reggie took out a Poké Ball and recalled Ninetales.

"Reggie, your Ninetales is strong. If we hadn't gotten lucky and triggered Dark Pulse's special effect, breaking Attract, Arcanine probably would have lost," Liu Qing said, looking at Reggie.

"Luck is part of strength too." Reggie took out a Poké Ball and tossed it into the air. "Next is my fifth Pokémon. Come out, Swallow King!"

"Arcanine, can you keep battling?" Looking at Arcanine panting heavily, Liu Qing could not help asking. After taking Drill Peck, Extrasensory, and Dark Pulse, Arcanine's stamina had dropped sharply.

"Arcanine!" Arcanine roared and took a battle stance facing Swallow King.

"All right, Arcanine, Fire Blast!" Liu Qing swept his hand out and gave the command.

"Roar!" Arcanine roared, firing a star-shaped blaze straight from its mouth at Swalot.