"Machamp! Use Submission! Crush it!" A Qiang roared the command.
Inside the Arena, Machamp let out an earthshaking roar! Its muscles tensed, and its four thick arms swung through the air.
Its body slammed down as it charged straight at Pikachu on the ground. It moved at incredible speed, crushing the stone paving beneath its feet. The stands fell silent.
"My goodness! Machamp's charge is terrifying!" the Commentator shouted into the broadcast microphone. "Is this Pikachu not even going to dodge? It'll be crushed to a pulp!"
At the sidelines, May covered her eyes in fright. "Lin Hao! Tell it to get out of the way!"
With his hands in his pockets, Lin Hao gave a bored yawn. "Pikachu."
"Pika?"
"Just catch it. Don't make too much of a fuss," Lin Hao said casually. "We'll have to pay if you break the floor."
Hearing that, A Qiang burst into wild laughter across the field. "Just catch it? Do you think your Pikachu is a Legendary Pokémon?" He gritted his teeth. "Machamp! Tear it apart!"
Boom! Machamp's massive body crashed down in front of Pikachu, its four thick arms whipping through the air as they reached viciously for Pikachu.
But in that instant, Pikachu curled its lip. "Pika!" It held out its tiny right hand.
Bang! At the explosive sound, the entire stadium went silent. The Commentator dropped his microphone on the ground, A Qiang's laughter cut off, and everyone stared in disbelief.
There in the center of the field, the Pikachu that weighed only six kilograms held one hand up in the air. Its little yellow palm had firmly stopped Machamp's powerful punch!
Machamp's ferocious charge had been brought to a complete halt! There wasn't even a single crack in the ground beneath Pikachu's feet.
The little mouse had effortlessly neutralized all that momentum.
"Th-this is impossible!" A Qiang's voice cracked, his face filled with shock. "Machamp is strong enough to flip over a huge truck!"
"Too weak." Lin Hao yawned.
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded.
Inside system space, Groudon snorted through its nostrils. (That's all the strength it has, and it dares call itself Machamp? It's not even as strong as one of my toes!)
Mewtwo spoke. (Master gave it max-level physical attack. Forget a lowly creature like that-it could catch a mountain with one hand.)
Back in the real world, Machamp strained with all its might, pressing down desperately with all four hands, but Pikachu's arm didn't budge.
"Stop playing around." Lin Hao waved impatiently. "Throw it over and wrap this up."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu flipped its little hand, unleashing astonishing strength as it seized Machamp's fingers.
Then came a clean shoulder throw! Whoosh! Machamp traced a long arc through the air.
Bang! Machamp slammed into the wall beside A Qiang's feet, leaving a deep crater in the protective barrier.
Dust flew everywhere. Machamp's eyes rolled back, and its four arms hung limply as it lost consciousness on the spot. All one hundred thousand spectators fell utterly silent.
The referee swallowed and raised his flag, his hand trembling. "Ma-Machamp is unable to battle! Lin Hao from Pallet Town wins!"
Three seconds later, the entire stadium erupted in roof-raising cheers!
"Holy shit! That's a Pikachu? It's a monster wearing Pikachu's skin!"
"It shoulder-threw Machamp with one hand! That's fucking awesome!"
The Commentator screamed into his microphone, "A miracle! A true miracle! This Pikachu has displayed strength that defies all reason!"
The sunlight was dazzling. Lin Hao rubbed his ears. "Too noisy." He took out a Poké Ball. "Come back." A flash of red light recalled Pikachu into the ball. Lin Hao put his hands in his pockets, turned, and headed for the passage.
In the luxurious VIP box at the very top of the stands, a blue-haired young man in a black suit held a glass of red wine and watched Lin Hao leave.
"Interesting." Steven, the former Champion of the Hoenn Region, swirled his wineglass. "Cynthia, did you see that?"
On the sofa at the other side of the box sat a stunning blonde woman: Cynthia, the reigning Champion of the Sinnoh Region. She was eating ice cream.
"I did," Cynthia replied. "Strength beyond all common sense. That Pikachu's muscle density and the fluctuations in its laws completely defy the laws of nature."
"Who do you think he is?" Steven asked.
"No idea." Interest sparked in Cynthia's eyes. "But I think this year's Indigo League is going to be very interesting."
Lin Hao had barely entered the competitors' passage when May came flying toward him.
"Lin Hao! You were so cool!" May grabbed his arm tightly. "You threw Machamp with one hand! How on earth did you train it?"
"I make it eat more spinach every day." Lin Hao spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face, and May rolled her eyes dramatically.
"All right, enough chatter." Lin Hao rubbed his stomach. "Let's go to the competitors' cafeteria. Where's the free buffet?"
"Is food the only thing on your mind?"
"Normal people get hungry after a fight." Lin Hao spread his hands.
They walked side by side toward the cafeteria. As they went, May suddenly remembered something and opened the match schedule in her hands.
"Don't just think about eating! Your next opponent is a favorite to win the championship!" May reminded him loudly.
"Who cares how hot a favorite he is? Is he hotter than braised pork?" Lin Hao frowned.
Just then, a scar-faced young man with a mohawk stepped out ahead of them in the passage. He moved to block Lin Hao's path. "You're the guy who took out Machamp in one hit with a Pikachu?"
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