Squirtle took the field.
Ash's plan was clear: Water-types countered Fire-types, and the Gouging Fire Zorua had transformed into was a Fire-type.
Squirtle's Bubble Beam and Water Gun could both deal extra damage.
However...
Seeing Ash send out another unevolved Pokémon, Lu Chen smiled faintly and said to Gouging Fire (Zorua) beside him,
"Transform."
Black light flashed.
Gouging Fire's body shrank back, replaced by a larger Venusaur radiating dense Grass-type energy.
Squirtle froze.
Ash froze too.
"Venu...saur?"
Grass-types countered Water-types.
The Venusaur Zorua had transformed into lowered its head. The flower on its back bloomed, and Razor Leaves flew out like green blades.
Squirtle was driven back again and again, shallow cuts appearing across its shell.
It retaliated with Water Gun, but the attack barely affected Venusaur.
"Squirtle, charge in and use Bite!"
Squirtle gritted its teeth and charged, biting down on Venusaur's foreleg.
Venusaur felt the pain, but only stepped back once before sending Squirtle flying with a Vine Whip.
Ash kept directing Squirtle to try different tactics, but no matter how they fought, Squirtle remained at a disadvantage.
Their levels might not have differed much, but the Venusaur Zorua had transformed into completely overwhelmed Squirtle in base stats.
In the end, Squirtle lay exhausted on the ground, panting heavily, unable to get up again.
"Squirtle is unable to battle. Zorua wins!"
Ash recalled Squirtle and clenched his fists. From the very start of this battle, Lu Chen and Zorua had overwhelmed him with raw stats.
Even someone as optimistic as Ash felt a little dizzy.
To avoid being overwhelmed by stats again, Ash took a deep breath and pulled a Poké Ball from his waist.
"Go, Charizard!"
Red light flashed.
Charizard appeared in the center of the field, spread its wings, and threw its head back with a roar.
The flame on its tail blazed fiercely, giving it an imposing air.
Looking at Ash's Charizard, Lu Chen had to admit that it really did have tremendous potential.
Despite evolving early, refusing to follow orders, and having no training whatsoever, its level was already approaching elite level. It was an absolute talent monster.
"Let's fight side by side, Charizard! I'm different now. I'm the Aura Guar-"
Before Ash could finish, Charizard turned around and blasted him with Flamethrower.
"Hot!"
Ash jumped as the flames scorched him, black smoke rising from his hair again.
Charizard ignored Ash completely and turned back on its own, surveying the opponent before it.
The Venusaur Zorua had transformed into stood before it, but Charizard's gaze wasn't on Zorua at all.
After spotting Lu Chen, its arrogant demeanor instantly faded by more than half, and its wings unconsciously drew back a little.
The memory of Lu Chen knocking it flat as a Charmeleon with three punches in the canyon that day was still etched into Charizard's mind.
And Aerodactyl, lying in the treetop over there, made Charizard shrink its neck instinctively, its body seeming to ache faintly even now.
But Charizard was still Charizard. It soon suppressed that instinctive fear.
I can't chicken out.
Especially not in front of so many people.
The Venusaur Zorua had transformed into took a battle stance.
Lu Chen, however, reached out to stop Zorua and shook his head.
"Come back for now. Let him handle the next battle."
Zorua tilted its head, then looked in the direction Lu Chen was looking and immediately understood what he meant.
It instantly returned to its original form and scampered back to Lu Chen's feet.
At that moment, Lu Chen raised his head and looked at the fence behind Charizard.
A few sparks from the flames Charizard had blasted at Ash had landed on the fence protecting the Starf Berry trees, setting several wooden vines alight.
"Roar!"
An angry roar came from the Starf Berry orchard.
Gabite had been watering the Starf Berries with a watering can. Seeing the fence catch fire, it instantly flew into a rage.
It dropped the watering can and pushed off on all fours, racing toward the battlefield like an arrow.
Its eyes were filled with killing intent.
Damn arsonist!
How dare you burn my trees!
Gabite charged to the edge of the field and immediately fixed its sights on Charizard in the center.
It lowered its body, braced its finlike forelimbs against the ground, and let out a low growl.
Charizard felt tremendous pressure.
The Gabite before it was at peak gym level, while it had barely reached the threshold of elite level.
The gap in strength was enormous!
But Charizard didn't back down.
It glanced back at Ash, then looked at Lu Chen.
I can't beat Lu Chen himself, but surely I can fight your Pokémon?
Charizard's fighting spirit flared.
Seeing Charizard willing to battle, Ash clenched his fists excitedly.
"Then let's fight side by side, Charizard!"
But Charizard answered Ash with Flamethrower.
Without even looking back, Charizard blasted another stream of fire at Ash, making him hop in place from the burns.
It didn't need a Trainer's commands.
It would deal with the powerful opponent before it on its own.
Lu Chen smiled at the sight.
Originally, he had only intended to let Gabite teach the arsonist a little lesson and vent its anger.
But seeing Charizard's attitude toward Ash, Lu Chen changed his mind.
"Begin the battle."
Gabite couldn't wait any longer.
Gabite lowered its body, its finlike forelimbs braced against the ground and its back drawn into a taut curve.
Its gaze locked onto Charizard, a low growl rumbling in its throat.
Lu Chen stood behind it, his expression calm.
Charizard attacked first, opening its jaws and unleashing a stream of searing flames straight at Gabite.
Charizard used Flamethrower!
"Dragon Pulse."
Gabite opened its mouth. A mass of blue-purple Dragon-type energy gathered within before shooting out as a wave of light.
The two forces collided head-on in midair.
Boom!
The flames and Dragon Pulse devoured each other, explosive energy surging outward and stripping a layer of soil from the field.
The two attacks remained deadlocked in midair for a moment. Although Gabite ultimately held a slight advantage, both attacks still dissipated at the same time.
Charizard panted slightly.
Gabite hadn't budged.
"Good! Charizard, keep using Flamethrower to wear it down!" Ash commanded loudly from the sidelines.
But Charizard didn't listen at all.
The draw had stirred its competitive spirit. With a beat of its wings, it charged straight at Gabite.
White energy gathered on its sharp claws as it used Slash.
"Don't fight up close, Charizard! Keep using Flamethrower!" Ash stamped his feet anxiously.
Watching Charizard charge over, Lu Chen spoke without any change in tone.
"Dragon Claw."
Gabite raised its right forelimb, dark-purple Dragon-type energy gathering at its claw tips into a sharp blade of light.
Charizard brought its Slash down.
Gabite met it with Dragon Claw.
The two attacks crossed in the air.
Then Charizard's body abruptly sank.
Gabite's Dragon Claw struck its shoulder with force far beyond anything Charizard had imagined.
Like a baseball knocked away by a bat, it slammed heavily into the ground.
Boom!
A deep crater several meters across appeared in the ground, sending gravel flying and dust billowing.
Charizard lay sprawled at the bottom of the crater, utterly battered.
"Charizard!" Ash cried.
Lu Chen didn't stop.
"Gabite, use Rock Slide."
Gabite raised its head and slammed both fins against the ground.
The earth shook.
Countless sharp rocks appeared out of thin air in the sky above Charizard.
Each was the size of a washbasin, sharply angular and carrying a heavy sense of pressure as they hovered densely in midair.
Everyone could see it.
Rock-type attacks were four times as effective against Charizard's Flying and Fire types.
If this hit, it would definitely suffer severe injuries.
"Charizard, use Slash! Break those rocks apart!" Ash shouted anxiously.
But Charizard still had no intention of obeying.
It looked up at the rocks suspended overhead, opened its mouth, and stubbornly used Flamethrower, attempting to melt them.
Flames shot into the sky, enveloping the first few falling rocks.
Their surfaces glowed red-hot, but showed no sign of melting.
The rocks Gabite had formed contained Rock-type energy. Ordinary flames couldn't burn through them.
Then the rocks fell.
The red-hot rocks slammed into Charizard.
The first struck its back, and Charizard let out a muffled groan.
The second hit its wing, making its entire body sink sharply. The third, the fourth, the fifth...
Each carried terrifying weight and heat, like a meteor shower descending from the sky.
Charizard let out an agonized wail.
It was pinned beneath the pile of rocks, unable to move.
The glowing rocks sizzled against its skin, and a scorched smell spread through the air.
There was even a faint aroma of roasted meat.
Not far away, Aerodactyl suddenly opened its eyes as it lay on a tree branch.
It sniffed, its gaze falling on Charizard, and licked its teeth.
Then it closed its eyes again.
"Charizard!"
Ash rushed forward.
He tried to move the scorching rocks with his bare hands. His palms recoiled from the heat the instant they touched the stone, but he gritted his teeth and reached out again.
He moved the rocks away one by one, several blisters forming on his fingers, without making a sound.
At last, he had moved away every rock pinning Charizard down.
Charizard lay at the bottom of the crater, covered in wounds.
The places struck by the rocks were torn open, and its scorched scales gave off a pungent odor with a faint smell of roasted meat.
Charizard opened its eyes with difficulty. Looking at Ash before it, his hands covered in burns, something complicated flickered in those stubborn eyes.
Then Charizard weakly closed its eyes.
"Charizard, are you okay?" Ash knelt beside it, his voice trembling.
Lu Chen frowned at Ash, who was frozen in place and at a complete loss.
"What are you standing around for?!"
For the first time, he shouted at Ash in a stern voice.
"Hurry up and take Charizard to the Pokémon Center!"
Ash jolted.
He raised his head, glanced at Lu Chen, then gritted his teeth, recalled Charizard into its Poké Ball, and stumbled toward the Pokémon Center in town.
Lu Chen watched Ash disappear at the end of the road and let out a helpless sigh.
He sat back down in his chair, picked up his teacup, and found that the tea had gone cold again.
"Sigh... I still couldn't help sticking my nose into other people's business."
"Heh heh heh~"