Chapter 182: True Speed
A ninja's first duty is to maintain their inner composure, remaining undisturbed by anything that might cause emotional fluctuations.
But Arbok's mental fortitude had just been shattered, sending it into a rage.
A snake's brutal and irascible nature is difficult to overcome completely. If Arbok could truly master its emotions, its Strength would likely rise to another level.
Just as Koga was berating himself despite having the advantage, two black shadows suddenly flew toward him.
Lacking the dangerous aura of Ash's previous fling of the Soul Badge, Koga caught them subconsciously.
"Eat. I don't want to take advantage of a snake's predicament," Red said calmly.
It was a Big Berry and a Burn Heal. Although the damage Arbok had taken wasn't as great as it seemed—the harm was more of a mental humiliation—Red only wanted a fair battle right now.
He wouldn't even mind if Arbok gained an extra bar of health.
"..."
Koga took the items and, after a moment's hesitation, stuffed them into Arbok's mouth.
The Soul Badge was already in his opponent's hands. The fight to come was no longer about a Gym challenge, but a clash between the strong.
Although Koga didn't know how Ash's Strength had increased so much in an instant, he could only guess that every Trainer from Pallet Town had a split personality. A traditional ninja like him couldn't possibly imagine something like a top player transmigrating from a digital world.
But he had to admit, the person standing before him now was no longer inferior to him in Strength!
"Chaaahss!!"
Arbok swallowed the medicine, and its Stamina quickly recovered to a Peak Condition. Its vertical pupils stared intently at the electric mouse before it, its entire body tensed.
This electric mouse was no weaker than itself!
The battle began!
"Arbok, use Sucker Punch!" Koga commanded first.
"Chaaahss!"
Arbok lowered its body, transforming into a black shadow as it shot forward in an instant. Its head slammed directly into Pikachu's stomach, the immense Power sending the latter tumbling back several times.
While Pikachu was airborne, Koga commanded again:
"Use Acid on the ground around it!"
Arbok's forked tongue flickered, and it spat out a large pool of dark green acidic liquid from its belly. The acid spread across the area beneath Pikachu, covering a space several meters wide and continuing to expand.
It perfectly covered half the battle arena.
The floor of the Vermilion Gym was not only fireproof but also resistant to corrosion. The highly corrosive liquid now clung to the surface, leaving nowhere to stand.
Koga could tell from its Physique that this Pikachu's Speed was extraordinary, so he would seal off its movement first!
Seeing this, Red remained unhurried and said calmly:
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail and smash the floor."
"Pika-pi!"
Hearing the command to wreck the place, the airborne Pikachu's eyes lit up with a brilliant light. Its body twisted and rolled, its lightning-bolt-shaped tail already transformed into a solid beam of steel, which it brought down with immense force!
"Kakennng!!"
As the Iron Tail struck, the corrosive liquid on both sides splashed outward.
The Steel-type has a natural advantage against the Poison-type. Besides making Pikachu's Iron Tail look a bit shinier, the powerful corrosive liquid had no damaging effect.
*Rumble...*
The power of the Iron Tail had not yet dissipated. It spread outward and downward in the form of a shockwave, and the entire hall began to shake violently. The once-flat arena floor was instantly riddled with craters within seconds, with solid rock jutting out and uneven rubble everywhere.
As a result, the corrosive liquid flowed into the low-lying areas and seeped underground.
"Pika!"
The round-faced Pikachu admired the shattered environment with considerable satisfaction. Even the ordinary Pikachu in the back had its eyes wide with wonder, thinking to itself that it had learned something new today.
Destroying the field?
Good trick. Copied.
Koga: "..."
He and Arbok were somewhat stunned by the terrifying power that had erupted from such a tiny body.
But he quickly calmed down, maintained his inner peace, and after scanning his surroundings, launched another attack.
Unconsciously, the roles of challenger and challenged seemed to be reversing.
"Arbok, use Poison Fang!" Koga suddenly shouted, this time opting for close combat.
"Chaaahss!"
Arbok opened its massive maw, its two sharp fangs dripping with unsettling purple poison as it lunged swiftly toward Pikachu.
"Pika~"
However, Pikachu simply bounced into the air, effortlessly dodging the seemingly ferocious Poison Fang. As it dodged, it even nonchalantly stepped on Arbok's head, leaping past it.
Koga's eyes lit up, and he gestured with his thumb.
"Now, use Sludge Bomb!"
He had witnessed this Pikachu's speed from the very beginning. A Poison Fang with no prior cover was naturally not going to hit the creature that had appeared before his Charmeleon like a phantom.
But the starting motion for Sludge Bomb was identical to Poison Fang. Purple toxic energy had been gathering in its mouth. Arbok's lunge had just been a disguise to build up power; it had never intended to use Poison Fang.
"Chaaahss!!"
The result was a Sludge Bomb, unleashed in an instant!
Arbok twisted its head, and a large, purplish-black energy bomb shot out of its gaping mouth, speeding toward the still-airborne Pikachu.
This move packed immense power!
"Pika!"
Yet, the airborne Pikachu showed no sign of panic. The corner of its mouth lifted into a cunning smile.
*Swoosh!*
Its Speed then exploded, and its figure vanished from its spot without a trace!
Half a breath later, the Sludge Bomb passed through, hitting nothing.
*Swoosh.*
*Swoosh.*
If one listened carefully, one could faintly make out a light yellow blur on the arena, along with the crackle of air friction from its immense speed.
"So fast, as expected..."
Koga's pupils shrank as he exclaimed in admiration.
He had only ever seen this level of speed on one other Pokémon—Giovanni's.
"However..."
A sinister smile suddenly crept onto Koga's lips.
He formed a tiger seal with his hands and sneered, "Arbok, use that move."
"Chaaahss!!"
Arbok suddenly opened its huge mouth. The colorful pattern on its neck pulsed with a strange, radiant energy, which spread out and bathed the entire hall in light.
"Pika?"
Under the glow, a yellow figure suddenly appeared in a corner of the arena, looking down at its own limbs in confusion.
Why does it feel like I suddenly can't run?
Why does it feel like my color has faded?
"This move is my ultimate technique. It's called Disable!"
Koga explained with a villainous smirk.
Disable, a move that locks down one of the target's moves.
That's right, he had predicted Pikachu's actions.
He had guessed that Pikachu could dodge Poison Fang, and could even dodge the seemingly unavoidable, instantly-fired Sludge Bomb.
But what Koga actually wanted was for Pikachu to dodge. He had no intention of attacking; he wanted Pikachu to display its true speed!
Although he didn't know how Pikachu did it, or what kind of move it was, as long as he could seal that burst of speed with Disable, the outcome would be decided.
All electric mice are glass cannons. He knew this well.
Without its speed, it was like a venomous snake without its fangs—just an ordinary Pikachu.
Victory was assured!
Even Arbok wore a triumphant expression, its forked tongue flicking in and out.
"Who said that was its top speed?"
Suddenly, a calm voice came from across the arena, interrupting Koga's thoughts.
He looked up subconsciously and saw the youth in the baseball cap looking at him with a smile.
Koga had predicted Red's move, but how could Red not have predicted his prediction?
What had just been sealed was one of Pikachu's moves, called Agility. In terms of acceleration, that was only Pikachu's third gear.
A fervent expression appeared on Red's face as he commanded in a low voice:
"Pikachu, show him your true speed!"
"Pika!"
The next second, Pikachu's figure vanished from the arena again. This time, even the faint black shadow and the *swooshing* sound of air friction were completely gone.
Now, all that remained in the entire arena was a faint, ethereal green light...
Extreme Speed!
(end of chapter)